Celia POV
I swiftly dodged the slap with ease.
My father, Zander, was growing increasingly furious.
"Celia, your mother tried so hard to find a suitable man for you, and this is how you present yourself? Dressing like this and openly kissing a man on the street? You've brought shame to our Dark Moon pack! Kneel down and apologize to your mother immediately!"
Zander's voice echoed with anger.
Sarah, my stepmother, intervened, trying to pacify the situation.
"Zander, it's okay, really. Don't blame Celia. It's my fault. I haven't been a good stepmother, and she's young and impulsive..."
Sarah wiped away her tears, trying to appear innocent. "It's fine, really."
I interjected, my tone cold and composed, "She's not my mother."
Sarah was my stepmother scheming to sell me off and strip away my inheritance rights in the Dark Moon pack.
I handed a stack of documents to Zander.
"Dad, these are the real profiles of the men Sarah wanted me to meet. Take a look. If you find someone you approve of, I'll be with him."
My father looked at the profiles and became utterly shocked.
The men described in the documents were far from impressive. They were mostly older men with peculiar quirks, struggling to find mates.
He glared at Sarah angrily.
"These men are almost my age! How could you do this, Sarah? Are you trying to sell my daughter to them?"
Sarah, trying to explain, stammered, "Zander, I don't know how this happened! I promise I selected the best men for Celia! They must have provided false information!"
I sneered, "Sarah, stop lying! Are you careless about me just because I'm not your daughter? Dad, would you agree if I had to be with such old men?"
Sarah attempted to explain, but Zander, disappointed, tossed the profiles at her face.
"That's enough! You don't need to interfere in Celia's matters anymore! By the way, your bank card will be blocked this month! Reflect on your actions at home!"
Sarah turned pale.
"Zander, please... No, you misunderstood me..."
Ignoring her, my father looked at me apologetically. "Celia, you don't have to meet those men anymore."
I smiled, "Thank you, Dad."
As Zander went upstairs, Sarah shot me a menacing glare, but I remained unfazed.
"Oh, by the way, Sarah," I said casually, "I forgot to mention that the contact information I gave those men is Jocelyn's private number. I hope Jocelyn finds her perfect match among them."
Sarah's face twisted with rage. "What? How dare you do this!!!"
I climbed upstairs and yawned.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Sarah opened the door. A well-dressed man stood at the door. He was accompanied by a few people, carrying many bags in his hands.
"Who are you looking for?" Sarah asked cautiously.
I was curious, hid in the doorway, and peeked open a crack to watch.
Wait...
It was the man's Beta, Calvin!
How did he find out where I live?
Calvin spoke, "Madam, greetings. We are here on behalf of Alpha Leon in Black Mist pack to deliver the engagement gifts for your daughter."
"Engagement gifts?" Sarah's eyes widened. "Wait, Alpha Leon? The Alpha of powerful Black Mist pack?"
Calvin nodded. "Exactly."
"You mean Alpha Leon is interested in my daughter?" Sarah asked, surprised.
Calvin said, "In fact, my Alpha has chosen your daughter as his Luna."
Sarah responded hastily, "Oh, my daughter isn't home right now! I think it would be better if I wait until she returns..."
Calvin interrupted her, "Madam, your daughter has already accepted my Alpha. All you need to do is accept the engagement gifts."
He gestured for his men to bring in the gifts.
"In three days, my Alpha will come in person to take your daughter to the Black Mist pack as his Luna."
"In three days? Isn't that a bit rushed?" Sarah was ecstatic and worried.
Calvin reassured her, "Madam, please rest assured. Alpha Leon has made all necessary arrangements. Your daughter will be well taken care of."
Overwhelmed with joy, Sarah exclaimed, "Oh, that's good! We will be prepared in three days!"
Calvin nodded.
"Very well. We won't disturb you any longer."
Then, he left with his men.
Zander, hearing the commotion, came out.
"Who's here? What's all this?"
Sarah caressed the valuable gifts, trembling.
"Zander, Alpha Leon has taken an interest in our daughter, Jocelyn! These gifts are from the Black Mist pack!"
Zander was stunned.
"What? Alpha Leon? You mean the powerful and wealthy Alpha of the Black Mist pack?"
Sarah nodded eagerly. "Yes, it's him!"
Zander covered his chest.
"My goodness! Jocelyn has actually been chosen by Alpha Leon to be his Luna!"
Sarah, bursting with pride, said, "What's so surprising about that? She's my daughter! Darling, speaking of this, Celia grew up in the countryside, wild and temperamental. I just wanted to find an older man who could tolerate her. You really misunderstood me."
"I know, honey. I'm so sorry," Zander admitted.
I frowned. They mistakenly believed that Leon wanted Jocelyn to be his Luna.
Suddenly, I had a plan in my heart.
…
Next day.
In the afternoon, I returned home, holding a delicate photo frame, and headed upstairs. Jocelyn happened to be coming down and deliberately blocked my way.
"What are you holding? Did you steal the jewelry from my engagement gifts?" She crossed her arms and asked arrogantly.
