Chapter 2

"Your little joke was going to get me and a newborn Alpha Heir executed."

"Your little joke was going to get every member of the Colton family killed."

"What were you thinking?!"

My father Gerald was terrified. He grabbed her and yanked her down, trying to get her to kneel.

Every high-ranking wolf in the hall turned to watch.

Vera's composure crumbled.

She had always been an illegitimate daughter from a minor bloodline. Even after becoming the head of the Colton household, she still carried that deep-seated shame.

She had waited her whole life for a moment like this — to stand in the Alpha Manor in front of the Pack's elite. And now her own daughter was calling her out in front of everyone.

The panic and guilt burned into fury.

She yanked herself free of Gerald's grip.

"What was I thinking? I was thinking of the Pack's future! Of the Alpha bloodline!"

"Would I dare say something like this in front of the Alpha King if I had no proof?"

"I'm your mother. Would I actually try to destroy you?"

Cold fury rolled through Damien's eyes. The pressure in the room dropped.

"You said you have evidence. Where is it? What is it? Tell me every word."

Vera squared her shoulders, her voice growing sharper.

"It's in a hidden compartment under the bed in her quarters!"

"There's a Guard's personal garment in there! Luca Thorne's name is stitched on it!"

"Five days ago I came to visit her. I saw her sneaking it in there in the middle of the night! I warned her right then to stop, but she wouldn't listen. And now she dares deceive the Alpha King!"

The hall erupted.

The Former Luna Eleanor stepped forward and bowed to Damien.

"Alpha King, the bloodline of the Alpha Heir concerns the future of the entire Pack. The succession has been declared. There can be no room for error."

The high-ranking She-Wolves of the Pack dropped to their knees together, their voices full of performed concern.

"We beg the Alpha King to search immediately. Investigate the truth fully. Uphold the honor of the Alpha bloodline."

Damien shoved back from his seat and stood. Fury filled his eyes.

"Pack Enforcers! Take three squads and search Serena's quarters immediately!"

"Leave no corner unchecked! Bring back whatever she described — exactly as it is!"

"If anything is found, bring everyone in the Eastern Wing to the Pack Dungeons for questioning!"

The lead enforcer accepted the command and led his men out at a run.

I knelt on the ground. I felt like all the blood in my body had gone cold.

I knew for certain there had never been any male's personal belongings in my quarters. But Vera's words were so confident, so specific — this wasn't a sudden impulse.

I clenched my fists hard.

When I was growing up, my father had arranged an engagement for me with a good family.

But Vera had stood in front of the whole family and joked that I'd been secretly involved with one of the household attendants.

The engagement fell through. I was locked in the family shrine hall for three months. The gossip spread through the whole territory.

I cried and confronted her. She just rolled her eyes and told me she was only joking, and asked why I had no sense of humor.

Before I was brought to live in the Pack, she joked to the Pack's assessment official that I had always been physically weak and might have trouble bearing children, nearly preventing me from entering the Pack Grounds at all.

Those jokes had never been accidents.

From the beginning, she couldn't stand to see me do well.

Before, she only ruined my reputation and my future. Now she was trying to take my life.

The lead enforcer returned quickly, carrying a plain tray.

"Alpha King! We found this in a hidden compartment under Serena's bed!"

The tray was raised high. On it lay a male garment — a personal undergarment.

At the waistband, in white thread, were the words: Luca Thorne.

I stared at that garment. Every drop of blood in my body turned to ice.

From behind me came Vera's triumphant voice.

"You see! I wasn't lying! I told you it was real!"

"I'm her mother. Would I joke about something like this?!"

I turned rigid and looked at her. When I spoke, every word cost something.

"You're my mother. You've been destroying my reputation with rumors my whole life, and I endured it."

"But I never imagined you hated me this much — that you'd fabricate evidence and set a trap just to kill me."

She saw the hatred and despair in my eyes. The triumph on her face froze. She stood there, unable to move.

I didn't look at her again. I faced Alpha King Damien and pressed my forehead to the floor.

"Alpha King. I don't know where that garment came from."

"But I swear on my life I have never been with any outside male, and I have done nothing improper."

"I am willing to bring the Alpha Heir and submit to a Blood Rite verification, to prove my bloodline is clean."

I paused, then knocked my forehead to the floor again.

"But once the truth is verified and my name is cleared — my mother fabricated evidence against a Pack member and deceived the Alpha King. That is an offense against the Pack."