Ditch Fake Bond: She's Tycoon Wolf Heiress

Natalie's POV:

Two years into our marriage, while cleaning my husband Landon Richardson's study, I accidentally knocked an ink bottle out of the drawer.

The black ink splattered all over a document that had been carelessly left next to it—and it turned out to be our mate bond contract, which was completely drenched. A strange unease settled in my stomach.

I went to the pack council's archives to apply for a replacement certificate. The clerk behind the counter, a male werewolf with the faint scent of a Beta, looked confused after checking the system.

"Ma'am," he said cautiously, "there's no record of a registered mate bond between you and Mr. Landon in the system."

"That's impossible!" I retorted, though my heart sank. We'd been bonded for two years. Sure, I was just an insignificant Beta with human blood, but the bonding ceremony was the foundation of any werewolf mate relationship.

He double-checked a few more times, then finally looked at me, looking helpless. He sighed softly and said, "There really isn't one. According to regulations, without the Moon Goddess' vow as witness, your relationship isn't recognized by the pack as a formal mate bond." The faint hint of pity in his eyes stung me.

I left the archives feeling utterly crushed, as if all the color had drained from the world. As I stood on the sidewalk, trying to make sense of this absurd situation, my phone rang.

The person on the other end said, "Ms. Natalie Anderson? This is Mateo Miller, an attorney representing your father, Alexander Scott, Alpha of the Moon-Shadowed Pack. Would it be convenient for you to come to the office to discuss matters regarding your identity confirmation and inheritance?"

The Moon-Shadowed Pack? An Alpha? My father? I almost let out a laugh, ready to hang up on this ridiculous scam call. But his next words hit me like a bolt of lightning.

He said, "Ms. Anderson, your mother, Claire Anderson, a human, abandoned you at an orphanage doorstep twenty years ago. Using the most ancient Ancestral Tracking Spell, we have confirmed you are the only living direct descendant of the late Alpha of the Moon-Shadowed Pack, Alexander."

I froze on the spot, my blood running cold. Driven by a sense of numb disbelief, I went to the law firm.

From Mateo, I heard the most unbelievable story of my life. My biological father was a powerful werewolf Alpha, the ruler of a massive business empire, possessing an ancient bloodline and staggering wealth.

And me, the orphan girl who always thought she was, at best, an inferior Beta, was the sole heir to his vast fortune.

While confirming my basic information, Mateo asked routinely, "And regarding your werewolf status and mate bond situation..."

Landon's handsome, gentle face flashed into my mind. Remembering the blank record at the archives, I clenched my fists, nails digging deep into my palms. "Please give me two hours," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "I need to go confirm something first."

Leaving the office, I headed straight for Landon's company. The door to his office was slightly ajar. Just as I was about to push it open, a familiar, enchanting voice with the unique magnetism of an Omega rooted me to the spot.

She said, "Landon, our souls have been bound for five years. When can we finally go public with our relationship to the families, to everyone?"

It was Aaliyah Cooper, Landon's university mentor, a high-ranking Omega werewolf of pure bloodline and captivating charm.

I held my breath, dead still. The next second, I heard my always-gentle husband respond in his distinctively commanding Alpha voice, though now it was softened, tender like a lover's words.

He said, "The company's about to go public, and we still need her to handle a lot of the work. You know my grandfather's will. He didn't allow someone from your family background into the inner circle. If we go public now, my grandmother will definitely use all her power to make things hard for you. It would break my heart to see that."

A loud ringing exploded in my ears, as if some string holding my world together had finally snapped. That blank bond record now felt like the sharpest mockery, shattering all my self-deception. From the very beginning, I was just the fool kept in the dark, a pawn used to cover up their secret bond.

I quickly turned and left, my heart hammering wildly in my chest. I dialed Mateo's number, then took a deep breath. I spoke steadily, my voice sharp with cold, "Mr. Miller, I can sign the inheritance and identity confirmation papers now. Also, I currently have no bonded mate and no children. All the inheritance is mine alone."

After completing the initial identity activation and inheritance procedures, a strange, unfamiliar power began to stir within my bloodline.

Distracted on the drive home, I got rear-ended and suffered a minor cut on my forehead. While I was at the hospital getting it treated, I had a whim and had my fertility and bloodline vitality checked.

The doctor clearly told me something: although my werewolf bloodline had been dormant, it was now exceptionally active—and I was fully capable of bearing powerful offspring. At that moment, the last shred of my attachment to the past died completely.

