Johanna couldn't help but contemplate the situation. The Silverplume pack was undoubtedly the most prominent in the Northern Wolflands. They seemed invincible, but who knew how many dark, unspeakable secrets were hidden behind their strength?

Even the pack Alpha not only betrayed his Luna but even teamed up with the entire pack in an attempt to play her for a fool.

For the sake of their so-called glory and ensuring the survival of the pureblood lineage, they had the audacity to propose having him be the father of the pup instead. They even wanted her, the one who had been betrayed, to raise the offspring produced through his infidelity once the pup was born.

It was nothing short of them cruelly trampling all over her dignity.

Allison was now with pup. There was a unique duality to werewolves—while they were physically formidable and had extraordinary recovery rates, she-wolves were extremely weak when they were carrying a pup and required constant care from the males.

That night, Carlin didn't pretend to be locked away in the ancestral shrine like he had the past few months. Instead, he conjured up an excuse for himself. He told Johanna that since Allison was pregnant, he had to check on her. He was worried something might happen to Allison and Uriel's pup.

Johanna had long since been hurt and disillusioned by him. She no longer felt disappointed. Instead, her gaze was filled with nothing more than exhaustion and indifference.

"Got it. Go ahead. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep," she said.

She was no longer interested in seeing what Carlin and Allison got up to. They had done far too many unforgivable things already. She couldn't be bothered to care whether even more might happen tonight.

It was nearly dawn when Carlin finally returned to their room. Although he hugged her from behind as affectionately as ever, his voice was clearly laced with the huskiness of someone who had just satisfied his physical lust.

"Sorry, Jo. I ended up staying a little longer with Allison. Don't take it the wrong way. She was crying because she missed Uriel, so I had to keep her company. I tried talking to her and comforting her in the hopes of making her feel better."

Johanna could smell Allison's scent on Carlin. Feeling repulsed, she forcefully struggled out of Carlin's arms.

"Why did you come back then? You should just move into Allison's place. Since she's pregnant, she needs you to take care of her the way Uriel would've. I don't need that."

Johanna couldn't keep the anger and disgust out of her eyes.

"Why are you suddenly having a fit? Uriel died saving me, and Allison is carrying his pup. Isn't it my duty to console her in his place when she's upset?" Carlin retorted.

"Jo, do you actually think something is going on between Allison and me? If you insist on thinking that… so be it. I won't ever get involved with Allison's matters anymore. If you want me to stay away from her, I'll do as you wish. I'm going to prove my innocence to you, even if it means bearing the brunt of Mother and the elders' reprimands."

Despite saying that, he took his anger out on Johanna anyway. Shoving her aside roughly, he left in a huff, slamming the door behind him.

For the next few days, Carlin seemed to keep his word. He purposely avoided all contact with Allison, even when the pack invited a healer over each month to check on the pup.

"Carlin, Uriel's gone, and Allison is carrying his pup. You should be taking care of her on Uriel's behalf," Maria painstakingly scolded.

Carlin took the hint and put on a show with Maria.

"So what? Jo got pissed when I had to console Allison the other night. She doesn't like me paying attention to any other she-wolf besides her, even if it's Uriel's widow and her own older sister."

In just a few sentences, he cast all the blame onto Johanna.

Just then, the healer came out after having checked on Allison and the pup. She said, "Both the mother and the pup are doing well, but the mother seems to be in poor spirits. I suggest you all spend more time talking to her to keep her in a good mood."

"Well? Why are you still standing there? Since you don't want Carlin to do it, you can do it yourself," Maria said to Johanna. "No other she-wolf in the Silverplume pack is as jealous and possessive as you are. You don't even trust your own mate and sister."

Johanna had no choice but to enter Allison's room. However, the moment she approached the bed, a seemingly weak Allison abruptly reached out and grabbed her wrist tightly.

Her instinctive reaction was to try and break free, but that was exactly what Allison wanted. She allowed herself to fall out of the bed just as Johanna pulled back before wailing, "My pup! My pup!"

