Chapter 3 Deception Before the Blood Pact

"She's no Ravencroft! Just a filthy half-breed who isn't even worthy of staying in the pack!"

Vivian's sharp, furious voice shattered the strange tension in the air, yanking me back to reality.

This idiot! Does she want me dead? I turned back, staring at her in disbelief.

Vivian held my gaze with a smug, taunting look.

"Me! Vivian Ravencroft! I'm the real Ravencroft. You've been deceived."

To prove her words, the Stormwolf materialized behind her, wind swirling at her feet.

Her wolf lifted its head proudly toward Dominic, and in its sharp crimson eyes-was that... expectation?

Dominic let out a cold scoff.

A crushing force erupted from him.

The warriors in the front rows buckled under the pressure, dropping to their knees with gritted teeth, struggling to resist.

Vivian fared even worse.

It was as if she had been struck by a hammer-her face drained of color as she crashed onto the ground.

Her Stormwolf let out a pitiful whimper before tucking its tail between its legs and vanishing into the void.

Wait... this sensation...

Something was saturating me, seeping into every inch of my being-like an invisible force soaking through my bones, wrapping around my senses.

Could it be... Ashford's pheromones?

A faint shiver ran through me, goosebumps trailing down my arms.

It was almost like a static charge, an unsettling buzz against my skin.

Compared to the others struggling under his pressure, why did I feel... different?

Would a half-werewolf who hasn't awakened be immune to a pheromone attack?

Even in a pack as ancient as ours, records on half-wolves were scarce.

As for those who never awakened? They weren't even worth documenting-let alone something as subtle as this.

My mind spun with uncertainty as I slowly turned to Dominic.

He was watching me intently, amused.

One foot tapped the ground in a slow, idle rhythm.

Vivian-her struggle, her humiliation-none of it even registered in his eyes.

"So, you're not a Ravencroft?"

...What?

"Of course, I am!"

The words burst out before I could stop them.

That name-it was given to me by my mother!

Vivian? Does she really think she's already in control of the family?

Grandfather is still the head of this family! It's not her place to speak.

"Oh?"

Dominic smiled-a sharp, bloodthirsty grin.

So that was just the rambling of an idiot?

His eyes darkened.

"You should all know... lying to me only has one outcome."

"Blood."

He clapped his hands once, lazily turning to David.

"See? If I don't come here myself, nothing ever gets settled properly."

His tone was indifferent as if he was discussing something as trivial as the weather.

"Ten days. I expect to see her in Silverpine Pack's territory by then."

His gaze swept over me.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

His final words echoed in the silence, chilling and absolute-

"Remember this. You are mine now."

With a wave of his hand, the wolves behind him retreated like a tide-silent, swift, and absolute.

Blood pact hostage... what does it truly mean?

A death sentence or...An honor?

A faint tremor ran through me-not just from fear, not just from panic, but from... something else. A thrill I almost mistook for excitement.

Mother... this is dangerous, isn't it?

But I can handle it.

I can bear the weight of being a Ravencroft.

Clare thinks being a half-wolf makes me weak?

She underestimated me.

***

Uncle Leonard stormed forward, not even sparing me a glance before rounding on Clare.

"Are you insane?! Only a pureblood like Vivian can uphold the blood pact!"

His disdain for me was undisguised.

"Ridiculous! Only a pureblood like Vivian can uphold the blood pact!" His contempt for me was undisguised.

"Aurora is completely unqualified! Have you considered that breaking the pact could reignite the war?

"Vivian? Don't even think about it."

Aunt Clare scoffed, her voice edged with a dangerous sharpness.

"My daughter will be this pack's future Luna. I would never let her take such a risk."

Then, her eyes flicked to me.

"As for..."

"Why are you unharmed?!" Vivian rudely interrupted the conversation.

Vivian had finally recovered, only to realize she had missed the entire conversation.

"Why didn't Dominic attack you?!"

Her once pale cheeks were now flushed with an unnatural red, and an unreadable emotion burned fiercely in her eyes.

Aunt Clare frowned. "Vivian, what are you talking about?"

"Shut up!"

Vivian screamed, losing control.

"Why did he ignore me?!"

Vivian's breath came in ragged gasps, her fury barely contained.

She let out a sharp, animalistic growl before shoving me aside, then spun on her heel and stormed off, her entire body trembling with rage.

What the hell is wrong with her?" She shoved me, making me stumble back a few steps-but that didn't matter.

The real issue was this-from their conversation, the truth was finally taking shape.

Hah.

So I was never important to begin with.

Not even as a replacement.

The small, fleeting sense of pride I had felt earlier now felt utterly pathetic.

***

"So... it was supposed to be Vivian?"

I locked eyes with Aunt Clare.

"Fine. You don't care about my safety-but did you ever think that this might ruin the blood pact?"

Aunt Clare's lips curled into an eerie smile.

"Ruin it? Oh no."

She took a slow step forward, her voice dripping with amusement.

"Patience, dear. You'll see-you were always meant for this."

She turned with unshakable confidence, every step dripping with the satisfaction of a grandmaster.

"Come. Let me show you."

I clenched my jaw, my expression cold as I followed.

I wanted to see exactly what she had planned.

We returned to the ceremonial hall.