Chapter 3 The “Pride” of the Pack

Once, my favorite place had been the Silver Moon Palace springs.

On moonlit nights, steam would drift like mist, quiet and beautiful.

That water came from the frozen mountains of Silver Ridge itself, carried every year by my father, Alpha Marcus.

Only because, as a child, I once said I loved it.

But after Lily returned, everything changed.

One light remark—that she “also liked the springs”—was enough to strip Silver Moon Palace from me.

I used to burn with resentment.

Why would my father, like a stranger, cast me out for her?

Now… now there was only calm.

Lily was the pure-blood heir, the pride of the Pack, the most exalted creature Silver Ridge had ever known.

And I? Just a thief. A shameful imposter.

The omega servant leading the way introduced herself warmly:

“Welcome back, Princess. I am Omega Laura. I’ll tend you from now on.”

I thought I had seen her before.

If I remembered right, Laura used to serve Liam.

So why did he put her by my side?

Three years ago, Liam had suspected me again and again of plotting against Lily. He even threw me in the dungeons because of Lily’s missing jewel.

Clearly, Laura was here to watch me.

They led me to the Frost Fall Palace.

It was small. In its courtyard, a single laurel tree stood, thin and bare.

In spring, it might grow lush again.

The servant offered to bathe me, but I stopped her.

“I’ll do it myself.”

She blinked in confusion. “How can a Princess—”

“I’ll do it myself.”

She faltered, then backed off.

After taking the bath, I made my way toward Elder Mya’s palace.

If I had been released, it could only mean she had begged the Council for long.

Three years… was she still well?

But I didn’t get far before Liam blocked my path.

His voice curled with disgust:

“Why are you still wearing that rag? Are you trying to guilt the Elder into pitying you?”

I opened my mouth, but he shoved me hard before I could speak.

“Elder Mya’s in heat-sickness—if you upset her, I’ll tear you apart.”

His strength, plus the lingering pain from his earlier kick, sent me crashing to the ground.

Snow soaked my skin, burning cold.

“Liam, stop!”

Luna Evelyn’s voice cracked through the air like a whip.

I struggled to rise, but my legs wouldn’t hold me.

Liam sneered:

“Don’t look at me like that, Mom. You bought her new clothes, and she still insists on parading in that trash? She wants to send Elder Mya into a fit, I swear”

All eyes on me.

And to the tattered slave-clothes on my body, patched and threadbare.

Evelyn sighed.

“Liam shouldn’t have hit you. But he only worries for Elder Mya’s heart. Change your clothes, Nina.”

Her gaze softened. Lily stood silently at her side.

Finally, I said:

“The clothes are too small.”

Three years was enough to forget that I was half a head taller than Lily.

Her gowns would never fit me.

Evelyn’s guilt showed, and she promised to find something new.

But Liam’s snarl cut in before she could.

“Come on. You’re just a bit taller. Complaining over that? So dramatic!”

Liam would never rest until I was smeared.

I drew in a long breath. Then, under everyone’s gaze, I rolled up my sleeve.

“It’s not that I can’t wear them. It’s that they can’t cover.”

Silence fell.

Those hands were red, swollen, purple and covered with chilblains.

But worse were the lashes across my arms.

Fresh welts. Old scars. Blood still crusted where wounds refused to heal.

Now Liam understood.

Why I said “can’t cover.”

If Elder Mya saw me like this, how much pain would it bring her?

Evelyn’s face crumpled. Tears slid down her cheeks.

“I thought you were sulking, that you didn’t want me near. I didn’t know… didn’t know it hurt you. Did I ?”

I gave no answer.

I didn’t lower my arm.

She pushed the sleeve higher—and the wounds went on endlessly.

Her breath stuttered.

“Fetch the Pack Healer—quickly!”

Beside her, Lily burst into tears.

“How could they… how could they abuse my sister like this?”

Abuse?

Wasn’t it by her blessing?

Sickness churned through me, the bile of hate.

So, I said.

“The Elder Council decreed: whoever beat me earned silver. The harder they struck, the more they earned. All because… I broke the Moon Crystal chalice.”

My eyes speared Lily like a knife.

Her body went rigid. Tears streamed.

As though she were the one who had been brutalized for three years.

And behind her stood the omega servant who had framed me that day. Alive. Unpunished.

Of course, Evelyn knew.

She, the wisest Luna of Silver Ridge, had ignored the truth by choice.

Now she dared to weep, to ache, to speak of pity.

I thought it laughable.

Noise ebbed.

Only Lily’s sobs remained.

And Liam’s sneer:

“Wipe that sour face off. If you were hurt, why didn’t you say it sooner? Cat got your tongue?”