Chapter 5

After the speech, Kane held a celebration banquet for Serena.

Under the crystal chandeliers, Serena was surrounded by young wolves. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her laughter rang out like bells. In her hand, she held a glass of Moonlight Wine, the amber liquid shimmering in the light.

I was about to slip away quietly when she stopped me in the corridor.

“Ilya, why are you standing here all alone?”

She approached, a faint scent of gardenias clinging to her, laced with a note of smugness. “Won’t you come have a drink? Today’s my big day, after all.”

I looked straight at her. “Is it really your day?”

Her smile deepened.

Lowering her voice so only the two of us could hear, she said, “That speech was beautifully written. Kane said once this show of strength is complete, he’ll nominate me for the Elder Council apprenticeship.”

She swirled her wine glass, gentle ripples forming in the amber surface. “Oh, and by the way, all those ancient texts and notes in your study? Kane had them moved to my room.”

She tilted her head slightly, eyes glinting. “He said since you’ll be Luna soon, you’ll be too busy with pack affairs to bother with academic research. Funny, isn’t it, Ilya? Your man trusted me so easily. Just like Father trusted my mother—and not yours.”

“You—!” I raised my hand, wanting to slap her.

But she stepped forward first, the tip of her heel catching the hem of my gown.

Then she let out a startled cry, and the half-glass of red wine in her hand splashed down the front of my dress.

The cold liquid soaked through the fabric, the sharp scent of alcohol rising into the air.

For the first time, I felt the urge to kill her.

Not because she spilled wine on me—but because she dared to insult my mother.

“Ilya! I’m so sorry!”

She instantly teared up, raising her voice, “I didn’t mean to… please don’t be mad…”

All eyes in the banquet hall turned toward us.

Kane pushed through the crowd with long strides, his golden eyes narrowing at the sight of my soaked gown. His brow furrowed deeply.

He pulled Serena behind him and fixed his gaze on me. “Ilya, it was just an accident. What are you trying to prove with that look?”

A month’s worth of humiliation, anger, and heartbreak surged up all at once, washing away the last of my restraint.

Suddenly, I laughed.

The sound startled everyone.

The hall grew quiet.

“Serena’s speech just now was truly impressive,” I said calmly. “Especially the section on redistributing resources from the South. The data was detailed, the argument convincing.”

Serena’s smile faltered.

Kane stepped forward. “Ilya, that’s enough.”

He must have known what Serena said was wrong—because it wasn’t true.

I ignored him and went on. “But I’m curious, Miss Serena. You claimed the GDP of the three southern wolf packs fell by 30% last year, and you suggested cutting their territory to reallocate resources to the East. Is that right?”

I turned and looked toward the three Southern Alphas sitting quietly in the corner.

“Did you know Alpha Hawk donated half a year’s profits last year to support the Northern Pack?”

“Did you know Alpha Lina gave up 40% of her trade channels and resources for the Northern Pack?”

The room fell into stunned silence.

The three Southern Alphas’ eyes turned red.

Serena opened her mouth, her face pale. “I… I used the data I found…”

“The data you used was from an early draft I compiled three months ago,” I said coldly. “My final version is in the Alpha’s office. But of course, you wouldn’t let me in.”

Serena’s complexion turned ghostly.

I locked eyes with her. “I went to the South myself. I traveled to the North and gathered the data firsthand. That’s why, in the final draft, I revised the proposal.”

“Instead of shrinking their territory, I suggested forming a Mutual Aid Pack. We’d take turns assisting them, and the Academy would provide medical support.”

I paused, letting it sink in. “But you, Serena, you got impatient. And all you had was my outdated draft.”