Chapter 4

Cassian paused slightly, then said, "Selena, you and Lyra have been fighting over me all these years, making a scene that the entire Moon Capital knows about."

“I didn't write her name because I was afraid of hurting her feelings. After all, she's your sister. I thought that if you accepted the Mate Contract first, she would feel better.”

“Unfortunately, I didn't expect you to misunderstand me because of this and reject me out of spite.”

Actually, Cassian and I both knew that Lyra didn't like him that much.

What Lyra liked was the feeling of competing with me.

When I was little, I would fight over food, toys, and my parents' affection. When I grew up, I got bored and started fighting over the people I liked.

My absent-mindedness made Cassian think I was wavering.

He pressed his advantage, saying, "So Selena, I've made up my mind. The person I want to mark has always been you."

“I will come to Silvermoon Pack in three days to exchange my Mate Contract. I will not do anything that could cause further misunderstandings.”

“Will you forgive me just this once?”

“After we’re bonded later, I'll make you your favorite Moon Lily Cake every day, okay?”

Looking at his sincere expression, I fought back tears and choked out, "Okay, I'll give you one chance."

“But let's forget about exchanging the Mate Contract; Lyra would make a scene if she knew.”

“Come directly to the Mate Ceremony in three days.”

Cassian let out a long sigh of relief, looking as if he had found something he had lost.

When Lyra returned home, she and our mother learned the whole story and were stunned.

Lyra, contrary to her usual behavior, didn't confront me directly, but instead raised her hand and slapped me.

“Selena, can you please wake up? Would you still marry an Alpha like this? Didn't you suffer enough in the first cycle of the Moon Goddess's reincarnation?!”

For the first time, I wasn't angry with Lyra. Instead, I calmly sewed my ceremonial robes and said, "Mate bond is a must. But the person he’s going to mate with isn't me...”

Lyra stood there, stunned, her brows furrowing slightly.

She asked me anxiously, "You don't mean you want me to mate with him, do you?"

“Selena, we're blood sisters. We may argue, but I've never intended to harm you. If you dare to cheat me, I'll really turn on you.”

I rolled my eyes at her, then explained to her.

“What are you thinking, Lyra? In the last cycle of the Moon Goddess, I thought Cassian liked you, that’s why I made you form a bond. Now that I know your fate too, how could I possibly harm you again?”

“Lyra, you misunderstood me.”

Lyra breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "So, you mean you’ll let the female wolf from our pack replace us to mate with him?"

I still shook my head.

“Cassian is an arrogant and proud wolf. If he didn't like someone, why would he possibly look down on an ordinary female wolf?”

Lyra deflated, annoyed, and said, "This is wrong, that is wrong, what exactly do you want, Selena?"

“Besides the two of us and those female wolves, who else can we marry?!”

I looked up at my mother and whispered, "Mother."

Our mother took two steps back in alarm, waving her hands frantically. "Oh, no! I can't do that! I'm old enough to be Cassian's mother!”

I was both amused and exasperated listening her refusal.

“No, Mother. I just need your help with something. I think I know who Cassian has feelings for.”

Actually, I didn't realize it at first. Cassian's act was so convincing that anyone who heard it would believe he was truly sincere towards me.

But he forgot to say his last sentence.

My favorite was not Moon Lily Cake at all.

On the contrary, I had always hated the smell of Moon Lily.

And the same scent lingered on the portrait of the Moon Soul.

However, he did remind me that Silvermoon Pack does indeed have someone who is a big fan of Moon Lily Cake.

Moreover, before I came back, I specifically went to verify that there was indeed a crescent-shaped mark on the right side of that person's neck.

So I've decided that rather than continuing to argue with Cassian and eventually ending up at the Royal Council, I should just pretend to agree for now.

Once the Mate Ceremony was over and the Luna Registry registration was complete, everything would get really interesting.

I whispered my instructions to my mother, then she immediately went out to prepare.

Lyra lay on the table, laughing self-deprecatingly, and asked, "Selena, after all these years of competing, are you really okay with losing to someone like that?"

I smiled calmly and said, "Yeah, a bit, of course. But, more than feeling resentful, I want to seek justice for you and me in the previous two cycles of the Moon Goddess's reincarnation.”

Lyra took my arm. This was the first time she had ever been so close to me.

“Okay, then we won't fight anymore. This time, we’ll stick together as sisters and wait to see how things turn out for them.”

Lyra wasn't just saying things out of anger.

Rather, the fact that that person mated into the family was itself a huge joke.

Wasn't Cassian the one who loved her the most and wanted to mark her the most?

I wanted to see how he would handle things if she was actually sent there.

The day before Cassian held the mating ceremony, our mother brought two Alphas.

I recognized them—they were the twin sons of Rowan, the Grand Elder of the Royal Council.

My mother excitedly told us, "I've finally found someone willing to exchange Mate Contracts with you!"

“The two Alphas from the Rowan clan are of noble birth, of impeccable character, and most importantly, they have always admire you. What do you think?”

Lyra and I didn't react for a moment.

Then mother whispered, "Hurry up and agree. Lycan Queen is the Blackwood family's biggest backer. If Cassian finds out we sent that guy to Blackwood Pack and made him lose face, he won't let it go."

“At that time, the only people who will have a significant influence in the Royal Council, besides the Lycan King, will be High Elder Rowan.”

Lyra and I didn't care whether we liked it or not. We both agreed to the two mate bonds in unison.

We immediately exchanged the Mate Bond Contracts.

Holding the contract, a huge weight was finally lifted from my shoulders.

I took Lyra's hand and said, "Let's go, let's send her off to her mating ceremony."

Cassian made one of us regret it for a lifetime.

Now, it's his turn.