I halted and replied calmly, "It's just a photo frame, and it's mine."
"Give it to me!"
Jocelyn reached out and snatched the item I was shielding in my arms.
She sneered, "Fuck, just a picture of your mother, that home wrecker. Fortunately, she's already dead!"
I reached out to grab the photo frame, but Jocelyn intentionally dropped it on the floor.
"Oops! My bad!"
Watching the frame being crushed beneath Jocelyn's foot, anger flared up within me.
It was a rare picture of my mother I had found in an old album. The frame was now broken, and the photo had been dirtied.
I grabbed ahold of Jocelyn's clothing, my voice ice-cold.
"Pick it up."
Jocelyn wasn't intimidated. "Celia, look, I'll become the Luna of the Black Mist pack soon! If you dare mess with me, Alpha Leon will kill you! Are you scared now? Get lost!"
She pushed me away and smirked triumphantly, "Alpha Leon chose me to be his Luna! He will protect me no matter what! See? All those gifts over there are from the Black Mist pack! You better not touch them, because you can't afford to compensate for it!"
With a cold and distain look in my eyes, I said to Jocelyn, "Congratulations. But, will a powerful pack like the Black Mist pack accept a wolfless woman as their Luna? You almost became a breeder, remember?"
Jocelyn was hit where it hurt the most.
"So what? Alpha Leon loves me deeply; he will protect me no matter what!"
"Is that so?"
I smiled, saying nothing more. I picked up my mother's photo, dusting off the dirt before turning and heading upstairs.
This was a good outcome.
I didn't have to worry about how to get out of the trouble I accidentally got into yesterday.
Since Jocelyn was so eager to be with that man, it was perfect.
...
Three days later.
Our Dark Moon pack hosted a grand banquet, and relatives and friends gathered to congratulate Jocelyn.
Sarah ensured that Zander spared no expense, making it known to everyone that Jocelyn was soon to become Alpha Leon's Luna.
"Look, Alpha Leon's car is here! So majestic! Those are limited edition luxury cars!"
"Alpha Leon took their lumber business by storm when he came back from studying finance and management abroad! Looks like he's making a lot of money!"
"I envy Jocelyn! She gets to marry a top-tier man like Alpha Leon! He's mature and handsome. So what if he's thirty-five? Mature men often take better care of women."
Listening to the relatives and friends' praises and envy, Jocelyn, dressed in her bridal gown, was brimming with arrogance.
The car stopped at the entrance of Dark Moon pack's mansion.
Leon, tall and imposing, stepped out of the car, exuding power and elegance.
His Beta, Calvin, signaled for the men in their suits to alight from the following cars, following Leon toward the mansion.
Up in the attic, I was peering from the terrace, watching the commotion below.
In a momentary glance between Leon and me, I swiftly turned away.
A sense of unease washed over me.
Leon spotted me!
To be on the safe side, I couldn't linger at home any longer.
I had to slip away quickly!
I briskly walked towards the back door of the mansion, humming a tune to myself.
Before I could take more than a few steps, a powerful force gripped the collar of my shirt, hoisting me up into the air.
Celia POV "Where are you going?" A deep, menacing voice sounded, sending chills down my spine. Even though my back was turned to the man, I recognized the voice instantly. It was Alpha Leon! That was alright. I had prepared for this moment. I turned around to face Leon, sticking out my tongue and stammering, "Who are you? I don't know you!" Leon froze, his grip loosening momentarily. I purposely put bright eye shadow and lipstick on my face, so that he wouldn't recognize me. I continued, "You must be Alpha Leon, right? You've got the wrong person! You should go to the front door to pick up your Luna! She's waiting for you!" Leon narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy. The corner of his thin lips curled into a mocking smile. "You don't know me? Then why do you have my mark on the back of your neck?" I was stunned. When had he marked me? Leon's deep eyes seemed to read my thoughts. He said, "I marked you during the mating ceremony that night." I ground my teeth. "Alpha Leon, le
Celia POV I frowned. "Alpha Leon, are you trying to back out? We agreed that this would end in three months!" Leon smiled, his lips curving into a sly smile, "I promised to end it in three months, but I never guaranteed that nothing would happen within those three months." His long fingers tightened around my chin. His rough fingertips bore calluses, exuding a dangerous vibe, overpowering me. "Alpha Leon, I didn't think you'd be the man to pull these dirty tricks." I stared at him defiantly. His grip remained firm. He leaned closer, his gaze intense. Seeing my face, he chuckled lightly and released his hold on me. Then, he said with a disdainful tone, "Don't flatter yourself. I have no interest in a little girl like you." Although I felt relieved, his comment still irked me. "Good! I also have no interest in an aging Alpha like you!" I raised my hand and poked Leon's chest. "Alpha Leon, please step aside. I'm tired and I want to go wash up and sleep." Instead of confronting
