Chapter 3

The hall went dead silent for a second, followed by an explosion of laughter.

"This is hilarious! Everyone knows Alpha William’s Luna is of the royal Alpha bloodline of the Blazeclaw Pack, and she’s a renowned doctor of medicine! A common wolf like you dares to claim to be the Luna of the Shadowfang Pack? How delusional!"

"Exactly! Look at yourself in the mirror. You’re dragging a bastard child around, and you think you’re worthy of Alpha William?"

Lily’s face turned red with anger at their mockery. She put her hands on her hips and yelled, "Don't talk about my mom like that! My mom is a doctor of medicine!"

The crowd laughed even harder. "Like mother, like daughter. Look how she raised the child."

"Just like her mother, a little liar! How shameless!"

Olivia grabbed James’s sleeve, pretending to be terrified.

"James, is Emma trying to ruin the Silvermoon Pack? Pretending to be the Luna of the Shadowfang Pack... If this gets out, our entire pack will be doomed!"

Instigated by her words, James glared at me and ordered his men, "Guards, teach this arrogant woman a lesson!"

Several thuggish wolves rushed forward, grabbing at me roughly.

To protect Lily, I held her tightly in my arms.

Sharp claws slashed across my skin, and the metallic taste of blood rose in my throat.

"Mom!" Lily sobbed, her little hands gripping my shirt.

Sophia Sterling, who had been standing next to Olivia, suddenly pointed at Lily and shrieked, "My brooch is gone! It was her! That little beggar stole my brooch!"

My gaze turned icy. I clearly saw the flash of jealousy in Sophia’s eyes.

Ethan stepped forward immediately. He grabbed the necklace around Lily’s neck and yanked it off with brute force, pushing her to the ground in the process.

"You little thief! How dare you steal my sister’s necklace? Shameless!"

Lily fell onto the floor, her eyes red as she cried out, "I didn't steal it! My dad gave it to me! You bad guy! Give it back!"

My heart clenched. I scrambled over to pull Lily up. A bright red, swollen mark was visible on her delicate neck where the necklace had been ripped away.

Trembling with rage, I glared at Ethan. "Give the necklace back to her!"

Ethan ignored me completely and handed the necklace to Sophia.

Sophia happily put the necklace around her own neck, tilting her chin up triumphantly at Lily.

James looked at me with deep disgust. "Still unrepentant. You've taught this child to be a thief just like you! No, I cannot let the bloodline of the Silvermoon Pack be ruined by you! You must come back with me!"

A wicked gleam flashed in Olivia’s eyes. She stepped forward and said gently, "James, I think it’s better to just get rid of this bastard pup. Otherwise, when she grows up, she might go around claiming she’s of Silvermoon blood, ruining our pack's reputation."

James nodded, his voice cold. "Guards, bring that pup to me!"

Several fierce warriors lunged forward to grab Lily.

One of them unsheathed his sharp claws.

I held Lily tight, backing away, and screamed, "Get back! I’m telling you, she has nothing to do with the Silvermoon Pack! She is a pup of the Shadowfang Pack!"

But those warriors only took orders from James. Ignoring my cries, they closed in.

In the chaos, a set of sharp claws slashed toward Lily. I instinctively threw my arm out to block it.

The sharp claws ripped into my arm, and blood gushed out, staining my sleeve red.

"Mom!" Lily cried out in terror, her little body shaking violently.

Despite the excruciating pain, I kept Lily shielded in my arms.

James ordered impatiently, "Pull her away!"

Several guards grabbed my arms, twisting them behind my back so hard I thought they would snap.

Just as the warrior's claws were about to strike Lily again, a figure suddenly broke through the crowd. He grabbed the warrior’s wrist and twisted it with a sickening crack.

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the hall.

The next second, a cold, furious voice boomed, silencing the entire room.

"You dare touch my daughter? Who gave you the permission?"