Chapter 4 · He Tore Up Our Bond, I Tore Down His Empire

A hundred thousand in gold? Did Aldric really think he could buy me off like I was some beggar?

When I took him as my mate, my family might have been in decline, but the alliance wealth I brought into our union was worth tens of millions.

For three years, I had run his enterprises, navigated pack politics, and generated wealth beyond measure.

And now, he wanted to cast me aside for a handful of gold, like I was some stray dog to be rid of.

It was pure humiliation.

I caught the blatant mockery in Sera's eyes, and everyone around looked like they were waiting for drama. My hands clenched into fists under the table.

I remembered Caspar's words: "Let him have his show." I forced myself to hold back.

I slowly lifted my head, my face blank, betraying neither anger nor sorrow. I stared at Aldric calmly, as if he were nothing but a clown performing for the crowd.

My silence seemed to irritate Aldric.

He wanted to see me fall apart, to see me cry, to see me go hysterical. Not this dead stillness.

"What, not enough?" Aldric sneered, his voice turning even more venomous. "Luna, don't push your luck. You're nothing but a castoff from a dying bloodline. What makes you think you're still worth anything?"

"Aldric, stop wasting your breath on her," Sera snapped, her impatience plain. "Get her out of here. She's making me sick."

"Take the money and get out of my sight," Aldric commanded, his voice brooking no argument.

Every eye in the dining room was on me, waiting to see what I'd do next. Would I take the check and slink away in shame? Or stay and subject myself to more humiliation?

I didn't glance at the check. My eyes swept past the crowd and landed on Caspar, who'd been sitting quietly in the corner the whole time.

He gave me a subtle nod.

It was time.

I slowly stood up.

Everyone thought I was about to leave. Sera's lips twisted into a victory smirk, and Aldric's eyes burned with contempt and scorn.

But I didn't head for the door. Instead, I picked up the glass of water in front of me and marched right up to Aldric, step by step.

He stared at me, dumbfounded, as I poured the water slowly over his head.

The icy water soaked through his expensive suit.

The whole place went dead silent. Everyone was stunned by what I'd done.

"Are you out of your mind?" Aldric shot to his feet, wiping the water from his face, his eyes burning with rage as he glared at me.

I ignored his fury. I set the empty glass down on the table and raised my right hand.

With everyone watching, I summoned my power.

The golden mark on the back of my hand, which had been dormant, suddenly flared with an ancient, majestic, and sacred brilliance.

"Aldric," I said, my voice soft yet clear, carrying a cold smile, echoing through the dining room. "You're right. The Conclave's ruling is nothing but scrap paper.

"But you forgot. Between us, there is another bond. The Heartsblood Bond, a bond you could never afford to break, not with your entire fortune, not with your future."

Every older wolf in the dining room who saw that mark went pale in an instant.

"It's the Heartsblood Bond. Oh my god."

"How is that possible? Wasn't it lost ages ago?"

Aldric's smile froze on his face.

He stared at the mark on the back of my hand. It was utterly alien to him, and for the first time, uncertainty and dread flared in his eyes.

He didn't know what it was, but the power radiating from it sent ice through his veins, setting his wolf on edge. Panic roared in his head.

Aldric thought, 'No way. What the hell is that?'

"The Heartsblood Bond?" The color drained from Aldric's face. He stared fixedly at the golden mark on the back of my hand, his voice cracking with fear. "What is that thing? Cut the act."

Aldric tried to mask his unease with a furious roar, but the pack elders in the dining room were now staring at him like he was already a dead man.

"Disgraceful whelp." Caspar's voice thundered through the room. He brought his cane down against the floor with a heavy thud.

Slowly, he stood, his stooped back straightening as he rose. "Aldric, you unworthy descendant. You don't know what the Heartsblood Bond is?"

Chapter 4

A hundred thousand in gold? Did Aldric really think he could buy me off like I was some beggar?

When I took him as my mate, my family might have been in decline, but the alliance wealth I brought into our union was worth tens of millions.

For three years, I had run his enterprises, navigated pack politics, and generated wealth beyond measure.

And now, he wanted to cast me aside for a handful of gold, like I was some stray dog to be rid of.

It was pure humiliation.

I caught the blatant mockery in Sera's eyes, and everyone around looked like they were waiting for drama. My hands clenched into fists under the table.

I remembered Caspar's words: "Let him have his show." I forced myself to hold back.

I slowly lifted my head, my face blank, betraying neither anger nor sorrow. I stared at Aldric calmly, as if he were nothing but a clown performing for the crowd.

My silence seemed to irritate Aldric.

He wanted to see me fall apart, to see me cry, to see me go hysterical. Not this dead stillness.

"Aldric, stop wasting your breath on her," Sera snapped, her impatience plain. "Get her out of here. She's making me sick."

"Take the money and get out of my sight," Aldric commanded, his voice brooking no argument.

Every eye in the dining room was on me, waiting to see what I'd do next. Would I take the check and slink away in shame? Or stay and subject myself to more humiliation?

I didn't glance at the check. My eyes swept past the crowd and landed on Caspar, who'd been sitting quietly in the corner the whole time.

He gave me a subtle nod.

It was time.

I slowly stood up.

Everyone thought I was about to leave. Sera's lips twisted into a victory smirk, and Aldric's eyes burned with contempt and scorn.

But I didn't head for the door. Instead, I picked up the glass of water in front of me and marched right up to Aldric, step by step.

He stared at me, dumbfounded, as I poured the water slowly over his head.

The icy water soaked through his expensive suit.

The whole place went dead silent. Everyone was stunned by what I'd done.

"Are you out of your mind?" Aldric shot to his feet, wiping the water from his face, his eyes burning with rage as he glared at me.

I ignored his fury. I set the empty glass down on the table and raised my right hand.

With everyone watching, I summoned my power.

The golden mark on the back of my hand, which had been dormant, suddenly flared with an ancient, majestic, and sacred brilliance.

"Aldric," I said, my voice soft yet clear, carrying a cold smile, echoing through the dining room. "You're right. The Conclave's ruling is nothing but scrap paper.

"But you forgot. Between us, there is another bond. The Heartsblood Bond, a bond you could never afford to break, not with your entire fortune, not with your future."

Every older wolf in the dining room who saw that mark went pale in an instant.

"It's the Heartsblood Bond. Oh my god."

"How is that possible? Wasn't it lost ages ago?"

Aldric's smile froze on his face.

He stared at the mark on the back of my hand. It was utterly alien to him, and for the first time, uncertainty and dread flared in his eyes.

He didn't know what it was, but the power radiating from it sent ice through his veins, setting his wolf on edge. Panic roared in his head.

Aldric thought, 'No way. What the hell is that?'

"The Heartsblood Bond?" The color drained from Aldric's face. He stared fixedly at the golden mark on the back of my hand, his voice cracking with fear. "What is that thing? Cut the act."

Aldric tried to mask his unease with a furious roar, but the pack elders in the dining room were now staring at him like he was already a dead man.

"Disgraceful whelp." Caspar's voice thundered through the room. He brought his cane down against the floor with a heavy thud.

Slowly, he stood, his stooped back straightening as he rose. "Aldric, you unworthy descendant. You don't know what the Heartsblood Bond is?"