Chapter 3

The next morning, Dr. Lupine called me in to confirm my decision one last time.

"Avril, once you sign the final agreement, you'll be entering a five-year period of isolation. You won't be allowed to leave the base or contact anyone outside. Think it through carefully. You can still change your mind."

Remembering how Adrian had threatened me with the marking ceremony the day before, I picked up the pen without hesitation.

Just then, my phone began vibrating on the table.

A string of messages had appeared in the family group chat.

During the Lunar Hunt, Lily had shifted into her full wolf form for the first time. The elders of the Silvercrest Pack had decided to hold a ceremony that evening to officially welcome her back.

According to tradition, anyone officially welcomed back into the Silvercrest Pack had to wear a moonstone keepsake prepared by their family to receive the Moon Goddess' blessing.

But Lily had been away from the Pack for years, so naturally, she didn't have one.

Everyone discussed it in the group chat for a long time.

"There's no need to go to all that trouble. It's fine if I don't have a moonstone," Lily said. "I grew up without my family by my side and already missed my coming-of-age ceremony, so it wouldn't matter if my welcoming ceremony didn't include a keepsake, either. As long as I can stand beside you, I'm happy."

"No way!" Julian protested. "You're being officially welcomed back into the Silvercrest Pack. How can you not have something that represents your family?"

They spent quite a while discussing it in the group chat.

Then Mason suddenly remembered something.

"I remember Mom giving Avril a moonstone pendant when she first awakened her wolf spirit. It's extremely precious, and it would be perfect for someone of Lily's standing."

It was the pendant Mom had made for me when I first awakened my wolf spirit, carefully shaping it from one of my shed claws. It meant a great deal to me.

Now that they'd found a solution, everyone in the group readily agreed.

At last, Adrian spoke up.

"Then we'll use Avril's for now. I know where she keeps it."

I stared at that message for a long time.

They all knew what the moonstone pendant meant to me, yet they'd decided to give it to Lily simply because she needed it.

…

That evening, Lily posted an update.

In the photo, she had her hair swept up, with my moonstone pendant resting around her neck. Adrian was bent over, straightening the hem of her dress, while my three brothers stood nearby, watching her with pleased smiles.

The caption read, "So, this is what it feels like to have a family. It's wonderful."

Ten minutes later, Adrian messaged me.

"I should've asked you before borrowing your moonstone pendant this time. I didn't think it through. I'll return it once the welcoming ceremony is over."

A little while later, he sent another message.

"You said yesterday that you wanted to cancel the marking ceremony. If you apologize to Lily, I'm willing to overlook the nonsense you said."

His condescending tone made me too tired to argue anymore.

I quickly logged into the Silvercrest Pack's official website, found the section for mate relationships, and submitted a request to terminate mine.

A prompt appeared on the screen.

"Once the mate relationship is terminated, your registered bond with Adrian and all related ceremony arrangements will also be cancelled. Do you confirm?"

After checking the box to acknowledge that I understood the consequences, I clicked 'Confirm'.

"Your application to terminate the mate relationship has been approved. It will take effect tomorrow at 6:00 am, and the entire pack will be notified."

I put my phone away, finally feeling a weight lift from my shoulders.

As I was leaving, Dr. Lupine called after me from the doorway.

"The pickup vehicle will arrive at your residence at four tomorrow morning. Be ready."

"Understood."

On my way home, I listed the massage chair they'd all given me for my 18th birthday on a secondhand furniture platform.

Less than five minutes later, I received a notification that someone had bought it and paid in full.

Since they'd already erased my body data and turned my belongings into tools for making Lily happy, there was no reason to keep "Avril's throne" any longer.