Author’s POV

That morning. Scarlett came downstairs after washing up, only to find the dining room eerily quiet.

The bbreakfast /btable had already been set–steaming meats, warm bread, and freshly poured blood–orange tea–but Alpha ric, Luna Zara, and Kael were nowhere to be

Scarlett’s brows furrowed slightly. She turned to a housemaid bstanding /bnearby. “Where’s my bfather/b? bAnd /bKael? They didn’te down yet?”

The maid bresponded /bpromptly. “Alpha and the young Alpha left at dawn. Something urgent with the Northern Territory council. Luna Zara had a few bites, then left as well.”

Scarlett nodded absently. Her father and Kael had been constantly tied up with the approachingnd tribunal concerning the contested,eastern ridge bordering the Stormridge Pack. But her mother leaving this early? That was strange.

“Did bshe /bsay where she was goingb?/b”

The maid bhesitated/b, “Not exactly. But… she took several chests from the vault. The ones holding her personal ceremonial bone relics. bAnd /ba few Alpha–level crest essories. Looked like she was heading toward the Nightfang Exchange.

Scarlett’s expression shifted.

The Nightfang Exchange was no ordinary market–it was where rare magical items, enchanted jewelry, and heirloom–level totems were traded or pawned, often for

sums,

Her mother pawning things? Her most prized Alpha–bheirloom /brelics?

That didn’t make sense.!

Zara wasn’t one to part with her treasures, not even for internal Council politics.

Unless

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. A sinking feeling churned in her stomach.

Unless it was for Riley.

She left the estate at once, driving straight to the Lunar Crest za, The Eastern Ridge auction g bwas /bing up in a few days, and she was scheduled to make ba /bgrand appearance. If Riley dared try and steal the spotlight–or worse, her family’s assets–Scarlett would make sure she was destroyed socially before that ever happened.

She stepped into one of the most exclusive designer halls in the city. A boutique reserved for the elite of the packs. The moment she entered, attendants rushed to greet her.

“Miss Scarlett! What a bdivine /bsurprise. You’vee at the perfect time. We’ve just received several custom gowns–fresh off the courier from the Parisian Pack Enve. One of them is made entirely from whisper–silk and lunar thread. It’s practically singing your nameb./bb” /b

Scarlett smirked, preening slightly as she trailed her fingers over the delicate gowns shimmering under moonlight–filtered chandeliers.

She already pictured it–her arrival at the Eastern Ridge G jaws dropping, eyes burning with envy. She’d wear dominance blike /bba /bsecond skin.

Finally, she chose a gown covered in ck stardust crystal embroidery–dramatic, bold, lethal. Just like her.

As she bwas /babout to move to the fitting room, one of the staff suggested, “Miss, we also just acquired some high–tier essories–w–tipped culls, jeweled fang pendants, and a rare runed alpha bbrooch/b. They’d pair beautifully with your

Take me to them,” she bsaid/bb, /balready bwalking /b

When she reached the relic disy wall, she froze.

Her eyes locked on a few bpieces /bsitting behind a velvet rope.

Bone–charmed bracelets. An old silver sigil crest. A ceremonial hairpin made from shadow antler.

All pieces she’d seen before.

Her mother’s.

Scarlett’s pupils dted slightly. “These.. where did thesee from?”

The staff, boblivious/bb, /breplied casually, “Oh, those? A noble Luna came by earlier. She said she needed to trade in some private family items. Seemed urgent.”

Scarlet’s jaw tightened.

bSo /bit was true.

Zara had traded off her ancestral heirlooms–just to get money.

And now she was on her way to the hospital.

Scarlett didn’t need to be told what for

She grabbed her phone and called her mother.

The line connected. bZara’s /bvoice came warm band /bunsuspecting, “Sweetheart, are you up already?”

“Yeah, Mom. Where are you?”

“I’m heading to the healing ward. I thought I’d visit Riley. She needs support right now.”

Scarlett’s tone was deceptively sweet. “Okay, be careful on the road.”

The moment she ended the call, she dialed ric.

“Dad, listen to me. Mom just traded off a bunch of our ancestral totems–and she’s heading to give the money to Riley. bStop /bher before she hands it over.”

ric growled on the other end. “I’ll take care of it.”

Scarlett hung up band /bsmiled.

Let them fight each other all they wanted.

She’d stille out on top.

At the hospital, Zara’s demeanor was radiant.

Riley could tell the moment she entered–Zara had seeded. Her request, the one million lunar credits, must have beenb. /bfulfilled.

bCara /bsat beside her bedside, beaming, and ced a small rune–locked pouch into Riley’s hands. “Darling. I told you- whatever it takes, I’ll do it. Inside is the full amount you basked /bfor. From now on, we forget the

past.”

Riley stared at the pouch. A bmillion /bblunar /bcredits. Freedom. Power.

She reached for it–when the door mmed open.

ric stormed in, eyes zing.

Before Riley could move, he pped the pouch from her hand and snatched it away.

Zara jumped to her feet. “ric! What are you doing?”

“You should’ve consulted me!” he barked. “You want to hand our family fortune to the girl who nearly gutted me?!”

“It’s not that much,” Zara tried to soothe him. “bShe’s /bour daughter-”

“She’s not fit to carry our bname/b!” ric snarled. bThat /blittle traitor should be grateful we let her live!”

Riley’s injured hand bthrobbed /bfrom where he struck her. But she didn’t wince.

She just stared at him, eyes burning with defiance.

+8 Pearls

ric met her gaze and sneered. “You want money? Fine. You can have it–on one condition. bYou /bept the bond. You’ll be mated off to the Stormridge heir. The credits will be your dowry.”

Riley didn’t move. But her wolf stirred deep inside her, growling in disgust.