Chapter 4
1065 Words
Rhea stood frozen, her eyes wide with a surge of panic.
Yet Luken Marlowe was too deep in his thoughts to notice her shaken expression.
When Kaelyn and Rhea were abducted by rogue wolves, the Galloways contacted him.
They were short on funds, so Luken had immediately ordered his Beta to gather the 320 million and transfer it to the Galloways.
Strangely enough, only Rhea returned unharmed. Kaelyn had vanished without a trace.
Even when Luken dispatched his own search team, they found no sign of Kaelyn—not even a body.
It was as if she had disappeared into thin air in the wild stretches of the Gladewood Borderlands.
Despite everything, Luken refused to believe she was dead.
For three months, he had poured resources into searching for her.
He had never wanted Kaelyn as his Luna, but he also hadn’t wanted her life to end that way.
One question haunted him: why had the rogues released Rhea and kept Kaelyn? It didn’t add up.
Rhea swallowed nervously and forced a smile.
"Alpha, you shouldn’t dwell on things like this. You know how Kaelyn is. Always dramatic. Maybe she’s just holding a grudge over your rejection.
Especially now that she has Alpha Ronan Manning from the Duskridge Pack at her side."
Luken frowned, brushing the thoughts away.
"Come on. The gala’s about to begin," he said in a distant tone.
He strode away, and when he was no longer looking, Rhea's smile dropped.
Her face twisted into a look of contempt.
Kaelyn. That insufferable wretch.
Rhea clenched her fists. She was so close to becoming Luken’s Luna—so close to securing her place.
Kaelyn couldn’t be allowed to interfere now. She had to find a way to ruin her sister’s image once and for all.
At exactly 7 p.m., the grand opening gala commenced.
The event hall glimmered under cascading lights.
Alphas and dignitaries from packs across the continent gathered in elegant attire.
As the evening’s host, Alpha Ronan stepped up to the stage and delivered a warm welcome.
Then, without hesitation, he approached Kaelyn and offered her his hand. She accepted with grace, and the two stepped onto the dancefloor.
As a graceful tune filled the hall, they moved as one. Guests around them could barely tear their eyes away.
Alpha Ronan was always the center of attention. But tonight, all eyes shifted to Kaelyn.
"Who’s his date tonight? Has he finally found his fated mate?"
"She looks like royalty. Perhaps the daughter of another Alpha."
"She’s stunning. Any man would fight to have her."
The whispered admiration didn’t go unnoticed by Rhea, who struggled to keep the polite smile on her face.
She could barely believe her ears.
Royal? Noble? Beautiful?
If only these fools knew what Kaelyn used to be—bruised and broken after their father’s cruel discipline, polishing his boots like a servant.
Her transformation was nothing but luck.
She had landed an Alpha and rebranded herself.
And Rhea would do the same, just as soon as she married Luken.
She turned to glance at him, only to find Luken’s eyes fixed on Kaelyn. His face was unreadable, but his attention was evident.
Meanwhile, on the dancefloor, Ronan leaned down to Kaelyn’s ear and murmured, "Your ex-mate is throwing daggers with his eyes."
Kaelyn gave a small, indifferent smile.
"Let him. What’s he going to do?"
Ronan laughed.
"He must think I’m your lover and is stewing in jealousy."
Kaelyn's voice dropped. "He’s not jealous. He never cared."
She had once gone to great lengths just to catch Luken’s gaze, even for a fleeting second.
But those days were long behind her.
As the opening waltz ended, other guests joined the floor, and the ball officially began.
Feeling parched, Kaelyn excused herself and walked over to the bar.
Just as she reached for a glass, a timid voice called from behind her.
"Kaelyn... my sister?"
Kaelyn turned slowly. Her eyes were icy as they met Rhea’s.
"The Galloways disowned me, remember? They made it clear to the rogues—they only wanted you as their daughter. So do address me properly now, like everyone else in Duskridge Pack does. It’s Lady Kaelyn."
Rhea’s mouth twitched, but she recovered quickly, pasting on another artificial smile.
"Anyway—I’m here about the necklace. Remember that piece you took on our picnic three months ago?"
Kaelyn scoffed. "What of it?"
Rhea stepped closer, eyes beginning to glisten. "It was mother’s heirloom—her dowry. You took it without asking and lost it. She blamed me. Please, just return it, Kaelyn. I’m begging you."
Despite her quivering lips, Rhea’s voice rang out loud and clear—deliberately loud enough for others nearby to hear.
Heads turned. Whispers followed.
Rhea’s voice rose, trembling with faux emotion.
"You may have abandoned our family, but how could you steal our mother’s dowry?
Did you sell it?
Is that how you managed to transform yourself into this elegant lady for Alpha Ronan?"
Gasps filled the air.
"Did you hear that? She sold off her mother’s heirloom?"
"So shallow! All that grace was a façade."
"She’s nothing but a gold-digger."
Kaelyn remained composed. She took a step forward, her tone sharp and direct.
"You’re accusing me of stealing it?"
Rhea faltered, her bravado thinning under Kaelyn’s piercing stare. "Yes..."
Kaelyn’s voice turned cold.
"You mean the sapphire necklace kept in the locked safe—the room I wasn’t even allowed to enter? The one you kept the only key to?"
A murmur rippled through the onlookers.
"So who’s the real thief, Rhea?"
Rhea’s face turned pale. She staggered back, stumbled on her heel, and fell in a graceless heap. Red-faced, she quickly clutched her chest and let out a dramatic sob.
"Even if you won’t admit it... why did you push me?!"
Kaelyn had seen her trip herself, but the surrounding guests hadn’t.
From their perspective, it looked like Kaelyn had lashed out.
Frowns and murmurs of judgment filled the space.
Just then, Luken burst through the crowd and rushed to Rhea’s side.
He crouched beside her, helping her sit up as she buried her face in his chest.
Tears streamed from her eyes, her sobs echoing across the hall.
Luken rose to his full height, turned to Kaelyn, and spat venomously:
"Still the same, Kaelyn! Hurting Rhea like this? You haven’t changed. Still cold and cruel!"
- Writer
