chapter 4

Scarlett’s POV

Julie’s eyes burned with anger.

Her lips curled as she lunged at me, her claws sharp and aimed straight for my throat.

“I’ll teach you a lesson...” She roared with fury, but didn’t get to finish her words as a strong hand suddenly caught her wrist mid-air.

Her claws stopped just inches away from my skin.

“Lay your filthy finger on her…” A deep, cold voice rang out. “And you lose your head.”

The air turned deadly silent, making Julie freeze.

I slowly turned my head and saw a tall man standing between us.

He looked calm… but the anger in his eyes was terrifying.

His grip on Julie’s wrist tightened slightly, making her wince.

His presence alone was enough to make the air heavy.

He was dressed in black, his posture straight and powerful. On his chest was a symbol, a crescent moon marked with silver lines.

My breath caught.

That symbol… I had seen it before.

In my previous life, that was the same symbol on the uniforms of the warriors who came to take my body away.

Behind him stood several Gamma warriors.

Each of them looked strong, cold, and ready to kill.

Their eyes swept across everyone like sharp blades.

No one dared to breathe too loudly.

The guards stepped back in fear.

Even Julie who had been so arrogant just seconds ago was now trembling.

Her face turned pale as she stared at the symbol on his chest.

“M-Moonlight…” she whispered.

Her body shook with fear, real fear.

She slowly pulled her hand back and stepped aside immediately.

“I… I didn’t know…” she stuttered.

But no one answered her.

Because no one cared.

The man let go of her wrist like she was nothing.

Then, he turned to me. And to everyone’s shock, he bowed to me.

The Gamma warriors behind him bowed at the same time.

The entire entrance fell into silence.

“My lady,” he said respectfully, his voice now calm. “I am Usher. I apologize for arriving late." His eyes quickly scanned me. “I hope you were not hurt.”

So… this is Usher.

For a second…

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Even the air felt frozen.

I looked at him. “I’m fine,” I said calmly.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps pulled everyone's attention to the auction house entrance.

A stocky man in a fitted jacket came pushing through the doors, his eyes scanning the scene rapidly until they landed on Usher's symbol. He stopped. Then he bowed immediately.

"Beta Usher." His voice was quick and apologetic. "I am James, Delta of Valley Wolf Pack and manager of this auction house. I apologize.... I only just heard..."

"Your guards," Usher said coldly, "turned away an Alpha heir and permitted a physical attack on her person at your entrance."

James straightened and turned to the guards with an expression that made them shivered.

“How dare you stop her?” James asked coldly.

The guards lowered their heads.

James’s face darkened. His voice was loud and filled with anger.

“You dare block a guest of this status? You insult her? Are you trying to destroy this place?!”

The guards dropped their heads even lower.

“Apologize!” he ordered. "Immediately."

“We’re sorry, ma’am!” they said together, bowing deeply.

I looked at them quietly, cold and calmly, then I spoke.

“Be careful next time.”

My voice was soft. But it carried weight.

They all nodded quickly.

“Yes, ma’am!”

James turned back to me at once.

This time, his face carried a polite smile with respect.

“Miss Scarlett,” he said, bowing slightly. “Please, forgive this mistake and allow me to personally welcome you.”

He stepped aside and gestured toward the entrance.

“Everything inside is at your service.”

I gave a small nod.

Then I walked in.

Usher and his men followed behind me.

No one dared to stop us again.

......

The auction hall was large and beautiful.

People filled the seats; Alphas, rich merchants, powerful figures.

The moment I stepped in, a few heads turned. Their eyes lingered with curiosity.

I walked forward calmly and took my seat.

The auction began.

Item after item was presented.

The mansion went to me without competition once James made a quiet word to the right people about the identity of the interested buyer.

It was exactly as I had imagined; solid, private, sitting at the border of Silver Moon and Valley Wolf territory like a door I could finally walk through.

Later, another item caught my attention.

Moonflowers and moongrass.

They were rare. Like, very rare and useful herbs.

“I want them,” I said simply.

No one argued. They were mine too.

After the auction ended, I stepped outside.

The air felt cool and peaceful. For the first time, I felt in control.

“My lady,” Usher called gently.

I turned to him.

