Chapter 2

Despite my disappointment in his lack of trust, he was my destined mate.

I didn't want our relationship to crack because of misunderstandings.

More importantly, I didn't want others to know that I, the daughter of the Southern Territories' Alpha King, had bonded with an ordinary wolf from the Northern Territories.

I had fled the royal court precisely to avoid the arranged marriage my father had planned.

I wanted to choose my own mate. I wanted to hunt alongside him as an equal, not become a bargaining chip for alliance between two territories.

I had never told anyone about this, including Kieran.

I feared that once he learned I was the Alpha King's daughter, he would either become fawning and flattering, or distant and insecure like other wolves. Since childhood, every Alpha who circled around me was only interested in my background and family connections.

I hated those calculated advances. I loved the way Kieran looked at me with stars in his eyes.

The memory of those beautiful times made me smile involuntarily.

"What are you smiling about?"

Kieran frowned, disgust evident in his voice:

"At a time like this, you can still smile?"

I lifted my head and looked directly into Kieran's eyes:

"Do you really think I'm the kind of woman who trades her body for resources?"

"What else?"

He sneered:

"Do you think there's anything left about you worth my respect?"

My chest felt like it was being crushed by invisible hands, making it hard to breathe.

I took a deep breath and said slowly:

"The man in that photo is my biological father."

"Father?"

Ivy burst into laughter:

"Do you think we're idiots? Calling your sugar daddy your biological father? You still claim you didn't sleep your way to the top. Do you call every man you sleep with daddy? How kinky of you!"

The surrounding laughter became even more piercing. Someone even whistled.

Kieran's eyes were full of contempt:

"Enough. Stop embarrassing yourself here. Take your expulsion order and get out! From now on, you're no longer a member of Shadowmoon Pack. Fortunately, I haven't marked you yet! After you sign this, I'll submit it to the Alpha Council. We'll have nothing to do with each other ever again!"

I gripped the expulsion order tightly, my heart turning ice cold.

For eight years, I had hidden my identity and managed pack affairs as an ordinary pack member.

Now, I had personally helped him become Alpha, helped him forge alliances, blocked assassinations meant for him, even expanded territory for him, allowing him to absorb more powerful packs. Yet he wanted to break our bond and expel me.

I wouldn't deny the result hurt—that my eight years of dedication had no value. But I would definitely take back what belonged to me.

"Kieran, you'll regret this."

Kieran heard my low murmur and laughed as if he'd heard the world's biggest joke:

"Regret?"

He scoffed:

"My biggest regret is bonding with a slut like you!"

With that, he wrapped his arm around Ivy's waist.

The two smiled at each other and walked hand-in-hand toward the center of the banquet hall.

Only then did I notice that his custom-tailored suit and Ivy's low-cut evening gown were matching couple's outfits.

He raised their intertwined hands, his voice loud and confident:

"Tomorrow, the pack will officially absorb Ghostclaw Pack's territory! All of this is thanks to everyone here! May we continue to work together and create glory!"

Thunderous applause erupted, cheers rising one after another.

Praise for him and Ivy as destined mates, the greatest Alpha and future Luna, reached my ears clearly.

Kieran's gaze swept over me but didn't linger, as if I were just an irrelevant stranger.

Looking at this man I had been bonded to for eight years, I finally understood why my parents always said I had terrible judgment.

It turned out I had been too naive. Thinking back to the woman's moaning I'd heard during my call with Kieran, I realized that Ivy, this Omega secretary, had been involved with Kieran long before tonight.

But as the Alpha King's daughter, poor judgment didn't mean poor ability. I could elevate him to his high position, and I could make him fall hard!