Third Person's POV The guest hall of Mistyhowl Mountain Lodge had been arranged in the style of a moonlit reception-tall crystal lanterns burning with silver flame, long tables laid out like a self-serve feast for wandering wolves. By the time Aysel arrived, several classmates from the old Academy cohort had already clustered together, their scents mingling in familiar patterns. Celestine had once been the universally adored goddess of campus-beautiful, well-bred, gentle-spoken, and gifted enough to wear the title of "prodigy spirit-dancer." The years that followed only amplified her myth; under the halo of a celebrated dance alpha, she became the dream of countless wolves. Which was why, a month ago, when the explosive livestream shattered that illusion, the uproar was deafening across every pack's communication hub. The video of Celestine being confronted for plagiarism-and then being taken away by the Moon Enforcers-spread wildly through alumni groups. Rumor claimed she had vanished lately because the charge of hiring rogues to injure a rival had been confirmed and she had been taken into custody. Because of that scandal, the Moonvale Pack's affairs were dragged out under harsh daylight until not a single bone remained covered. So when everyone tonight saw another protagonist from that same storm-Aysel-they couldn't help their complicated expressions. Back then, misled by Celestine, many had harbored prejudice against Aysel, painting her as the vicious, sharp-tongued girl who bullied the gentle "Ward princess." Who would've thought the one whispered to be domineering and cruel had been the true lone cub all along? Especially when the Moonvale leadership themselves held double standards-treating Aysel as though she were raised by a step-alpha and step-luna. Who wouldn't misunderstand in such an environment? Pack wolves possessed a strong herd instinct. A lie repeated enough became truth; with three wolves claiming to see a tiger, no one believed the tiger wasn't there. In a sense, every one of them back then had been a silent accomplice to Celestine. The atmosphere tonight grew quietly strained. Wolves from other years and classes kept glancing over, unable to restrain their curiosity-scents shifting with unease and guilt. Among the crowd, Emma, who had been the one to contact Aysel for the reunion, brightened immediately when she saw her, her tail-energy practically wagging. "Aysel, you're here! Come sit with us." She led her to the crescent-shaped sofa area the class had taken over. "Our class leader is stuck in another territory-her flight was canceled because of a storm," Emma explained quickly. She knew exactly who Aysel had been hoping to speak with tonight. Aysel gave her a small smile. "Thank you." Emma beamed. Truthfully, she was thrilled for the opportunity. For someone like her-whose family held a similar mid-tier status to the Moonvale Pack-this was a rare chance to get close to the wolf now protected fiercely by one of the continent's greatest alphas: Magnus Sanchez of the Shadowbane Pack, the wolf whose presence even elders hesitated to meet. It was said Magnus shielded her aggressively, that Aysel stayed mostly secluded now, and anyone wishing to contact her usually ended up running into walls. Tonight was a heaven-sent opportunity for Emma. She had never liked Celestine Ward. Her circle had been an entirely different pack-pod in school. In fact, back in high school, she'd even harbored a crush on Fenrir, Aysel's brother. But Celestine-playing the role of the gentle little sister-constantly targeted her, hinting that anyone who wanted to pursue Fenrir had to bow to her first. Ridiculous. Emma was not the type to twist her tail for any male. She had mocked Celestine openly-and blocked Fenrir shortly afterward, partly out of spite. Luna Evelyn, Celestine's mother, had even wondered for a long time why the enthusiastic little Emma who once frequently visited Moonvale territory suddenly stopped showing up. Emma's dislike toward the siblings meant she never involved herself in the messy grudges between the two families. She didn't know Aysel personally-Aysel had always been quiet, shadowed by a bad reputation-but because Celestine disliked her, Emma felt no particular malice toward Aysel. During the years of rumors and alienation, Emma had never joined the harassment. Whenever they crossed paths, she had still greeted her politely. She supposed this was why Zenia, their long-lost class monitor, reached out to her first when trying to locate Aysel. One-Emma bore no grudges against Aysel, and they stayed in overlapping circles.Two-Emma was cheerful, sociable, and could navigate any room. And indeed, the moment Zenia contacted her after years apart, Emma immediately agreed. Helping a classmate, and building rapport with the future Luna of the Shadowbane Pack-why refuse? She eagerly poured Aysel a glass of moonfruit juice, chattering, "Drink something first. I'll take you to pick up your key later. Honestly, Aaron's really made something of himself. Mistyhowl Mountain Lodge is not easy to reserve, but he arranged the best suites for our class. At least he has some conscience left." Then she paused. "Oh? Where's your luggage? With the front desk? No problem, we'll get it together. Do you want to rest in your room first?" "No need. I-" "Ahem... Emma, there... isn't any room left." The girl beside them spoke reluctantly, eyes darting toward Aysel. Emma's smile froze. "What do you mean? Aaron told me he specifically kept rooms open for our class." The girl swallowed, looked at Aysel again, then fell silent. This reunion invited only select year groups, meaning there were definitely enough rooms-unless Aaron intentionally decided to make trouble. Emma understood instantly from that one glance. Her face darkened. Was Aaron actually out of his mind? When it was time to do decent things, he never did them. But when it came to petty nonsense, he was always disturbingly efficient. Of course. She should have remembered-Aaron had once been Celestine Ward's most loyal, pathetic lapdog. Who knew how much resentment he still carried toward Aysel?