Philip turned to Louis, his expression stern as he said, "Grace is the one who is truly fit to be your wife, Louis."

Louis quickly helped Chloe to her feet and declared, "I'm a superior white wolf, so even if Chloe is a brown wolf, I'm still capable of fathering white pups, Father!"

Philip had always valued bloodline purity above all else.

I noticed Dad staring daggers at Chloe. Her parents were a disreputable lot, so as a result, our families had become strangers to one another the moment Mom passed away.

I held Dad back, preventing him from stepping forward to side with Philip.

"Are you truly certain you want to marry Chloe, Louis?" Philip asked.

Louis nodded firmly in affirmation.

Philip ultimately couldn't sway him, so he had no choice but to consent to the union. He only allowed Chloe to be his mistress for now, decreeing that she would earn her place as Louis' wife only after proving herself by bearing a pure-blood pup.

Chloe's family basked in their newfound glory now that she was officially tied to Louis, the heir of the Wolf King. Fiona Moore, my indolent and greedy aunt, took advantage of Chloe's position as an excuse to visit our home and lord it over us.

Dad, however, had no patience for her and promptly kicked her out.

The Twin Wolf lineage was incredibly precious among wolf clan. Therefore, even though I was passed over during the selection, that didn't stop others from coveting my lineage.

Dad, however, was never satisfied. In just a few short days, he had already rejected over a dozen families who had come to propose marriage.

Chloe's family held a grand feast to commemorate her being Louis' mistress. They extended invitations to every wolf of consequence in the clan, sparing no expense to flaunt their new status.

I naturally received an invitation as well. Heather Bell, my maid, advised me against going, but I felt no fear and went anyway.

The moment I entered Chloe's home, I noticed the guests muttering to each other with knowing smiles. I remained unfazed by their petty gossip and chose a secluded seat away from the prying eyes of the crowd.

I hadn't been sitting long when a figure stopped right in front of me. I looked up to find that it was Chloe.

I was just about to get up and leave when Chloe suddenly grabbed my arm to stop me. "You might have lost the selection, but it's not the end of the world. Grace, I'm sure that if you hide it well enough, someone out there will still be willing to marry you."

I had no idea what Chloe was saying and was utterly confused.

Chloe covered her mouth after saying that, feigning a look of distress. "I've said too much, haven't I? I can assure you that I'll be looking out for you and help you find a suitable husband."

I flung her hand away and tried to walk off, refusing to listen to her rambling.

In an unexpected turn of events, Chloe's words sparked murmurs among those nearby.

"Why would Chloe say that? Does Grace really have some shameful secret to hide?"

"It certainly looks that way. I mean, it would explain why the heir of the Wolf King passed over her Twin Wolf lineage in favor of a common brown wolf like Chloe."

…

The following day, Heather came to tell me that rumors about me were circulating. They claimed that my private life was a mess and that I was involved with several wolves at once. They even went so far as to say I had sought out beastmen from other clans during my heat.

Those who had previously wanted a marriage alliance shunned me, going out of their way to avoid me whenever they saw me in public.

It was clear as day that these were the very seeds Chloe had planted at her home the day before. I also suspected, with growing certainty, that Louis was pulling the strings right alongside her.

They had no idea that I was actually pleased with the outcome. There had been so many marriage proposals lately that I'd grown just as tired of them as Dad had.

I knew the rumors would ruin my reputation, but I preferred that over more marriage offers.

I instructed Heather to spread the rumor that my Twin Wolf lineage was nothing but a lie, forcing those suitors to retreat completely.

Once I handled that matter, I carried a jug of medicinal wine and walked into a heavily guarded courtyard.

"What brings you here, Grace?"

Ella Craft, my twin sister and also a superior white wolf, lived here. She had been frail and sickly since birth, so Dad had specially built this courtyard and stationed guards there to ensure she was never disturbed and to allow her to recover in peace.

I would drop by to see Ella every so often.

I told Ella everything that had happened recently, causing her to erupt in rage. "Louis is truly despicable!"

She then looked up at me and asked, "Are you alright, Grace?"

