로그인My blood ran cold.“How did you get in here?” I took a step back, my guard instantly up.“Why do you think Brielle died to help me escape? She stole a temporary pass for the castle’s service tunnels.”He stepped slowly into the room. “Ember, we need to talk.”His eyes were crazed, desperate, like a gambler on his last bet.“We have nothing to talk about,” I said coldly. “You should be on the run.”“I am on the run,” he gave a bitter laugh. “Hunted by the entire supernatural world. But I had to see you one last time before I die.”His voice trembled with a sick obsession.“Ember, I finally understand. This was all a test. The Moon Goddess put us through all this pain to prove how strong our bond really is.”I stared at him in disbelief. “What are you talking about?”“We are fated mates!” he said, his voice rising with emotion. “That’s a fact no power can change! That vampire might be strong, but he can never give you the sense of belonging that a pack can! Only I can understand your wol
Before Alisa could say more, the door opened softly.Lucian and Damian stood in the doorway.Seeing me awake, Damian rushed over.“Mother!” He carefully climbed onto the bed, his violet eyes brimming with tears. “It’s all my fault…”He choked on a sob. “If I hadn’t provoked that bad woman, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”I stroked his silver-white hair.“It’s not your fault, baby. I’m okay. See? I’m fine now.”But Damian was still blaming himself.“But she used a silver knife on you… Silver is dangerous for werewolves… Mother, does it hurt?”His small hand hovered over my bandaged shoulder, afraid to touch it.“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” I kissed his forehead. “As long as I have you and your father, I’m not afraid of anything.”Lucian stood quietly by the bed, his red eyes never leaving my face.“Alisa, could you leave us for a moment?” he said gently. “I’d like to be alone with my mate.”Alisa took the hint and left.“You too, Damian,” I said softly. “Mother needs to talk to Father.”“
The young wolf’s words were still hanging in the air when Damian stepped away from me.His small body stood in front of me like a shield. His violet eyes, identical to Lucian’s, were locked coldly on Seth.“You're the pathetic excuse for a wolf who hurt my mother, aren't you?” His voice was young, but every word was dipped in ice.Cornered by a child’s gaze, Seth roared, flustered, “You… you little mutt…”“Mutt?” A mocking smile touched Damian’s lips. “A man who couldn’t protect his own fated mate—who pushed her away with his own hands—has no right to speak of bloodlines.”He took small, deliberate steps toward Seth, his elegant posture like a king surveying his domain.“I can smell you,” Damian said, stopping in front of him and tilting his head up.“It’s the reek of regret, jealousy… and weakness. You regret it now, don’t you? You realized you threw away a one-of-a-kind moonstone for a piece of broken glass that cuts your hands.”Seth’s face went ashen.“You never did it to ‘protect
Dr. Aldric finished treating my wounds with a trembling hand and quickly retreated.The hall remained deathly silent.Lucian slowly rose, his blood-red eyes sweeping over every person in the room.“Now,” his voice was low and cold, each syllable a lethal threat. “I want to know who hurt my mate. Step forward now, and I might grant you a quick death. If I have to find out myself…”He didn't finish, but the unspoken promise of agony was clear.Everyone trembled.No one dared move. No one dared to speak.Just then, Seth suddenly stepped forward.His face was pale, but his eyes held a desperate gleam.“Wait!” he said loudly. “Your Highness, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”Lucian turned, his icy gaze locking onto him. “A misunderstanding?”“Yes.” Seth took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. “Ember and I share the fated mate bond. It is the most sacred connection in the wolf world, a destiny gifted to us by the Moon Goddess herself.”His voice grew louder, more confident.“I
The face of every wolf who had mocked me turned deathly pale.They finally understood the magnitude of their mistake.The laughter, the sneers, the venomous words—all of it had been an insult to the Vampire Prince’s mate.The same wolves who had accused me of ruining the truce were now gripped by a suffocating panic.In the dead silence, a side door to the ballroom suddenly opened.A she-wolf in heavy makeup walked in.She had clearly just come from another party, completely oblivious to the situation.“Sorry, sorry, am I late?” she announced loudly, sashaying toward the crowd. “Where’s Brielle? I heard we’re finally getting to see the legendary Vampire Prince today!”Everyone stared at her as if she were a ghost.But she didn’t sense the danger. Instead, she spotted me sitting at the head table.“Oh, Ember? What are you doing sitting there?” she sneered, then noticed Lucian kneeling beside me. “Ooh, and who is this handsome man?”She looked Lucian up and down, her eyes flashing with a
Lucian carried Damian through the parting crowd.The moment their eyes landed on me—on the floor, cheek swollen, lip split and bleeding—the air turned to ice.Damian immediately slid from Lucian’s arms.His small form raced to my side, his violet eyes flashing with a coldness far beyond his years.“Mother!” He knelt beside me, his small hand gently touching my swollen cheek. “Who hurt you?”His voice was childish, but the icy tone sent a shiver down everyone’s spine.Mother. The word, spoken by a child who was clearly a vampire. To a werewolf.The entire pack froze as if turned to stone.“No… it can’t be…”“What did he call her?”“Mother?”“A vampire child called a werewolf ‘Mother’?”“What… what does that mean?”A wave of whispers rose, then died just as quickly.Because a horrifying realization dawned on all of them.If this child called Ember ‘Mother’… then Ember was…No. It was impossible.Absolutely impossible.Seth’s face went white. He stumbled back a few steps.“Ember…” he stam







