Moon Judgement, Forever Loyalty

"Crocodile tears!" A wolf clan elder suddenly leaped onto the platform. His claws slammed hard against the Soul Vision Device.

The screen flickered. It went black for a moment. Then it jumped back to life.

He pointed at me, his knuckles white with rage. "Years ago, little Aiden knelt at your cave door! His head was bloody from banging against the stone! Why didn't you open the door?! Speak up! Why are you playing dumb now?!"

No one answered.

All eyes in the square turned toward me.

From the entrance, came the sound of small footsteps.

Little Aiden stood there. Barefoot. His eye sockets were sunken deep. His pupils looked empty and hollow.

He murmured as if talking to ghosts. "Mama... don't be afraid... Aiden will stay with you..."

His voice carried a sob. His small body trembled constantly.

Suddenly he lunged at the Soul Vision Device. His tiny claws pressed against the screen. He screamed, "Come out! Mama, please come out!"

The wolves' eyes turned vicious. Their fury reignited like wildfire.

"She won't even save a child!"

"This kind of lone wolf doesn't deserve to live!"

Damien rushed to me in one stride. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently.

His wolf eyes were blood red. His teeth were clenched tight. "Look! This is the price of protecting that bastard!"

"When we found you, you were a wild dog about to freeze to death! It was you, Lina! You killed Sophia!"

He raised his hand. He slapped me hard across the face.

The Alpha's strength made my head snap to the side. My lip split open immediately. Blood poured out.

But I did nothing. I just kept my eyes open. Tears mixed with blood flowed down my face.

"Sophia... I'm sorry..."

"What good is sorry?!" He suddenly roared. But his voice cracked. Like something had torn it apart.

He froze.

Memory flashed back. Ten years ago in the cave.

I was curled in the corner, holding Fenrir in my arms. My head was bleeding.

Damien burst in, carrying a wooden club. His eyes were red with rage.

I looked up at him. My lips trembled. "Damien, please trust me... I can't tell you..."

"Can't tell?!" He roared, "Sophia is dead! And you're still protecting that bastard who defiled purebloods?!"

The club came down. Bones made a dull sound.

Blood flowed from my forehead into my eyes. Everything turned red.

Before I fell unconscious, I still held Fenrir tightly.

But back then he couldn't see. He refused to see.

My sleeve was torn, revealing a deep purple mark. It was the brand of "Betrayal Blood Contract." Only those who had truly sworn a blood oath would be marked with this soul-searing curse.

And the content of blood oaths could never be spoken aloud.

Damien's hand was still shaking. That slap seemed to have shattered something inside him too.

Looking at me barely alive, a single tear suddenly slipped from his eye.

But he immediately wiped it away.

His wolf eyes froze again. Like black iron.

He stared at me, word by word: "Until I find that bastard who defiled purebloods, I will never stop."

"When I find him, you and him will go to hell together."