I shook my head, poured two glasses of medicinal wine, and handed one to her.

"If you're looking to get even with Louis, I might have just the solution for you," Ella suddenly said.

I cast a questioning glance at her, looking for an explanation.

Ella continued, "You'll surely be able to bear white pups if you can find the mythic Golden Celestial Wolf and mate with him."

I had drunk too much of the medicinal wine and felt a bit tipsy, so I gave a dazed nod, not truly paying much attention to what she had said.

…

Two weeks later, Chloe was escorted into Louis' manor with great fanfare. The place was packed with guests, all congratulating Chloe on her union with Louis.

I had planned to head out immediately after dropping something off when a household staff member accidentally bumped into me. I suddenly smelled a peculiar scent right after, prompting me to immediately use my magic to teleport away from the scene.

I found myself transported to an inconceivable paradise. It was a place of serene beauty, with lush mountains and crystal-clear waters, looking as though it were a world completely apart from the wolf clan's territory.

I remembered this place.

In my past life, after I had swallowed our family’s heirloom pearl, I went through an agonizing transition. I needed a full day and night to absorb its power before it could be integrated into my body.

Back then, I had heard from an elder in the mansion that a Golden Celestial Wolf resided here—the supreme being of all wolves.

A wild idea suddenly crossed my mind. If I could mate with that Golden Celestial Wolf, the pups I gave birth to would definitely be the finest among all wolves, and there would be two of them.

With that thought in mind, I started looking for a place to settle down.

I searched for a good while but still couldn't find anything. Frustrated, I grumbled under my breath, "I clearly remember them saying it was near here. Am I in the wrong place?"

I recalled the elder mentioning that it was currently the Golden Celestial Wolf's mating season.

I had just thought about that when a sudden, overwhelming power yanked me into a concealed thicket. In the heat of our mating, I noticed that the man was enveloped in a brilliant golden light, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was indeed the Golden Celestial Wolf.

He possessed immense stamping, truly living up to the legend of the Golden Celestial Wolf. I begged for mercy several times, but I remained trapped under his powerful frame.

I had no idea how many days and nights had passed, but by the time I woke up, I found a strikingly beautiful man resting at my side. The moment his eyes opened, I asked, "What is your—"

Before I could finish the man vanished, teleporting away without saying a thing.

I placed a hand over my stomach and shook my head. It didn't really matter; after all, I had only sought out the Golden Celestial Wolf for his superior genes.

I arrived home feeling utterly drained. I collapsed onto my bed and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

…

I was suddenly awakened by an unknown wolf man, who carried himself with an insufferable arrogance. "The future Wolf Queen has summoned you to the main hall."

I was momentarily baffled before realizing that the only one who could bear that title and had any connection to me was none other than Chloe.

That was when I realized that today was the day Chloe was supposed to return to her family home after her union with Louis. I hadn't even noticed that three whole days had passed while I was lost in the arms of the Golden Celestial Wolf.

I knew Chloe's family lived quite close to ours, but I was still surprised that she actually had the nerve to drop by our house during her first visit back home since the union.

I entered the main hall, only to find that Chloe had arrived not only with a hoard of gifts but also with a man.

Once she saw me, Chloe hurried over and grabbed my hand. "I'd like you to meet Alexander Rossi, Grace. He's here to ask for your hand in marriage."

I sneered and yanked my hand back. It was common knowledge that the greatest taboo for a member of wolf clan was intermarrying with another clan, yet Chloe had the gall to publicly introduce me to an outsider.

I was absolutely certain that she was trying to humiliate me, as the man she had introduced me to was a tiger man.

"I see you've taken up matchmaking as a hobby, but I'm not in the mood to show any gratitude for this insult, Chloe."

Dad's face twisted with fury. He raised his hand, intending to slap Chloe, but I caught his arm and held him back.

"How dare you, Grace! How dare you reject the match I've arranged for you!" Chloe shouted. "Do you really think anyone would want you as you are?"

Before I could respond, a voice rang out from the entrance. "I want her!"

I turned toward the sound and was instantly stunned.