"Here, take these."

I stared at her, confusion clouding my thoughts.

Aurora Frostveil leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered, "What you're holding right now are two prime moonroot stalks—the kind that fetch ten thousand marks per half-weight at the healer markets! These two together make a full weight. Take them to the herb traders in the merchant quarter, and if the market favors you, you might even get more than ten thousand marks!"

Aurora wore an expression that suggested I'd just received some tremendous windfall.

When I remained frozen in place, she added, "I don't share treasures like these with just anyone. Only my dearest pack-sister—Lyra Nightshade. Let's put the past behind us, shall we? Consider these moonroots my way of making amends!"

I laughed.

How could we possibly leave the past behind?

Not only would I bring it up—I intended to drag every last detail into the light for all to see.

I pressed down every emotion churning inside me and forced my lips into something resembling a smile.

"Thank you, Alpha."

"What's with the formality! We're pack-sisters, you and I."

Pack-sisters? We were clearly Alpha and subordinate. Nothing more.

Though by next moon-cycle, our positions would be reversed.

I carried the two small moonroot stalks back to my workstation in the Tracker Den.

Rowan Ashclaw, one of my junior scouts, spotted them immediately. His eyes went wide as he approached. "Den-Leader, aren't those the same moonroots you gifted away last moon-cycle?"

He was right. Last month, Aurora's mother Isolde Frostveil had fallen ill—her life-force weakened—and she'd been taken to the healers' sanctuary.

I had personally driven my runner-cart deep into the wild territories, tracking down a mountain herbalist to procure these very stalks.

After considerable haggling, I'd secured both for five hundred marks each.

And now Aurora had returned these same moonroots to me as my seasonal tribute-share, claiming each was worth five thousand marks.

I wanted to laugh. Yet somehow, the laughter wouldn't come.

All these years I'd served the pack with unwavering dedication, never complaining, never asking for recognition. Partly because I needed the ration allotments. But also because I'd believed Aurora and I were true pack-sisters, bound by something deeper than hierarchy.

These two moonroots had just struck me across the face hard enough to leave a mark.

On a working day, during the morning hours, I gathered my belongings and headed straight home.

The Beta Enforcer Marcus Frostveil spotted me leaving. He couldn't stop me, but he made sure to mention he'd be reporting my departure to the Alpha.

Before long, Aurora announced in the pack's message-rune channel: not only would my rations be docked for abandoning my post, but my merit standing would also suffer—for displaying an "uncommitted attitude toward pack duties."

When news of this spread, several of my den-mates immediately spoke up in my defense through the shared channel.

"First she's cheated out of ten thousand marks, and now her merit gets slashed? They really don't see our Den-Leader as anything more than prey!"

"Exactly! This entire year, our Den-Leader has always arrived at first light and left well after moonrise. Even when her own family fell ill, she never requested leave—she'd wait until her duties ended before rushing to the healers' sanctuary."

"Alpha Aurora, aren't you worried this treatment will freeze the hearts of those who've served the pack longest?"

I was just about to urge them to unsend their messages when Aurora activated the voice-rune for the entire channel.

Her fury crackled through the connection. "Den-Leader? It seems none of you understand who truly leads this pack!"

"Lyra Nightshade, you're nothing but a minor captain of the Tracker Den. Is this how you teach your subordinates to behave? Do you have any respect left for me as your Alpha?"

"This territory bears the Frostveil name. It was built entirely with Frostveil resources! I see now that you've all forgotten your place in the hierarchy. Effective immediately, the Tracker Den is disbanded. Lyra, you wanted to abandon your post? Fine—then never return!"

I didn't even have a chance to speak.

Aurora expelled me and everyone under my command from the pack's communication channel.

A private message from Marcus Frostveil arrived moments later.

"Lyra Nightshade, even though you completed twenty working days this moon-cycle, your abandonment of post today means your entire monthly ration is forfeit. Don't bother coming to the Central Den for formal release procedures—you've been banished."

Reading those words, I allowed myself a quiet smile.

They say the Discipline Keeper is nothing but the Alpha's loyal hound.

Once next moon-cycle arrives and I become Alpha, I'll be curious to see whose command that hound answers to then.

After the Tracker Den was dissolved, Aurora refused to offer any compensation. Instead, she withheld the ration allotments owed to every single one of us.

A wave of guilt washed over me. I was about to send a message to the Tracker Den's private pack-link when I noticed my pack members flooding the channel with words of comfort.

"Den Mother, let them disband us! We'll follow you anywhere!"

"Our leader's tracking skills are unmatched in three territories—why should we slave away for that Aurora Frostveil?"

"Why even seek another pack? I say our Den Mother should establish her own territory!"

Warmth spread through my chest, and I addressed them all: "This territory doesn't belong solely to Aurora. Half of it is mine by right. She claims to banish all of you, but I refuse to accept it. Consider yourselves on paid leave from pack duties—next moon's rations will still be distributed!"

The pack-link erupted with excitement at my words.

Everyone wanted to know how I planned to turn the tides, when the power within our pack would finally shift.

But at such a critical moment, I couldn't reveal anything.

"Soon. When Aurora grows restless enough to summon us back, that's when everything will fall into place."

While the pack-link buzzed with celebration, a new recruit suddenly sent me a private message.

"Alpha Aurora, Lyra Nightshade is claiming in the group that half the territory belongs to her, and she's promising paid leave to the entire Tracker Den! She must have lost her mind from desperation—spouting such nonsense!"

She recalled the message almost immediately, but I had already seen it.

I'd long suspected Aurora had planted a spy within my team. Now I'd flushed them out.

I removed the new recruit from the pack-link without hesitation. She became the only member of the Tracker Den who wasn't officially banished.

Rowan Ashclaw had been with me the longest and knew my situation better than anyone.

