Chapter 3

I had tea with a friend and returned home as evening settled in.

As my car approached the electronic gates, and just as I was about to use the fingerprint scanner, I saw two familiar figures lingering outside.

Caleb and Ivy. They loitered by the gate, looking like stray pups.

"Elena!" Caleb spotted my car and rushed over immediately. "What are you doing here?"

I rolled down my window. "Something wrong?"

He frowned, and then a realization seemed to dawn on him.

"You just got back and you're rushing to see Grandpa with me?"

"Don't worry, if you play your cards right, I'll tell Grandpa to let you remain my mate."

"Stop staring. Since you're here, help me with this. The gate system is on the fritz," Caleb said with the casual arrogance of someone used to getting their way. "My fingerprint scan failed, and the guard won't let me in. I'm Damian's nephew; how could I not have access?"

"Maybe the system updated," I said, looking at him. The truth was, Damian had specifically locked down access. After we became mates, he'd declared he would never let that heartless man set foot on his territory again.

Caleb glanced at the wolf guards standing nearby.

"Then come with me and help me prove my identity to them!"

But as he turned, Ivy spoke up, her voice weak.

"Elena, I know you don't like me, but could you at least let me come in and rest for a bit? I really can't hold on much longer..."

I took a closer look. Her face was indeed pale, but her eyes held a chilling, unreadable glint.

Before Ivy could finish speaking, her body suddenly went limp, and she crumpled towards me.

Instinctively, I released a sliver of my aura.

A Luna's instinct is to protect her territory.

But just then, Ivy cried out and fell to the ground.

"Elena!" Caleb rushed over to help Ivy up. "Are you insane? Attacking an Omega with your power?"

I stared at her, the person who seemed to be faking it all, utterly baffled. "I didn't touch her."

"She's bleeding!" Caleb pointed at Ivy's elbow. "Your power injured her!"

Ivy sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm okay... cough... my wolf was just startled. Elena didn't mean to..."

Seeing his fragile adopted sister, Caleb's expression turned ice cold.

"Apologize," he demanded.

I raised an eyebrow.

"What did you say?"

"How dare you bully the weak? Apologize to Ivy," Caleb spat out, each word laced with venom.

I repeated helplessly, "She fell on her own."

"Stop making excuses!" Caleb roared. "Everyone saw it! You unleashed your power, and that's why she got hurt and fell!"

I glanced toward the wolf guards standing nearby.

Sensing I was threatened, they drew their weapons, but they were aimed at Caleb.

Caleb, however, was oblivious. He took a deep breath.

"Elena, I'm saying this one last time. Apologize to Ivy! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"

The wolf guards were already closing in.

With my hands in my pockets, I felt no fear of him hurting me. I calmly asked, "And if I refuse?"

Caleb sneered.

"Then you'll never be my mate," he said, his words heavy with finality. "And you'll never set foot on this estate again."

I almost laughed out loud.

Be his mate? Set foot on the estate?

Did this overconfident wolf truly misunderstand the current situation?

Just then, Ivy clutched Caleb's sleeve, her voice a pitiful plea.

"Don't be angry, brother. If Sister would just lend me that Maserati to drive, I'd forgive her."

His anger still simmering, he soothed his adopted sister, then turned back to me.

"Did you hear that? Ivy's giving you an easy out. If you know what's good for you, just hand over the Maserati."

Hearing this, I let out a scoff.

"Caleb. Do you know whose estate this is?"

"Of course I know, this is the Blackwood family..."

Bang!

A heavy wooden cane flew out from inside the estate, landing squarely on Caleb's back.

"Jerk!"

Grandpa Elder emerged, his face contorted with rage.

"That's your Luna! And you dare command her?!"

Caleb clutched his back and looked up blankly.

"Grandpa, what are you talking about? What Luna..."

Before he could finish, he noticed that all the wolf guards around him had simultaneously lowered their heads, exposing the sides of their necks.

It was a clear gesture of submission.