Every allied pack and bloodline stakeholder connected to the Blackmoor territory had gathered at the Grand Lodge.

Fenris Blackmoor stood among them, playing the gracious Alpha host. Every few moments his gaze drifted to the carved timber doors, and his fingers brushed the face of his pocket watch—clearly awaiting the Pack Matriarch's arrival.

Meanwhile, Aria Duskthorn wore a flowing gown that bared her throat in a show of false submission, laughing softly with Selene Blackmoor as though they were the closest of pack-sisters.

The moment I stepped into the gathering hall, both women exchanged a knowing glance and glided toward me.

Aria's voice dripped with mock sweetness, her scent sharp with malice beneath the perfume:

"Oh my, if it isn't the devoted daughter who lets her mother wander around begging scraps from other wolves' tables."

"Tell me, are you here tonight to wrap up some choice cuts for that greedy mother of yours to gnaw on?"

Selene looked me up and down, her lip curling with undisguised contempt:

"Lyra Ashenvale, you mated into the Blackmoor bloodline. Could you at least try to shed those low-born habits of yours? Stop embarrassing our pack in front of the entire territory."

"At this rate, outsiders will think we've taken in a whole den of strays."

The gathered wolves caught wind of the exchange. Whispers rippled through the hall, each voice laced with scorn:

"I heard something earlier—some wolf was caught scavenging at the Skybloom roadhouse today. I wondered what kind of shameless creature would do such a thing. Turns out it was Lyra Ashenvale's mother."

"Word is Aria's people locked her in an iron cage and taught her a proper lesson. Pulled every tooth from her head, they say."

"Serves her right. If you can't carry yourself with dignity, at least don't drag the Blackmoor name through the mud. Losing her teeth is getting off easy."

"Exactly. If they don't discipline her harshly now, she'll just humiliate the pack again."

The mockery washed over the hall. Fenris Blackmoor's expression darkened like storm clouds gathering before a hunt.

He strode toward me, towering over my smaller frame, his Alpha presence pressing down like a physical weight. His voice cut cold as winter wind:

"Lyra Ashenvale. Tonight is my mother's Moon Jubilee—her fiftieth year celebration. If your mother's disgraceful behavior ruins her mood, I will not let it go. Not you, and not that worthless mother of yours."

His words stung like iron against bare skin. I could only laugh at the bitter irony:

"Fenris, if you truly cared about your mother's happiness, you'd go to the roadhouse yourself and see what's happened."

Fenris's brow furrowed, a growl building in his chest. "Why would I go to that outpost?"

"To watch your mother throw a fit like some feral rogue?"

"Or to witness her embarrassing herself in front of common wolves?"

"Lyra Ashenvale, don't you dare try to curse me with your mother's troubles."

Selene lifted her chin, her voice dripping with superiority:

"Exactly. Tonight belongs to my mother. Your mother's petty problems aren't worth my brother's time or attention."

"If you ask me, they should lock her in that outpost and let her go hungry for a few days. Teach her what it means to know her place."

"Before she starts believing that just because you wormed your way into our pack, your whole low-rank family can ride our coattails to glory."

Aria's smile widened with satisfaction as she addressed me:

"Sister Lyra, I know you're worried about your mother. But rest easy—I only gave her a small lesson to help her remember proper conduct. I wouldn't truly harm her."

The words had barely left her lips when Bram Stonehowl, the Beta manager of the Skybloom roadhouse, burst through the hall doors. His scent reeked of panic and old blood.

"Aria! Something's gone wrong."

"The old she-wolf locked in the iron cage—she's dead."

Bram's announcement struck the gathering like lightning splitting an ancient oak. The hall erupted in shocked murmurs.

Aria's face drained of color. "What happened?"

Bram gasped for breath, his words tumbling out:

"We followed your orders exactly. Pulled all her teeth, locked her in the iron cage, left her there without tending to her."

"But that old wolf had a weak heart. Not long after you left, she started clutching her chest, couldn't draw breath. She was gone within moments."

At those words, Aria's legs buckled beneath her. She would have collapsed if Fenris hadn't caught her arm.

The Alpha steadied her, his voice low and reassuring:

"Aria, don't be afraid."

"This is Lyra Ashenvale's mother's own failing—her weak body gave out. None of this is your fault."

Selene recovered quickly, nodding in eager agreement:

"That's right, Sister Aria, this isn't your fault. If anyone's to blame, it's that old she-wolf herself—too frail in body yet still wandering about, bringing shame upon herself."

"If you ask me, she deserved to die. At least now she won't embarrass our Blackmoor Pack anymore."