Before our marriage, Landon had shown me my medical report, telling me my werewolf bloodline had serious defects, making conception highly unlikely, and that frequent intimacy could even trigger bloodline conflicts, damaging my health.

"Even so, I choose you," he had said back then, holding my hands, his eyes filled with a determination and tenderness that made me drown. "In this life, my mate can only be you."For those words, we withstood immense pressure from his family—the Richardson family of the pure-blood obsessed Thorn Pack.

I'd heard his father smash an antique vase, roaring, "Marry a mixed-blood Beta to taint our bloodline?" I'd heard his mother lament to other society ladies at a party, "Landon is bewitched by that orphan girl."

And he would always hold me in his warm embrace, smiling, "Don't listen to them. You have me."

For these two years, his mother's barbs—"useless creature who can't even bear a pup," "I really don't know what Landon even sees in you"—clung to me like a disease, haunting countless sleepless nights.

Hearing about my accident, Landon soon rushed to the hospital. He looked dashing in his tailored white shirt, his tall frame drawing glances even in his hurry.

He tried to hug me in his usual, reassuring way, but I shoved him back violently. The embrace that once felt so safe now only filled me with bone-chilling cold and revulsion.

In the car, he was still playing the part of the doting husband. "What happened? You're usually such a careful driver," he asked with concern.

I stared out the window at the passing scenery, not answering. My fingers unconsciously rubbed the massive blue gem ring he'd given me, the symbol of our "bond." Its sparkle now felt blinding.

He tried to take my hand again. I swiftly pulled it back and placed it on my lap.

"We have a distinguished guest at home. I asked the butler to prepare your favorite venison steak and wine," he said, his tone still gentle, with a hint of barely concealed excitement. "I hope it cheers you up."

I almost let out a sneer. "Yeah, I'm thrilled," I said flatly. "It feels like my life's experiences have been unprecedentedly 'rich' lately."

He clearly didn't catch my sarcasm.

The Richardson Estate, located in the city's most expensive district, symbolized wealth and power. But how much of that was built on my efforts? I'd given up my own career path after graduation to help him secure his position in the family business.

Stepping into the living room, I immediately heard laughter and playful noises from upstairs. A little boy's excited shrieks, and a soft, sweet voice that now made my stomach churn.

The little boy was Nathan Richardson. Shortly after our "bond," Landon had adopted him from a werewolf orphanage, citing "pacifying the Pack and doing a good deed." He was five now.

Back then, I'd foolishly thought he did it for me and happily agreed. But raising Nathan these past two years had been pure hell.

The kid had a vicious temper, his werewolf instincts awakening early. When upset, he'd scratch me with his not-yet-fully-retracted claws or threaten me with his tiny fangs, as if he had a natural hostility towards me. He'd even once demanded, right in front of me, that Landon "give him back his real mom."

I'd angrily suggested sending him back to the orphanage, but Landon would always gently persuade me, saying the child was pitiful without a mother's love, and asked me to be more patient. It always made me think of my own orphan past, and I'd reluctantly give in.

Now, seeing Nathan clinging to Aaliyah's side like a cub, his small hand gripping hers tightly, and connecting it to their five-year secret bond, everything suddenly clicked into place.

Nathan was their son! A pure-blood pup! The Richardson family wouldn't accept Aaliyah, so Landon used me, a mixed-blood Beta, as a cover. They were not just to hide their relationship, but also to make me raise their child and endure the family's pressure and the kid's hostility.

During dinner, both Landon and Nathan kept serving Aaliyah, the three of them cozy and intimate like a real family, making me, silently cutting my meat, feel like an outsider.

"Natalie," Landon said, seeing the moment was right, putting down his silverware and giving me his usual, hard-to-resist, gentle look. "Ms. Cooper is currently writing a book on the early nurturing and education of pure-blood pups and needs a quiet place for inspiration.

"With the company's IPO preparations keeping me busy, and you handling both family duties and Nathan, it's just too much for you. I was thinking..."

He paused, his voice softening further. "Perhaps we could have Ms. Cooper stay with us for a while. She could help you manage Nathan. He seems particularly fond of her, after all."

A secret bond for five years wasn't enough? Now they wanted to move in together right under my nose, a happy family reunion?

I chewed my food slowly, deliberately, pretending not to hear.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense and awkward. Landon cleared his throat softly, reminding me in a low voice, "Natalie, I'm talking to you."

I set down my knife and fork.

