Chapter 4

"Mom."

I lowered my head. Lyra was standing right in front of me.

"Mommy Selene told me to come get you. It's time to cut the cake."

There wasn't a trace of affection in her voice. She sounded as though she were simply delivering someone else's message.

I crouched down, wanting to straighten her collar.

But she immediately stepped back.

"Don't touch me."

My hand froze in midair.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"Mommy Selene said you shouldn't keep following her and Daddy around today. Everyone is celebrating. Don't make them unhappy."

The six-year-old didn't understand what deliberate manipulation meant, but she'd already learned to mistake other people's words for her own opinions.

I tried to keep my voice gentle.

"I just want to talk to you for a little while."

"I don't want to."

She frowned, as though she'd been holding back her frustration for a long time.

"Every time you show up, Mommy Selene gets upset. She's so nice to me. Why do you always have to make her sad?"

My throat tightened.

"Lyra, I'm your mother."

"But I like Mommy Selene more!"

With that, she turned and ran off.

"Mommy Selene!"

Whispers quickly spread among the guests.

"How pitiful. Even her own daughter doesn't want to be close to her."

"She used to spend all her time running the art gallery and the family business. When did she ever have time for her child?"

"Selene has always been the one taking care of Lyra. No wonder the girl prefers her."

I gripped my glass, my fingertips turning white.

But the only thing that truly hurt was hearing my daughter say she liked someone else more.

My mother came to stand beside me, following my gaze.

"Look at how well Selene takes care of the child. You should learn to let go of your temper."

My father stood beside her, his tone equally disapproving.

"Children are the most honest. Whoever she wants to be close to is clearly the better mother for her."

I didn't answer.

I no longer knew what else I could possibly say in my own defense.

After the engagement party ended, I returned to the estate alone without saying goodbye to anyone.

Mira was waiting for me in the study.

I took a black storage drive from the drawer and handed it to her.

"Tomorrow morning at eight, give everything on this drive to Darius."

She accepted it, her expression grave.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes. It's time he knew."

I took out two more letters.

"One is for my parents. The other is for Lyra. Give it to her when she comes of age."

Tears slipped down Mira's cheeks.

"You could tell her yourself."

"She wouldn't listen to me now."

I opened the safe and took out a small jewelry box.

Inside was a moon-white wolf fang pendant, with my family crest engraved on the back.

"My mother left this to me. Give it to Lyra when she grows up."

I paused.

"Tell her it's a gift her mother always wanted to give her."

Mira clutched the jewelry box tightly, unable to speak.

Once everything had been arranged, I leaned back in my chair. Even lifting a finger had become difficult.

Outside, the fireworks from the engagement celebration were still lighting up the night sky.

Silver flashes illuminated the darkness.

But all I could hear was my heartbeat growing weaker and weaker.

"Just hold on a little longer."

I whispered the words to myself.

"By tomorrow morning, everything will be over."

I closed my eyes.

"Goodnight, Darius. Goodnight, Lyra. And goodnight to everyone I once loved."

At six the next morning, my wolf core stopped beating for the last time.

Mira sat beside my bed, holding my cold hand. She couldn't bring herself to let go.

It wasn't until eight that she finally picked up her communicator and called Darius.

"Alpha, Ms. Elara has passed away."

Silence stretched across the other end.

"What did you say?"

Darius's voice changed abruptly.

"That's impossible. She was at the engagement party last night."