Chapter 4

Derek grabbed the werewolf and flung him to the ground like a piece of trash, his face dark with fury.

“By the authority of the Gamma Commander! The Red Moon pack’s Full Moon banquet is not some den for a pack of horny rogues!” he barked.

The werewolf’s ribs were broken. He lay there groaning in pain, too afraid to utter a single complaint, but he shot me a vicious glare.

I glanced at Derek. The possessiveness buried deep in that wolf’s instincts was truly pathetic.

Aria took a deep breath, then deliberately raised her voice so everyone could hear.

“Forget about her! I just received a mind link from one of the guards,” she announced loudly. “The Supreme Ruler of the Werewolf Alliance—the pureblood half-wolf himself—is upstairs holding a meeting with the Council of Elders! Maybe we’ll get lucky tonight and catch a glimpse of the pureblood royal line!”

The entire hall erupted with excited murmurs spreading through the crowd. Some of them were so thrilled that their tails shot straight up.

The Supreme Ruler of the Werewolf Alliance was a pureblood half-wolf whose bloodline carried overwhelming dominance. He controlled most of the moonstone mines across the continent. Rumor had it he was only in his early thirties. Not only was his strength terrifying, but he also had a five-year-old pureblood heir. As for the mysterious woman who was his mate, she had always been fiercely protected. No ordinary werewolf had ever seen her face.

“Oh, Moon Goddess… if I could just catch a whiff of the ruler’s scent today, my life would be complete!”

The rogue werewolf, whose ribs had just been broken, clutched his chest and spat in my direction.

“Selena! If it weren’t for Lady Aria’s generosity, a low-born she-wolf like you would never get to smell a pureblood Alpha in your entire life! If I were you, I’d be on my knees, bare your neck, and bow to Lady Aria! Maybe then she’ll reward you with some lowly job sorting herb scraps and marry you off to a strong warrior like me. I earn dozens of contribution points every month!”

I didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, I leaned against the pillar and looked toward the entrance of the hall.

The next second, a group of elite Beta guards clad in black armor appeared. At their center was a small boy with blond hair and bright blue eyes as they slowly descended into the hall. The crowd instantly fell silent. Every werewolf lowered their head fawningly, desperately exuding a scent of submission, too afraid to breathe.

“That bloodline suppression… It has to be the ruler’s heir! He was born to rule!”

Aria quickly smoothed her dress and plastered the sweetest smile on her face. Swaying her hips, she walked gracefully toward the child.

“Little Alpha, are you hungry? I can have someone bring you the finest spirit fruits to eat.”

As she spoke, she reached out, trying to pat the boy on the head. However, the child avoided her touch in obvious disgust, without bothering to look at her.

His pale golden eyes scanned the crowd once. Then, with startling precision, they locked onto me where I stood leaning against the pillar. In an instant, the cold, aloof aura of royalty vanished. His short legs pumped furiously as he sprinted toward me like an overexcited puppy.

“Mommy!”