Chapter 3

Once, when Mom wasn't home, Dad forced a huge piece of raw meat into my mouth.

As he did so, he said, "Your mother keeps claiming you're allergic to raw meat, but I don't believe it! If you can eat it cooked, why not raw? She's just trampling on Judy's good intentions on purpose."

I cried and bit him to break free. Then, I spat out all the raw meat in my mouth onto the floor.

Dad slapped me and scolded me for being an ungrateful pup.

But Dad, you once said that I was the most mature and obedient pup in the Moonflash pack.

I was afraid that Mom would worry, so I didn't dare to tell her even though my stomach hurt terribly.

However, Dad went looking for her to show off triumphantly. "See, Ray ate raw meat today and she's fine, isn't she? You're just making a big fuss over nothing!"

Mom put an arm around me and sobbed until her shoulders shook. I was very upset. Perhaps I was a disobedient pup. Otherwise, why couldn't I eat raw meat?

It was my fault that Mom and Dad kept arguing. Now that I was dead, they wouldn't argue because of me anymore, right?

"Where on earth is Ray? Call her out here. She's my pup, and she must learn to take responsibility!"

Even now, Dad was still insisting that I apologize to Judy.

Mom looked up and gave him a long look. "My pup only refused to eat food that she was allergic to. She didn't do anything wrong. She doesn't owe anyone an apology."

It was the first time Mom had refused Dad so firmly. He was startled, then he got angry again. "It's your fault for spoiling her! That's why Ray became a bad pup who hurts others!"

He pointed at Mom, his voice full of venom. "She's so vicious at such a young age. I would rather not have a pup like her!"

I protested loudly in the air. "That's not true! I'm not a bad pup at all!"

I was young, but I knew that adults didn't like pups who did bad things.

I loved Mom so much. Why would I behave badly and make her dislike me?

It was a pity that Dad could no longer hear my voice.

Mom's eyes reddened in anger. "How is Ray a bad pup? She's always been obedient!"

Dad scoffed and stared into Mom's eyes. "Obedient? Where was she yesterday morning, then? Someone saw Ray stab Judy with a dagger. Is that what you call obedient?"

"Did you just say that Ray stabbed Judy yesterday and injured her?"

Mom looked startled, and then she suddenly started laughing. She laughed so hard that tears ran down her cheeks.

"What proof do you have to show that it was Ray? Who saw it?"

Dad was furious. He took out his phone for the video and tossed it to Mom.

"See for yourself! Someone filmed it. The pup was dressed exactly like Ray was at the banquet! How dare you say that it's not her? There were a lot of people in the pack who saw it!"

I floated closer to Mom and watched the video with her. Just as Dad had said, the pup in the video was dressed very similarly to how I had been dressed before I died.

However, I had already died. How could I have stabbed Judy?

Dad's tone softened, and he began to reason with Mom. "That's our pup. How could I mistake her for someone else? She's still young, and she has to admit it bravely when she does something wrong.

"I'll take her to go and apologize to Judy. Judy won't hold it against her. You mustn't shield her, or else she'll be taken away by the Silverlune Guards."

I tried to punch Dad angrily, but my fists passed through the air uselessly.

"Bad Dad! That's not me at all! Have you forgotten? You tore the pocket in that shirt, and Mom stitched a little rabbit in that spot. The shirt in the video doesn't have a rabbit!"

Mom, who had been laughing just a moment ago, suddenly fell silent. She stared at Dad, her eyes filled with contempt.

"Call the Silverlune Guards here, then," she said. "I'll wait here for them."