Her cries drew in everyone who had gathered outside, including Carlin, Maria, and other core members of the pack.

Carlin was the quickest to react. He shot over to Allison and held her tightly. His voice trembled with concern as he said, "Allie! I'm here. Don't be afraid. I won't let anything happen to you or the pup."

"I'm scared, Carl! Save the pup! I can't lose him!"

Their display stirred up mixed emotions in Johanna. It still affected her, after all. It made her sad to see the truth blatantly presented before her.

However, before she could compose herself, one of the members of the Silverplume pack shouted in anger, "It was Johanna's doing! She wants to destroy our pureblood lineage and ruin us all by killing the pup!"

Once Maria and the elders gave the order, several young, formidable pack warriors surrounded Johanna.

In her panic, Johanna shifted into her wolf to fight back, but how could she single-handedly take on the experienced warriors?

Her dark gray fur flapped in the air, drenched red by her blood.

"Don't bother showing her any mercy. She brought it upon herself. I refuse to acknowledge someone as vicious as her as my daughter," Carmen declared.

Even though she was present, she didn't plead for them to go easy on Johanna. Instead, she growled, "You knew how important the pup is to Allison and the entire pack, but you still had the gall to try and harm the pup! You're just jealous because Allison is better than you in every way!"

While werewolves quickly recovered from their injuries, Maria and the elders were determined to ensure Johanna suffered. They had her tormentors use whips that were covered in silver.

Johanna was beaten to within an inch of her life. Her entire face and body were covered in blood. She was barely conscious when Carlin finally called out at leisure, "That's enough. Allison and the pup are more important. We mustn't frighten them."

Ignoring the bloodied Johanna, he picked up Allison and covered her with a blanket.

"How are you feeling, Allison? Are you hurt?" Carlin asked, still anxious about Allison's condition.

In the end, Johanna was dumped in the ancestral shrine and expected to repent for her misdeeds.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Carlin and Allison were wrapped up in each other's arms.

"You've been so good to me, Carl. With Uriel gone, I don't know what I'd do if you weren't around to take care of me, dote on me, and give me this pup."

"Uriel and I were twins. It's only natural for me to complete what he couldn't do on his behalf."

"But this isn't the only thing Uriel has left undone. I'm only 20 years old. I still have my entire life ahead of me…"

"Well, for as long as it takes, I'll do everything in his place. What's the matter? Haven't I done a good job recently? Haven't I kept you satisfied, baby?"

"To be honest, Carl, you're actually better than Uriel. I still think about the other night when you took me 17 times…"

"You know, Uriel wasn't the only one who fell in love with you at first sight. But I was the younger brother. Between us, he was the one who had the final say. We had to be of one mind. I couldn't disregard the glory of the pack for my own selfishness.

"That's why I was willing to mate with Jo. I figured that since she's your younger sister, treating her well would be akin to treating you well too. After all, once you became Uriel's mate, I could still see you every day."

"Carl! We're in the middle of a conversation! What are you doing with your hands? You're so annoying!"

At last, the truth was out.

Johanna, who was passing by, overheard everything. She rejoiced over the fact that she had already broken her mate bond with Carlin.

Once again, she approached Elspeth for help in treating her injuries. Perhaps she looked pitiful enough, for Elspeth tended to the wounds without asking for anything in return.

"Was it your mate who hit you? Judging from your tears, you seem to be in great sorrow. It looks like your heart is hurting more than your body," Elspeth remarked.

With a bitter chuckle, Johanna replied, "You're right. It hurts so much. I'm guessing no one can withstand the pain of being abandoned by both their mate and their family. We can recover from physical wounds, but the wounds in our hearts will remain forever.

"Still, I'm used to being framed and set up the way I was today. I've been through it countless times all throughout my childhood."

"You poor thing," Elspeth remarked. "If you ever need help, feel free to come to me."

It had been a long time since Johanna had received such care from someone else. Ever since she was a young pup, she was bullied by everyone else—especially Allison.