An Alpha's Poisonous Pardon

The day my former mate-to-be, Lucas Vance, and I were to be bonded, Rosalie couldn't accept it.

She was in love with Lucas.

She left a suicide note and entered the dangerous cliff challenge.

She was actually a skilled climber. Even so, my mother followed her to protect her—even though Rosalie was merely my father's illegitimate daughter.

Many people captured the scene with magical recordings. I saw my mother grab hold of Rosalie. But then, Rosalie drew a silver dagger and stabbed her before stepping on my mother's shoulder and shoving her violently off the cliff.

And just like that, my mother was dead.

When I rushed over, Rosalie was sobbing, "I was just so scared! Please, don't blame me, Elara! When your mom protected me, she would have wanted me to live!"

I broke down, demanding to know why she had used a silver weapon on my mother. She just cried and cried, insisting she didn't mean to.

Despite this, I appealed to the council of elders, accusing her of murder.

Then, Lucas rejected our bond and stood by Rosalie's side instead.

Consumed by grief, I could only watch as the fated mate mark on my arm—the one binding me to him—painfully twisted and reformed before my very eyes into Rosalie's name.

Lucas said, "I won't let you hurt Rosalie."

Rumors spread like wildfire throughout the Pack. They said I was using my mother's death to gain sympathy.

They called me paranoid and crazy, jealous of my own sister. That was why my mate-to-be had abandoned me.

The overwhelming gossip suffocated me, and I broke down. My inner wolf grew so quiet that a healer diagnosed her as having fallen silent.

Even so, I never gave up on seeking justice for my mother.

My mother had cared for and protected me for twenty-three years. How could I abandon the fight for her justice?

It was then that Damien began to earn my trust.

He took care of me with meticulous attention, protecting me in every way.

I saw him as my salvation, accepted his proposal, and completed the bonding ceremony with him.

After we were bonded, the council of elders dismissed my appeal.

I tried my best to put it all behind me and heal. I wanted to have a pup with Damien, for our family to be happy.

Who would have thought that my supposed salvation was actually proof of his deep love for Rosalie.