Thora's POV: As my words fell, I clearly felt Marcus and Gabby's breathing hitch. Earlier, they had disdained me as unworthy of Caleb and wanted to break off the engagement. Now the tables had turned, and it was me looking down on their son, actively seeking to break it off. "Did you hear that? My granddaughter said she wants to dissolve the engagement with the Lawsons." Marlon looked grimly at Rio. Rio sighed, still trying to salvage the situation. "Since you asked the younger generation's opinion, shouldn't I ask my grandsons' as well?" Marlon tapped his cane sharply. The meaning was clear. Go ahead and ask! Rio looked at Caleb. "Caleb, I'm asking you, do you agree to dissolve the engagement with the Greens?" Without hesitation, Caleb said, "I agree!" Rio's expression turned sour. Marlon laughed coldly. "Since both youngsters agree, we elders have no objections, and the pack elders from both families are here to witness it. I declare the engagement between the Greens and Lawsons is hereby dissolved!" With that, the engagement between Caleb and me was finally settled. The weight I'd been carrying in my heart finally lifted. Marlon said, "Now, I have another matter to announce." The moment the words left his mouth, he broke into violent coughing, his shoulders shaking. "Grandpa." I quickly reached out to support him, secretly using my ability to examine him.The old injuries riddled his internal organs, especially his lungs. It was as if they'd been corroded by some kind of toxic wolf power, severely damaged, with a subtle resistance accompanying each breath. It seemed the injury from six months ago that forced his retirement was far worse than the rumors suggested. He waved his hand, and once his breathing evened out, he announced loudly. "Since representatives from the prominent packs of Starlance City are all here tonight, I ask everyone to bear witness." The banquet hall instantly fell silent, everyone looking at him curiously. I saw his throat tighten, his words pausing at his lips as if he were making some momentous decision. "Bear witness to what?" Rio couldn't help asking. "To bear witness to the engagement between Ms. Green and myself."A familiar voice came from the banquet hall entrance. I frowned and looked up to see Darius, radiating the overwhelming presence of a top-tier Alpha, walking toward me with a smile. "That's ... the Alpha of Nightclaw Pack, Mr. Blackwood?" Someone recognized him, their voice trembling. At those words, the entire hall erupted in chaos, with everyone hurrying forward to respectfully bow and greet him. Even Norman looked incredulous but still respectfully gave a military salute. "Mr. Blackwood." This was the treatment accorded to the Astralis Empire's top Alpha. Darius ignored Norman, only looking at me with an ambiguous smile while addressing Marlon. "Mr. Marlon, it's time to make the announcement now, right?" Meeting Darius's gaze, I had a bad feeling. Marlon coughed twice and announced loudly, "I ask everyone to witness the engagement between my eldest granddaughter, Thora, and Alpha Darius of Nightclaw Pack. From today onward, my granddaughter, Thora, is Mr. Blackwood's fiancée!" As soon as those words left his mouth, the banquet hall exploded. "What's going on? The Alpha of Nightclaw Pack! Even the royal family has to show him respect, and he's going to marry Thora, who just broke off an engagement?" "Yeah, and the Silverleaf Pack's power can't even compare to Nightclaw Pack!" "Look at what Thora's wearing. It matches what Darius is wearing! So the man who saved Thora earlier was Darius!" "Oh my God! What's the relationship between them?"The crowd buzzed with shock and excitement. As the center of attention, I grabbed him and pulled him away from the crowd, then demanded coldly, "What's the meaning of this?" I knew this had to be Darius's idea, and even Marlon leaving the hospital to help me resolve the Lawsons' engagement was probably Darius's doing too. What exactly did this man want from me? Darius smiled, then leaned down close to me and spoke in a low voice. "I'm helping you. With your current status in the Greens and Silverleaf Pack, what benefits can you get besides being targeted? But as long as your name carries 'the Blackwoods,' no one in the entire Astralis Empire will dare to mess with you. Whatever you want to do, you can do it without fear." After speaking, he didn't straighten up, maintaining this intimate posture while waiting for my response. I took a small step back, uncomfortable with his closeness. I knew Darius was indeed an excellent stepping stone. The Alpha of Nightclaw Pack, the Lycan King's great-nephew, is someone at the very pinnacle of the pyramid. He had the power and strength. He even possessed something more precious than both of those—an elite status he was born with. I stared at his smiling eyes and said softly but firmly, "Darius, I'll never depend on anyone. I have my own hands. I'll climb up on my own. Even if it's slow, it'll be by my own ability. Whatever purpose you have for me, abandon it now! "Also, I'll play along with you tonight, but after this we have no relationship. Once things die down, we'll announce the engagement is canceled." "All right." He agreed right away, smiling as he straightened up. While I wouldn't rely on him, tonight's performance had to continue. Having just dissolved the engagement with the Lawsons, Marlon immediately announced my engagement to Darius. If not for his status keeping them in check, the gossip would already be out of control. If we canceled the engagement now, it would only invite more trouble. So I decided to weather this storm first before dealing with it. Since Darius had already agreed, this engagement was nothing more than a cover for both of us. But unease stirred in my heart. He'd agreed too readily. This didn't fit his character at all ...