Three days later, it was finally Lily’s birthday. From the early morning, she was buzzing with excitement, decorating the house with garlands made of wildflowers she’d picked from the forest. She even selected a delicate lavender dress for the occasion.

“Mommy, do you think Daddy will come? He promised me a year ago,” she asked, her head tilted upwards, eyes brimming as she anticipated. I gently patted her head, forcing a smile, but I couldn’t bring myself to give a clear answer. Mason hadn’t visited us in days. Ever since he publicly declared Olivia his Luna and announced her pregnancy, he had completely ignored Lily and me.

Yet, gazing into her bright, expectant eyes, I couldn’t bear to shatter her hopes.

“Sweetheart, go play in the backyard for a little while. Mommy will prepare your favorite stew.”

Once she was out of sight, I retrieved the communication stone and contacted Mason.

“Evelyn?” His voice, tinged with surprise, echoed through the stone.

“Mason, today is your daughter’s birthday. When do you plan to arrive?” I asked, swallowing the bitter bile rising in my throat.

After a brief silence, he replied slowly, “Evelyn… I’m sorry. I have… a ceremony to prepare for today.”

“You two go ahead and celebrate. I won’t be coming.”

He cut the connection before I could utter another word.

“Mommy… is Daddy not coming?” I turned to find Lily standing behind me. I embraced her tightly, choking back my own tears. “It’s alright. We still have Grandpa and Grandma, and all the pack members. They will celebrate with you.”

“And Mommy will throw you the best party in the forest.”

She remained silent, nodding quietly.

Just then, the communication stone illuminated again. It was a message from Mason:

“Evelyn, bring Lily to the Pack House. There is a banquet tonight.”

I froze—hadn’t he just said he was busy?

Lily, seeing the message, instantly brightened. “Mommy! Daddy is planning a surprise for me, right? Let’s go!”

Looking at her hopeful expression, I couldn’t refuse.

“Alright, Mommy will take you.”

During the journey, Lily’s imagination ran wild, picturing herself dancing the first dance with her father and receiving a gift he had personally selected.

But an unease had already crept into my heart. Upon our arrival at the Pack House, the sight that greeted me left me stunned.

The hall was lavishly decorated with vines and silver moon sigils, and a luminous twin-wolf crest symbolized union. The air was thick with the scents of incense and bay leaves. This was…

The setting for a marking ceremony.

In the center of it all, Mason and Olivia stood in formal black-and-gold ceremonial attire, smiling as they greeted their guests.

No… My heart sank.

“Mommy, look!” Lily exclaimed, pointing. “Daddy and Aunt Olivia are waiting for us!”

I was about to stop her when Mason’s voice echoed through the hall:

“Thank you all for attending to witness my marking ceremony with Olivia.”

Marking ceremony?!

I was paralyzed. This wasn’t a birthday banquet—it was the marking ritual of Mason and Olivia!

“Daddy!” Lily ran forward excitedly, but Mason pushed her aside without hesitation.

“Whose little pup are you? Don’t speak nonsense.”

The guests turned to stare, confused by the child who was messing up their Alpha’s ceremony.

“Daddy, it’s me, Lily—your daughter!” Her voice trembled.

Mason’s face darkened, “I told you, you have mistaken me for someone else.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“The Alpha of the Phantom Pack has a child?”

“Didn’t he always insist that Olivia was his one and only Luna?”

Olivia approached, with a smirk playing on her lips.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Evelyn. Still clinging to delusions? Bringing your little mutt here to cause a scene—how pathetic.”

“Mason, tell her to give up already.”

Anger surged within me. “Olivia, you planned this, didn’t you? You tricked us into thinking this was for Lily’s birthday—just to humiliate us!”

She leaned in.

“Do you truly believe a banished she-wolf with a bastard pup could threaten my Luna status?”

“That little girl’s bloodline? Do not make me laugh. She is nothing compared to a true Alpha heir.”

The guests chuckled—some mockingly, some with pity. I could no longer endure it. I drew my dagger, shielding Lily behind me.

“Enough! None of you will insult my daughter again. The blood that flows through her veins is more noble than you can imagine.”

“Mason, you do not deserve to call yourself her father!”

I turned to leave, pulling Lily with me.

But Olivia, struck me across the face. “We took pity on rogues like you, and this is how you repay us?”

I fell to the ground, my cheek burning.

“Mommy!” Lily ran to hold me tightly.

“What are you waiting for? Throw them out!” Olivia barked.

The guards seized us roughly, and Lily struggled fiercely.

“Let go of my mommy!”

She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

“Alpha Mason, Luna Olivia, please… Please do not harm my mommy…”

“Lily, no!” I gasped, reaching for her.

But she simply wiped the dirt from her face and continued bowing stubbornly. “We were wrong. We should not have come. Please, have mercy on us.”

Mason’s expression shifted, conflicted. He asked softly, “What did you just call me?”

“Alpha Mason,” Lily said firmly. “We know our place. Please do not hurt my mom anymore.”

She helped me up. “Let’s go, Mommy.”

Under the eyes of the entire crowd, Lily and I walked out of the hall.

It felt as though a blade had pierced my heart. That night… my daughter grew up.

Back at our cottage near the woods, the communication stone illuminated again. It was Mason.

“Evelyn, do not misunderstand. I had to protect the Pack’s reputation in a situation like that…”

I said nothing.

Instead, I wrote a letter—pouring into it all the years of longing, betrayal, and heartbreak.

Then, I packed our belongings, took Lily’s hand, and we boarded the carriage bound for my mother’s clan.