Chapter 4

Pain.

It was the first thing I registered.

Then came the voices，Muffled at first.

"Mom, are you sure it’s okay to transfer all of Dad’s inheritance to me? Won’t Ella be upset if she finds out?"

Celia’s sickly-sweet voice slithered through the door.

My mother chuckled, her tone indulgent. “She doesn’t get a say. She’s marrying Laurence; she’ll never have to worry about food or shelter. What does she need that money for? Back when your father passed away and things were toughest, I was diagnosed with acute leukemia. You were the one who donated blood to me every day and even gave me your bone marrow. From that moment, I swore you were my only true daughter.”

A pause. Then a sigh, filled with affection. “This inheritance is the least I can do for you. Besides, I know you like Laurence too. I’ve already spoken with him. Ella, in her condition, is unlikely to be able to bear children. On their wedding night, you’ll take her place, and it’ll be you who gives him his first pup.”

My blood turned to ice.

"I’ll do whatever you say, Mom," Celia murmured, her voice dripping with false innocence.

The door creaked open.

My mother’s gaze collided with mine, her pupils shrinking in surprise.

A flicker of guilt flashed across her face before she forced a nervous smile. “Ella, since you’ve overheard us, there’s no point in hiding it anymore. The Silver Claw Pack is too large to be left without an heir. But don’t worry, the Luna title—”

"I agree," I interrupted calmly.

She blinked. Then, slowly, her smile returned, relieved. “Good girl, Ella. You’ve really grown up and learned to be sensible.”

Celia’s lips curled into a smirk as her gaze swept over me—my scarred skin, my hollowed-out frame. “Don’t worry, sister. I’ll take good care of your husband for you.”

I turned my head away, too exhausted to acknowledge them any longer.

I could only hope that the day my mother learned the truth, she wouldn’t regret it. She had no idea what her so-called precious daughter had done when she was supposedly saving her life.

The wedding was held at the packhouse.

Celia’s idea, of course.

She wanted me to see everything I cared about taken from me, wanted my suffering to be her victory parade.

But I hadn’t expected her to be this vicious.

The door to my room burst open, and Celia strode in, draped in an extravagant wedding gown. White lace, shimmering jewels—every bit the picture-perfect bride. But her expression was anything but angelic.

Her eyes glowed with triumph, her lips twisted in a sneer. “It’s unbelievable that the fire didn’t kill you, Ella. What a pathetic excuse for a life.”

I exhaled slowly. “You already got everything you wanted. What more could you possibly want?”

Her smirk deepened.

"Your death, obviously. Only then can I rightfully become the Luna of the Silver Claw Pack."

And then—

She struck the match.

The tiny flame flickered for half a second before it caught the curtains.

The blood drained from my face.

"Celia, are you insane?!"

I lunged forward, but my body was weak, sluggish. She easily sidestepped me, delivering a sharp kick to my ribs that sent me crashing against the bedpost.

Then, she sprinted to the door and screamed.

"Help! Ella’s gone mad! She—she’s trying to burn me alive!"

Footsteps thundered down the hall.

Then—

The door burst open.

Alpha Laurence stormed in, his expression dark with fury. Celia threw herself into his arms, shaking like a terrified pup.

"Celia, are you okay? Did she do anything to you?" Alpha Laurence’s arms wrapped protectively around her, his eyes snapped to me.

My mother followed close behind, and even though there wasn’t a single scratch on Celia, she panicked. "We need to get her to the hospital! Now!"

Nobody looked at me.

Not one of them noticed the blood dripping down the side of my face from where I’d slammed into the furniture.

Celia buried her face into Laurence’s chest, her sobs pitiful. “Laurence, I only wanted to cheer Ella up since she seemed upset. But she said that with her face ruined, she couldn’t stand to see me looking beautiful in my wedding dress. She lit the fire and said she’d burn me so I’d be just as disfigured. I’m so scared…”

Alpha Laurence’s entire body went rigid.

Then—

He turned to me.

Eyes filled with nothing but disgust. “Are you out of your mind? Celia went out of her way to help you with the wedding arrangements, and this is how you repay her? Look at yourself—you’re absolutely repulsive.”

A slow, cold numbness spread through my chest.

My mother’s disappointment was sharper than a dagger. “I should’ve let that fire kill you. You’re so malicious, you’re not even fit to be my daughter. Being burned like this is exactly what you deserve.”

They carried Celia out, leaving without a backward glance.

As they reached the door, Laurence glanced at the growing flames and sneered. “You love playing with fire so much? Fine, enjoy it. Lock the door. Nobody opens it.”

The door slammed shut.

The lock clicked into place.

Then—

Panic struck.

I lunged for the door, pounding on it with every ounce of strength I had left.

"Laurence! Mother! Don’t do this! Open the door!"

The heat pressed against my skin, suffocating. I coughed violently, my lungs filling with thick, acrid smoke.

Outside, my mother hesitated, her hands clenched into fists. “Laurence, are you sure nothing will happen if we leave Ella locked in there?”

Laurence scoffed. “What could possibly happen? She set the fire herself; she probably has a fire extinguisher stashed somewhere.”

Then they left.

Hours later, Laurence sat in the hospital, holding Celia’s hand. He hadn’t even thought about me until his phone buzzed with a breaking news alert.

"Silver Claw Packhouse Fire Breaks Out—Luna Ella Reported Missing."

His brows furrowed.

Just as he was about to call the butler, his phone rang first.

The butler’s voice trembled on the other end. “Alpha Laurence… the packhouse fire… Luna Ella didn’t make it out.”