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Chapter 2

Author: Rainy Bell
My silence seemed to put them at ease.

Back in my room, I had just peeled off the blood-soaked coat when Leon pushed the door open. He carried the familiar scent of cedar and mint.

I used to find comfort in that scent.

Now, it only reminded me of him standing in the living room beside Selene.

Leon looked at my leg, the bandages a messy tangle, and his voice softened for once. "Ivy, does it still hurt?"

I said nothing and focused on re-bandaging my leg.

He was quiet for a moment, then finally spoke his reason for coming. "Next week is the Northern Packs' Exchange. Selene made quite an impression at the hunting rite. The Elder Council wants her to represent the Blackthorn pack."

My hands paused mid-bandage.

Leon continued, "The moon-white gown and laurel crown I gave you—lend them to her for now. It's Selene's first appearance representing the pack. We can't have her look anything less than perfect."

That gown and crown had been his gift to me a year ago.

By pack tradition, only a she-wolf with an arranged mate bond, a future mate, would receive such gifts.

Everyone understood that the gift was his pledge—to me, his future mate.

But now, he was asking me to hand the items to Selene.

I looked at him and, to his surprise, simply smiled. "Sure."

Leon blinked in bafflement, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly.

I pushed myself up from the bed, opened the wardrobe, and handed him the gown and crown.

After that, I said softly, "Anything else?"

Leon's Adam's apple bobbed. "Ivy, don't do this…"

"What else am I supposed to do?" I asked, voice low but crystal clear. "Leon, let's dissolve our mate bond."

His expression turned icy. "No."

"Why not?"

"You're not thinking clearly right now. I won't indulge your outbursts." Leon clutched the box, his tone unwavering. "We'll talk about our mate bond after the exchange."

At that moment, there was a soft knock at the door. Selene stood there, wrapped in a soft gray-white shawl, her expression calm and composed.

"Did I come at a bad time?" She glanced at Leon, then at me, her eyes full of gentle regret. "I didn't want to take your things, Ivy. But the Elder Council said the exchange reflects on the Blackthorn pack. I can't appear poorly dressed. If this upsets you, I'm sorry."

Selene wasn't crying, and she wasn't trying to look pitiful. She just stood there, calm and gentle, the strong, sensible eldest sister everyone knew.

And that was what made her words sting all the more.

Because in everyone else's eyes, she hadn't done anything wrong. If I refused to give in, I was the one who looked unreasonable.

I looked at her, and for the first time, I refused to go along with what they wanted.

I said slowly, "Selene, if you truly didn't want them, you wouldn't be standing here. Representing the pack is your honor, but you insist on taking my gown and my crown. You even want me to give up my mate bond. Do you think I don't deserve any of it, or do you think everything I have is yours to take?"

The room fell silent.

Selene's smile froze, but she quickly recovered. In a calm tone, she replied, "Ivy, I didn't intend it that way."

I ignored her, turning to Leon. "And you. You say the mate bond can't be dissolved, yet every move you made tonight feels like you're choosing a new mate. If you've already decided Selene will take my place by your side, don't treat me like a fallback option."

Suddenly, a sharp slap landed across my face.

My head snapped to the side, my ears ringing and blood tasting metallic in my mouth.

Ryan had barged in somehow, his face red with rage. "Who do you think you are, talking to Selene like that?"
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  • The Best Wolf Is the One They Abandoned   Chapter 10

    What happened at the Frostmoon Plains spread quickly through the werewolf world.Everyone heard that there was a daughter in the Blackthorn pack who was born with extraordinary talent, yet her entire family despised her. She was even nearly left to die in the basement.When she left for the Neutral Zone, she trained herself tirelessly until she became the most skilled hunter, as well as the most beautiful and formidable white wolf in the snow.Rumors like that traveled faster than any hunting tale.My parents, Ryan, and Leon became the laughingstock of the werewolf world overnight.Worse, the Blackthorn pack had hoped the exchange would strengthen their reputation. Instead, the scandal destroyed their prestige.Leon had been a strong candidate to inherit the next Alpha position, but the Elders judged him unfit. He couldn't protect his betrothed, and he let personal feelings compromise critical moments. Therefore, he was deemed incapable of leading the pack.Just like that, he lo

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