Third Person's POV The crash echoed through the grand hall of the Blackwood estate-fragile tea cups and priceless vases shattered under the force of the commotion. Alpha Damon's chest rose and fell with tense breaths, his wolf senses rattled as if decades had been stolen from him overnight. "You lot really know how to stir trouble," he growled, the deep resonance of his Alpha voice vibrating the walls. "The engagement debacle was barely behind us, and now there's plagiarism, hired blades, and murder plots surfacing!" The fallout wasn't confined to the plummeting shares of Moonvale Pack's enterprises. The Blackwoods, as future in-laws, were dragged into the storm. Plagiarism alone would have been tolerable. But this? This involved power, influence, and the oppression of a common wolf by a pack-born heiress, broadcast live for all to see. The pack and public alike whispered, questioning if Moonvale or Damon himself had turned a blind eye-if they were enablers rather than protectors. The calls for boycotts of their enterprises had begun. The rumors of Damon and Celestin's scandalous entanglements only spread faster, every alley and shadow buzzing with gossip. Matriarch Blackwood's brow pinched in displeasure. "Should we just call off the engagement?" Damon said nothing. The engagement had never truly mattered to him. "It's not possible," Alpha Blackwood growled, his tone low and menacing. "We can dissolve the bond-but not now." Moonvale and Blackwood Packs had been intertwined for generations; each knew the other's strengths, secrets, and limits. To sever ties at such a pivotal moment would appear callous, invite mistrust, and risk a desperate backlash from Moonvale. For now, the Blackwoods were the wronged party. Even if they wanted to undo the engagement later, the timing needed to be advantageous, ensuring that Moonvale yielded sufficient concessions. Celestine had yet to formally join Moonvale-urgency was not theirs. "Find a way to suppress Celestine's exposure. The scandal cannot spread further. What about the injured girl? The one wronged by the plagiarism? Secure a statement of forgiveness from her," Damon commanded.He knew, however, that Agnes would be unlikely to comply. The girl's influence lay shielded behind Aysel and her day-long tutelage under Giovanna. Yet recalling Celestine's tear-filled gaze before the carriage of the pack enforcers, and the reports of her wolf destabilizing again at the precinct... Damon clenched his jaw. So be it. He would help her-one last time. The Taylor family had been exiled from the Capital by their patriarch. Damon had discreetly ensured their safe relocation, a generous settlement of resources resolving that chapter. For Celestine, he would guide her through this ordeal, honoring Dariusz's trust. His father was right-debts owed had long been repaid. ... Meanwhile, Aysel's villa rang with laughter and light. "Ding-ding-ding~~" Agnes twirled in a pale yellow dress, radiant as the dawn sun, before Aysel. "Behold! Before you stands the soon-to-be luminary of the entertainment realm, Agnes herself!" She leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "Sister-in-law, Alpha Magnus truly delivered. He secured me the top-tier music video debut of a leading singer, and I play the dancing little apprentice! Once the footage drops... my debut is official!" Despite the storm Celestine had caused, Agnes had navigated the chaos skillfully. The plagiarism incident, coupled with her near accident, had garnered her public sympathy-viewers rooting for the underdog, the brave common wolf standing against pack-born privilege. Her first appearance had been flawless. Agnes had no desire to claim Chasing The Wind as her own. With Aysel's approval, she had credited the choreography to a mysterious signature: "L." On the other side, the Moonvale dance troupe leader Julia had felt the sky fall. One of their pillars had collapsed without warning, exacerbated by the viral live broadcast. Yet Sofia's team promptly extended invitations, and the other troupe members found opportunities to guest in new productions. Investment from Serena and the new backers from Shadowbane followed swiftly. Agnes exhaled fully, her mind unburdened. Julia's chief position remained secure. Of course, Agnes was blissfully unaware of Serena's hidden presence-waiting silently, like a predator-turning Celestine into a sacrifice for collective benefit. One downfall, many fortunes.If only all villains could be leveraged so efficiently, it would be a resource worth every ounce. Agnes was already scheming, imagining the next targets, savoring the thrill of dominance over a rival pack. Crushing adversaries-there was no sweeter satisfaction. As she recounted her victories over Celestine's faction, footsteps approached. Moonvale elders had located the villa after some effort. Seeing Aysel's family at the gate, Agnes scratched her head awkwardly. "Should I... hide?" The last few days had seen repeated confrontations with Moonvale regarding Celestine. Neither Giovanna nor Agnes's parents had been gentle-they would not allow their treasure to suffer. Aysel shook her head. "No need. I never intended to conceal my involvement." If Moonvale elders were perceptive, they should not have come. But years of subtle manipulation had made them underestimate her. Inside the villa, the Moonvale trio exchanged uneasy glances. Over the years, Aysel had first co-rented, then acquired a small apartment herself. Her first home-granted by an outsider-stood as a silent testament to her independence. They had begun to regret their previous concessions. But sunk costs were irreversible. Bonds formed through years of nurturing were not easily discarded. Most importantly, their interests were aligned. The past few days, Alpha Remus and Fenrir had suffered during shareholder gatherings. Without action, dissent would grow. The optimal solution: extract Celestine, then replace the scandal with another story. Public memory was short, and time favored patience. Inside, only Aysel sat on the living room sofa. Magnus was absent. Relief passed through the elders-they had no clue how to address her if he were present. Yet Aysel did not make it easy. She offered no hospitality, no invitation to sit, no tea. The trio awkwardly lingered. Raising her eyelids, Aysel's amber gaze met theirs. "No need for nostalgia. Speak. What brings you here?" Fenrir hesitated, then forced words past his teeth. "Agnes's family insists on pursuing Celestine. I've heard Magnus knows Giovanna, and you were once a half-protégé of hers... Aysel, can you speak on her behalf?""Cannot," she answered, concise, unwavering. Shock flickered across the Moonvale faces. Luna Evelyn's ears twitched, frustration leaking. "Why? After all, she is your aunt's charge..." A crisp voice rang from the kitchen. "Why must you moralize, Mr. and Mrs. Vale?"