Maria's POV"Yes, Andy, you have to accompany that young woman from the Blue Moon pack to tonight's ball, there's no negotiation."Watching Andy's reluctant expression, I added a hint of warning to my tone, "Do you understand?""Yes, Maria." Andy almost rolled his eyes as he replied, "I'll be a good escort.""Good or bad, I don't care, that's something the foolish girl needs to consider."I waved my hand dismissively, until my assistant briskly approached me."Your Highness, there's a Miss claiming to be from the Blue Moon pack outside and wishes to see you.""Bring her in," I ordered promptly."Yes."The assistant soon ushered in a lavishly dressed Cathy. She wore the gown I had chosen for her that day, her face adorned with extravagant makeup, her hair piled high, looking like a giant walking mop. Clearly, I wasn't the only one disgusted by Cathy's ostentatious attire.Standing behind me, Andy couldn't help but emit a disgusted sound under his breath, "Eww."But this foolish woman
Cathy’s POVWhy did Andy do that? He's supposed to be my date, not Claire's! Gripping the jewelry box tightly, my resentment towards Claire grows even stronger.The lounge is filling up with guests. Since it's the women's area, most are young noblewomen, adorned in fancy dresses with diamonds sparkling on their wrists and necks, stabbing my eyes.D.amn it.I mutter in frustration. I should be one of them! But now... I raise my wrist, empty without even a silver chain.And it's all because of Claire! Ever since she publicly broke ties with our father, left the Blue Moon pack, and hooked up with Prince Louis, many packs have abandoned business ties with the Blue Moon pack for fear of Louis's retaliation.In less than two months, the Blue Moon pack's influence and wealth have taken a huge hit, even my pocket money has shrunk. I can't even remember the last time I went to a jewelry store! If Maria hadn't bumped into me that day and kindly given me a dress, I would have had to attend the p
Claire's POV"Louis!"The moment I saw Louis, I instinctively lifted my leg, intending to walk over to him as usual. But before I could take a step, my feet froze. Because the spot that used to belong to me had someone else now.Maria was standing beside him.Maria quickly noticed my gaze. She looked at me, with a smug and provocative look in her eyes, deliberately leaning towards Louis.This can't be real. I bit my lip, subconsciously denying the scene before me.Louis might not even have noticed Maria standing next to him.As I pondered, I sent hopeful glances to Louis, hoping he'd give me a simple explanation. But Louis didn't do that.He had a grim expression on his face, not even sparing me a glance, and went straight to Cathy."What did you say you wanted me to see?" Louis' naturally imposing Lycan aura became even more oppressive in his anger. So, Cathy, who was just yelling a moment ago, couldn't even complete a sentence now."I, I..."As Cathy stuttered for a long time, Louis
Claire's POV"Just tell him, Claire."Seeing the deadlock between me and Louis, Olivia beside me urged in a low voice, nudging my arm anxiously."If you don't want to, I'll go tell him!""No!"I immediately stopped Olivia.I couldn't let Louis know that the necklace was actually lost by Olivia. I knew well how serious the consequences of losing a royal item could be. Even though Olivia was my friend, she probably wouldn't easily escape punishment.More importantly, I didn't think she could handle Prince Louis's wrath.So, the best solution was for me to take the blame.I cleared my throat, forcing back the tears welling up in my eyes, "Your Highness. I'll tell you what happened.""Just a while ago, I accidentally lost the necklace you gave me. As for the jewelry box Olivia mentioned, it's...""Details, Claire."This was the first time Louis interrupted me so rudely. He stared into my eyes, his tone harsh, making every word he said feel like an interrogation."Tell me, what necklace?"
