Chapter 3

The joyous expression that appeared on Damien's face cut me deeply. He didn't even spare another glance at me before he whipped around and bolted out of the room.

"Vivian!" Lysander exclaimed, his eyes shining with worry.

"Help me leave this place, please?" I asked while chuckling weakly.

Lysander nodded somberly before he led me away from the detention center.

If my suspicions were correct, what happened at the Christmas ball that night was just the beginning.

Although Candice had noble blood coursing through her veins, her wolf hadn't manifested yet. On top of that, her body was weak, so she could die at any moment.

Candice was still my sister even though we had different mothers because we shared the same father, making me the only tool the Elders had at their disposal to strengthen Candice's frail body. However, the Elders didn't dare openly harm me because Damien protected me in the past.

"Vivian, let me accompany you while you explain the situation to the Council of Elders," Lysander said.

"No need," I replied resolutely before continuing, "I must attend the auction that's being hosted by the pack next week."

Perhaps because I inherited my human mother's business savvy and discerning eye, I was able to build up a tremendously successful career in the human world over the last few years.

The jewelry brands, art collections, and exhibitions I established and managed under the pack's name were highly valuable worldwide.

I had personally organized the upcoming event—the most secretive auction in the world, held only once every three years. There would be priceless treasures up for bid, attracting the attention of billionaires around the world.

The auction was my masterpiece.

A week later, I attended the auction even though I wasn't fully recovered yet.

"Why are you here, Vivian? Mason and I begged Damien for so long before he finally agreed to release you. You should be home, focusing on your recovery."

It was obvious that Freya wished that I was dead, but she still pretended to worry about me.

"This is my auction. If I don't show up, you're going to usurp all of my glory, aren't you?" I asked coldly.

Freya's face twisted fiercely. "Do you really believe that Damien still favors you?"

Just then, a few Alphas from other packs approached us.

"Oh my God, Luna Freya. This is my first time seeing such priceless treasures. I heard that Ms. Candice is the one who personally organized this event."

"She's absolutely amazing! It's no wonder Damien chose her when she's so capable and has such good taste."

I spoke first before Freya could get a word in, asking, "Who told you that Candice is the organizer of this event? I'm the one who—"

Dad rushed toward me and slapped me before I could finish my sentence, causing me to stagger to the ground.

"Get out of here! You don't deserve to be here!"

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and laughed. "I don't deserve to be here? Grandma's the one who personally chose me to be the financial supervisor of the Moon pack. This auction only exists because I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into making it a reality."

"The Council of Elders has already exiled you from the Moon pack. All the authority you once held belongs to Candice now."

"Do you need me to bring out the authorization letter that Grandma personally signed? Besides, Candice is sickly and stupid. There's no way she's capable enough to put together such a spectacular auction."

"She can with my help."

Damien immediately took control of the situation when he appeared. He looked cold and powerful as he carried Candice in his arms and approached us. His tall and broad body was reminiscent of a shelter for Candice to hide behind.

"I'll make anything that Candice wants into a reality," Damien declared as he looked at Candice gently.

His eyes turned glacial when he swept his gaze over Lysander and me. "Candice is going to be my Luna. She's the only one who deserves to stand at the top of the pack and enjoy all the benefits that come with her position."

Damien glared at me before saying, "Hand over the authorization letter, and I'll consider letting you stay in the pack."

I dug my nails into my palms. I was biting my lip so harshly that blood seeped from my split lip.

Damien was willing to ruin me for Candice's sake.

The overflowing love that I had once felt for him had twisted into immense loathing. I couldn't believe that he was willing to snatch the fruits of my labor from me—the source of my pride!

"I need to thank you, Vivian," Candice said while looking at Damien bashfully. "If it weren't for you, I would never have known that Damien loved and cared for me so much."

Damien set Candice on her feet as if she were a valuable treasure. He glared at me before barking out a cruel laugh.

"A she-wolf who's been exiled from her pack will be killed."

I looked at the wolves who stood before me—my stepmother, Freya, who wanted me dead, my cold-blooded father, and my stepsister, Candice, who grinned gleefully at me as she stood within the arms of the Alpha I once loved.

I felt as if the rage within me was going to boil over. I gritted my teeth and straightened my back before shouting, "I'm never going to hand over that authorization letter!"