Before I could speak, Aaliyah immediately chimed in with an apologetic, overly considerate tone, "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault for causing trouble. Natalie, Landon just feels bad that you're so overworked. He thought I could help you out. He absolutely doesn't mean anything else by it."

"No! I want Ms. Cooper to stay! I want her to!" Nathan, sitting next to Aaliyah, immediately started shrieking, pounding the table hard enough to make the silverware rattle. His eyes flickered with a faint, golden wolfish gleam in his excitement.

"Nathan, don't be like that." Aaliyah pretended to stop him, but her hand was soothingly stroking his head.

"Nathan, mind your manners!" I snapped sharply.

My scolding infuriated Nathan. He whipped his head around, his golden eyes, so much like his father's, glaring at me with feral hatred. In a fit of rage, he grabbed his water glass and hurled the icy liquid straight at me.

Landon's POV:

Watching Natalie shove me aside and walk to the car alone, a flicker of impatience stirred within me. She was overreacting today. It was just a minor fender bender. Maybe it was her newly awakening, still-unstable bloodline acting up?

I needed to keep her steady. Aaliyah and Nathan were still at home. I had to make her accept Aaliyah staying. With the company's IPO just around the corner, I needed her to keep playing her part as the perfect "Mrs. Richardson". I just had to maintain control until everything was settled. Then, Aaliyah and Nathan could finally step into the light.

Aaliyah's POV:

Standing in the opulent hall of the Richardson Estate, feeling Nathan's small hand clutching mine so dependently, my heart quivered with thrilling excitement. Soon, it would all be over. Landon and I had hidden our relationship for five years. Looking at Natalie's face, desperately trying to maintain a calm front, I sneered inwardly.

How was she worthy of the place by Landon's side? Soon, everything here, my man and my child, would rightfully be mine. She was just a stumbling block in our perfect plan, about to be kicked aside. Feeling the familiar bloodline resonance coming from Nathan, I could barely keep the smile off my lips. Let's see how long she can keep up that aloof act!

Nathan's POV:

I hated that woman named Natalie. She was not my mommy. Ms. Cooper was my real mommy. Daddy said I couldn't call her Mommy outside, but Ms. Cooper couldn't live with us all the time.

Today, Daddy said Ms. Cooper could stay. I was so happy. But that mean woman didn't say anything. She definitely didn't want Ms. Cooper to stay. I was mad. I wanted her to go away. I threw my juice on her. She looked all wet and funny. Daddy and Ms. Cooper would protect me. She was the bad one.

Natalie's POV:

The cold, sticky juice dripped down my face and hair. The servants immediately swarmed around me in a fluster, trying to help me wipe it off.

"Nathan!" Landon's voice rang out, laced with an Alpha's fury that seemed to make the very air vibrate. Nathan flinched, startled, and scurried upstairs like a frightened rabbit.

Landon made a move to follow, but Aaliyah quickly stood and intercepted him, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Landon, he's just a child. His mind isn't fully developed yet. You can't use force to teach him. Let me go check on him."

After she spoke, her gaze flickered over my disheveled state. She seemed to hesitate, then turned and followed him upstairs.

Finally, Landon turned his attention back to me, his tone filled with fake concern. "Are you okay? Let me see." I had already roughly wiped myself with a towel a servant handed me, but he reached out to touch my face.

"It's dirty. Don't touch me!" The words burst out as I stepped back to avoid his hand. It wasn't just the juice, but it was an instinctive revulsion to his touch.

The words carried a double meaning he missed. Misunderstanding me, his eyes filled with that nauseating, practiced tenderness he always used.

"How could I ever find you dirty? I only feel sorry for you." He sighed, feigning deep regret, "If I'd known Nathan would be so unruly, I never should have let you take care of him personally."

I gave a faint, cold, mocking smile. "True. If his real mother is raising him, she'd surely do a better job than a foster mother like me. But his birth mother is probably gone, right? Otherwise, why would it fall to someone like me, who doesn't know how to handle children, to manage him?"

Landon visibly stiffened for a second, his face freezing momentarily before he smoothed it over. "What nonsense are you talking about? We adopted Nathan from an orphanage. You're his only mother." As he spoke, he tried to ruffle my hair in that old, fond way he used to, trying to lighten the mood.

I jerked my head away sharply. The familiar gesture now only made my skin crawl. "I'm going to my room to shower."

