Chapter 4

Only then did I notice that the wolf plush in Lillian's arms was already mangled beyond recognition.

The living room of the main house was packed, and rows of werewolves stared at me with unreadable expressions.

"I just got back. How could I have touched your wolf plush?" I questioned.

I pushed myself up from the floor, ignoring the sharp pain in my knees from hitting the stone tiles.

Lillian clutched the destroyed wolf tighter as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Yes, you just got back, but… but your mother came to my door last night. She must have hated me for taking Ares away from you."

A chill shot through me from the soles of my feet, and the absurdity almost made me laugh out loud.

Mom had been buried for seven days, yet Lillian was still trying to pin the blame on her.

After Lillian spoke, she brought forward a werewolf.

He confidently claimed that he had seen Mom come here last night to destroy the wolf plush.

Ares' brows knitted in disgust, his gaze as if he were looking at something filthy. "You and Celia really are cut from the same cloth. Both are just as vicious."

My grip on the agreement tightened until my knuckles turned white. "My mom's been dead for seven days. How could she have been at your door last night?"

Everyone looked doubtful. They clearly didn't believe me.

Lillian's sobs grew louder, and her voice trembled as she said, "Evelyn, even until now, you're still making excuses?"

Ares' expression was stormy, and his tone was as sharp as a blade. "Even with proof staring you in the face, you're still lying? Get Celia out here! She's going to answer for this!"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, their barbed whispers pricking at my skin.

"No wonder Alpha Ares can't stand her. She's malicious. She must've learned it from her mother."

"At least Lillian's decent. Anyone else would've broken by now."

My hands shook harder around the contract, and my nails bit into my palms. "Then go check! The patrol guards from last night are still here. Go ask them!"

Ares barked a cold laugh. "We already have a witness, and you still want to deny it? Do you think we're all idiots?"

Beside him, Lillian quickly lowered her gaze, but I caught the flicker of guilt in her eyes as clear as daylight.

I turned to leave, ready to find the patrol guards myself, but Ares yanked me back by the arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" His grip was crushing, like he meant to snap my bones. "Going to find someone to back up your story?"

"Let me go!" I fought to pull free, my voice hard with final resolve. "If my mom really did it, then have the guards tell you themselves!"

"Enough!" Ares shoved me away and glared at the others. "This is a family matter. There's no need to make it the pack's business!"

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh that cut through the tension in the room. "Family matter? Ares, you're defending an outsider who dares to smear my late mother's name!"

"You still dare talk back?" His expression darkened with fury as he raised his hand to strike me.

I didn't move. Instead, I pulled a burial certificate from my cloak, made of cured hide and signed by the werewolf who handled the funeral.

"Take a good look!" I slammed it into his face. "My mother, Celia Hale, was buried in the mountains seven days ago! While we laid her to rest, you were in Hot Spring Valley with Lillian, picking wild fruits!"

The certificate slipped to the floor. Ares stood frozen, staring down at the werewolf's seal before looking back up at me with shock in his eyes.