Chapter 2

Olivia walked over, holding the hand of a little girl dressed in an elegant gown.

Her gaze swept over me, and she immediately covered her mouth, gasping loudly. "Emma, it really is you! Why are you dressed like this?"

Her deliberate gasp drew countless eyes from the crowd.

A few women from other packs, who used to hate me, recognized me immediately and began to jeer.

"Oh, isn’t this Luna Emma? It’s been years. Why are you dressed so poorly? Oh, my bad memory. Alpha James broke his bond with you a long time ago. No wonder you’re living like a stray."

Olivia sighed, pretending to be kind-hearted.

"Emma, I can ask a maid to bring you some clothes. Even though they’re maid uniforms, they’re a hundred times better than what you’re wearing now."

James wrapped his arm around her waist, his voice softening. "Olivia, you are always so kind."

Watching them put on this show, I couldn't help but sneer. Six years later, Olivia was still as hypocritical as ever.

I looked up, my voice hard. "No need. I don't take leftovers from you."

Seeing my attitude, one of the women who had mocked me earlier called the guards over.

"How did people like this even get in? Guards, throw these two beggars out! They’re ruining our view!"

Several guards rushed forward, ready to escort Lily and me out.

My eyes turned sharp as I pulled an invitation card from my purse. "I was invited to the Full Moon Feast."

The guard took the card, and seeing the pack crest on it, he froze, unsure of what to do.

Olivia took a step forward, pretending to be shocked. "Emma, did you steal that invitation? After all, you were kicked out of the Silvermoon Pack six years ago for stealing our sacred treasure. I didn't expect you to still be a thief, daring to steal an invitation to the Full Moon Feast."

A wave of fury washed over me. I finally understood. After I left, they had framed me with the crime of stealing their pack’s treasure.

I stared dead at Olivia and said coldly, "Me? A thief? Why don't you tell everyone how you stole another woman's husband?"

Olivia’s face turned instantly dark, her eyes filled with venom.

Whispers broke out in the crowd, and the looks directed at Olivia began to change.

Just then, a harsh shout cut through the murmurs. "You brat! Why are you back?"

The crowd parted, and two people squeezed through. It was my adoptive parents.

My adoptive father’s face was livid. He raised his hand and slapped me across the face, roaring, "You ungrateful brat! Shut your mouth and stop ruining Olivia’s reputation!"

The sudden blow caught me off guard. My head whipped to the side, and my ears rang.

"Mom!" Lily cried out, clinging to my leg.

I forced a smile and comforted her softly, "I’m fine, sweetie."

My adoptive mother rushed up, pointing a finger at my face.

"Emma Vance, you ungrateful wretch! The position of Silvermoon’s Luna belonged to Olivia in the first place! You were just an imposter who took her place. What right do you have to slander her? If we hadn't adopted you, you would have died in the wild! How dare you frame our precious daughter!"

Adopted? I sneered in my heart.

Years ago, when I was traveling with my biological parents, I accidentally got separated from them. I happened to run into my adoptive mother, who had just lost her own pup.

Seeing no one around, she took me and ran, raising me as a replacement for her dead daughter.

If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have been separated from my real parents for so many years.

Fortunately, after being rejected, I managed to find my biological parents and finally learned the truth about my identity.

I held Lily tightly, snatched the invitation back from the guard, and said coldly, "Get out of my way!"

Olivia caught a glimpse of the crest on the back of the card and sneered. "Emma, you really are bold. You even dared to steal from Alpha William."

A bystander leaned in to look, and cried out in an exaggerated tone, "Everyone knows Alpha William is the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack, one of the four oldest packs! He has a terrible temper and is ruthlessly brutal. You dared to steal from him? You’re dead!"

The mocking laughter echoed around me, but I remained calm. I met everyone's gaze and said, word by word, "He is my mate."

***