“Do you even realize the gravity of this? If the other pack commits a crime, we could be held accountable too—”
“Liora, I know you don’t like me, but please don’t drag my pack through mud like that,” Camilla interjected sharply.
I turned to face Alaric, only to meet his cold glare.
“Camilla is right,” he said, his voice hard. “You never received a proper education, so pack matters are beyond your understanding. How could you possibly grasp whether this benefits us or not?”
He continued, “It’s better to leave these responsibilities to me. Camilla has served as a Luna for over three years; I cannot show favoritism to you, an uneducated orphan.”
My body shivered as his words stung, an insult flung before everyone.
The dinner became unbearable. I did not utter another word, though Alaric kept glancing at me. My mother-in-law seemed delighted with the drama, laughing freely with Camilla. It wasn’t until I reached for an oyster that she snapped, her voice sharp as a whip.
“Liora, I understand you had no parents to teach you, but are you so foolish as to eat such a spicy dish during your second trimester? Don’t you care about the baby? No wonder Alaric had to go to such lengths to protect you.”
“Like he’s protecting me now, from your endless attacks?” I shot back, my words cutting through the murmurs. Instantly, the chatter died down. My mother-in-law was too stunned to respond, and Alaric froze, confusion written across his face.
“This oyster… it’s the one the nurse prepared for better digestion. I brought it here because you rushed me during lunch, asking me to get food for everyone. But now… I feel out of place here, like I’ve made a mistake coming,” I added, my voice trembling but steady.
“Liora!” Alaric called as I rose without eating. He followed cautiously.
“Liora, Mom didn’t mean it that way. Come back with me!”
“To be honest, Alaric,” I said, stepping into the rain, “my parents are alive and well. If I had listened to them, I would have never chosen a place where I am constantly unwelcome.”
He grasped my shoulders, shaking his head as if thinking I was inventing excuses to console myself.
“Liora, let it go this once. You must be a good daughter-in-law… a good wife.”
“Alaric! Camilla is having trouble breathing! Come quickly!” Colin’s voice interrupted us, hesitant yet urgent.
“Liora, come back inside! It’s going to pour. I need to help Camilla first—please wait here for a moment.”
I stared at him, feeling like he was a stranger. He hesitated, searching for the right words, before squeezing my hand briefly and rushing off.
Almost immediately, my mother-in-law messaged me: [You can come in now; I overreacted earlier.]
[Let’s not waste this dinner.]
I smiled faintly through my tears, realizing I had never been truly welcomed in this household. For them, everything revolved around status and appearances.
Three years ago, I had been kidnapped by rogues. My father and brothers searched relentlessly, never revealing my identity to avoid endangering me. Ultimately, it was Alaric, the Alpha of Jade Moon Pack, who rescued me along with others. My mother offered him a large compensation, but I told her I wanted to be mates with him.
My brothers had opposed the match, insisting that, as the sole princess, I had never experienced hardship and that marrying someone as cold as Alaric would be disastrous.
How naïve I had been to believe love could surpass status. Today, the man I loved had openly declared me worthless because of my lack of rank.
The rain soaked me to the skin, but I ignored my mother-in-law’s insistence that I return inside. At that moment, I felt foolish for ever loving such a heartless man. I couldn’t imagine facing my parents. Would they even take me back?
Suddenly, warmth enveloped me as Alaric’s arms held me tightly. He, too, was drenched, yet he gently pulled me aside.
“Are you alright? I’m sorry I left you like this. Just… follow my lead and go inside,” he murmured.
“Camilla is terribly ill,” he continued softly. “I invited her; I couldn’t leave her alone. Even then, she sent me to you. Maybe you should take a lesson from her.”
“Mom’s been trying to call you, messaging you to come inside. Why can’t you stop being stubborn for just a moment?” His voice wavered between frustration and concern as he noticed my pale face.
He swiftly led me to a nearby store so I could change into dry clothes, preventing me from falling sick.
“Are you alright, Liora? I’ll call a taxi to take you home.”
I shook my head. “Aren’t you coming back with me?”
“I have work to finish—”
“Are you going to drop Camilla off at her home?” I interrupted, seeing through his excuse.
His face shifted from indulgence to guilt and anger. Carefully, he replied, “I’ll come home after that. Understand… Camilla is a single mother, and she’s unwell. What if something happens to her on the way?”
“I understand,” I said firmly, cutting him off. “You want to drop her off because she’s sick and can’t care for herself, while I’m perfectly capable of getting home alone.”
