3. Catherine Fights Back

Catherine clenched the pregnancy test result tightly in her hand. "If I were truly pregnant, I wouldn't leave the pack."

"True," Caitlin sneered. "After all, a gold-digger like you would never pass up an opportunity like this. You probably dream of giving birth to the Alpha's child, thinking it would secure you some kind of status. But even if you were pregnant, Hansen wouldn't want you. A mere maid like you isn't fit to bear the heir of Silverspring Pack."

Catherine quickly turned and walked into the walk-in closet, but Caitlin followed her. "Wait, let me see that paper you just took off the table."

As a werewolf, Caitlin was naturally alert. The paper she hadn't managed to glimpse radiated a strong sense of danger.

"This is my personal business."

Catherine gripped the pregnancy test result even tighter. "What, do werewolves from big packs like yours enjoy prying into others' privacy?"

"Privacy?" Caitlin scoffed. "You're just a maid in Silverspring Pack. What privacy do you have? I'm the future mistress of this estate, and I have every reason to suspect you're trying to steal something valuable!"

Caitlin stepped forward and tried to pry the paper from Catherine's hand, slapping her across the face in the process.

Catherine hadn't expected this woman to be so brazen, daring to strike her within Silverspring Pack's territory.

Despite everything, she was still technically the Luna of Silverspring Pack, and she wasn't about to let an attack go unanswered. Catherine swiftly threw Caitlin over her shoulder, slamming her to the floor, then twisted Caitlin's right hand, her gray eyes flashing a dangerous red.

Caitlin lay on the floor, writhing in pain. "My hand, it hurts so much!"

"You-" Catherine began, intending to lecture her when Hansen's voice interrupted her.

"Catherine, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"

The Alpha's cold voice cut through the air, and Catherine turned to see Hansen storming in, radiating anger.

Catherine's heart skipped a beat, but she met his gaze defiantly. "Alpha, as the Luna of Silverspring Pack, I don't see anything wrong with disciplining someone who speaks to me with such disrespect."

But Hansen didn't respond to Catherine and instead walked past her coldly, bending down to pick up Caitlin from the floor.

Hansen had always seen Catherine as docile, like a little pet who wouldn't fight back no matter how she was treated. But to his surprise, she struck someone that day-someone important. Caitlin wasn't just anyone; she was the cherished princess of the Bloodstone Pack.

"Hansen! She broke my hand! My precious right hand!"

Hansen snapped out of his daze and asked softly, "Are you okay?"

"Hansen," Caitlin whimpered, "my hand hurts so much. Is it broken? Will I become a crippled werewolf?"

Hansen placed Caitlin on the bed. "No, I'll have the pack doctor take a look at it."

Then, turning back to Catherine, his voice hardened. "Apologize to Miss Liddell."

Caitlin was the prized daughter of the Bloodstone Pack, with three overprotective older brothers. If Bloodstone Pack found out Caitlin had been bullied, Catherine would be in serious trouble.

As Alpha, Hansen was demanding an apology without even fully understanding the situation.

He wouldn't even ask what happened! Leora muttered angrily.

Catherine stood her ground, clenching her fists to suppress her furry. 

"Apologize? You want me to apologize?"

"Miss Liddell is the princess of the Bloodstone Pack, and she's a guest here. You were wrong to lay a hand on her."

Hansen's lack of fairness stung Catherine deeply. It proved that even as Luna, she wouldn't receive impartial treatment from an Alpha who didn't love her. After two years of enduring this, she was done.

"Believe it or not, she hit me first!" she argued defiantly.

"Alpha, I saw with my own eyes-Luna started it." The butler, standing in the doorway, added fuel to the fire.

Hansen's brows furrowed as he spoke sternly, "Do I need to repeat myself? Apologize!"

"And if I don't?" 

Hansen's eyes flickered with surprise, incredulous that his once meek and obedient wife had a fierce side. In fact, even his wolf, Cain, found the change in their mate strange.

Hansen pressed his thin lips together. "You may have some backbone, but have you forgotten about your uncle, still lying in that hospital bed?"

Her uncle had been retaliated against after attacking someone and had gotten into a car accident while trying to flee. He was still in a coma in the hospital. Had she not learned her lesson?

Catherine bit back her fury, astonished at how low Hansen would stoop, using her uncle to threaten her. She glanced at the woman who now lounged so brazenly on her marital bed, her wedding photo mocking her very existence as if it were all a joke.

Catherine knew he uncle's life depended on Hansen's goodwill. She hesitated for several long seconds, then finally resigned to her fate, her voice hoarse with defeat. "I'm sorry."