My Songs, Her Fame, My Revenge

Matthias threw a grand banquet for my return. He was preparing to announce my full recovery, and that our two Packs would merge, making me the sole heir of the new, combined Pack.

Derek, Nathan, and Marcus would all be under my command, and Matthias would take my father's place as my most powerful backer.

Nathan and Marcus were ambitious, hoping to prove themselves and branch out. But Derek's idea was more direct—he wanted to control me to control everything.

"Aurora, this is a gown Alpha Matthias had custom-made for you last year. He personally selected every single moonstone on it," the makeup artist said admiringly as she adjusted my skirt.

The leaders of all the major northern Packs were to attend the banquet.

Soon, all the guests had arrived in the banquet hall.

"Scarlett, you look stunning today," Derek praised.

"Scarlett, what would you like to drink? Champagne?" Marcus quickly added.

"Scarlett doesn't want your champagne. Let's get some fruit instead." Nathan brought a slice of cut fruit to Scarlett's lips.

Scarlett wore a red, form-fitting gown that accentuated her graceful figure, making her as radiant as a flame.

The three men waited on her hand and foot, vying for her affection and completely forgetting who the guest of honor was.

"Alpha Matthias, they look so close!"

I took Matthias's arm and deliberately walked past them.

Matthias shot them a withering glance. Annoyed, he guided me a few steps away.

"Those fools. They deserve each other."

"Alpha Matthias, what do you plan to do with them after this?" I looked up at him, my fingertips ghosting over his arm.

"What do you think? I'll follow your command," he said, his gaze intense as he looked down at me.

"Hmm... I'll have to think about it."

I winked at Matthias and turned. Gathering my skirt, I walked toward them.

"Isn't that the princess of the Moonfire Pack? I hear she's useless now."

"Alpha Matthias took her in after her father died. She's such a beauty. It's a pity her wolf can't awaken."

"I also heard that Alpha Matthias initially planned for one of his three heirs to be her mate."

"I bet no one wants a mateless wolf. But whoever becomes her mate will be the Alpha heir of the Pack!"

The surrounding chatter buzzed like flies.

Meanwhile, Derek was trying to curry favor with Scarlett by introducing her to the northern Pack leaders in attendance.

When Derek saw me, his face stiffened. "Aurora, with your precarious position, what are you doing over here? This is a formal event. You'd better not cause any trouble and embarrass yourself."

"What are you all talking about? I'm curious. There are so many reporters and important Pack members here. I'd love to introduce Scarlett to them. Her talent deserves to be appreciated by more people," I said with a smile.

"Don't cause trouble here. You don't know anything, so just stay out of the way!"

Marcus impatiently shoved me aside, so hard that I stumbled.

Fortunately, I caught hold of a chair. I struggled to suppress the fury of my inner wolf.

"Isn't this banquet being held for me? But you're all having such a lovely chat without me," I said with a cold smile.

"That's right! Stop following me around. You all haven't seen each other in a while, go and keep Aurora company."

Scarlett forced a smile, pretending to be considerate and coming to my defense.

"You all stay with Aurora. I could use a moment to myself in a quiet corner. It's really fine."

As soon as Scarlett finished speaking, she put on a pained expression.

"Scarlett, you don't have to do this. She's not the high and mighty princess of the Moonfire Pack anymore. Why should we still have to grovel for her?"

Derek hastily put a hand on Scarlett's shoulder to comfort her.

"She should know her place and stay on the sidelines, not bother us."

I could no longer control the wolf within me. My hand, clutching my skirt, tightened until my nails nearly pierced the fabric.

"It seems the three of you are quite dissatisfied with my arrangements?"

Matthias's cold, rasping voice, laced with an Alpha's command, sounded from behind me.

"A-Alpha Matthias..." Derek tried to explain, but the words died in his throat, and a cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

Matthias's icy gaze swept over the crowd, and the chatter instantly ceased. The message was clear: shut up.

Seeing how young and handsome the Alpha of the Shadowpine Pack was, Scarlett straightened her back and deliberately puffed out her chest, taking a step forward.

