Chapter 97

In the werewolf - centered world, where the pack's social order was as complex as a web of territorial boundaries, outside the hospital room, Victoria leaned weakly against the wall, her heart sinking as she overheard Mrs. Hill's demeaning words about her, like a low - ranking wolf being scorned by the alpha female. A bitter sadness washed over her.

Was she really inferior to her sister in every way?

She strained her ears, hoping to hear Nathan defend her, but for a long while, there was no response from him, as if the beta wolf was too weak to stand up for his mate against the alpha's wrath.

Fear crept into Victoria’s heart. She was afraid that Nathan, soft - hearted as he was, might actually believe his mother’s words and start thinking that his ex - wife was the better choice, like a wolf doubting its current packmate in the face of the alpha's influence.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, Victoria pushed the door open and entered the room, like a brave but nervous wolf stepping into the alpha's den.

Inside, Mrs. Hill sat on the bed, her gaze cold and disdainful as she stared at her, radiating the authority of a dominant wolf. Nathan knelt on the floor, his eyes bloodshot with emotion, like a submissive wolf pleading for mercy.

Victoria’s sudden appearance shattered the fragile peace between the mother and son. Mrs. Hill glared at her angrily. “Who let you in? In the werewolf - centered alpha - female's - territorial - challenge, this is her outburst.”

Victoria knelt beside Nathan, her expression full of love and devotion. “Mom, I beg you, Nathan has been working hard lately, and his health isn’t good. Please have mercy on him, don’t make him kneel anymore. If you’re angry, take it out on me. Let me bear everything for him. In the werewolf - centered self - sacrifice - for - mate and plea - for - mercy, this is her supplication.”

Nathan’s heart ached, tears welling up in his eyes. He immediately stood and helped Victoria up, his voice firm as he addressed Mrs. Hill. “Mom, Victoria and I are already married. Whether you like her or not, I will never leave her. In the werewolf - centered loyalty - to - mate and defiance - of - alpha - female, this is his declaration.”

Seeing that Nathan had made up his mind, Mrs. Hill closed her eyes in frustration, like a defeated alpha conceding a battle.

“Get out. From now on, you’re no longer welcome in the Hill family. In the werewolf - centered pack - expulsion - order, this is her command.”

Nathan froze for a moment, a flash of sadness crossing his face, like a wolf being cast out of its home pack.

“Mom…” He choked on the words.

“Get out!” Mrs. Hill shouted, furious.

Nathan, holding Victoria’s hand, left the room in helpless resignation, like a banished wolf leaving with its mate.

As they exited the hospital, the sky had turned overcast, matching Nathan’s gloomy mood. Everything seemed dull, just like his heart, as if the world itself was mourning their loss of pack status.

Victoria, moved by Nathan’s unwavering decision, couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes, but she quickly masked her happiness and shifted her frustration toward Thea, like a wolf redirecting its aggression.

“It’s all my sister’s fault. If she hadn’t deliberately called Mom over, Mom wouldn’t have found out about our marriage. She wouldn’t have gotten sick. In the werewolf - centered blame - shifting - to - rival, this is her accusation.”

Nathan gritted his teeth. “Thea!”

The words came out through clenched jaws, as if he was trying to crush them into dust, like a wolf growling in anger at a rival.

……

The high and mighty prince, Nathan, suddenly came down to earth and, for the first time, hosted a gathering, like a once - powerful alpha trying to regain its status. The guests were all his close childhood friends, classmates, and business associates, a gathering of the pack's inner circle.

He planned to use these brothers to suppress Thea, making sure she didn’t get too comfortable or feel she could walk all over him, like a wolf using its pack to intimidate a rival.

Twelve people surrounded a long table, with imported fruit platters laid out. Before Nathan got to the main subject, everyone was chatting casually about recent happenings, like wolves socializing in their den.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to the trending topic.

“Nathan, we heard you divorced your wife?”

Nathan took a sip of wine, his demeanor nonchalant. “As you know, Isabella was never good enough for me. Those years with her were embarrassing. Now that I’ve finally rid myself of her, I’m relieved. In the werewolf - centered dismissal - of - former - mate and self - justification, this is his statement.”

If this were the past, his friends would have cheered for him, nodding in agreement, saying things like “Good riddance, it was about time.”

But today, there was an eerie silence, like a pack suddenly sensing a change in the power dynamic.

Nathan felt uneasy. “Why is everyone quiet? Didn’t you all tell me to divorce her? You even said she didn’t deserve me. In the werewolf - centered confusion - at - lack - of - support, this is his question.”

