Third Person's POV Luna Evelyn withdrew her gaze from the entrance, her expression dimming. Alpha Remus stepped to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in a protective Alpha clasp. "What's wrong?" Luna Evelyn forced a bitter smile. "Aysel probably isn't coming." Alpha Remus fell silent for a moment. It wasn't that he didn't love this daughter. But years of opposition had blurred the way he should love her. His understanding of her was now even thinner than his understanding of Celestine. The soft, clingy little cub he once held in his arms had long faded into a blurred shadow in his dreams. Back then, the Moonvale Pack was at a critical turning point in its expansion. He could not afford a stain on his Alpha name. At times, he hated that accident as well. If it had never happened, they would not have taken in Celestine. Aysel would not have been wronged. His daughter would not have gradually drifted away from him. Recently, they had only shown Celestine a slight cooling of attitude-and rumors had already spread outside the pack, mocking them for mistreating the "daughter of their benefactors." Just moments ago, someone had even deliberately asked where Celestine had gone. That kind of judgment-where everyone seized a feather and used it as an arrow, declaring you indebted and cruel-felt like thorns pressed against his back. Only then did Alpha Remus suddenly understand, just a little, how it must have felt for Aysel to stand accused by the entire pack. And yet, he still felt stifled. If it had been any other pack, with an adopted daughter who had once been imprisoned, would they truly have treated her much better?But onlookers always stood tall and righteous. Some were clearly just here to watch them make fools of themselves. Celestine was a living hot stone. "Enough," Alpha Remus said, shaking off those chaotic thoughts. "Go cut the cake. Everyone is waiting for you." Luna Evelyn sighed and nodded, following him forward. A family of five. A devoted Alpha and Luna. Two sons and one daughter. From the outside, it looked like a harmonious, perfect pack household. Celestine forced herself to ignore the measuring, mocking, and contemptuous gazes drifting over her like predator eyes. No matter what-they had already accepted her into Moonvale. Aysel's position had belonged to her the moment she stepped through that door. But just as the formal speeches ended and the blade was about to descend for the cake- A Moonvale servant came tumbling in, pale with terror. "Alpha! Luna! The second young miss-she's sent a gift!" Luna Evelyn's face lit up with sudden joy. Even Alpha Remus showed relief. "Did she come herself, or send someone?" Then he scowled at the servant's panic. "If the young miss has returned, receive her properly. Why are you panicking like this?" The servant's lips trembled, fear still flooding his eyes. "B-but-" "A home that abused its own blood, blind and heartless, is not worthy of Lady Vale arriving in person."A voice that was not unfamiliar rang out from the entrance. Jackson stepped into view, dressed in a black formal suit. Behind him followed a long line of figures clad in black from head to toe-like a funeral procession. One by one, they drew out erhu, suona, and other traditional mourning instruments and marched into the center of the hall. Bright, unsettling funeral music burst into the celebration. Cries and gasps erupted among the guests. But Luna Evelyn saw nothing else. Her gaze was locked onto the man at the very front. In his arms- He was holding an enormous black-and-white portrait. The face smiling from that photograph- It was Yuna Ward. Celestine's mother. Her elder sister. Luna Evelyn's heartbeat thundered wildly as all color drained from her face. Jackson lifted his eyes and looked mockingly at her. "Even though the blood bond has long been severed, mother and daughter once shared a fate," he said lazily. "Lady Vale instructed me to deliver this special gift to all of you on this meaningful day." Alpha Remus flew into shock and fury. "No matter how much resentment she holds toward the family, she shouldn't curse her own mother's birthday like this!" A funeral on a birthday. Who was being condemned? Jackson slowly shook his head."That's not quite right." He lifted his chin. "Lady Vale lived in the Moonvale Pack for seventeen years. Every single birthday she had was celebrated as a death anniversary." "Now it's merely a change of scenery. Why can't you accept it?" He paused as if pondering. "Or... do you feel this still isn't enough? Should every one of you experience what it feels like when your birthday coincides with a funeral-seventeen times over?" He clicked his tongue. "If that's truly your wish, I'm sure our Alpha Magnus Sanchez and Lady Vale wouldn't hesitate to cover the band fees." At his words, the funeral troupe behind him played even louder. The erhu wept like a wounded beast. The suona screamed skyward in piercing anguish. Alpha Remus dared not speak. He knew-if he did, that unfilial daughter and Magnus Sanchez would absolutely make good on it. The hall of gossiping guests fell into dead silence. Birthday feast turned into a funeral procession. What atrocious misfortune. Fenrir supported Luna Evelyn as her legs weakened. His gaze darkened as he looked at Jackson. "Since Assistant Jackson speaks of a death anniversary," he said gravely, "then you must also be aware of the Moonvale Pack's past. After Aysel turned six, she stopped celebrating birthdays for a reason." "Oh~ hardship, you mean?" Jackson lifted a hand casually. He rapped his knuckles against the edge of the framed portrait."Yuna Ward. Mother of your adopted daughter Celestine. Also once Lady Vale's biological aunt." He smiled faintly. "Didn't she die while protecting Lady Aysel?"