The Price of a Stolen Name

A new werewolf joined our pack. Selena Croft.

She accidentally sent an image of a runestone on the pack’s Internet.

A priceless runestone for a territory deed in the heart of the city.

"Thank you for the gift, Dad," she added as a caption.

Then she quickly withdrew the image. "Sorry, wrong channel."

Just one problem. That was my runestone. A gift from my father a month ago.

Some sharp-eyed members noticed the faint Vance Clan insignia on it.

"So, this heiress is slumming it in our small pack? Guess I should have shown more respect!" Even my mate, the Alpha of our pack, Ethan, began to see her in a different light.

"Funny. I thought the Vance Clan valued humility, not cheap stunts." I fired back.

Silence. Then, the attacks came.

My mate's voice was the loudest. "You're pathetic and jealous, Elara. How did I end up with a mate like you?"

"You're just jealous of her bloodline!" another wolf chimed in.

My bloodline? I smiled.

In front of everyone, I activated my father's communication crystal.

"Father, I'm hearing that in the Blackwood Pack, the Vance bloodline is considered worthless."

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1

A new wolf, Selena Croft, joined our pack.

On her first day, she posted a territory deed runestone on the pack's Internet.

The network instantly erupted. "Gods! The energy pulsing from that… I'm not mistaken, am I?"

Selena quickly retracted the image and apologized, "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention and sent it to the wrong group."

Afterward, she sent a flurry of apologetic emotes, ending with a pouting emoji.

"I'll be more careful next time."

And just like that, every wolf in the pack knew the name Selena Croft.

"Is that a territory runestone for downtown Silvermoon City?"

"Gods! So that's what a top-tier runestone looks like."

"Rumor has it that the Alpha of the Vance Clan bought a territory for his long-lost daughter today—right in the center of Silvermoon City."

"Could Selena be the Vance Clan's heiress?"

"There aren't many powerful, ancient clans in our region. It can't be a coincidence."

"That territory! It would take our pack three hundred years to afford that."

The forum was on fire, with hundreds of messages flying back and forth.

Selena, sitting on the dusty ground across from me, basked in the attention.

After a long pause, she finally replied online: "I can't reveal my identity yet, but I can say one thing—I go by my mother's surname. Please don't spread this around. If my father finds out my identity has been exposed, he'll be unhappy."

She hadn't denied it. In everyone's eyes, this was as good as a confirmation.

I had no intention of getting tangled up in the gossip. But the group chat was too lively, and even my mate, Ethan Blackwood, had joined in, jokingly praying for a chance to bask in the glow of a true noble bloodline.

I pretended not to care, but my hands couldn't stop trembling. Loyalty bought with power... it's cheaper than dust.

I focused on the image Selena had shared. On the runestone, there was a unique bloodline insignia. The last four swirling lines of energy were unmistakable. I recognized it as mine in an instant.

My father, Alistair Vance, had given me this runestone as a gift for my Awakening, choosing this specific territory because those four lines corresponded with my birthdate.

Just as I was about to voice my question on it, I was interrupted.

Ethan, holding a few rare Moonlight Orchids, carefully selected one, brushed the dust off it, and offered it to Selena deferentially.

Selena sniffed it, then twisted her lips in disgust. "What is this?" she sneered. "Don't bring me this low-grade trash again. Its energy is muddled."

Ethan froze. But instead of the impatience he always showed me, he just nodded and apologized humbly, "My mistake, I didn't check. A noble bloodline like yours must be nourished with purer energy!"

Bitterness welled in my heart. In our den, he wouldn't even groom my matted fur after a fight without endless complaints.

Unable to stomach Selena's arrogance any longer, I spoke calmly, "Selena, about your new territory in Silvermoon City... When are you planning to hold the Consecration Ceremony?"

The bustling clearing fell silent.

Selena glared at me. "What do you mean by that?"

"Are you questioning me? Questioning my runestone? What, do I need to get 'It's Mine' tattooed on my forehead to satisfy you?"

Sensing Selena's anger, Ethan interjected, "Elara, stop causing trouble. What has Selena done to deserve you targeting her like this?"

The other pack members also took her side.

"Some wolves have a lot of nerve, questioning someone over a single image."

"Exactly, Selena shared it by accident—it's not like she was showing off."

"Elara, if you're so jealous, go get one yourself! Though, looking at you, you'll never get the chance."

Selena exuded a carefully crafted air of nobility from head to toe. In contrast, I was dressed simply, plain and unremarkable.

Selena turned to me, her voice dripping with false generosity. "Thank you all for speaking up for me. Elara must be curious because she's never seen things like this before. It's understandable that she'd have questions."

"For my sake, please forgive her ignorance."

As soon as she said this, Ethan's face darkened, a clear sign he was embarrassed for me.

What a joke. I, the heir to the Vance Clan, was being mocked in my own mate's pack.

After my Awakening, I completed the bonding ceremony with my fated mate, Ethan. Hiding my identity was my father's idea. He wanted me to gain experience from the ground up and understand how a pack truly works.

Judging by her airs and tastes, Selena was no commoner. She must have gone to great lengths to get a look at my runestone just to impersonate me.

An idea flashed in my mind. I said, feigning innocence, "You're right. I've never seen anything like this before."

"Selena, why don't you invite us to the ceremony? Let us common folk broaden our horizons."

The members' eyes lit up, clearly intrigued, and Selena's expression immediately soured.