Back in the bedroom, I headed straight for the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. A little while later, Landon came in. His main goal was still to convince me to agree to Aaliyah staying.

He called it a discussion, but I knew I had no real right to refuse. They were the true soul-bound mates. I was just the counterfeit, brought in to deceive everyone.

"The company is at a critical stage for the IPO. Nathan needs supervision, and the company still needs your help, too. Ms. Cooper is a renowned pup education expert now, and you saw how well Nathan listens to her." He droned on, listing all the supposed "benefits."

"Fine. It's settled then," I cut him off, unable to stomach any more of his sickening lies.

Landon seemed surprised by my quick agreement. A pool of fake tenderness instantly melted in his eyes. "Natalie, I knew it. You're always so understanding. You know how much I care for you." Seeing the matter settled, he stood up and tried to put his arm around my waist.

I immediately turned away, holding my phone screen up in front of his face. It showed a picture of a modern residential building. The building was located in the heart of the financial district—the hub of werewolf commerce and power.

Land prices there were astronomical, which made the building a far more valuable investment. Besides, it was also much more modern than the traditional, status-heavy estate we lived in now.

"Landon, what do you think of this place?" I asked.

He examined it carefully and nodded. "It's excellent, of course. Cutting-edge design and prime location, it's a top-tier asset."

"My birthday is next month. I really like this place. Could you buy it for me as my birthday gift?" I put on the sweetest, softest smile I could muster.

Landon had deceived me for two years. What had I lost? It was not just time, but the career and independence I should have had. I gave up overseas study opportunities and offers from top multinational corporations to help him save his failing family business.

In just two years, I turned it around to profitability and am now driving its IPO. His net worth was about to skyrocket into the billions. And me? I had nothing all along, not even drawing a single paycheck, about to be squeezed dry and discarded like trash.

How could I let them have their way? How could I let them off so easily?

Landon had always vowed that if I liked anything within his means, he'd get it for me. But in the past, my desires were minimal. I'd never really asked him for anything.

He hesitated, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes. "Why suddenly think about buying a place? What's wrong with our current home?" This estate was more of the Richardson family's ancestral old mansion than a comfortable living space.

I explained, "Our current home represents tradition, which is fine. But its investment value and growth potential are limited. This place is different. Located in the heart of the financial district, its value will skyrocket. It also better reflects the modern, international new image of the Richardson Group."

I framed everything around his and the company's interests, quickly dispelling the flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

I continued, "Besides, with the company going public soon, hosting a celebration banquet at the new place to entertain distinguished guests from inside and outside the pack would not only be more convenient but also suit your image as a pioneering Alpha better, wouldn't it?"

Sure enough, understanding and a hint of guilt appeared on his face. He probably still thought I was that foolish woman who lived only for him and never fought for herself. "Having you by my side is all the prestige I need," he said, reaching out to hug me again. I stepped back once more.

"I said it's a birthday gift for me," I said with a slight, coquettish pout. "Just think of it as something to make me happy. You're not having second thoughts, are you?" I said the last part in a joking tone, but my eyes remained fixed on him.

I seemed different today. Landon looked at me, and a flicker of that primal interest he usually reserved for Aaliyah appeared in his eyes. He didn't dwell on it. "So, how much is it?"

"Not much. Just 70 million dollars," I answered cheerfully, as if stating an insignificant figure.

Landon's face froze for an instant. It wasn't that he couldn't afford it, but the amount far exceeded any gift he'd ever given me and surpassed what he thought a mere "tool" like me was worth.

However, with the IPO imminent, he couldn't afford to have me holding a grudge and jeopardizing the plan. He finally nodded, struggling to maintain his mask of generosity.

"Alright. If you like it, I'll buy it for you." No sooner had the words left his mouth than he called the group's CFO right in front of me, his tone leaving no room for argument.

That very night, my personal account received a transfer of 70 million dollars. He even specifically noted in the transfer remarks, as I requested, "Birthday gift for Natalie, for property purchase."

I stared at the balance on my phone screen—my student-day savings, a pitiful one hundred fifty thousand dollars—then watched it jump to seventy million and one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

A cold power surged through my veins. Even as mates, he controlled the finances, and I had worked like an unpaid laborer for these two years.

The next morning, as I left my room, I heard laughter and conversation coming from the dining room downstairs. Walking down the stairs, I saw Landon, unusually, wearing an apron, standing side-by-side with Aaliyah at the open kitchen island, chatting and laughing.

