Chapter 3

Under Wyatt Blackwood's firm insistence, Rose's union ceremony was officially set. Rose, her eyes gleaming with mischief, suggested that I, her younger sister, should share the ceremony with her. She claimed it was because of our deep sisterly bond. She said that since she was about to become the Luna of the illustrious Blackwood Pack, she wanted me to bask in her glory and show Jack Thornton that I had a powerful sister standing behind me. Her words sounded sincere, and Wyatt's gaze softened as he looked at her. The Elder, Elias Crowe, seemed hesitant. The union ceremony was the single most important event in a wolf woman's life. On that day, the bride should be the sole focus of attention. Two brides sharing such a moment was unheard of in our pack’s traditions. Besides, Rose was marrying into the prestigious Blackwood Pack, a union marked by grandeur and opulence. My match to Jack Thornton from the rugged Thornton Pack was far too modest to compare. Elder Crowe opened his mouth to object, but I gently placed my hand on his and interrupted with a smile. "Sister, you're so kind to me." As Wyatt's unguarded gaze settled on me, my smile faltered. Rose immediately stepped in front of him, her eyes shooting daggers at me. Not long after, Jack arrived with his betrothal gifts. Following ancient traditions, he personally hunted and brought me a rare white stag as a tribute. In my past life, my rushed marriage deprived me of the chance to witness Jack's efforts to marry Rose. But I imagined she must have received a similar extravagant gift then. Rose's face darkened, clearly irritated by the significance Jack placed on me. I couldn't help but chuckle softly. In this life, she wasn't even Jack's mate, yet she still had the audacity to feel slighted. She was, as always, utterly ridiculous. Elder Crowe, weary and aging, retired to rest shortly after. The days leading up to the ceremony filled me with a joy I hadn’t known before. In my past life, I had been married off in haste, only to find myself shackled by the strict rules of the Blackwood Pack. But this time, I relished the freedom and excitement of being a bride-to-be. Jack and I strolled through the Moonlight Pack’s territories together, enjoying the simple joys of nature. Meanwhile, Rose, ever the schemer, spent her days clinging to Wyatt, loitering at his residence. On the day before our respective ceremonies, Elder Crowe summoned both Rose and me to his quarters. He presented a list of parting gifts and addressed Rose first. "Rose, your marriage is of great importance to the honor of our pack. But Clara is also one of our own. I wish to allocate more blessings from the pack for her as well. What do you think?" Rose snatched the list from his hands, her expression cold. "No! I’m marrying the heir of the Blackwood Pack, representing the face of the Moonlight Pack. My farewell gifts must be grander, not less. Clara, on the other hand, is only marrying into the Thornton Pack. There’s no need for extravagance." She rifled through the list, pulled out the simplest one, and tossed it in front of me. Elder Crowe looked frustrated, but I merely smiled, thanked Rose, and picked up the list without complaint. The Elder, though visibly holding back his temper, turned to Rose with concern. "It has been a long time since our pack has formed a union with the Blackwood Pack. Although this is a marriage alliance, our status is far beneath theirs. When you marry into their family, I fear you may face hardships. We won’t be able to come to your aid, so you must be cautious." Rose sneered at him. "I know you’re useless. Not only useless but obsessed with appearances! Don’t worry—I won’t let myself be mistreated. Unlike Clara." Her mocking gaze turned to me, filled with derision. It was clear she was already imagining my miserable life with Jack. But I couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Rose truly believed that saving Wyatt had secured her future as the Luna of the Blackwood Pack. She thought she would bear a pureblood heir and reach the pinnacle of power. What she didn’t know was that the Blackwood Pack’s ancient bloodline was both a blessing and a curse. Their fertility struggles stemmed from the sheer dominance of their lineage. Ordinary mothers, unprepared for such strain, often couldn’t endure the toll. Carrying a pureblood heir might be the highest honor, but it also meant relentless suffering. The child would drain the mother’s life force every moment it grew inside her. And if the mother weakened, the Blackwood Pack wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice her to save the precious heir. Only women with equally powerful bloodlines stood a chance of survival. In my past life, I had been lucky. Before my pregnancy, I had stumbled upon a Prairie Moonbloom, a rare plant that restored vitality. Without it, I would have shared the same tragic fate. But Rose was blissfully unaware of all this, lost in her delusions. I had no intention of warning her. Rose smirked at me. "Clara, Jack Thornton is a violent man. Don’t expect the pack to stand up for you. You’ll just have to endure it. I wanted to help you, but you just had to try and seduce Wyatt, didn’t you?" Before she could finish her sentence, the door was kicked open. Jack stood there, his gaze filled with fury as he glared at Rose. Startled, Rose shivered and turned to see Wyatt standing behind Jack. Her eyes lit up, and she rushed to Wyatt’s side, clinging to his arm. Wyatt, however, ignored her completely. His eyes locked on me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Jack Thornton, violent? Maybe Clara should marry me instead. I could give both of you equal standing. You sisters could serve me together." The moment those words left his mouth, Rose’s expression twisted in sheer rage.