"Don't blame them. They were just worried that Aurora hasn't fully recovered. It's crowded in here. If something were to happen, her wolf might lose control..."

"Who are you?"

Matthias glanced at her sideways, cutting her off coldly. He pulled me to his side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders protectively.

"I... I'm Scarlett, Aurora's best friend. Don't you remember me?" Scarlett's tone was awkward, the smile on her face frozen.

"Scarlett?" Matthias raised an eyebrow, staring at her mockingly.

"Those songs that are popular in both the human and werewolf worlds, did you write them?"

Scarlett had stolen my work and released those songs.

Derek, Nathan, and Marcus had been endlessly debating who Scarlett's secret crush was in her songs. The laughable part was, I wrote those songs, and the man who inspired them was standing right beside me—and it wasn't any of them.

"Yes. They're the hottest singles in the human world right now," Scarlett said, her eyes shining with vanity.

"What a coincidence. Aurora also enjoys composing."

When I discovered my work had been stolen, I had told Matthias. He wanted to intervene, but I stopped him. I wanted to settle this debt myself.

"Scarlett's talent and her amazing feel for melody are something a person with no talent could never achieve," Derek went on, fawning over Scarlett's supposed genius.

Just then, Marcus saw the mocking look in Matthias's eyes and quickly nudged Derek, who finally shut up.

The emcee took the stage to announce the start of the banquet, and Matthias went up to give a speech.

I sat in the audience, waiting for Matthias to announce me as the Pack's heir.

Just as Matthias was about to make the announcement, and I had just gathered my skirts to walk toward the stage, Scarlett suddenly bumped into me. The red wine she was holding sloshed all over me. "I'm so sorry, Aurora. I was distracted and didn't see you."

Scarlett produced a wet wipe from somewhere and began dabbing at my face.

My makeup was ruined, and my white gown was streaked with red stains.

"Aurora, let's go get you changed. I'll have my makeup artist touch you up. I'm really so sorry."

I saw a sly smile playing on Scarlett's lips and tried to refuse. "Oh, but Alpha Matthias is about to announce—"

However, Derek exchanged a look with the other two and quickly interjected, "Are you going to shame the Pack by going on stage looking like that? Go get changed!"

"Yes. Come with me. It'll be quick."

Before I could answer, Scarlett pulled me away.

She led me to an abandoned warehouse in a corner of the parking lot.

"There are some drinks and desserts here. You can have some."

With that, she took a piece of candy from the table, unwrapped it, and pushed it into my mouth. The taste was faintly bitter; I knew it was laced with wolfsbane.

"You wait here. I'll go see if the makeup artist has arrived."

Scarlett turned and left, locking the warehouse door behind her.

I quickly spit out the candy, only to realize I had left my communication crystal behind.

Just then, the warehouse door burst open, and two unfamiliar rogue wolves stormed in.

"Well, well. This she-wolf is a noble, and a gorgeous one at that," the wolf in front said, his eyes glinting with lust.

"No wonder Matthias took her in. I hear she doesn't have a wolf? That just makes her a human plaything. Let us show you a good time."

The two of them advanced on me, licking their lips with lecherous grins.

"Stay away from me... Stay away!"

I grabbed anything I could reach and hurled it at them.

The situation was so dire I could no longer suppress the wolf within me, nor did I want to.

My eyes instantly blazed gold, and my nails elongated into sharp claws.

"Hey, her wolf has awakened!"

"That bitch lied to us! Said she was a weakling!"

"What do we do now?"

"What else? Get her! Or we don't get paid!" The rogue lunged at me with a ferocious snarl.

Forced into a corner, I shifted into a white wolf and fought back. I used all my strength to send one of them flying, then crashed through the warehouse window and sprinted toward the banquet hall entrance. Shattered glass sliced into my fur.

Outside the warehouse, I shifted back to human form, a wave of dizziness washing over me. The wolfsbane was taking effect.

I shouted with all my might. In the distance, several security guards heard my calls and rushed toward me.

Using the last of my strength, I reached out to Matthias through our mind-link, "Matthias! Help me!"

My vision went black, and I collapsed.