Elena''s POV


    "Oh, you''re rocking it, Princess!"


    Zara and Jayden both sent me to the car, giving me a huge smile as they watched me gracefully get inside with my very princess-like outfit.


    I wore an off-shoulder midnight blue ball gown with glistening sequins on the neckline and sleeves and diamond lining on my waist, while half of the flowy skirt down to my hem was decorated with intricate embroidered moon and flower patterns.


    My hair was in a messy rose bun decorated with a sapphire hairb with a few strands of my hair intentionally styled to hang on the side of my face.


    With killer six-inch ck stiletto heels, I walked through the giant doors of the party hall. My hand tightened on the purse I was holding, and I instantly felt a hundred pairs of eyes falling in my direction. Murmurs filled the hall.


    "That''s her... Prince Deacon''s fiancée," someone said with excitement.


    A lot were in tune with her, but I also heard some sneers.


    "Didn''t she once belong to the Bryson family? She used to be Luna, right?"


    "She is! I even heard that when Alpha Bryson''s mother fellll, that girl didn''t even send a doctor. She''s as cold as stone."


    In the middle of the party, there''s a woman who could be distinguished among the rest. She was wearing rathervish clothing that almost made her look a bit exaggerated with how she wore many luxurious essories.


    If something, it almost looked blinding.


    With her regal crimson gown, she raised her hand, and the music instantly stopped. Walking slowly toward me so elegantly, like she''s almost floating, she gasped a mocking surprise.


    It might not go unnoticed to others, but Bryson''s family and pack had trained me to be an expert at seeing who is genuinely benign and genuine.


    "Well, wee to the pce, Princess Elena." She swept my appearance from head to toe with her eyes, continuing, "I see, you''ve finally learned how to dress for royalty. The title is rubbing off on you well.


    A few guests let out a small chuckle from her words, but I didn''t pay attention to it and kept my back straight and my head high.


    With a soft but firm voice, I replied, "Thank you for the invitation, Princess. I learnt about it toote, so forgive me if I wasn''t prepared as much."


    Looking around, I gave out a fake smile. “But I''ll never miss such an important asion for the world."


    Princess Geline''s brow arched a little, but she kept her face as neutral as possible with a tense smile on her lips. " How thoughtful of you..."


    Then, her smile turned into a smirk, and I knew that her socialite attitude was about toe to light. "Though I wonder... where was that thoughtfulness when your former mother-inw was coughing up blood? No doctor, and not even a polite inquiry."


    Many gasps at her words upon hearing that. As if feeling the source of it, my eyes subconsciously found Courtney''s eyes. She was standing a few feet beside Princess Geline while fanning herself with an exaggerated


    pride.


    Intentionally making her voice loud, sheined, "We took her in like family, and that is how she repaired us! She abandoned me when I was on my sickbed!"


    Her audacity was really beyond reason!


    When one of the circting waiters passed by us, Courtney grabbed a champagne from his tray and took a slow sip. "But what do I expect from a girl raised with no roots? She obviously didn''t know how to be a filial child. She''s lucky the Prince doesn''t see her true colors yet."


    My eyes narrowed. I could take on how they always belittle he and say things to me. But there was no way I''d let them dishonour my family who died for the kingdom.


    Taking a step forward, I gazed at them with sharp eyes and firmly said, "With all due respect, but I was never epted as a family. Your family and pack demanded obedience, not affection. And you..."


    Keeping my eyes on Courtney, I continued, "You, Luna Courtney, you made it clear that I am only useful when I''m silent and invisible. All of you only remember me when you need to dig some fortune out of me. I gave you the most skilled doctor, but you drove him insane, so he quit. My inheritance was used to build up your pack. So tell me, what really makes someone filial?"


    With a rage of glint in my eyes, I asked, "When you squeeze me dry of everything?"


    Letting out a snortugh, I shook my head. "Oh, of course not. I guess even if I give up my life, it won''t be enough to satisfy you."


    The entire hall fell into shocked silence, and heavy tension filled the air. Even the GrandPrincess''s smile dropped silently.


    After a few seconds, Princess Geline looked at me sharply. "How dare you act and speak like this before a royalty?"


    Meeting her eyes without fear, I replied, "I merely spoke the truth."


    "By the way..." I started before signalling to the attendant who helped me toe


    in. "I didn''te empty-handed. Happy birthday, Grand Princess."


    In cue, the attendant carried a tray where an intricate, well-embroidered tea bag was presented with a velvet ck jewellery box.


    "In honor of your birthday, I present you with a diamond ne with a sapphire pendant and a bag of Scarlet Robe Tea. This tea is the rarest tea in the kingdom that nurtures our wolves, making us stronger."


    Everyone gasped in surprise, and murmurs instantly broke out. Many of the nobles even stepped forward to take a better look at it.