Chapter 3

Patience's POV

My parents were prepared to sacrifice when they set out on their mission years ago.

"When your parents' bodies were found, they were inseparable, so they were cremated together," Lycan Gamma explained apologetically.

"This way is better. They loved each other so much in life; they'd be happy to be together forever after death," I said.

My parents were deeply in love, and I used to think all werewolf couples were as sweet.

But now I know better.

Lycan Gamma couldn't help but ask, "Where's your mate? Isn't he accompanying you?"

I looked down at the urn in my arms, trying to keep my voice steady, "He's busy with work and couldn't make it."

He patted my shoulder gently, "If you run into any trouble, let me know. I might be able to help."

"Thank you!" I whispered. He was one of the few who still showed me warmth.

I turned and walked back to my car, holding my parents' urn.

As I pushed open the oak door of the Ironclaw packhouse, Madison's voice pierced my ears.

"When are you going to reject that woman? Hazel's back. She's from the Bluemoon pack and is a female captain now! When are you going to mark her?"

"Hazel and I are just friends. I won't mark her," Kelsey's cedar scent was as calm as if he were discussing stored meat in the pack warehouse.

"Just friends? Everyone knows only you can smell Hazel's mating pheromones!" Hattie interjected, her partial Alpha aura pressing down on the stone table, making the cups clink.

She added, "Hazel is educated and has a good job. What about Patience? She has nothing—she's not worthy of you at all!"

My wolf growled suppressedly in my mind.

The temporary mark on the back of my neck, left by Kelsey three years ago in front of the Moon Goddess, suddenly burned.

Back then, during Kelsey's startup phase, I stayed up with him revising plans and running businesses.

When the company's funds dried up, I used my parents' savings to help him through.

But now, in his family's eyes, I was not good enough for him.

Hattie turned to me, her sharp howl piercing the air, "Patience! How dare you eavesdrop on pack discussions? You have no sense of Luna's decorum!"

"I'm standing right here at the open door, not hiding. It's you who show no respect when discussing your Luna," I said, holding the urn in my arms.

"Good that you heard!" Hattie's nails scraped five deep marks on the stone table. Her mint pheromones mixed with undisguised disdain, "Accept Alpha Kelsey's rejection quickly. Don't delay him and Hazel from forming a new mating. Do you think Alpha Kelsey really wants to mate with you for life?"

"Hattie, enough."

Kelsey finally spoke, but his tone held no defense for me, only irritation at being interrupted.

Hattie became more agitated, her wolf ears pricking with anger, "I'm not wrong! If Hazel hadn't been away, how would you have taken the chance to let my brother mark you?"

Kelsey's face darkened. His Alpha aura pressed down on the living room like a physical force, even the moss in the stone seams yellowed from the pressure.

He said sternly, "Hattie, if you keep this up, you'll patrol the pack borders for three months!"

Hattie pouted, silenced, but gave me a resentful glare.

Madison immediately stepped forward, patting her daughter's back as if Hattie were the wronged one, not me.

Kelsey walked up to me with a frown, his gaze falling on the box in my arms. Hesitantly, he asked, "What's this?"

"It's my parents' ashes," I said softly.

A fleeting guilt crossed Kelsey's eyes.

His tone carried perfunctory regret, "Sorry, I was supposed to go with you today, but Hazel's mom sprained her ankle. I had to help, so..."

He was cut off by Madison's sharp voice, "What? Ashes?"

Madison looked as if she'd seen something repugnant.

Her eyes were filled with unease, "How could you bring their ashes here? This is Ironclaw, not the slum where rogues live!"

I looked at her, my voice trembling with shock, "These are my parents' ashes. They were heroes who sacrificed for the royal family. I have the right to bring them here."

"What royalty? They're not worthy! I said it's not allowed!"

Madison's tone was unyielding, even dismissive, "Get out, and don't bring those ashes into our Ironclaw Pack!"

I clutched the urn tightly, my fingers whitening from the strain, my knuckles aching, "I won't leave. I'm the Luna of Ironclaw. Even the villa and this packhouse were bought with Kelsey and my money together!"

"What bought together?" Hattie immediately contradicted.

She turned to Kelsey and shouted, "This was bought with my brother's money! And Mom just had eye surgery; the doctor said she can't get agitated. Make Patience leave now!"

I looked at Kelsey, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, like a needle pricking my heart.

In the end, he turned to me, his tone commanding, "Just leave for now. Put the ashes down somewhere for now."