Celia POV In a hurry, I grabbed one of Leon's shirts and dashed out of the door. Soon, I arrived at Arona Clinic. I barely reached the entrance when Karlee came rushing out. "Celia, there you are! Theta Landon wants to see you in his office! You need to brace yourself..." "Why does Theta Landon want to see me?" I asked, surprised at Karlee's unusual nervousness. "What's going on?" Theta Landon was our pack's medical mainstay and director of the clinic. Karlee glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then leaned in close. "All the important internal files at the clinic have gone missing today!" "How does that concern me?" I frowned. "The key point is, Cynthia reported to Theta Landon that it was because you didn't lock the door that all the files are gone! Today, an Alpha will come to inspect the clinic's new project. All the hard work we put into those files is now wasted. Theta Landon is furious and will likely blame you!" Cynthia, like me, was an intern at the clinic
Celia POV I walked out of the clinic, carrying the box, when a black luxury car suddenly stopped beside me. Beta Calvin came out of the passenger seat, saying, "Luna Celia, Alpha Leon wants to talk with you in the car." I didn't want to and tried to walk around, but Calvin raised his hand to stop me. "Luna Celia, please get in the car." Unable to avoid him, I reluctantly got into the car. I took out my phone and looked through it. Cynthia had shared a photo on social media, capturing the moment I entered the car. The text was, "No wonder Celia left so happily! It turns out she hooked up with a rich man! She doesn't care about this job at all! That man looks like he's in his sixties? Gross!" Replies quickly followed. "Sixty years old? She's in a relationship with an old man about her grandfather's age? I'm going to throw up just thinking about it!" "Holy crap! Could Celia be a home wrecker?" I raised an eyebrow shared a video with our work chat group. In the video, Cynthia
Celia POV Tamia yelled and screamed, "Ah!!! Grandma, are you okay? Help!!! Celia wants to kill my grandma!" I felt something was wrong and quickly moved forward to check. However, Tamia forcefully pushed me away. "Back off! Don't touch my grandma! You wicked woman! " "She is in danger. Let me help her." "Danger? What danger? I know you want to hurt my grandma!" Tamia screamed. In a moment of urgency, I gave her a swift slap, forcefully pushing her aside. Immediately, I rushed towards Jazlene struggling on the sofa, continuously applying pressure to her stomach. Tamia covered her face and screamed, "Ah!!! Celia has gone crazy!!! She's going to kill my grandma!" Servants rushed over, trying to pull me away. "Stay away, all of you!" Suddenly, a cold and stern voice cut through the chaos. "What happened?" Leon entered, and the atmosphere became heavy. Tamia rushed into his arms, crying, "Brother, quickly save Grandma! Grandma is about to be killed by that crazy woman!" Leon
Celia POV The next morning, when I woke up, Leon was already not in the room. Lazily, I leaned against the bedhead, scrolling through my phone. Suddenly, a message from Alex popped up. "Boss, I found another bracelet that looks very similar to yours! Come to Royal Pack! I have a plan to get us into Lycan King's party today!" It must be the bracelet designed by my mom. Perhaps there would be some clues. I frowned as I immediately got up, washed up, and headed out. Meeting Alex, he quickly briefed me on the situation. "Boss, I've investigated it thoroughly. That bracelet is designed by Crescent. Lycan King bought it when he was abroad." Crescent was my mother's designer name. She was renowned for incorporating elements of herbs and plants into her designs. While everyone claimed my mother was no longer alive, I hadn't found any proof of her death. With no other leads, I decided to start by exploring her works scattered around the world. I was about to enter Royal Pack when I s
Celia POV I looked over at Alex and frowned slightly. Alex immediately understood what I meant. He cleared his throat, raised his hand to hold up the bluetooth headset he habitually wore in his left ear, and walked past Leon and me. He deliberately lowered his voice a few notches, pretending he was on the phone. "Boss, that was embarrassing just now! I was cursing Alpha Leon, and he overheard me! He's the one who bought out that sculpture you liked! Forget it, let him have it! We'll buy something else later!" With that, Alex walked away. I looked at Leon and raised an eyebrow with an innocent look on my face. "Alpha Leon, that guy seems to be cursing you!" Leon's eyes fell on me with a probing look. "You don't know him?" I shook my head. "No! Alpha Leon, do you know that man? Why did he say that?" Leon narrowed his eyes. "You still haven't answered me. What are you doing here?" I sighed with chagrin, "I heard that they were hiring waitresses here today, so I came over for
Celia POV The mating ceremony began. Carolyn walked up the red carpet and slowly walked towards Lamont. Suddenly, the picture on the big screen suddenly changed to a surveillance video. Lamont was pulling and tugging at a woman in a bridesmaid's dress in the hallway and going into a storage room. The crowd was in an uproar. Lamont's face turned pale. The happy smile on Carolyn's face slowly faded. She looked at Lamont in dismay and disbelief. "Lamont, who is that woman? What were you doing in the storage room?" Lamont said to Carolyn, "Carolyn, listen to me, it's not what you think! That bridesmaid said she wasn't feeling well and asked me to help her into the storage room to get some rest. When she entered the locker room, she took off her clothes and tried to seduce me! I was so shocked that I broke away and ran out. I didn't do anything!" Carolyn pushed him away and walked toward the stage. "Which one of you is the woman in the video?" Cynthia reached out from behind her