His expression had changed to something careful and serious.

“There is something you need to know,” he said.

“What is it?” I asked.

He hesitated for a moment. Then spoke.

“Your father… Alpha Arther…”

My heart tightened.

“He doesn’t have much time left.” he said carefully, "His condition has worsened considerably. His days are.... limited. He has been asking for you." he said and everything inside me went still.

For a second, I couldn’t think.

Goddess, I can't believe I just found out I had a family and now, I'm about to face the loss of my father.

The grief arrived before I was ready for it.

“Take me to him,” I said immediately.

......

The drive to Moonlight Werewolf Hospital took about thirty minutes.

I was deep in thought when my phone vibrated in my hand, jolting me out of my thoughts.

I blinked and looked down.

It's Killian.

I stared at the screen for a second… then ignored the call.

It rang again.

And again.

And again.

My expression turned cold.

Goddess, what does he want now?

The phone kept vibrating like it wouldn’t stop unless I answered.

Finally, I picked up.

“Hello,” I answered flatly.

“Scarlett!” Killian’s voice came through immediately.

He sounded… panicked and anxious.

Completely different from his usual calm and proud tone.

For a second, I almost laughed.

So he can panic.

"What is it?" I asked coldly.

“Tiffany’s medicine...” he started quickly then stopped, collected himself, or tried to. "It didn't work. Not only did it not suppress the silver poison, it made everything worse! The warriors who were already silver-poisoned had gotten worse. The experimental data has been completely corrupted. The senior managers are furious, Scarlett. I need you here."

In the background, I could hear chaos.

Crying.

Shouting.

“Killian, this is your responsibility!” someone yelled.

“You trusted her?!” another voice snapped.

“I… I didn’t know…” Tiffany’s voice came through, broken and crying.

“I followed the data!”

“What data?!” someone roared. “Everything is wrong!”

The noise was unbearable.

Messy, loud, and pathetic.

I slowly moved the phone away from my ear, my face showing clear annoyance.

After a few seconds, I brought it back.

“Scarlett…” Killian’s voice softened suddenly, careful and fake.

“You need to come back,” he said. “You are the only one who can fix this.”

I almost smiled.

There it is.

The real reason.

“I’m busy,” I replied calmly.

“Busy?” his voice tightened. “Scarlett, people's conditions are getting worse! The Council will hear about this! My Alpha position is at stake!”

Good.

Let them.

He lowered his voice again, trying to sound gentle.

“Please, come back and handle this. You know this research better than anyone.”

Silence.

Then, I spoke slowly.

“I can help you.”

The moment I said that, the noise on his end seemed to pause with hope and desperation.

I could almost feel it through the phone.

“But,” I continued calmly, “the lab is too small.”

Killian paused.

“What?”

“It’s crowded and messy. It affects my work,” I said simply. “I can’t focus there.”

There was silence.

“What are you saying?” he asked.

“I want my own lab,” I said.

My words sound clear and direct.

“I need a proper space if you want results.” I continued.

Killian didn’t speak immediately.

I could hear him thinking.

Calculating.

Hesitating.

Then, I added quietly. “Otherwise… I can’t continue the research.”

That did it.

“How much?” he asked quickly.

My lips curved slightly.

“Fifty million.” I said.

There was silence. Like, heavy silence.

Even through the phone, I could feel his hesitation.

It was a lot.

Of course it was.

But I didn’t rush him.

I simply waited.

“If you can’t do it,” I said lightly, “then find someone else.”

“No!” he snapped immediately.

His voice filled with desperation and fear.

Perfect.

"Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’ll transfer it.”

Before he could say more, a sharp voice cut in from his side.

“What?!” Tiffany screamed. “No! Killian, you can’t!”

“Shut up!” Killian hissed at her in a low, angry voice.

The line went slightly quiet.

A few seconds later,

Ding.

A notification popped up on my phone.

Transfer received.

50,000,000.

I looked at the number and felt a quiet, clean satisfaction settle over me.

This is exactly the amount I spent today.

"Consider it a down payment," I thought. "On everything you owe me."

“My lady,” Usher's voice came from the driver's seat. “We’ve arrived.”

I looked up at the hospital and the smile on my lips faded.