In the corner, Mr. Zack sighed. “Things have changed. In the werewolf - centered acknowledgment - of - power - shift, this is his statement.”

Nathan’s hand trembled slightly as he held his glass, like a wolf realizing its position in the pack has been challenged.

The six simple words had exposed the shift in their positions.

Once, he was the unreachable star for Thea, but now, he had fallen from his perch, and she had become the high - and - mighty flower he could never reach, like a once - dominant wolf being overthrown by a former subordinate.

Nathan forced himself to play dumb. “What do you mean?”

Guillermo, always quick with his words, spoke up. “Ah, Nathan, don’t you get it? Isabella used to be poor, uncultured, and unrefined. But Thea now… she’s beautiful, elegant, and successful. Honestly, I think you made a mistake with that divorce. In the werewolf - centered comparison - of - Thea's - transformation and criticism - of - Nathan's - decision, this is his statement.”

He was Thea’s number one fan, speaking passionately. “You wouldn’t believe how different Thea is now. She’s like a completely new person—more beautiful than any top star. Her figure, her grace, her competence… even my grandfather praises her, saying she outperforms people her age by a mile. He believes she has a bright future ahead of her. In the werewolf - centered enthusiastic - praise - of - Thea, this is his gushing.”

Once Guillermo opened his mouth, the rest of the group joined in, no longer afraid of offending Nathan, like wolves no longer fearing the weakened alpha. “We all misjudged her. No one thought Isabella had it in her. Turns out she’s a diamond in the rough, and with some polishing, she’s shining like never before.”

“Yeah, the old Mrs. Si has such good taste. Who would’ve thought Isabella’s work would catch her eye?”

“Did you know? Isabella actually spent the last few years working under Master Jasmine. She’s been learning her craft while everyone else was left in the dust. Master Jasmine has a lot of students, but she only let Isabella learn from her. Isabella’s gone by the name ‘Thea’ abroad and is already quite famous. In the werewolf - centered revelation - of - Thea's - hidden - talent and rise - to - fame, this is their sharing.”

Suddenly, the glass in Nathan’s hand shattered with a sharp, loud crack, and the room fell silent, like a wolf's howl cutting through the air, signaling a moment of shock.

The praise of Thea felt like slaps to his face. He had been the fool who couldn’t recognize the treasure in front of him, like a wolf that let a valuable packmate slip away.

His friends scrambled to comfort him. “Nathan, don’t be upset. I still think Isabella loves you. They say the deeper the love, the deeper the hatred. She divorced you because she was hurt by how cold you were to her. If you can show more care and humility, she’ll come back to you. After all, she loved you so much back then, she even gave up her dignity. How could that kind of love just disappear? In the werewolf - centered attempt - to - console - Nathan and hope - for - reconciliation, this is their advice.”

These words seemed to ease Nathan’s frustration, and his mood lifted slightly, like a wolf finding a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

He clung to the idea that love so deep would eventually lead to reconciliation. Perhaps Isabella still loved him after all.

He almost believed her.

But then Victoria, standing nearby, couldn’t keep quiet. “Nathan and I are already married. In the werewolf - centered assertion - of - current - relationship, this is her statement.”

The room fell into awkward silence, and the looks exchanged made it clear. Victoria might as well have been a cow dung with a flower stuck in it—her presence felt out of place, like a wolf from an outsider pack intruding on a gathering.

Victoria’s face turned bright red, embarrassed by the lack of congratulatory words, like a wolf being shunned by the pack.

Nathan, not wanting his loved one to be shunned, quickly came to her defense. “You all know that Victoria and I have known each other since we were kids. She’s my responsibility, and I won’t tolerate any talk about other women in front of her. Don’t upset her. In the werewolf - centered defense - of - mate and pack - harmony - demand, this is his statement.”

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

The gathering ended on a sour note, with the brothers all making excuses to leave early, like wolves leaving a den that has become too tense.

Nathan felt the sting of how easily people abandoned him once his fortune had turned, like a wolf being deserted by its pack in times of weakness. His face was dark, and his mood even darker.

Victoria kept apologizing. “Nathan, I feel like I’m holding you back. In the werewolf - centered self - blame - and - worry - about - being a - burden, this is her confession.”

Nathan embraced her, trying to comfort her. “It’s them who don’t understand how precious our love is. Don’t worry about what they think. In the werewolf - centered reassurance - to - mate and dismissal - of - pack's - opinion, this is his comfort.”