Seeing that both Fenris and Selene had taken Aria Duskthorn's side, the gathered wolves who had been stunned just moments ago now rushed to declare their allegiance:

"Exactly right. Wolves like her who scavenge for scraps are nothing but parasites on the pack."

"The assistant was doing the territory a service. She has nothing to fear."

"Indeed. Who told that old wolf to go begging for free meals? If her heart was weak, she shouldn't have gone stirring up trouble. She was asking for death."

In an instant, everyone was comforting Aria.

As if she—the one who had caused the death—was the victim, rather than that poor deceased elder.

Seeing everyone stand with her, a flash of triumph passed through Aria's eyes.

But the next moment, she cast a timid glance at me and spoke softly to Fenris:

"But Alpha, the one who died was Sister Lyra's mother after all. What if she comes after me for this?"

Fenris gazed at her with eyes full of tenderness: "Don't worry. With me here, no one can harm you."

With that, Fenris immediately ordered someone to draft a Forgiveness Oath and placed it before me:

"Lyra Ashenvale, your mother was in the wrong first. Her death is her own misfortune, her own weak fate. It has nothing to do with Aria."

"For the sake of our years as mates, I'll have someone give your mother a proper burial rite."

"But you must sign this Forgiveness Oath. Swear that this matter ends here and that you won't make trouble for Aria."

Selene also crossed her arms, looking down at me with superiority:

"Lyra Ashenvale, your mother brought death upon herself. Don't even think about using this to attack Sister Aria. Be smart about this and sign the oath already."

The two siblings commanded me with such arrogance, waiting for me to sign the Forgiveness Oath.

But I pushed the oath back toward them and said calmly:

"If anyone should sign this, it's you two. I have no right to."

Fenris thought I was refusing. His voice turned cold at once:

"Lyra Ashenvale, don't fail to recognize what's good for you."

"Your mother was nothing but a rankless drifter. Her existence in this world held no value whatsoever. The fact that I'm willing to give her an honorable burial is already more than your bloodline deserves. Don't push your luck."

Selene frowned and added: "Exactly. If it weren't for my brother's kindness, given all the shameful things your mother did, no one would even bother to collect her corpse."

"We're offering you a way out. Why aren't you taking it while you can?"

I explained without emotion:

"You've misunderstood. What I mean is, the one who died is your mother. This Forgiveness Oath can only be signed by you."

The moment Selene heard this, she exploded:

"Lyra Ashenvale, have you lost your mind? How dare you speak such cursed words about my mother at her own Moon Jubilee?"

Fenris was equally furious:

"Lyra Ashenvale, it seems I've been far too lenient with you all these years. That's why you've become so arrogant, forgetting even the most basic respect for elders."

"My mother is the most important person in my world. I will not allow anyone to disrespect her—not even my own mate!"

Having said this, he turned sharply to Bram Stonehowl standing nearby and commanded in a harsh voice:

"Go back to the outpost right now. Throw that old thing's body into the rot-pit!"

Bram hesitated, glancing at me: "Alpha, this... this doesn't seem right, does it?"

Fenris roared:

"She won't sign the Forgiveness Oath? She wants to curse my mother? Then I'll make her understand today what happens to those who disrespect my mother!"

"Go now and do it. Whatever consequences come, I'll bear them!"

Seeing Fenris Blackmoor's fury unleashed, Bram Stonehowl didn't dare defy him any longer. He scrambled away on unsteady legs to carry out the Alpha's command.

The gathered wolves at the Moon Jubilee turned their attention to me, shaking their heads and whispering among themselves:

"Lyra Ashenvale has truly struck at the Alpha's deepest wound this time."

"Indeed. Everyone knows Alpha Fenris lost his father young. The Matriarch Aurora raised him and his sister alone. Who doesn't know that the Matriarch is the one person the Alpha treasures above all else? This Lyra must have lost her mind, cursing the Matriarch at her own Moon Jubilee!"

"No wonder her mother died. Having such an ungrateful daughter, what parent could live long?"

The pack members' words were sharp and cruel.

But they couldn't touch me at all.

I ignored everyone and looked directly at Fenris, speaking slowly and clearly:

"Fenris, are you certain you want to push things this far?"

Fenris looked down at me from his dominant height, his voice cold and harsh:

"Lyra Ashenvale, you brought all of this upon yourself."

"Your mother died because she had no shame and loved to take advantage of others."

"You shouldn't have used that as an excuse to curse my mother again and again at her Moon Jubilee."

"If you ask me, your mother deserved an early death for having a daughter like you who doesn't know gratitude or respect for elders!"

The moment those words left his mouth.

My mother suddenly walked into the great hall. She looked at Fenris with confusion:

"Who died?"