Her voice came through the communication rune, heavy with worry.

"Den Mother, is it really wise to openly challenge the Alpha like this? I remember your family is struggling with resources too, and your mother's condition..." She sighed. "That night, you acted on impulse. You shouldn't have transferred those tribute marks to the pack treasury out of spite. You've essentially lost double what you gave!"

I understood better than anyone how crucial those marks were.

But if I wanted Aurora gone, I had to spend them.

Just as I was speaking, a call came through from my intended mate.

"Lyra Nightshade, have you lost your senses? Did you use my tribute seal to transfer five thousand marks to your pack?"

"Yes. My transfer limit was reached that day, so I used yours for five thousand. But I repaid you afterward using another seal."

Kael Stormhowl fell silent for a moment, then spoke coldly: "I find this disrespectful. And I've heard you've been banished from the pack. I think... perhaps we should sever our courtship."

Before I could respond, he ended the connection.

When I tried to reach him again, his communication rune had blocked my scent-signature entirely.

Back in my den, I lit a calming herb stick and inhaled slowly.

Banished and abandoned on the same day—I was probably the most wretched wolf in the territory.

Just then, my parents arrived unexpectedly.

They stepped through the threshold with worry etched across their faces. "Lyra, did you have a falling out with Aurora? Listen to us—gather some tribute gifts and go apologize to her immediately!"

I frowned. "How did you find out?"

My parents exchanged uneasy glances before my father finally spoke.

"Aurora contacted us through the pack-link. She said you... that you've become arrogant beyond reason, that you caused chaos at the Central Den over some seasonal rewards, and she had no choice but to banish you."

Fury blazed through me, threatening to break free.

But my father pressed the apology gifts into my hands.

"Aurora said you two have been pack-sisters for years. If you return and submit to her properly, she'll take you back. You won't be a Den Captain anymore—you'll have to start from the lowest rank again."

He had already prepared the offerings.

My parents lived frugally, wearing the same furs for a decade, yet what they placed in my hands was a precious box of rare healing salves from the mountain territories.

My mother quickly added, "Starting from the bottom isn't so bad. Didn't you work your way up from there before?"

My heart felt hot and cold, and I couldn't help but blurt out questions.

"Dad, Mom, who is your biological bloodline?"

My mother quickly grabbed my sleeve, exuding an anxious breath.

"What nonsense are you talking about! You and Xiaorou have grown up together since they were cubs. We have long regarded her as our own child! Over the years, if Xiaorou hadn't provided you with opportunities to enter her territory, how could you have the stable life you have now?"

My dad nodded in agreement, his old face full of seriousness: "Yes, let's just say that your mother's heart rhythm failed this time. If Xiaorou hadn't found such a good healer and arranged a separate cave for rest, your mother would not have recovered so quickly! Although she has never come to visit in person, she is the head of the clan and it is expected that she will be busy..."

When I heard this, I clenched my hands into fists and my knuckles turned white.

I found a good healer only after I spent 800 silver moon coins to sign up for special medical treatment.

The separate retreat cave was also arranged because I paid in full out of pocket.

Because I was afraid that my parents would feel guilty if they found out that the fee was too high, I lied and claimed that it was Aurora Frostveil who used her Alpha network.

Unexpectedly, the second elder actually kept this matter in mind and was grateful to her.

I felt so miserable in my heart that I could not say a word with a sullen face.

While my mother was cleaning wild fruits in the kitchen, my father took me and asked quietly.

"Daughter, have you collected enough for the healing fee of 500,000 silver moon coins? The healer said that the sooner it is paid, the sooner your mother can perform the ritual treatment!"

There was a bitterness in my heart, and I didn't know how to speak.

Over the years, I have been frugal and saved 400,000 silver coins. Just wait for the 100,000 tribute reward at the end of the season to pay for the treatment.

But now Aurora Frostveil has not only not been distributed to me, but I also invested 100,000 in order to bring her down, leaving only 300,000 in hand.

Therefore, this plan can only succeed and cannot fail.

After convincing my parents to leave, I sent a communication rune to the storage officer of the territory.

"Since the territory has expelled me, the 100,000 silver moon coins I transferred to the territory's account book should be returned to me, right?"

Elena Frostveil's reply was categorical: "How can there be one hundred thousand? The account book clearly records ninety-five thousand. Lord Alpha said that this amount is considered your personal offering!"

After hearing this, my heart was completely settled.

If Aurora Frostveil doesn't accept the one hundred thousand and returns the silver coins to me, she can have a chance of survival.

Endless greed will eventually harm herself.

-

A few days later, I tidied up my appearance and stepped into the core meeting hall of Frostveil territory again.

The guard at the door saw me coming and immediately sent a notification rune to Aurora Frostveil.

Soon, Aurora Frostveil walked out of the inner hall.

When she saw me, a sarcastic smile appeared on her lips, and she exuded an oppressive Alpha aura.

"Hey, isn't this Lyra Nightshade, the former leader of our Tracker's Nest? Wasn't he confident when he left without permission? Why are you back now? You don't really think that the Tracker's Nest can't function without you, do you?"

Aurora Frostveil walked up to me, pressed my shoulders hard, and pointed in the direction of the tracker's lair.

The transparent crystal partition allowed me to see clearly what was going on inside the lair.

Except for the vacancy of the leader's position, there have been no changes to the other members.

Aurora Frostveil sneered: "How great do you really think you are? You dare to boast about giving paid leave to your subordinates, don't you know? They came to me that night to admit their mistakes and beg for mercy!"

The members of the tracker's lair met my gaze, and one or two of them lowered their heads in guilt.

Including Rowan Ashclaw, who I have the best relationship with.

I understand them. If they are expelled at the end of the year and cannot receive tribute rewards or rations, this winter month will probably be difficult for them.