It was her father's birthday banquet, the kind of event where every wolf in the territory gathered to honor their Alpha. Midway through the ride, Amalia had quietly asked Ronan if they could stop to buy a gift, something small at least to soften her father's hard eyes. But his reply was like ice through the car.
"There's no time. Your presence is already enough."
The vehicle stopped at the grand steps of the Ennis Pack's hall. Golden lights spilled out from towering doors, laughter and music carried on the night air. Ronan left to park, mind-linking Amalia with clipped words to go in first.
The moment she stepped inside, the chatter of pack members brushed against her ears. Heads turned, whispers fluttered. She hadn't taken more than a few steps before Olivia appeared, a predatory smile on her lips, her loyal circle of she-wolves flanking her like shadows.
They closed in quickly, their movements sharp, deliberate— wolves circling prey. Olivia pinched her nose with exaggerated disgust, her voice pitched just right to carry across the hall.
"Really, Amalia? No necklace? Not even the Ennis crest? Even mutts wear their wolf's mark. You shame the Alpha's bloodline."
Laughter erupted from her entourage, high and cutting.
"She doesn't even feel like an Alpha's daughter anymore. More like an outsider who's lost her wolf."
Amalia's fingers curled into her palm, jaw tight. But Olivia's cruelty cut deeper. Her tone dripped with venom as she leaned closer.
"It's almost funny. You're the daughter of Astrid—the Luna every wolf adored—yet look at you now. Weaker than the daughter of a mistress. No wonder your father replaced her."
The words struck like claws. Her mother, Astrid, had been a Luna unlike any other—Moon Court's chosen, radiant and strong. She had left everything for Amalia's father, only to die in a rogue attack when Amalia was sixteen. Since then, her father's love had twisted into resentment. She could still hear his voice, cruel and final:
"If I truly owed your mother anything, I never should have kept you alive. If not for you, she would still be here."
The memory burned like salt in an open wound.
Her wolf, still weak from the punishment that had nearly killed her years ago, stirred in her chest, restless and angry. Before she could stop herself, Amalia's hand lashed out. The slap cracked through the hall like a whip.
"Shut your mouth," she hissed, power trembling in her voice, wolf-fire flashing in her eyes. "No one speaks of my mother."
Olivia's cheek flamed, her wolf surging beneath her skin. She snarled, voice shrill with fury.
"You filthy wretch! How dare you strike me! Do you want to shift here, in front of everyone? Do you want them to see what you are? My father will strip what's left of your wolf!"
Gasps spread through the crowd. Everyone remembered Amalia's punishment—her wolf bound, her strength ripped away after being accused of shifting to kill before the council. Though she had sworn she never meant harm, the judgment had been final.
Amalia forced a cold smile, though her chest ached.
"Let him try. But you, Olivia—you'll never frighten me."
The hall vibrated with tension, wolves pressing closer, waiting for blood to spill. Then a voice cut through the storm—calm, commanding, impossible to ignore.
"Amalia"
The sound froze her where she stood. Her heart pounded as her eyes turned toward the source.
And when her gaze met his, every thread of control unraveled.
The figure who appeared was dressed in a pure white suit, the silver crest of the Ennis Alpha family gleaming on his chest. His features were sharp as if carved from stone, and his eyes—calm yet unreadable—landed on Amalia.
It was her older brother, Evan. Behind him stood a group of young elites from allied packs, and among them, dressed in a flowing white gown, was Kira. She looked delicate and charming, her wolf aura faint but sweet, the picture of innocence.
Amalia's gaze shifted and her chest tightened. By kira's side stood Ronan, her former mate. His wolf energy pulsed protectively toward Kira as he leaned close, whispering something that made her blush. His eyes, once full of passion for Amalia, now glowed with gentle affection for another.
For a moment, Amalia's mind went blank.
Before she could find words, Olivia rushed forward, tears streaming. She clutched at Kira's hand, sobbing.
"kira, your sister is cruel! I only asked why she came without her pack crest or jewels, and she struck me. She even called me the daughter of a mistress. Is it my fault my mother was born one?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Wolves whispered, their ears perked, some shaking their heads with pity while others smirked.
Amalia's lips parted to respond, but Kira spoke first. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she looked at Amalia.
"Sister, even if Olivia's words were harsh, you can't lose control. You know what the Council said—that you were already punished once for unleashing your wolf. Do you want people to believe you'll shift to attack again?"
Amalia's wolf stirred, furious, but she held her ground. Her voice was cold.
"If she hadn't insulted my mother, I wouldn't have touched her."
At her words, Ronan frowned. His wolf stirred within him, his expression tightening as annoyance flickered across his face.
"Amalia, Olivia is Kira's friend and the daughter of the Parker's family's Beta. Even if she was wrong, you should never raise your hand against her before the pack. Do you want everyone to think you're dangerous again?"
The weight of countless eyes pressed against her, judgmental and sharp. Amalia clenched her fists, a chill crawling through her veins. Just as she was about to speak, a tall figure stepped in front of her.
Alaric.
His handsome face wore its usual gentle smile, but when he turned to Olivia ,his tone was soft with apology.
"Forgive my sister. She was raised too sheltered, too pampered. On her behalf, I apologize."
Amalia froze. Her wolf snarled within her chest. She glared at him, her voice trembling with anger.
" Alaric, I wasn't wrong! She insulted mother. She deserved that slap."
But Alaric's smile didn't falter, though his eyes flashed icy cold for the briefest moment. Amalia's stomach sank—her brother was angry, but not at Olivia. At her brother.
"Enough, Amalia. It's all the same," he said smoothly, his words cutting deeper than a blade.
Amalia's throat tightened.
Olivia flushed, lowering her eyes in false modesty. "Since it's for Young Alpha Alaric's sake, I'll forgive this… just this once
Then Kira's soft voice broke, trembling as tears welled in her eyes.
"I know you've always hated me, Amalia. You despise my mother, and for that, you despise me. But I never asked to be born this way. I never asked to be a mistress's daughter. If I could, I would choose to be legitimate… to have a family who wanted me."
Her voice cracked, and she looked at Amalia with wounded innocence. "Not everyone is as lucky as you, to be born an Alpha's true daughter. I'm sorry." Then she ran off in tears, her wolf energy flickering weakly like a candle flame.
The crowd's sympathy instantly shifted to her.
Ronan's gaze followed Kira, his wolf restless to comfort her. He hesitated, then turned back to Amalia, disappointment dark in his eyes.
"Do you know how much it meant to her that you'd show up tonight? And yet you hurt her like this. I was blind before, Amalia. I thought protecting you was enough, but it seems I only spoiled your temper."
His words sliced through her, harsher than claws. Then, without another glance, he followed after Kira.
The silence left behind was suffocating. Wolves around them cast scornful and pitying looks. Amalia's fury boiled inside her— Kira's mother had been the one to seduce her father, yet now it was she who bore the blame.
But when her eyes met Alaric's calm, unyielding gaze, her heart froze. " Alaric… do you also think this is my fault?"
His expression softened into something weary, almost pitying. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing as though her presence itself weighed on him.
"Amalia… we were preparing a gift for you, that's why I wasn't there to meet you earlier. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
The tone made her chest tighten. It was the same voice he used when dismissing she-wolves who courted him, handing back their tokens with polite detachment. But now, the one being brushed aside was her.
She said nothing, only stared at him, her wolf whimpering deep inside.
She remembered once, before their mother's death, he had been her fiercest protector. He gave her everything, shielded her from everyone. Even after their mother died saving Amalia, Alaric had wrapped her in his arms, swearing nothing would ever harm her again.
But everything changed the moment kira and her mother stepped into their lives.