Chapter 3

Gripping the bond-break agreement, my fingertips were slick with cold sweat as I paced back and forth on the wolf-patterned tiles outside the council office.

Macie’s voice swirled anxiously in my mind: "Just say this is a confidential document requested by the council!"

"No," I bit my lip, "Ashton will personally verify the seal." Suddenly, I heard the sound of fabric rustling through the glass door.

"Ashton~ It’s your fault I practiced hunting with you in wolf form last night, my shoulder still hurts." Ella’s soft voice was like honey laced with poison.

Peeking through the door gap, I saw her reclining on the leather sofa, Ashton half-kneeling at her feet, his fingers gently massaging the contract mark on her neck.

As soon as I pushed the door open, Ella’s fox-like eyes flashed with panic, but she quickly wrapped her arms around Ashton’s neck and pouted. "Daphne, don’t misunderstand. We’re just discussing next month’s wolf competition tactics."

She deliberately thrust out her shoulder, pulling at the collar, the wolf tooth pendant around her neck glinting— the one that should have been mine.

Macie’s fur stood on end in rage: "Her deliberate display of the necklace is disgusting! Grab the wolf tooth pendant back, it’s yours!"

I suppressed the rising nausea in my stomach and slammed the file onto the ornate desk. "Alpha Ashton, the council just sent the ‘Tribal Border Defense Order’ and needs your immediate signature."

Ashton raised an eyebrow as he flipped through the document. "Why didn’t I receive the notice from the assembly hall?"

At that crucial moment, Ella suddenly pressed her hand over his. "Darling, didn’t you say last night when you were drunk that you would assign Daphne a new task? This must be the opportunity she fought for~"

She winked at me. "After all, Daphne is great at helping you with your worries, isn’t she?"

"Wait a second." Ashton’s fingers hovered above the signature line, and I tensed.

Macie howled frantically in my mind: "Tell him violating the defense order will trigger the wolf pack curse!"

"The third page has the council’s wax seal." I forced myself to remain calm, pointing to the embossed gold emblem, which was actually forged with my mother’s Winsor pack seal, "If we don’t send it back to the council today, the Silverclaw pack’s totem will..."

"Okay, okay, Daphne would never lie to you, would she?" Ella suddenly sat on Ashton’s lap, draping her arms around his neck and nibbling his earlobe. "Look at her, helping you with all the little things, she’s so exhausted~"

She deliberately rubbed her chest against his chin, "Sign the papers so Daphne can leave. I’m still waiting for your reward~"

Ashton’s throat moved, his gaze drawn to Ella’s red lips, and the pen drew a smooth arc on the paper.

Once he finished signing, the bond mark on my chest suddenly sent a searing pain through me.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Macie screamed in my mind: "Tell them this is the bond-break agreement!"

But I just curled my lips into a cold smile: "Alpha Ashton, it seems Ella is more effective than the wolf pack laws."

"I’ll be home tonight. We can have dinner together."

"No need." I smiled and gently pulled my arm away from his hand. "I already have plans with a friend."

Seeing me smile coldly, Macie paced in frustration: "Why aren’t you rebelling? Why are you swallowing this anger?"

I turned and left without looking back, hearing Ashton’s confused voice ask, "What do you mean?" as I pushed the door open.

Less than half an hour after returning to the den, Ashton’s communicator buzzed. "Prepare the guest room, Ella is moving in tonight."

His voice was devoid of warmth. "She has no one to care for her in the Silverclaw pack. It’s more convenient for me to look after her here. Give her the master bedroom, you sleep in the guest room."

My hand trembled as I gripped the communicator, Macie’s roar blasting in my mind: "Let that bitch stay in your room? Tear her apart!"

Suddenly, the sound of high heels echoed down the hall, and Ella appeared at the door, clutching the wolf fur blanket Ashton had given her. "Daphne, you’re so sweet, helping me clean the room~ Ashton said the master bedroom’s moonlight is perfect for me."

Macie screamed, "Tear her apart! You stayed up countless nights to set up this den, and now he’s handing it over to someone else?"