Claire's POVLouis had barely finished speaking when Cathy swiftly scrambled up from the ground.Her hair, once tightly pinned up on her head, had come loose when she knelt down, now messy and strewn over her shoulders, making her look utterly disheveled.But in this urgent moment, Cathy, who usually cared so much about her appearance, couldn't care less. She grabbed her skirt and practically crawled out the door, fearing that if she delayed another second, she'd be accused of disrespecting the royal family and have no chance to redeem herself.Seeing the troublemaker flee the room, Olivia breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, Kyle's probably still waiting for me in the hall."This onlooker who had lingered in the room until the last moment also began making excuses to leave. "I won't bother you guys anymore. See you later!"Louis quickly glanced at Olivia and nodded, giving his approval.Finally, the grand lounge was empty, leaving only me and Louis."Now, I can answer your question abou
Claire's POV"Did he really say that, Claire?"After hearing my sob story, Olivia couldn't say a word for a while. "Louis really said he couldn't forgive you?""Yeah, Olivia. Those were his exact words."I spent the whole afternoon doing my makeup meticulously, only to have it ruined by my tears. But I couldn't care less. Tears were flowing uncontrollably from my eyes, smudging the black mascara around them, turning the beautiful blue eyeshadow into a mess."I think it's over between us.""It can't be that serious, can it?" Olivia seemed even more anxious than me. "Maybe Louis's anger is just temporary? Maybe you can talk to him and sort things out.""I don't think so, Olivia. You didn't see his expression just now; he's so disappointed in me, he won't forgive me."Comfort was useless to me at this moment. My increasing tears made Olivia feel helpless; she looked worried, seemingly thinking of other ways."Then I'll go tell Louis the truth!" Olivia looked at me, determined. "This wasn
Claire's POV"I knew it!"Olivia hugged me excitedly, "The Claire I know is a warrior! She won't just walk away like that!""OK, enough of the pep talk, Olivia."I chuckled, struggling out of her embrace, my tone suddenly serious, "It's time to get serious, and I need your help.""Anything for you, babe."Olivia gave me a familiar look, like every time we wanted to embark on some secret mission, "Just give me your orders, Madam!""I need you, along with Kyle, to help me continue searching for that necklace. Focus on Maria and Cathy. Although I have no evidence, my intuition tells me they might be involved in the necklace's disappearance.""Got it."Olivia nodded solemnly, echoing, "Even without you telling me, I'll keep an eye on them both. After all, they're the most likely ones to have stolen the necklace."I nodded and continued, "Well, then, I'm counting on you. I'll go find Alfred, ask him where Prince Louis is now, and then I'll talk to him.""And I'll pray to the Moon Goddess f
Claire's POV"Can I come in? Louis?"I leaned forward, carefully listening to the sounds inside the small cabin. Once I confirmed there was someone inside, I spoke up again, "I want to talk to you."The next moment, the door opened.Louis grabbed the doorknob with his hand, blocking his tall and sturdy figure in front of the door, "How did you find this place?""I asked Alfred. He told me that whenever you felt troubled, you would hide in this little cabin.""The castle is mine, so I don't need to hide anywhere."Louis's face was cold, and he looked down at me with an imposing and calm gaze, but when his eyes noticed the pale look on my face due to the evening breeze, his tone softened."Come in.""Thank you."I smiled and followed Louis into the small cabin.As soon as we entered, Louis immediately sat in a rocking chair near the fireplace, spreading his arms open and looking at me with a dignified and calm gaze, as if a monarch waiting for his subjects to report."You said you wante
Maria's POV“What happened? What’s going on?!”The sudden explosion of cheers woke me from my drowsiness. I looked around in panic, and only after confirming that there was no danger did I finally relax. I grabbed Mandy, who was leaning on a broom and watching TV with great interest.“Mandy, what’s going on? Why is it suddenly so noisy outside?”“That’s not noise, Maria,” Mandy said, revealing an ugly smile with a mouth full of crooked teeth. “Alpha Louis just announced his heir!”Hearing the name that hadn’t appeared in my life for so long, it took me a few seconds to finally react. “Louis? Prince Louis?! He’s become the Alpha King now?!”“You really are a country bumpkin.” Mandy rolled her eyes dramatically at me and disdainfully pushed my arm away. “That happened last month. Haven’t you heard? Our Alpha even has an heir now.”“Heir?”The moment of confusion was quickly replaced by a surge of joy.Yes, the heir—it must be my Chris! My Chris has become the heir of the kingdom. That m
Louis's POV"Your Majesty, here is your speech."Kyle's voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I quickly turned off my phone, hiding Claire's refusal from the screen."Sure." I took the paper Kyle handed me and scanned it quickly, frowning. "Isn't this a bit too formal?"Kyle shrugged. "Well, Your Majesty, tonight is an official ceremony. After all, every werewolf will witness Claire becoming our Luna.""Alright."I nodded in agreement, folded the paper, and tucked it into my suit pocket. Then, I checked my watch. "How long until the wedding starts?""About twenty minutes. Perhaps you would like to wait outside? The media is ready."Glancing out at the castle lawn, I saw the sea of people and cameras aimed at the wedding venue. Surrounding the crowd were countless armed guards maintaining order.I withdrew my gaze and chuckled. "This might be the grandest ceremony of the year, don't you think?""Well, perhaps the grandest ceremony of the century."Kyle responded with a smile. "Shall we
Claire's POV"Are you sure this dress looks okay, Olivia?"I anxiously tugged at the wedding gown and stared nervously at my reflection in the mirror. Damn, my waist still looks a bit bulky."Am I the only one who thinks this dress makes me look fat?""Yes, my dear Luna."Olivia, who had already helped me change into the third wedding dress, rolled her eyes at me. "You look absolutely stunning, Claire. You're just experiencing a common condition called pre-wedding anxiety."As she spoke, Olivia lifted the large train of my dress to prevent Kitty from stepping on it."Don't believe me? Ask Kitty! Kitty, do you think Claire looks beautiful?"Caught off guard, Kitty turned around, holding a flower basket slung over her shoulder. It was empty of petals, but she already looked as cute as a doll.Oh, how I wished my first child would be a girl as adorable as her! I silently prayed to the Moon Goddess.But the sweet Kitty couldn't hear my thoughts. She tilted her head and carefully examined
Louis's POV"This will likely be our last meeting, Prince Louis."In a small tavern near the Southern Forest, Garfield Evans, clad in black and wearing a hood, sat across from me. The arrogance and ambition once evident in his demeanor were replaced with a bitter smile and an unhidden hatred towards his enemies."I suppose so," I replied, ignoring Garfield's raised glass and instead downing my drink in one gulp. "After all, the Southern Forest is a terrifying place. Even my brother met his end there.""Well, dying in the same place as Liam would be a kind of luck," Garfield responded with a resigned smile, but I could see the sincerity mixed with sorrow in his moist eyes."Don't forget, this time you'll face not only the horrors of the Southern Forest but also the secret organization hiding within it, which opposes the royal family. They are your real enemies.""I'll never forget that, Your Highness. Rest assured, I will avenge Liam before I breathe my last!"The rekindled murderous i
Claire's POV“So… you really plan to exile Evans?” I asked cautiously after listening to Louis recount the events in the dungeon the previous night. “What about the Black Mountain pack? They’re already stirring, trying to overthrow the royal family. Won’t this only fuel their ambitions?”“On the contrary. I plan to convene the Council of Elders and hold a public trial for Garfield Evans. Once his crimes are exposed to all the werewolves, everyone will understand why I imprisoned him. By then, the Black Mountain pack will have no justification for opposing the royal family.”Louis calmly analyzed the situation while peeling a grape and placing it in my mouth. I nodded thoughtfully, but then immediately spat it out, wrinkling my nose.Louis looked at me in concern, “What’s wrong?”“The grape tastes bad,” I said, my mouth puckering from the sourness.“Really?” Louis glanced at the grapes on the table and immediately summoned Alfred.“Your Highness.”“Claire says the grapes are bad.”“Bad
Garfield's POV“Say it again—what did you do to him?!” I tightened my grip on Maria’s throat, feeling an overwhelming urge to snap it right there and then.“Tell me, Maria, what else did you do to him?!!”“Let go of me! Garfield!”Maria's face had turned purple, her flailing legs now dancing on the edge of the abyss. Even this couldn’t quench the burning hatred I felt for this woman.Blood debts must be paid in blood!Anger surged within me. Just as I resolved to end her wretched life, a figure crashed into me. My injured leg gave out, and I fell into a puddle, releasing my hold on Maria."Seize them all!"Prince Louis’s commanding voice echoed in the dank, hollow dungeon. Within moments, torches illuminated the damp darkness. A squad of armed guards swarmed the small cell, capturing Maria, Rick, and me, dragging us before Louis.“Prince Louis, Evans... Evans tried to kill me!”Louis’s appearance was Maria’s salvation. She cried out, reaching for Louis’s robe, but he recoiled in disgu
Garfield's POV"Alpha!"Just as I was coaxing Kitty to finish her broccoli, a figure once again climbed through the window."Rick?" I narrowed my eyes at my beta, my tone growing stern. "I don't recall ordering you to enter the castle again.""I'm very sorry, Alpha."Rick's expression was serious under my rebuke. "I followed your instructions that night, intending to take Chris from Maria's villa. But I discovered something important that I felt I had to report to you immediately."I scrutinized Rick. Though he wasn’t particularly sharp, he had always been loyal. If he claimed to have made a significant discovery, then…I set down the bowl in my hand and said, "Go ahead. What did you find out?""Last night, Chris suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital.""What?!" My voice involuntarily showed my anxiety. "How is he now? Is he alright?!""No. In fact, I overheard the doctor and Maria talking. The doctor said Chris's illness is congenital and very difficult to cure—unless Maria
Maria's POVThings were progressing smoothly.I walked quickly through the castle’s corridors, followed by three or four guards. They were accompanying me to retrieve Prince Liam’s portraits and belongings on Louis’s orders. However, these items were useless in saving my son’s life. The only person who could save Chris now was someone else entirely.“Ouch!” I exclaimed in pain, clutching my stomach and suddenly squatting down.“What happened?!”“I... my stomach hurts.” I faced the approaching guards, looking distressed and speaking weakly, “I’ve been too stressed about Chris’s illness, and my stomach problems have flared up again.”“What should we do?!” One of the guards scratched his head, looking worried. “Should I notify Prince Louis…”“No, there’s no time to waste!” I bit my lip, feigning great pain, and interrupted the guard’s suggestion. “The most important thing now is to get Prince Liam’s portraits and belongings! If Chris wakes up, he will surely want to see his father first…
Claire's POV“What? Chris is in the hospital?! What happened?!”“Calm down, my dear.”Louis gently pushed me back onto the couch, but his brows remained furrowed. He turned to the guard who brought the news and asked, “Could this be another one of Maria’s schemes? Is she trying to gain sympathy using Chris?”“No.” The guard lowered his head and relayed the information he received from the doctor about Chris’s condition.“Moreover, I inquired with the emergency team that responded that night. They all confirmed that Chris nearly suffocated to death.”The words “nearly suffocated” left Louis in silence, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of worry for the innocent boy. No matter what Maria had done, Chris was just a child. Besides, he was Liam’s only son.Thinking this, I turned to the guard and asked, “Which hospital is Chris in now?”“Saint Richard’s Hospital, but Chris is still unconscious. The doctors have recommended no visitors.”It seemed Chris was gravely ill this time. Both Lo