“No.”
My answer was simple and firm.
Vivian stared. “What?”
“I don’t love him anymore,” I said calmly, looking at her. “Not at all.”
The room was dead silent.
Vivian sudde
broke down, tears streaming.
“You don’t understand! It’s not just about the Alpha position!” she cried. “The Elder Council said if the pack is destroyed, Ethan will be permanently banished! He’ll lose all territory, become a rogue wolf!”
Ethan’s face grew even paler.
“And…” Vivian sobbed, “I spent most of the pack treasury…”
“What?” Elder Grace shot up,
horrified.
“All those jewels, those trips, those luxury items…” Vivian cried harder. “I thought being Luna would cover those expenses, but now…”
“How much did you spend?” Ethan’s voice trembled.
“Eight hundred thousand dollars,” Vivian whispered.
A wave of angry shouts erupted in the room.
“Eight hundred thousand?” Marcus roared. “That was our emergency fund for three years!”
“I’ll pay it back!” Vivian shrieked. “Once things settle down, I’ll pay it back!”
“With what?” Elder Grace demanded, furious. “What ability do you have to earn money?”
Vivian was speechless.
“So,” I summed up, “not only has the pack lost the goddess’s protection, but it’s also bankrupt?”
No one answered, but their silence was answer enough.
Ethan suddenly dropped to his knees.
“Sophia, I’m begging you.” His voice was broken. “I know I did terrible things, but please give me a chance.”
The other pack members kneeled too.
“Please, Sophia,” Marcus pleaded. “We’ll do anything to make amends.”
E
“We’ll banish Vivian,” Elder Grace said. “Make her repay all the money.”
“I’ll re–mate with you.” Ethan looked up at me, his eyes full of tears. “We can forget all of this, start over.
“Start over?” I looked at them kneeling on the floor, feeling nothing.
“Yes!” Ethan said eagerly. “I’ll prove my love, I’ll treat you like a queen!”
“I’ll give you the highest position in the pack!” Marcus added.
“You can have anything you want!” Elder Grace said.
Listening to their promises, I remembered an old fable.
A farmer saved an injured snake. Once the snake recovered, it bit and killed the farmer.
A snake’s nature doesn’t change, and neither do people.
There’s no need,” I said calmly.
