Chapter 3

Theo stood at the doorway.

His gaze swept across the room before finally landing on Mia. A trace of disapproval appeared in his eyes.

“Mia! You’ve gone too far.”

I froze for a moment. That meant he was not surprised by what Mia had done to me. He only thought she had taken it too far.

The guards released their grip.

I straightened up, rubbed my aching wrists, and looked at Theo.

“Did you tell her to do this?”

He paused.

“Silvia, you have been spending a little too much.”

I let out a cold laugh.

“So you’ve always believed that I was living off you?”

“Theo.”

I stared directly into his eyes.

“Tell Mia who I am.”

Theo’s gaze flickered.

Then the look in his eyes changed into a kind of condescending pity, as if he were looking at a child who did not understand reality.

“Silvia, you’re just a girl my family adopted. You can’t keep relying on me to survive forever.”

I looked at Theo as if I were looking at a stranger.

The humble young man who had once stood nervously before me was long gone.

He turned toward Mia and gave her a tired smile.

“She’s always been like this. She thinks she’s the Alpha’s daughter. I’ve explained it to her many times, but she won’t listen.”

Mia wrapped her arm around his.

The contempt in her eyes turned into complete disgust as she looked at me.

“Theo, you’re too soft on her. You’re so busy running the pack you barely have time for a sip of water. You’ve supported her all these years, and this is how she repays you?”

I knew how demanding the responsibilities of an Alpha were.

That was why I had asked Theo before whether he needed more people to assist him or whether he wanted me to appoint someone else as Acting Alpha.

But he had refused, saying he could handle it himself.

I could no longer stay silent.

“Theo only had the authority to manage the pack because I appointed him as Acting Alpha.”

Mia looked at me as though I were a joke.

“Silvia, your wolf hasn’t even awakened. You think you had the right to appoint anyone?”

She laughed.

“That little seal ceremony of yours was nothing more than the Elder Council playing along with you out of respect for Theo. They were just humoring you.”

I turned my gaze toward Theo.

“Is that what you told her?”

Theo sighed helplessly.

“The Elder Council said it themselves. It was just a game of make-believe.”

“Mia may have gone too far, but she was only trying to help you. She wants you to become independent sooner. This is something she has to do as the future Luna.”

“If you’re worried about having no one to rely on once you’re an adult, we’ve already arranged a good match for you. You should have seen the marriage contract by now.”

I understood everything.

He had long since stopped believing that my wolf would ever awaken.

Everything that happened today was part of his plan.

He had encouraged Mia to make me give up my right to inherit the pack and all the assets that belonged to me.

“No need.”

I looked at Theo calmly.

“My affairs are not something you two get to decide.”

“This year, I will not renew your appointment.”

Theo looked taken aback.

Mia burst out laughing beside him.

“Grow up, Silvia. Stop living in your childhood fantasies. You’re just an adopted daughter. Your wolf will never awaken, and you will never become an Alpha.”

Theo’s expression darkened.

“Silvia, don’t embarrass yourself.”

His voice turned colder.

“I’ve played along with your little game of make-believe for all these years. It’s time for it to end.”

I looked at him without saying anything.

He thought I had finally given in.

His tone softened into patronizing indulgence.

“Fine. If you want to keep playing your little stamping game, I’ll go along with it. But from now on, you need to show Mia more respect.”

Mia leaned against his shoulder, smiling proudly.

I smiled as well.

“Alright,” I said. “Then we’ll meet at the full moon.”

After they left, I stood alone in my study, staring at the deer head mounted on the wall.

I had killed it myself when I was ten, with a single arrow through the throat.

I picked up my phone and called Grand Elder Harlan.

“Silvia?”

His voice was old, yet steady.

“Harlan,” I said, “notify the Alphas of the other packs. I want all of them to attend the first Full Moon Council Meeting three days from now.”

There was a silence of two seconds on the other end.

“Silvia, you’ve kept such a low profile all these years. Why are you summoning everyone now?”

I looked into the dark eyes of the deer head.

“To establish my authority.”

And to see how long Theo could keep his lie going.