As Cecilia stood before Albert, her heart clenched with a disquieting mixture of anger and resignation. Once, she had looked up to him, admired his presence, and cherished every detail of his face like it was crafted from dreams. Now, seeing him felt like facing an illusion gone rotten, and her admiration had curdled into pure disdain. She was still bracing herself, steadying her breath, when Hailey intruded, her voice a practiced pitch of distress.

"Alpha, I'm not feeling well. My face... it’s burning," Hailey murmured, her tone teetering on the edge of melodrama. "Do you think it’s swollen?"

At once, Albert's attention flicked to Hailey, his features melting into an expression of concern that only fueled Cecilia's resentment. Hailey saw her chance, clasping a delicate hand to her cheek before collapsing into his arms with a barely concealed smirk. The faint red print on her cheek—left by Cecilia’s earlier, justified slap—starkly mirrored Cecilia’s own simmering anger.

A tear slipped down Hailey’s cheek, and Albert was quick to wipe it away, his fingers soft and considerate as though he feared even a breath would wound her further. Watching this, Cecilia's mind spiraled back to gentler memories—the same touch, once hers, long ago when he’d been her solace. He had held her with that same tenderness, comforted her, and yet now, it seemed like those memories were the remnants of a long-dead dream.

“Cecilia,” Albert’s tone was flat, his gaze turning cold and distant. "Apologize to your sister."

Cecilia lifted her chin defiantly. "No."

For the first time, a flicker of surprise registered on Albert’s face. Once, she had tried so hard to earn his approval, even when he had looked at her with veiled contempt, but that time was long gone. No amount of affection she had shown him ever made her feel secure in his gaze, and she had grown weary of chasing something always out of reach—especially when Hailey was around.

As children, Hailey had always envied Cecilia. Her sister's bitterness had simmered beneath the surface, bubbling over when Cecilia was granted the Lunarstone, a revered family heirloom that Hailey had coveted. And later, when she saw Cecilia’s quiet attachment to Albert blossoming, she swooped in to claim his attention. But Cecilia could have hardly imagined Hailey returning to the Golden Pack after the tragic death of her fated mate, determined to claim more than sympathy.

Recovering from his brief shock, Albert resumed his indifference, settling back against the couch as he held Hailey with practiced ease. "Cecilia, don’t test me further."

At that silent command, the guards stationed nearby stepped forward, forming an unspoken blockade that prevented her from leaving. They guided her back in front of Albert and Hailey, their stances steely and resolute.

Albert looked up at Cecilia with an expression bordering on disdain. "Apologize," he repeated, voice cold.

Hailey’s expression shifted into something both triumphant and saccharine. Her voice lowered as she turned toward Albert, trying to sound gentle. "Alpha, please... she didn’t mean it."

With a sympathetic look, Albert turned to Hailey. "You’re too soft-hearted. Despite everything you’ve done for her, she’s never accepted you as her sister."

Then his gaze fell back onto Cecilia, a promise of retribution gleaming in his eyes. "If anyone hurts Hailey, they’ll pay for it."

The words struck Cecilia like a blow, but she steeled herself, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Without waiting for further protest, he gestured to the guards, who quickly forced her into a kneeling position. As she lowered herself, Albert’s face twisted into a satisfied sneer. One of the guards raised his hand, and she braced herself, expecting the blow.

But Hailey intervened, her voice feigning reluctance. "Alpha, I don’t want the guards to harm her too severely. If anyone should discipline her, it should be me."

Albert nodded approvingly, giving Hailey the reins, and with a chilling calm, Hailey turned to face her sister. She lifted her hand, striking Cecilia twice across the cheek, her nails scratching faint lines that stung more than the impact itself. Cecilia refused to cry out, though her face throbbed from the sharp, humiliating slaps.

With a look of forced remorse, Hailey glanced back at Albert. "I didn’t want to hurt her, Alpha, but... what now?"

