Chapter 4

"How can a grown male be expected to sit at a cubs' table?" Isanna asked him. "Evander, you are the elder of this clan. Tell her whether I am right."

Evander turned to me at once, his eyes hardening as his elder aura rolled through the room.

"Lyssa, go sit at the small table! You are Lady of this household, but you have grown far too disrespectful toward your elders!"

Every wolf at the table had their own aims, and the moment Evander spoke they all smiled at once.

Some lowered their heads to hide their amusement, while others exchanged satisfied looks, clearly pleased that Evander had at last put me in my place. They were truly enjoying themselves.

I set down my fork and stood.

I could not bear another bite.

My wolf had reached the end of her patience, and I no longer had any reason to pretend that all was well.

Gripping the cloth, I pulled hard and overturned the whole feast table. The food, plates, and forks crashed to the floor and scattered everywhere.

Several wolves sitting near were splashed with food, their fine robes stained at once. A few dishes shattered against the stone floor, and the sharp sound rang through the den like a challenge hurled at the whole Wolfhart pack.

The room fell silent. Even the ticking of the hearth clock could be heard clearly.

"Evander, your son's mate certainly knows how to make a scene!"

A male wolf narrowed his eyes at the mess on the floor and laughed rather than grew angry. "I never thought Zevran’s mate would lose her temper like this before her own blood."

His open mockery turned Evander's face red.

He glared at me with naked fury, his elder aura pressing down on the room as if he meant to force me to bow my head.

Yet I stood my ground and refused to submit to his authority.

Rhoswen looked furious, while Arion and Eirene were still too stunned to move.

Amarise's eyes went wide as she stared at the overturned table, clearly unable to believe what I had done.

Keep glaring at me, and I will tear your eyes out myself, I thought, returning Evander's hostile stare without flinching.

If they had treated Zevran well when he was a cub, I would have shown them the respect they were owed as his elders. I would have been willing to keep peace with them for the sake of blood and pack unity.

But they had spent years looking down on Zevran, and now they had come into our den expecting me to wait on them.

The shamelessness of these wolves was more than I could bear.

I looked at the food stains on their robes and their bewildered faces. Instead of growing angrier, I smiled coldly.

"If you don’t like the food, then don’t eat it! What sort of blood kin behave like this? You come onto my den without permision, disrespect the Lady of this household, and then expect me to bow my head to you. You are nothing but a pack of shameless parasites!"

I walked toward the bedchamber, but when I remembered the ruin inside, I stopped at the door and turned back toward the hall.

The moment they saw me return, every wolf fell silent.

Perhaps they thought I had at last calmed down and meant to apologize, but they were badly mistaken.

I took up my communication crystal and summoned the cleaners' guild. I would still have to pay for their service, but at least I felt far better now. That alone made the gold worth spending. If these wolves wanted to behave like wild rogues on another's territory, they could at least leave me enough peace to clean up after them.

After all the uproar, the guests had lost their appetite and began to ready themselves to leave. Their earlier confidence was gone, and no one seemed eager to challenge me again.

That was exactly what I had been waiting for.

I leaned against the doorframe, took up my ledger, and opened the purchase records.

"Aunt Rielle, Aunt Isanna, here are the records for the things your grandchildren destroyed. Please repay me."

Isanna's face darkened. "Are you serious, Lyssa? We are all of the same pack. Must you make such a scene over a few ruined things? What of loyalty to blood?"

"You are the ones who began this."

I pointed toward the bedchamber and the feast hall, sneering at them.

"You invaded my private den, ruined my things, and treated me like a servant in my own den. Do not lecture me about loyalty to blood when you have shown me none. Besides, you are not my blood. Stop flattering yourselves."

Isanna was so furious she could barely speak. With a rigid face, she took up her communication crystal and sent the gold to me. Then she cast Rhoswen an angry look before taking her granddaughter and leaving the den.

Rhoswen stayed where she was and let out a long, helpless sigh.

Rielle, however, was not as honest as Isanna. She hesitated for a long while before at last turning to Evander. "Evander..."

Evander glared at me, his elder aura pressing down on the den like an unseen weight.

If a look could kill, I would have been turned to dust beneath his furious stare.

"Lyssa, must you truly make such a scene? Rielle's pack has fallen on hard times of late. I already told her she need not repay you."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Evander, who gave you the right to command me? Even if Aunt Rielle's pack is struggling, she can still afford a thousand gold coins. If she cannot, then she should not let her grandson run wild and ruin the belongings of others."

I folded my arms and looked him straight in the eye.

"Since Aunt Rielle refuses to repay me, then you can pay in her place."

Arion grew anxious at once. "Lyssa, how can you ask Father to repay you? He is growing old!"