Chapter 3

Sylvia's POV

Not long after Sienna got married in my previous life, I heard that she frequently returned to the Starmoon Pack to tell our parents all about her woes, weeping until late into the night.

Back then, Jensen would always bring that up to remind me to stay quietly with the Werefang Pack and focus on living my own life in peace.

As I was lost in thought, I abruptly heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind me. That was when I finally realized that, at some point, someone had joined me in the garden.

Before I could even cry out in surprise, the newcomer turned around and asked, "Is this what you were planning to deliver to my pack today?"

Cassian held up a badge—precisely the one I'd asked someone to deliver to the Werefang Pack today.

Once, I happened to be passing by when Cassian was being attacked by Rogues.

I wasn't willing to reveal my identity back then, so I changed into a guard's outfit before stepping in to save him.

That battle ended quickly—so quickly that I didn't even have the chance to say much to him before leaving in a hurry.

It wasn't until I reached home that I realized his badge had somehow ended up among my clothes.

I initially assumed that it was just a small item he'd accidentally left behind. I hadn't expected him to remember it to this day.

However, what surprised me even more was how incredibly discerning he was.

When I disguised myself as a man to save him back then, he hadn't exposed my ruse on the spot.

But this time, when he'd come here to discuss the marriage proposal, he'd actually recognized me at a glance.

He took a step forward and asked, "What's wrong? Does the prospect of marrying me make you miserable? Do you have any idea how many women out there would do anything to become my Luna?"

His presence was so intimidating that I dared not make a sound. I could only take two steps backward.

I replied, "Cassian, I know I'm not worthy of you. You had no say in the arrangement between Grandma and your father. You should pursue a Luna you actually like instead."

I didn't dare look up at him, so I could only rely on the sound of his breathing to gauge whether he was angry or not.

"Is that so? Why did I just hear you and your father arguing over jewelry, then? If you really didn't want to marry me, why would you argue over those things? Was it not because you wanted to look more respectable?" he asked.

As he spoke, he surveyed the surroundings, then walked straight into my room.

"Is this how you're usually treated at home?"

I was momentarily bewildered. I didn't think anyone had asked me such a question since Grandma passed away.

Seeing the shock in my eyes, Cassian stood up and lay down on my bed.

"It's so hard. Even our maids back home sleep on more comfortable beds than this. Your father is an Alpha—how can he treat his own daughter like this? If you don't even have a say in your own household, where did you find the guts to pen this rejection letter?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he sprang up from the bed and subconsciously massaged his lower back.

I stared at my stiff bed, tears instantly welling in my eyes. "That's my business, not yours. According to the marriage proposal, the ritual is to take place at the end of this month. It's best to settle this before then."

I paused, then added, "Cassian, there's still time to explain things to your father and find yourself another Luna."

After a long while, Cassian finally asked, "Are you that opposed to marrying me?"

I turned around, making my answer clear.

Only after he left did my tears finally start streaming down my face.

Just as I was about to turn in for bed, a young, familiar-looking maid stumbled into my room.

"Ms. Larke, Alpha Silas has flown into a terrible rage in the living room, and he's sent me to fetch you," she informed me.

I recalled everything that had happened just now and surmised that Cassian might have said something to Dad.

As soon as I walked into the living room, I saw Dad standing in front of me with a furious expression.

Sienna, who had always been pampered, was also crying over at one side while Mom soothed her gently.

"Kneel," Dad commanded.

Before I could even ask why, he struck me across the knees with a wolfbone cane.

I dropped straight to my knees, my kneecaps cracking loudly against the marble floor.

I asked through gritted teeth, "May I ask what I've done to make you so angry?"

Although incidents like this were hardly uncommon, it was the first time he'd been this openly furious.

"You still have the nerve to ask me that? Sienna conceded such a wonderful mate to you, yet not only were you not grateful to her, but you also dared to ruin her reputation!" Dad bellowed.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he struck me with the wolfbone cane once more.

I lay on the floor, in too much pain to stand.

"Why did you send the Werefang Pack that rejection letter under Sienna's name? Do you have any idea how every wolf out there is going to view our pack because of what you did?"

That was when I finally realized that Sienna was behind this.

She deliberately got someone to forge a letter and have it delivered to Dad, then shifted all the blame onto me.