Chapter 2

A she-wolf with curly hair and thick makeup narrowed her eyes at me. She hugged Gilbert's arm tightly, clinging to him as though she were a parasite.

So, this was Gilbert's childhood sweetheart, Joanna.

I tried to force out a smile and greet them politely. But Joanna reacted quicker than me by eyeing me from head to toe in a judgmental way. Then, she spoke up mockingly.

"So, this is the she-wolf your father forced you to bond with, Alpha Gilbert? She looks so lame!"

Her scathing words made me freeze. My stomach was already roiling from the seasickness to begin with. The discomfort doubled right after I heard Joanna's words.

I retorted weakly, "As if you're not the same. At least my face isn't caked in a layer of powder that's thicker than a fortress' walls."

Joanna's expression crashed instantly.

Gilbert interrupted coldly, "Don't you know your manners?"

I met his gaze boldly. "I treat others the way they treat me."

It must be rare for others to talk back to Gilbert, for he merely raised an eyebrow. A trace of amusement flickered across his face.

"So, you're Alyssa Fairfield, huh?"

I nodded in response.

Gilbert studied me for a moment before shaking his head.

"You're quite pretty, but it's a shame that you're not fit to become my Luna."

Joanna giggled softly while agreeing with Gilbert. "Precisely. I seriously have no idea why your dad would arrange such a lame mate for you."

They spun on their heels after that, no longer sparing me another glance.

"Follow us," Gilbert ordered.

Even though my face was as pale as a sheet of paper from the start, Gilbert never showed concern toward me.

I trailed behind Gilbert and Joanna quietly while enduring my physical discomfort. Finally, we stopped before a grand manor. Naturally, Joanna took the lead as though she were the lady of the manor.

As she led me into the manor, she said airily, "I've already arranged for you to stay in a room."

She pointed at the narrow stairwell leading up to the attic. Condescension laced her tone as she continued, "You can take the attic. It's peaceful and quiet there, not to mention the air is fresher, too. It's the most suitable room for a country wolf like you."

I bent down and climbed the stairs on all fours. The space was so cramped and low that I couldn't even stand up straight. I could only keep my back hunched the whole time.

As soon as I opened the door to the attic, I was greeted with a faceful of dust, which triggered a sneeze from me.

Gilbert frowned instantly. "Is there no other room for her?"

Joanna replied gently, "That she-wolf came from a backwater village. If we were to give her a fancy room, she might become greedy. What if she ends up stealing from you? It's best to test her integrity first."

Gilbert's expression softened after he heard Joanna's words. "You've really thought it through, Joanna."

A weight settled on my heart. It seemed that I'd suffer in this place from now on.

…

Two days later, Gilbert and I held a simple bonding ceremony. There weren't any flowers or music decorating the tiny assembly hall. Instead, there were flags bearing the Bloodthorn pack's sigil being raised in the assembly hall.

Gilbert's parents had already passed away a long time ago. As for me, my family lived in a faraway pack. Hence, Gilbert's pack members—wolves whom I had never met before—crowded inside the assembly hall.

Thankfully, the atmosphere was still boisterous. The entire pack was celebrating our bonding ceremony. For a moment, I felt warmth surging into my heart just by listening to the noise.

But then, Joanna parted her lips at that moment.

"I'm so envious of Alyssa. She gets to marry Alpha Gilbert because of a bonding pact between their fathers. She really is lucky, unlike me. After all, I've already lost my parents…"

She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly. Soon, she began sobbing quietly.

Joanna's voice was quite soft, but she was loud enough for the wolves around her to overhear her. Almost immediately, the crowd fell silent. In just a second, Joanna's sobs were the only sound filling the space.

The guests began murmuring about me at that moment.

"Alpha Gilbert and Joanna were like peas in a pod since they were pups. They are practically a match made in heaven."

"Where did this Alyssa she-wolf come from? I've never seen her before."

"She only got to marry Alpha Gilbert because of a bonding pact made by their fathers. I'm thinking this is a tale where Alyssa relied on the bonding pact just to become the Alpha's mate. In a way, she's no different from the she-wolves who want to seduce Alpha Gilbert."

I overheard every word the others said about me, all of them cutting my heart repeatedly.

It was then Gilbert made his move by walking toward Joanna. "Don't be sad, Joanna. You know this is a transaction that I must follow through. Your place in my heart will never change."

My grip on the folds of my dress slowly tightened. I could feel my nails digging into my palms.

Finally, I blurted out, "The absence of your parents in your life isn't my fault, Joanna. My bonding ceremony is supposed to be a joyous occasion, and yet here you are, crying your heart out. Are you trying to ruin everything?"

Joanna's sobs grew louder. "N-No! I never meant to—"

Gilbert interjected immediately, "That's enough, Alyssa! Joanna's far too sad to celebrate, that's all! There's no need for you to be this cruel toward her!"

Me? Being cruel?

But wasn't I the one getting hurt in this scenario?

I raised my head to see the guests shooting me displeased looks from all around me. Meanwhile, Joanna cowered behind Gilbert like a wounded pup, and he shielded her protectively from me.

It appeared that I was painted as the villain in this situation.

Joanna wiped her tears away before saying pitifully, "Please don't misunderstand me, everyone. I sincerely wish our Alpha and Luna to live happily ever after.

"If Luna Alyssa doesn't like me at all, I shall not partake in the bonding ceremony as a guest. But…"

That was when Joanna made eye contact with Gilbert, and a longing sparkle danced in her eyes.

"Alpha Gilbert, today is my birthday. We have celebrated every birthday together in the past, so please don't abandon me this year as well. Come seek me out tonight, okay?"

Gilbert hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"I promise I'll seek you out once the bonding ceremony is over."

So, my mate intended to celebrate another she-wolf's birthday with her on the night of our bonding ceremony?

Upon hearing Gilbert's promise to Joanna, I yanked the Luna's veil off my head and hurled it at Joanna's face.