Chapter 3

After being locked up all night, my wound became badly infected.

As a wolf who hadn't shifted, I had no healing abilities. I was no different from a regular human.

I tried to go out to find the first-aid kit. When I pushed the door open, I saw that the main hall was crowded with Sunward Pack members. Several elders were gathered around Richard and Sophia.

The warmth and affection on Richard's face were things I hadn't seen in a decade.

"As the Alpha of the Sunward Pack, you must be incredibly busy," one elder praised. "But you've raised Sophia so well. She is truly a credit to your bloodline."

Richard smiled warmly. "Sophia is a good girl. She’s my only daughter. No matter how busy I am, I will always make time for her."

Sophia clung to Richard's arm, acting cute. "Daddy is the best dad in the whole wide world! I just wish we had more playtime together. Daddy, we haven't visited any other packs this year!"

Richard let out a helpless, indulgent laugh. "Alright, alright. After your birthday ceremony, I'll take you wherever you want to go."

I blinked, feeling completely numb.

I had seen this scene play out too many times to feel pain anymore.

Yet, inevitably, my mind drifted back to ten years ago.

When my mother was still here, I used to cling to her arm just like that, making all sorts of silly, spoiled demands.

My mother never said no to me. She had an emerald necklace that she wore for years. Once, I told her I liked it, and she immediately took it off and put it around my neck.

"Ella, you must cherish this necklace," she had said, stroking my head. "It was left to me by your grandmother. I've worn it for so many years."

At that time, her eyes held a deep sadness and nostalgia that my six-year-old self couldn't comprehend.

On the other side of the hall, an elder suddenly brought up my mother.

"Sophia, do you ever miss Luna Lillian? She was an extraordinary Luna. I heard you want to be just like her. Is it because of her influence?"

The atmosphere in the room froze for a second.

My mother's name was a strict taboo to Richard. Usually, if anyone dared to bring her up, Richard would fly into a rage.

But today was Sophia’s Heir Recognition Ceremony. Richard was busy paving the path for her future.

Sophia's face fell into a sad expression. "I miss Mommy every single day. I wish I could see her. I want to become as remarkable as she was, or become an outstanding Luna just like her."

She pulled out a necklace.

"This necklace is a keepsake Mommy left for me. Whenever I'm sad, I look at it, and I feel like Mommy is still right by my side."

Seeing that necklace, my mind snapped. An uncontrollable rage surged inside me.

That was the emerald necklace my mother gave to me!

Over the past ten years, Sophia had taken everything from me. This necklace was the only thing I had left.

I charged forward and snatched the necklace out of her hands.

"Ella Blackwood! Who allowed you out of your room?!" Richard's voice boomed, his face turning pale with anger.

"Ella? What are you doing?" Sophia stood up, looking perfectly helpless and confused.

"Sophia, when did you steal my necklace?!" I demanded. I checked the box where I kept the necklace every single night before bed. It was safe in its box last night.

During those dark years when nobody cared about me, touching this necklace was the only thing that kept me going.

It was proof that someone had once loved me. It was proof that my mother actually existed.

"What? Steal?" Sophia gasped, looking completely innocent.

"Ella Blackwood! Have you not had enough of your tantrums?! This is a public ceremony!" Richard roared.

"I don't care about your stupid ceremony! This is my mother's necklace! Why does she get to have it? Hasn't she stolen enough from me?!"

"And my mother is not dead! Sophia, shut your mouth! This is not some relic!"

"Alpha Richard, who is this...?" the elder asked hesitantly, looking at me.

Sophia panicked slightly and looked to Richard for help.

Richard's eyes turned icy. "She's just a demoted Omega. She was punished before for stealing pack property, and now she's trying to steal Sophia's things."

I clutched the necklace tightly, my entire body going cold.

Even though Richard had announced to the world that Sophia was his only daughter, and even though Sophia called me a demoted Omega at school, this was the first time he had openly denied me as his daughter in front of the entire pack.

The panic on Sophia's face vanished instantly, replaced by a smug smirk. Taking advantage of my shocked state, she snatched the necklace back.

"Ella, you must have mistaken it. This necklace isn't yours."

"If it were anything else, I would gladly give it to you, no matter how expensive. But this was left to me by my mother. I can't give it to you."

The pack members in the room whispered, looking at me with disdain.

"She’s a demoted Omega and she still can't behave. She knew today was an important ceremony, yet she came here to cause a scene just to get the Alpha's attention."

I didn't care what they said. I just wanted my necklace back. "Give it back to me! That is the last thing my mother left me! Give it back!"

I lunged and grabbed Sophia's arm. She intentionally let her hand go loose.

The necklace slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the marble floor.

The emerald pendant shattered into several pieces.

My mind went completely blank.

The last piece of my mother was gone.

"Are you satisfied now?! Get out!" Richard yelled, his eyes looking as if he wanted to tear me apart.

Sophia began to cry. "Ella! You’ve gone too far!"

The pack members whispered their condemnations.

But I couldn't hear any of it. I dropped to my knees, desperately trying to gather the shattered pieces of the emerald.

The sharp shards sliced into my fingers. My tears dripped onto the wounds, warm and stinging.