Chapter 4

Workers were still dismantling the jewelry display in my closet. My eyes widened. "Who told you to touch my things?!"

When I first moved in, Eleanor had arranged the largest bedroom for us. Charles usually slept in his study.

No matter how spacious it was, I was the only one who ever used it.

I'd redecorated it to my taste, replacing all the old furnishings with new ones.

Every piece of furniture had been carefully chosen by me.

I couldn't find my jewelry. Panic rising, I turned to the workers. "What are you doing?!"

One worker paused and said evenly, "The Alpha called. He said Miss Susie's room doesn't get enough light, and it's affecting her mood. He ordered us to clear this room for her."

My mind went blank, as if I'd been struck.

Charles hadn't even discussed it with me.

"When did he call?"

"Just now. He told us to get it done immediately so it'd be ready when they come back in a few days."

The worker's words made my head spin.

I grabbed my phone and tried calling Charles again. This time, the result was different.

Their phones were on, but they'd blocked me.

My fingertips went white from gripping so hard, my shoulders shook uncontrollably. I didn't have the energy to break down crying anymore.

Then my screen chimed with a notification.

Charles had posted it a few minutes ago. He had never been one for social media.

This was the first post I'd ever seen from him.

"A sister can be your childhood sweetheart too."

In the photo, Susie and Charles stood side by side beneath an ancient tree. Moonlight skimmed across Charles's hair while Susie reached up to shade his eyes.

They looked perfect together.

In the comments, a pack member had written, "Isn't that Selena? The Alpha's Luna?"

"She's stunning. Has there ever been a she-wolf more beautiful than the Luna?"

Charles had replied beneath it, "There is no Luna. Selena has not officially become my mate."

This wasn't the first time Charles had done something like this.

Nearly everyone in the pack knew we'd never formed a mate bond and never had a mating ceremony.

I had no rightful title.

I lived like the other woman under his roof.

I closed the app. I didn't even have the strength to feel indignant.

I sent Claire a message: Get me a lawyer. I want the one and a half million Charles took recovered.

Right after I sent it, the healing center called asking me to collect Eleanor and Edward's remains. I went immediately, accompanied by pack warriors, and had them transferred to the funeral home.

Seeing them again, my eyes filled with tears I couldn't hold back.

Just the day before the accident, Eleanor had made me a pot of broth.

She'd held my hand with a warm smile. "Charles has agreed, so don't you worry, Selena. Once the wedding gown is finished, you two will have the mating ceremony."

I'd smiled back, comforted.

After all those years living in his estate with no official status, I would finally become his Luna.

I'd brought it up with Charles many times before, but he'd never budged.

When Eleanor saw me smile, her own face lit up.

"You've put up with so much, sweetheart. I should never have adopted Susie. Now all those two do is run around together."

I shook my head and told her it was fine.

Eleanor, who had been chatting with me just days before, was now gone forever.

At the thought, I choked up and couldn't speak.

The next day, I handled the arrangements at the funeral home and sent out all the necessary notifications to the pack.

Before the funeral, I noticed something.

Charles had called me dozens of times.

I called him back.

The first words out of his mouth were an accusation. "Did you send me a lawyer's letter? Accusing me of theft?!"

"Yes," I said calmly.

"You took one and a half million from my account without my permission. I have every right to get it back."

Charles inhaled slowly, as if barely restraining his temper.

"You're taking me to court over one and a half million dollars? Aren't you my mate? What's yours is ours.

"Selena, I never thought you'd stoop this low just because you're jealous. Are you trying to humiliate me in front of everyone?!"

I let out a bitter laugh. As if the pack hadn't been laughing at me for years already.

I was simply taking back what was mine.

"Have you forgotten? We never had the mating ceremony. I'm not even your Luna. What makes you think my money has anything to do with you?"

At this point, my disappointment in him had reached its limit.

I was done swallowing my words.

Silence on the other end, then Charles's cold laugh.

"So this is about my post, isn't it? You saw it and got upset?

"I was just joking around. You don't need to compete with Susie. She's young. She's just my sister."

His voice dropped, taking on a coaxing tone.

I drew a breath. In the past, things had been different.

Whenever he lowered himself like this, I would have made up with him and forgiven everything.

Not anymore.

My voice was steady. "If you have a problem, take it up with my lawyer."

"By the way, your parents' funeral is the day after tomorrow."

The moment I said it, Charles's voice cooled noticeably, and he lashed out at me. "You make me sick. Over money, you keep cursing my parents.

"What would you even gain if something really happened to them?!

"I'm warning you! One more word like that and you're out of my estate!"

My lashes trembled slightly.

I listened to his tirade with furrowed brows. Even now, Charles still didn't believe me.

"Susie killed your parents at the Spring Hunt.

"If you won't believe me, so be it."

My tone was serious enough that Charles started to have doubts.

He thought about it, glanced at Susie beside him, and doubled down.

"There it is. You're upset because I brought Susie on a trip. You don't have to stoop this low."

Charles threatened, "I'm going to reach them through the mind-link right now and tell them exactly what kind of person you are."

Charles reached for his parents through the mind-link.

The first attempt failed. He tried again immediately.

Nothing.

Charles's brow furrowed deeply.