Chapter 4

Their laughter grew sharper, cutting into my ears.

I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I remembered the Elder’s words from yesterday:

“Since you’ve chosen William, I’ll respect that. But don’t announce it yet. When the time is right, everyone will know.”

So I held my tongue.

Just then, William was wheeled into the hall.

He was on a wooden wheelchair , but looked surprisingly handsome with the strong shoulders. Only his pale skin could tell us his sickness, but it actually made his face looks more exquisite.

The moment the tribe saw him, laughter rang out again, mocking and cruel.

I almost spoke then. I almost told them all. But in the end, I stayed silent.

William’s eyes brushed over me. Calm, but with a flicker of disappointment. He said nothing.

I knew the Elder’s caution wasn’t without reason. The Sinclairs were too many, their eyes too hungry for power. If I revealed my choice too soon, it would only make William a target.

So I turned away and let their laughter echo.

Then Clara found me.

She swung her wrist proudly, the moon-spirit pendant flashing in the torchlight.

“Even if you marry Andrew one day, Evelyn, you’ll never have his heart. It's mine. ”

In front of others, she always looked sweet and harmless. Only at times like this did her fangs show.

The memory of my past life flashed before me—the day I caught them together, the way my world collapsed. A chill spread through my chest.

I gave her a thin smile.

“You’re right. I’ll never have his heart. So take him. I hope the two of you stay together for life.”

She blinked, startled for a moment, before her smile curved sharper.

“Evelyn, you don’t mean that. Andrew will always love me. He always has.”

I frowned, already tired of her games, and tried to move past.

But she stepped in front of me, her face soft but pitiful.

“Evelyn, I only wanted to share my happiness. Why are you so cold to me? Are you… jealous?”

Her eyes filled with tears, and then she actually started to cry.

I reached out to push her aside, but she dropped to the floor with a thud, sobbing louder.

“Why would you hit me, Evelyn? I’m your cousin!”

Andrew rushed to Clara like lightning.

The moment he saw her on the ground in tears, his eyes blazed with fury.

“Evelyn! How could you bully your own cousin? What a heartless female werewolf!”

I looked at Clara, then at him, and let out a cold laugh.

“Clara, you’re young, but your tricks run deep.”

Slap!

Andrew’s palm struck my cheek, hard.

“I won’t let you speak about her like that!”