"That's right, Sister Aria, this isn't your fault. If anyone's to blame, it's that old she-wolf herself—too frail in body yet still wandering about, bringing shame upon herself."
"If you ask me, she deserved to die. At least now she won't embarrass our Blackmoor Pack anymore."
Seeing that both Fenris and Selene had taken Aria Duskthorn's side, the gathered wolves who had been stunned just moments ago now rushed to declare their allegiance:
"Exactly right. Wolves like her who scavenge for scraps are nothing but parasites on the pack."
"The assistant was doing the territory a service. She has nothing to fear."
"Indeed. Who told that old wolf to go begging for free meals? If her heart was weak, she shouldn't have gone stirring up trouble. She was asking for death."
In an instant, everyone was comforting Aria.
As if she—the one who had caused the death—was the victim, rather than that poor deceased elder.
Seeing everyone stand with her, a flash of triumph passed through Aria's eyes.
But the next moment, she cast a timid glance at me and spoke softly to Fenris:
"But Alpha, the one who died was Sister Lyra's mother after all. What if she comes after me for this?"
Fenris gazed at her with eyes full of tenderness: "Don't worry. With me here, no one can harm you."
With that, Fenris immediately ordered someone to draft a Forgiveness Oath and placed it before me:
"Lyra Ashenvale, your mother was in the wrong first. Her death is her own misfortune, her own weak fate. It has nothing to do with Aria."
"For the sake of our years as mates, I'll have someone give your mother a proper burial rite."
"But you must sign this Forgiveness Oath. Swear that this matter ends here and that you won't make trouble for Aria."
Selene also crossed her arms, looking down at me with superiority:
"Lyra Ashenvale, your mother brought death upon herself. Don't even think about using this to attack Sister Aria. Be smart about this and sign the oath already."
The two siblings commanded me with such arrogance, waiting for me to sign the Forgiveness Oath.
But I pushed the oath back toward them and said calmly:
"If anyone should sign this, it's you two. I have no right to."
Fenris thought I was refusing. His voice turned cold at once:
"Lyra Ashenvale, don't fail to recognize what's good for you."
"Your mother was nothing but a rankless drifter. Her existence in this world held no value whatsoever. The fact that I'm willing to give her an honorable burial is already more than your bloodline deserves. Don't push your luck."
Selene frowned and added: "Exactly. If it weren't for my brother's kindness, given all the shameful things your mother did, no one would even bother to collect her corpse."
"We're offering you a way out. Why aren't you taking it while you can?"
I explained without emotion:
"You've misunderstood. What I mean is, the one who died is your mother. This Forgiveness Oath can only be signed by you."
The moment Selene heard this, she exploded:
"Lyra Ashenvale, have you lost your mind? How dare you speak such cursed words about my mother at her own Moon Jubilee?"
Fenris was equally furious:
"Lyra Ashenvale, it seems I've been far too lenient with you all these years. That's why you've become so arrogant, forgetting even the most basic respect for elders."
"My mother is the most important person in my world. I will not allow anyone to disrespect her—not even my own mate!"
Having said this, he turned sharply to Bram Stonehowl standing nearby and commanded in a harsh voice:
"Go back to the outpost right now. Throw that old thing's body into the rot-pit!"
Bram hesitated, glancing at me: "Alpha, this... this doesn't seem right, does it?"
Fenris roared:
"She won't sign the Forgiveness Oath? She wants to curse my mother? Then I'll make her understand today what happens to those who disrespect my mother!"
"Go now and do it. Whatever consequences come, I'll bear them!"
Seeing Fenris Blackmoor's fury unleashed, Bram Stonehowl didn't dare defy him any longer. He scrambled away on unsteady legs to carry out the Alpha's command.
The gathered wolves at the Moon Jubilee turned their attention to me, shaking their heads and whispering among themselves:
"Lyra Ashenvale has truly struck at the Alpha's deepest wound this time."
"Indeed. Everyone knows Alpha Fenris lost his father young. The Matriarch Aurora raised him and his sister alone. Who doesn't know that the Matriarch is the one person the Alpha treasures above all else? This Lyra must have lost her mind, cursing the Matriarch at her own Moon Jubilee!"
"No wonder her mother died. Having such an ungrateful daughter, what parent could live long?"
The pack members' words were sharp and cruel.
But they couldn't touch me at all.
I ignored everyone and looked directly at Fenris, speaking slowly and clearly:
"Fenris, are you certain you want to push things this far?"
Fenris looked down at me from his dominant height, his voice cold and harsh:
"Lyra Ashenvale, you brought all of this upon yourself."
"Your mother died because she had no shame and loved to take advantage of others."
"You shouldn't have used that as an excuse to curse my mother again and again at her Moon Jubilee."
"If you ask me, your mother deserved an early death for having a daughter like you who doesn't know gratitude or respect for elders!"
The moment those words left his mouth.
My mother suddenly walked into the great hall. She looked at Fenris with confusion:
"Who died?"
