Every allied pack and bloodline stakeholder connected to the Blackmoor territory had gathered at the Grand Lodge.
Fenris Blackmoor stood among them, playing the gracious Alpha host. Every few moments his gaze drifted to the carved timber doors, and his fingers brushed the face of his pocket watch—clearly awaiting the Pack Matriarch's arrival.
Meanwhile, Aria Duskthorn wore a flowing gown that bared her throat in a show of false submission, laughing softly with Selene Blackmoor as though they were the closest of pack-sisters.
The moment I stepped into the gathering hall, both women exchanged a knowing glance and glided toward me.
Aria's voice dripped with mock sweetness, her scent sharp with malice beneath the perfume:
"Oh my, if it isn't the devoted daughter who lets her mother wander around begging scraps from other wolves' tables."
"Tell me, are you here tonight to wrap up some choice cuts for that greedy mother of yours to gnaw on?"
Selene looked me up and down, her lip curling with undisguised contempt:
"Lyra Ashenvale, you mated into the Blackmoor bloodline. Could you at least try to shed those low-born habits of yours? Stop embarrassing our pack in front of the entire territory."
"At this rate, outsiders will think we've taken in a whole den of strays."
The gathered wolves caught wind of the exchange. Whispers rippled through the hall, each voice laced with scorn:
"I heard something earlier—some wolf was caught scavenging at the Skybloom roadhouse today. I wondered what kind of shameless creature would do such a thing. Turns out it was Lyra Ashenvale's mother."
"Word is Aria's people locked her in an iron cage and taught her a proper lesson. Pulled every tooth from her head, they say."
"Serves her right. If you can't carry yourself with dignity, at least don't drag the Blackmoor name through the mud. Losing her teeth is getting off easy."
"Exactly. If they don't discipline her harshly now, she'll just humiliate the pack again."
The mockery washed over the hall. Fenris Blackmoor's expression darkened like storm clouds gathering before a hunt.
He strode toward me, towering over my smaller frame, his Alpha presence pressing down like a physical weight. His voice cut cold as winter wind:
"Lyra Ashenvale. Tonight is my mother's Moon Jubilee—her fiftieth year celebration. If your mother's disgraceful behavior ruins her mood, I will not let it go. Not you, and not that worthless mother of yours."
His words stung like iron against bare skin. I could only laugh at the bitter irony:
"Fenris, if you truly cared about your mother's happiness, you'd go to the roadhouse yourself and see what's happened."
Fenris's brow furrowed, a growl building in his chest. "Why would I go to that outpost?"
"To watch your mother throw a fit like some feral rogue?"
"Or to witness her embarrassing herself in front of common wolves?"
"Lyra Ashenvale, don't you dare try to curse me with your mother's troubles."
Selene lifted her chin, her voice dripping with superiority:
"Exactly. Tonight belongs to my mother. Your mother's petty problems aren't worth my brother's time or attention."
"If you ask me, they should lock her in that outpost and let her go hungry for a few days. Teach her what it means to know her place."
"Before she starts believing that just because you wormed your way into our pack, your whole low-rank family can ride our coattails to glory."
Aria's smile widened with satisfaction as she addressed me:
"Sister Lyra, I know you're worried about your mother. But rest easy—I only gave her a small lesson to help her remember proper conduct. I wouldn't truly harm her."
The words had barely left her lips when Bram Stonehowl, the Beta manager of the Skybloom roadhouse, burst through the hall doors. His scent reeked of panic and old blood.
"Aria! Something's gone wrong."
"The old she-wolf locked in the iron cage—she's dead."
Bram's announcement struck the gathering like lightning splitting an ancient oak. The hall erupted in shocked murmurs.
Aria's face drained of color. "What happened?"
Bram gasped for breath, his words tumbling out:
"We followed your orders exactly. Pulled all her teeth, locked her in the iron cage, left her there without tending to her."
"But that old wolf had a weak heart. Not long after you left, she started clutching her chest, couldn't draw breath. She was gone within moments."
At those words, Aria's legs buckled beneath her. She would have collapsed if Fenris hadn't caught her arm.
The Alpha steadied her, his voice low and reassuring:
"Aria, don't be afraid."
"This is Lyra Ashenvale's mother's own failing—her weak body gave out. None of this is your fault."
Selene recovered quickly, nodding in eager agreement:
