Chapter 3

Soon, the employees from the funeral home came over to retrieve Monica’s body. I told them what they needed to pay attention to on the day of her funeral.

I intended to leave ahead of schedule, and I believed that I would have already left Wildfire Pack by the time her funeral rolled around.

As the car left with Monica’s body, I bowed in its direction as an earnest farewell to the mother who had brought me up.

Shadow, my wolf, whispered in my head, “Emma, it’s time for you to live for yourself.”

I then drove to the largest and most luxurious Moon Goddess’s photography studio. It was to cancel the shoot for my marking ceremony and retrieve my deposit.

The employee checked my details and spoke apologetically. “I’m sorry, Miss Klein, but we cannot refund your deposit. You’ve already taken your photos with Randy, your alpha.”

The employee brought out the photos from the moon shadow crystal, and I looked through all of them.

Within the crystal was Alina, who wore a gown symbolizing a luna. She had taken multiple photos with Randy, and both of them had happy smiles on their faces.

Just as I was about to finish scrolling through all the photos, the employer ran over in a panic and said, “Randy came over with another woman and said that she would take your place since you were really busy.”

I called Randy to ask him why he never told me about this. But the moment the call went through, all I heard was him yelling at me angrily, “Emma, why are you kicking up a fuss over such a small matter?! Alina’s mother said that she wouldn’t be able to sleep if she didn’t see the mating photos. I just put on a full act and took some photos.”

I sat in front of the photos and stared at them. He had put on a full act? There were plenty of photos of them hugging and kissing. How could it just be an act?

It felt as if my heart had been stabbed by silver. However, I also knew that if I asked any more questions, it would just make me look petty.

“I didn’t really kiss Alina in those photos. The angle just makes it seem like we did.” But he must have felt the need to give me an explanation.

I turned around and refused to look at those photos anymore. “Yeah, I know.”

Randy then hung up.

When I saw the ridiculously expensive bill for the photos, my tears fell. The shoot cost 100 thousand dollars.

I had set aside 20 thousand dollars for the shoot because according to Randy, the price did not matter. What was important was that we were together.

Yet, he had ordered the most expensive package for him and Alina.

I was certain that he did not love me.

That night, when I drove home to grab my luggage, I saw Alina and her mother ordering the servants to throw my things outside.

Nasha, Alina’s mother, sneered when she saw me.

“Only Randy, his luna, and their families can live in this house, Emma. We don’t need anyone unnecessary here, and you are that unnecessary person.” Nasha’s voice was full of life, and she did not seem to be on her deathbed.

Since Randy was not around, Alina smugly said, “My mother isn’t going to die. She’s not sick at all. Look, all I did was tell a little lie, and Randy chose me and left you in the dust.

“He fulfills all of my requests immediately and always prioritizes me. That’s what love is, understand?”

Nasha nodded by the side. “Exactly. Randy’s a young man who respects his elders very much. If you lose him, you won’t be able to find another strong alpha as great as he is!”

I looked at Nasha. “Aren’t you worried that Randy will learn about your lies?”

At this point, I was so angry that my hands trembled.

Randy had believed in Alina and Nasha’s lies, but he had ignored all news about his own mother’s death. Once he learned about it, he would surely lose his mind!

I felt sad for him.

“What of it? He loves me, so it doesn’t matter what mistakes I make. Randy will never be mad at me!” Alina then gave Nasha a look.

Then, as if she had lost her mind, Nasha screamed and pulled out a silver knife.

I was shocked, and I thought she was going to cut me. But to my surprise, she cut her own thigh instead.

Blood flowed out, and Nasha fell to the ground in pain.

“Mom, what’s wrong?! Don’t scare me!” Alina screamed at the sight.

While she screamed, she looked to the side, and that was when Randy drove over. The moment he got out, Alina hugged Nasha tightly and continued to scream, “Emma, how could you hurt my mom?! Her days are already numbered!”

Alina then looked at Randy. “I’m the one at fault here! I shouldn’t have performed the marking ceremony with you! I’ll return you to Emma!”

He immediately hugged her tightly and refused to let her go. “What on earth are you saying?

“Everyone has to be responsible for their mistakes. As an alpha of the pack, I’ll carry out Emma’s punishment on the Moon Goddess’s behalf right now. Watch.”

“I didn’t—” Before I could register what was going on, Randy had picked up the silver knife from the ground and swung it at me.

I just stood still because I was too shocked.

The knife fell to the ground, but it had already cut into my arm.

Right then, panic flashed in Randy’s eyes. He was surprised that I did not fight back, but he still defended his actions. “If you didn’t dodge it, that means you felt guilty.”

I did not dodge it because I thought that he would not hurt me.

I thought that he had said all that just to scare me.

To think that he would actually hurt me with a knife for Alina…

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

Emotional pain always hurt more than physical wounds.

“Emma, I was going to stab your heart, but I only cut your arm as a minor punishment.

“I can accept you throwing a temper tantrum, pulling tricks, and throwing insults, but I can’t accept you hurting a dying, elderly woman because of your jealousy.

“I want you to reflect on your actions while you’re recovering. When Alina forgives you, I’ll perform the marking ceremony with you.”

I glanced at the deep and long gash on my arm before I sneered at Randy. “Would you even believe me if I said that I didn’t hurt her?”

Randy gave me a puzzled look before looking at Alina and Nasha.

“Randy, my mother and I just wanted to tell her that we’re going to perform the marking ceremony tomorrow. After that, she charged at us like she lost her mind. We… don’t blame her. She was just acting impulsively,” Alina cried as she supported her mother. Her eyes were full of sadness while she looked at Randy.

“Emma, you hurt Alina’s mother, and she’s still defending you! Yet, you’re saying that you did nothing wrong?! I’m disappointed in you!”

He left with Alina and Nasha, while I was abandoned like a wanderer with no home to return to.

I grabbed my stuff and returned to my room.

Since I had decided to leave, I should not be sad anymore.

I started putting all of my attention into Monica’s funeral.

This was the last thing I could do for my mother.

During this period of time, I received a lot of messages from Randy.

I replied to none of them. It was meaningless anyway.

[Emma, you still haven’t apologized to Alina and her mother! But I’ll still attend our marking ceremony since my mother has always wanted us to be mates. Know this. I’m not doing it willingly.]

[Why aren’t you replying? It’s our marking ceremony tomorrow. It’ll be held in church. All the werewolves in the pack will attend it. Don’t be late.]

On the day of Monica’s funeral, Sophia picked me up as promised. Bodyguards then escorted me as I left the pack I had lived in for more than twenty years.

Meanwhile, Randy kept sending me messages.

[Where are you, Emma? I’m already at the church entrance.]

[Why does it look like a funeral?! This is my marking ceremony, the wedding my mother has been looking forward to!]