Albert’s expression was one of cold satisfaction. "She deserved it, Hailey. You’re too kind to her, even after everything she’s done to you."

The guards finally released Cecilia, and she collapsed awkwardly onto her hands, feeling the sting in her knees. But worse than the physical ache was Albert’s complete apathy as he stared down at her from his place beside Hailey.

"You owe Hailey an apology," he said, his voice as unyielding as stone.

An apology? Cecilia’s mind raced with fury. Hailey, who had belittled her child—her son, Evan—daring to accuse him of being a liar. Cecilia knew her child better than anyone, and lying was not in his nature. Yet, as always, Albert had sided with Hailey, dismissing Evan’s honesty without a thought. That was what burned most of all: the way he chose Hailey over everyone, no matter the wrongs she committed.

She glared up at him, hatred lacing her voice. "In your dreams."

Albert’s gaze darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I'm warning you, Cecilia."

"No, I don't care anymore," she spat, anger breaking through every restraint she had once held for his sake. "I hate you, Alpha!"

Cecilia’s gaze was a storm, fierce and unyielding, as it bore into Alpha Albert’s cold expression. Every trace of warmth that might once have existed between them had evaporated, leaving only a simmering hatred in its wake. Albert shifted uncomfortably, visibly caught off guard by the bitterness she no longer cared to hide.

“Cecilia,” he began, his voice carefully measured, almost cajoling. “If you’d just cooperate, there’s no reason why we can’t come to an understanding. I can make sure your son’s birthday is everything you wanted.”

The words landed with a dull, cruel irony. The thought of celebrating now, with Evan gone, seemed like a mockery. What good were empty promises when Albert had already abandoned their son, discarding him for the sake of Cecilia’s own sister, Hailey? Everyone in the pack knew of his preference for Hailey; she had become his companion at gatherings, his confidante in public. Meanwhile, Cecilia, the rightful Luna of the Golden Pack, had been left to bear the shame of her husband’s indifference alone.

Now, he dared to wield Evan’s birthday as leverage, a tool to bend her to his will. The manipulation was almost nauseating, but Cecilia’s expression betrayed nothing as she held his gaze steady.

“There’s no need for that, Alpha,” she said, her voice laced with quiet resignation. “I’m done. I’ll be leaving, and you can carry on as you wish with Hailey. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”

Albert’s lips twisted into a sneer, as though he found her decision amusing. “What’s this? No more games? No more pretending you need me here to ‘play family’ for Evan’s sake?”

His tone was thick with derision, each word a deliberate jab. Before Cecilia could retort, Hailey stepped forward, her face twisted into a mask of innocence that Cecilia could see through all too easily.

“Oh, Cecilia, don’t lie to the Alpha,” Hailey said, her voice soft and sweet, yet dripping with insincerity. “If Evan were really in danger, why would you be here by yourself?”

Cecilia’s restraint snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. “Don’t you dare mention my son. You have no right.”

Hailey blinked, her face falling into a look of hurt that was as insincere as her words. “Fine, I won’t speak of him again, if that’s what you want,” she murmured, feigning wounded innocence. “No need to be angry with me, Cecilia.”

Albert’s eyes hardened as he watched Cecilia’s reaction to Hailey. Annoyance crept into his expression, his jaw tightening as if restraining himself from rebuking Cecilia outright. But instead of speaking to her directly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, a smug gleam in his eyes.

With an air of calculated authority, he dialed a number and placed the phone on speaker. Cecilia’s stomach twisted with dread as she recognized the voice on the other end.

“Beta Morgan,” Albert barked, ensuring his words echoed clearly for everyone in the room to hear, “locate my son. Bring him here at once.”

His gaze flicked to Cecilia, his eyes cold and gleaming with satisfaction, as though expecting this simple command would restore order to the chaos. But Cecilia’s face remained impassive, hiding the storm raging within her.

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Beta Morgan responded, his voice tight and careful. “Alpha… Evan… passed away a few days ago. He died shortly after you left the territory with Hailey.”