Nathan, like a little wolf cub who'd finally found his anchor, was following obediently around Aaliyah's legs, a picture of docility I had never seen in him before. But this heartwarming scene of a "happy family of three" came to an abrupt halt the moment I appeared.

Aaliyah's hand, which had been resting on Landon's shoulder, quickly retracted. Landon immediately walked towards me, his face wearing an exaggerated enthusiasm. "You're awake? I made breakfast myself today. Come and try it."

I glanced at the dining table, laden with an elaborate spread. We had a dedicated chef, and Landon himself almost never cooked. Our usual breakfasts were much simpler. Who all this effort was meant to impress was painfully obvious.

I smiled, turning my gaze to Aaliyah, "It seems these are all Ms. Cooper's favorites?"

Aaliyah responded naturally, a hint of barely perceptible superiority on her face. "Yes. Landon is being too hospitable, worried I might not be used to other things. An Alpha who's so considerate and willing to cook is rare. Natalie, you're so lucky to have found such a good mate."

I met her gaze, my smile unwavering. "Yes. Landon has always been considerate, not just towards me, but towards all ladies in need. He's quite the gentleman." I deliberately blurred the lines.

"Don't listen to Natalie's nonsense. I'm not like that." Landon hurriedly denied. But because my tone was light, he made it sound like we were just bantering flirtatiously.

Aaliyah's smile, however, began to look a little strained.

Just then, Nathan, sensitive to Aaliyah's subtle shift in mood, acted out. As I reached for the last piece of bacon and egg on the platter, he suddenly grabbed the sauce bottle from the table and squeezed it violently over the food. The dark sauce splattered, some landing on the back of my hand in a clear act of provocation.

"Nathan! What are you doing?" Landon immediately became angry.

Aaliyah quickly pulled a napkin and handed it to me, turning to speak softly to Nathan, "Nathan, even if you're full, you mustn't waste food. Look, you've made a mess and dirtied... your mother's hand. Apologize now." Her words were dismissive, completely brushing off the fact that Nathan had intentionally provoked me.

Nathan shot me a glare and muttered unwillingly, "Sorry."

I wiped the sauce from my hand slowly, my gaze sweeping between Aaliyah and Nathan. Nathan held his chin high, utterly unrepentant. Aaliyah's words had been deliberately evasive.

"Alright, you're finished. Go back to your room and play now," Aaliyah said, speaking before I could respond, trying to shoo him away.

Natalie's POV:

"Wait." Just as Nathan tried to slip away, I stood up. I grabbed his arm firmly. The pureblood scent of Aaliyah and Landon on him repulsed me, but the power surging in my veins was stronger—so I forced myself to ignore it. I dragged him over to the wall effortlessly.

"Stand there!" I shouted.

"Let me go, you nasty woman!" Nathan struggled wildly. He bared his not-yet-fully-grown fangs. But I was used to handling him. I used a clever twist to pin his arms behind his back. I pressed him face-first against the wall.

At the same time, I spotted something useful—a flexible, sturdy vine from a nearby decorative vase, meant for holding flower arrangements.

The vine cut through the air. It landed hard on his backside. The pain and shock were too much. Nathan let out an earth-shattering wail.

"Natalie! What are you doing?" Aaliyah rushed over. Her voice was sharp. "Nathan already apologized! Do you have to be so violent? He's just a little boy!"

I easily avoided her grabbing hands. My own hand didn't stop. The vine came down again.

"Ms. Cooper," I said coldly, "Nathan is my son! As his mother, it's my right to discipline him! You're so quick to defend him. It's almost as if you're his birth mother?" My words were a poisoned dagger—one that struck right at her weak spot.

Aaliyah's face went deathly pale. Her fingernails dug deep into her palms. It looked like her throat was blocked. "I... I just think he's young, and it wasn't a big mistake."

"Small mistakes lead to big ones if you don't correct them. I'm not a pup-rearing expert like you, Ms. Cooper. I don't know all the theories. For a cub who never learns and shows no basic respect, pain is the only teacher. Otherwise, he'll just get harder to control."

My words shut her down completely. On the surface, she had no right to stop a "mother" from disciplining her "disobedient son."

Landon was also shocked by my sudden firmness. Usually, my strictness was just scolding. I'd never actually hit Nathan before. Nathan's behavior was out of line. But under Aaliyah's anxious, pained gaze, Landon stepped forward. He put a hand on my wrist, the one holding the vine.

"Alright, Natalie. You've made your point. That's enough," he said, trying to keep the peace.

