Chapter 3

Seeing my refusal, Fenrir furrowed his brows tightly, his Alpha aura pressing down on me once again in an attempt to force my submission.

"Lyra, stop throwing a tantrum," he said, his tone dripping with undisguised emotional blackmail. "We are going to complete the Mating Ceremony sooner or later. Sienna is my cousin, which means we'll all be family. What is the big deal about lending her the Lunar Sanctuary for an exhibition?"

Family?

I almost laughed out loud. Not only was he blind, but he was completely delusional.

Just as I opened my mouth, the double doors of the estate burst open with a loud bang.

Sienna rushed in, her eyes red and swollen, her hair a disheveled mess.

She didn't even spare me a glance, throwing herself directly in front of Fenrir and screaming hysterically.

"I've had enough! I am a once-in-a-century prodigy! I can't stand this humiliation! The entire werewolf world is treating me like a laughingstock right now!"

Fenrir immediately reached out to pull her into his arms. "Calm down, I'm figuring out a solution..."

Sienna violently shoved his hands away. She whipped her head around and pointed at me, her eyes filled with venom.

"Even if you try to coax me with all the moonstones in the world, I'm not staying! You high-and-mighty nobles make me sick! I don't need your charity!"

With that, she covered her face and ran resolutely into the pouring rain outside.

"Sienna!"

Fenrir's face paled. Without a second thought, he lunged to chase after her.

"Fenrir."

I called out to stop him, my nails digging into my palms once again. My voice was dangerously calm, delivering an absolute, undeniable ultimatum.

"If you step foot out that door today, we are completely over."

He froze in his tracks and whipped his head around.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared at me like a provoked beast.

"Do you know? She has never shed a single tear in front of me before."

"Lyra, you sicken me."

"You are going to host this exhibition whether you want to or not!"

His roar, laced with the manic, oppressive weight of his Alpha command, made the very air vibrate.

He charged into the rain without looking back.

The sheer brutality of his aura made my knees buckle, and I collapsed pathetically to the floor.

Propping myself up on my hands, a slow, dark chuckle escaped my lips.

Fine.

I will host this exhibition.

I won't just host it—I'll elevate her to the highest pedestal, just so I can watch her shatter into a million pieces when she falls.

The collar exhibition took place at the "Lunar Sanctuary" as scheduled.

Fenrir thought he had won. He brought Sienna to my study, his face full of smug satisfaction as he "thanked" me.

"I knew you would be understanding. It's good that we cleared up this misunderstanding."

I sat behind my desk, sipping my coffee, watching these two clowns with an expressionless face.

Holding a delicate wooden box with both hands, Sienna respectfully offered it across my desk.

"Lyra, thank you so much for lending us the venue. This is a token of my appreciation—a collar I forged specially for you."

I didn't take it.

I just glanced at the ornate collar resting in the box. Even from here, I could detect that deeply concealed scent.

I raised my eyes, glaring at her coldly.

"Are you truly unaware that I am severely allergic to Crimson Star-dust, or are you purposely trying to ruin my neck?"

The inner lining of the collar was coated with a rare artifact polishing material—Crimson Star-dust. Just a speck of it touching my skin would cause the flesh on my neck to blister, swell, and rot.

The smile on Sienna's face instantly froze.

Fenrir immediately furrowed his brows and stepped forward, shielding her behind his back.

"Are you losing your mind again? She just returned to the pack, how would she know about your damn conditions!" he barked harshly. "Are you completely paranoid?"

I couldn't be bothered to waste another breath.

I reached into the wooden box barehanded, grabbed the collar, and squeezed.

The fragile metal crumpled directly in my grip, scattering the highly allergenic Crimson Star-dust all over the floor.

"I don't need garbage like this," I said coldly.

Sienna's eyes welled with tears as she let out a shrill scream.

"You are taking this too far!"

Hearing Sienna's shriek, Fenrir completely lost it.

Unable to control his volatile Alpha instincts, he lunged forward, raised his hand, and viciously slapped me across the face!

Smack!

My head snapped to the side. My left cheek instantly flared with a burning heat, and the thick, metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.

A deathly silence fell over the study.

I slowly turned my head back, swiping my thumb across the corner of my mouth to wipe away the blood.

My gaze was like a knife, pinning him down.

"Fenrir, open your eyes. Tell me, who is actually bullying whom?"

His chest heaved violently as he panted.

Seeing the blood on my lip, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes for a split second, but it was quickly swallowed by an even more blinding arrogance.

"Do you think you're still the high-and-mighty heir of a great family? Your pack has been declining for years! Without me, you are absolutely nothing!"

He pointed his finger in my face, ruthlessly degrading me.

"The Mating Ceremony is postponed indefinitely! It stays that way until you learn to get on your knees and apologize!"

With that, he grabbed the trembling Sienna and stormed out, slamming the door behind them.