Chapter 4

By the time I reached the healer's den, I was drenched in sweat and shaking uncontrollably.

Thankfully, Raye wasn't seriously injured. Other than a mild concussion, she was fine.

When she slowly opened her eyes and saw me, tears immediately rolled down her cheeks.

"Mom, when it was time to pay the medical bills, I realized the money in my account had been transferred out.

"All twenty grand have gone missing."

My mind went completely blank.

Those twenty grand were the private savings I had built up little by little over the years. I had cut back on everything and saved every penny I could.

I had planned to save enough money to leave with Raye and return to my maternal pack.

Raye had been robbed and refused to hand over the money. Enraged, the rogues knocked her unconscious and left her on the side of the road.

Only two werewolves knew the password to that bank account. Apart from me, there was only one other werewolf I could think of.

I immediately returned to the pack and slammed the card down in front of Leo.

"I took the money."

Leo's response to my confrontation was completely casual.

"I bought Lucas a place in the heart of our pack's territory.

"He deserves a place of his own.

"The pack funds were tied up, so I borrowed the money temporarily."

"Leo!" My fingernails dug deep into my palms as my face turned pale. "That money belonged to Raye!"

"She doesn't need it right now," Leo replied indifferently.

Slap!

I couldn't take it anymore. I slapped him hard across the face.

"That money belonged to her! What gave you the right to just take it?

"She was attacked by rogues and was lying unconscious in the healer's den–"

"What?"

For the first time, genuine panic appeared on Leo's face.

"She was attacked? Where is she–"

"Ivy, I know you're angry, but you shouldn't lie."

A timid voice interrupted him.

Camille lowered her head as tears gathered in her eyes.

"I just saw Raye outside the estate and even said hello to her.

"We'll definitely repay the money that was used. If you're still upset, I can apologize to you."

As she spoke, she moved as if she was about to kneel.

Leo's expression instantly turned cold.

"Ivy Reid, you're still as full of lies as ever." He stared at me coldly.

"So what if I used her twenty grand?

"I've raised her all these years. Is it really too much to expect her to repay me with this much?"

I could barely believe what I was hearing.

"Mom, I heard everything."

Raye's weak voice entered my mind.

"Just let him have it.

"Consider the twenty grand payment in full for everything up until now."

Inside me, my wolf spirit curled up and let out a deep, mournful whine.

My heart ached so badly that it had gone numb. So this was what it felt like.

A loud ringing filled my ears, and Leo's voice became distant and blurred.

"For the next few days, I'm taking Camille and Lucas on a hunt. After that, we'll attend the pack gathering together."

After saying that, he turned around and left with Camille.

I placed the mate-bond dissolution papers and the documents severing Raye's paternal ties on his desk.

A week later, at the airport, Raye sat quietly in a wheelchair as she was still recovering from her injuries.

"Mom, do you think you'll regret it?

"After being with an Alpha for so many years, you're leaving everything behind all at once."

"Will you regret it, honey?" I asked instead of answering her question.

"You're still so young, and now you're leaving with me for a pack so far away."

We looked at each other and laughed simultaneously.

Neither of us would regret it, and that was good enough.

Raye had always worried about whether our maternal pack would have enough resources after we returned. That was why losing the money had devastated her so badly.

But she didn't know that the pack I came from had far greater resources than she could possibly imagine.

We left that worthless place behind without hesitation.

Several hours later, we finally stepped onto the territory of my maternal pack again.

The moment we arrived, Leo's mind-link attempts began flooding both my mind and Raye's.