Chapter 3

Ares' expression darkened. His voice turned low and cutting as he said accusingly, "Are you using Celia's condition as a way to compete with Lillian for my attention?

"Didn't I have someone watching over her? The Rogues were already gone. How could anything have happened to her?"

These past few days, Ares had been off at Hot Spring Valley with Lillian, comforting her after she'd been "frightened".

He hadn't returned to the Silvermoon pack at all, so of course, he didn't know Mom hadn't survived long enough to see a pack healer.

Lillian cast me a timid glance, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Evelyn, please don't curse your mother like that."

My throat tightened, and all that came out was a ragged whimper as tears streamed down my face.

Lillian spoke again in a soft and deliberate tone. "Didn't the pack healer just say last time that your mother was the strongest werewolf in the pack?"

My gaze turned sharp, and I glared at her deceitfully innocent face.

Strongest werewolf? Mom's self-healing had been failing for a long time.

Ares gave a cold, derisive laugh. "Exactly. I already asked the pack healer. You and Celia were in on it together, weren't you? You're just trying to get more of my attention!"

My chest rose and fell sharply as each breath became harder to take. "Shut up!"

It was crystal clear now—Ares' bias toward Lillian ran bone-deep. Even if Mom were coughing up blood right in front of him, he'd still choose to believe Lillian's lies.

Startled by my tone, Lillian's shoulders hunched, and her eyes reddened. "Did I… Did I say something wrong?"

Ares shot me a stern glare before turning back to soothe her, his voice suddenly dripping with tenderness.

When they finally left the healer's hut, he tossed one last remark over his shoulder. "Evelyn, think about your behavior. Stop being so unreasonable."

The wooden door slammed shut, leaving me alone.

I curled on the low cot, feeling my chest aching as if it was crushed under a boulder.

An elderly werewolf conducting the burial rites stepped inside, lifting the curtain with a grave expression. "Evelyn, it's time to prepare Celia's funeral."

…

By the time I returned from the burial grounds behind the mountain, night had swallowed the sky.

Only a few werewolves Mom had once helped came to her funeral.

I hadn't told Ares or anyone in his circle. They didn't deserve to be there. Their presence would only stain her final resting place.

Seven days passed after I handled everything.

In those seven days, Ares had taken Lillian everywhere worth seeing—from the hunting grounds in the east to the orchards in the west. When she said she wanted wild honey, he personally led a group to the cliffs to get it for her.

Every day in the Silvermoon pack square, Lillian would brag to the other werewolves about how good Ares was to her.

On the seventh evening, possibly after deciding I'd been ignored long enough, Ares showed up at my temporary cabin.

"Why aren't you staying at the healer's?" he asked, frowning. His tone was far from gentle.

"That's none of your business," I said weakly, not even lifting my head.

He paused, seeming to hear something off in my voice. "What's wrong? You're not healed yet?"

Lillian's sweet voice calling from the outside instantly shattered whatever flicker of concern there was in him. "Ares, is Evelyn still mad at me?"

"She's always been petty," he said with a note of amusement. It carried his smug belief that I couldn't live without him.

Then, his tone softened as if coaxing a pup. "Alright, I won't hold the past against you. Come with me to the main house. Lillian says she wants…"

"Ares, let's break our mate bond," I said, lifting my head with an indifferent gaze.

Before he could respond, Lillian rushed in ahead and said tearfully, "Evelyn, please stop threatening Ares by saying you'll leave. It's really not funny..."

Sure enough, Ares' expression hardened immediately. "What's that supposed to mean? You're using the mate bond to manipulate me now? I'm telling you, I'm not falling for it."

I didn't waste another word on him. That very day, I drew up the bond-breaking agreement.

That night, I went to find Ares.

The moment I stepped inside, Lillian lunged at me with a sob and slapped me across the face.

"Why won't you leave me alone? Why did you destroy my mom's keepsake?" she cried.

The blow stunned me for a second, then I slapped her right back.

In the next instance, I was shoved violently to the ground.

Ares stepped in front of Lillian, rage distorting his face. "You dare slap her right in front of me? You've already destroyed the wolf plush Margaret left her, and now you lay a hand on her too?"