It was true. Those few hard strikes had released a sliver of my pent-up anger and humiliation. I let Nathan go. I dropped the vine on the floor. Nathan immediately hid behind Aaliyah like a scared animal. He was sobbing uncontrollably. He didn't even have the energy to glare at me for now.

Aaliyah frowned deeply. She was holding back rage, and she silently patted Nathan's back.

I looked down at them. My voice was clear and icy, holding an unquestionable authority. I even tapped into the Moon-Shadow Bloodline power inside me, the part I couldn't fully control yet.

"Nathan, listen to me. As long as I am legally your mother, you will learn respect!" I looked at the vine on the floor and continued, "If you ever pull a stunt like that again, this will make sure you remember the rules!"

Nathan was cowed by my presence. His crying even hitched. I finished speaking, turned, and left the dining room coldly.

Landon's POV:

I stood there, stunned. It was like I was seeing Natalie for the first time.

I instinctively moved to follow her. But Aaliyah instantly grabbed my arm. "Landon..." Her voice was choked with tears and infinite grievance. She looked like she'd been terribly wronged and was nearing her breaking point.

I watched Natalie's retreating back, feeling a strange restlessness. Something was different about her today. That look in her eyes even made me feel a trace of pressure from a higher-ranked wolf. Impossible! She was just a low-level Beta.

Aaliyah held my arm. The hurt and tears in her eyes made my heart ache. I knew she had endured so much. Back then, my grandfather firmly opposed my bond with Aaliyah. He said that her family background wasn't "pure" enough and that she couldn't bring the maximum benefit to the Richardson family.

I was still young and powerless against the family pressure. Aaliyah even lost her job as a university professor. She later switched careers to become a pup development specialist.

I chose Natalie for two reasons. First, she was beautiful. Bringing her home would placate the family. Second, my investigation showed she was just a low-level Beta. But she was educated in human schools.

She was a top finance graduate from an elite human university. She was highly capable but had no one to rely on. She was easy to control, and she was the perfect career assistant and smokescreen.

To reassure Aaliyah, we completed our soul bond in secret long ago. I promised her. Once I had full control of the Richardson family, I would give her and Nathan the status they deserved.

Natalie was, from start to finish, just a pawn on our board.

But now, that pawn seemed to be moving on her own. She demanded a ridiculously expensive property and publicly disciplined Nathan. Her words were sharp and cutting. Was it her newly awakened werewolf bloodline affecting her? Or had she figured something out?

I couldn't panic. The company's IPO was too close. I still needed her. I gave Aaliyah a tight hug, and I soaked in the calming scent of her Omega presence. "Just a little longer," I whispered. "For our future." Then, I let her go. I went after Natalie. I had to stabilize the situation.

Aaliyah's POV:

Watching Landon still go after Natalie, I almost ground my teeth to dust. Resentment and fury burned inside me like poison. How dare she? She was just a used-up tool and an inferior Beta. How dare she hit my son right in front of me? How dare she use that tone and hint at my place?

I knew Landon loved me. We had years of history and a soul bond. We had Nathan, a pureblood son. I should be the rightful lady of the Richardson family. It was all that damned old man and these stupid family rules!

What was Natalie? Nothing! She was just the cover-up we were forced to pick. Landon said he chose her because she was pretty and easy to control. She was just a parentless orphan with some useful skills.

She didn't even have a basic blood contract with Landon. Everything of Landon's would belong to me and Nathan someday.

But she gave me a cold, slightly scornful, and almost pitying look just now. What right did she have?

No. I couldn't lose my composure. Landon's heart was with me. I just had to wait a little longer. I should wait for the IPO and wait for Landon to seize full power. Then Natalie would be thrown out on the street. She would be helpless then!

I held Nathan closer. He was still sniffling. I felt the familiar bloodline resonance from him. I forcefully pushed down the rising killing intent. I said in a low voice, "Just you wait, Natalie. Your time is almost up."

Natalie's POV:

Landon saw me opening the car door and quickly fixed his expression and strode over. He habitually moved to get in the car with me. This was usually the time we left for the office together.

"Have your assistant drive you," I said flatly, not looking at him. "I have an appointment with a real estate agent. I'm going to see the property."

Surprise flashed across his face. "But there's an important board meeting today."

"The community I like is very hot," I cut him off. My tone brooked no argument. "If I don't go today, someone else will snatch it up."

I turned my head and showed a smile he knew well, the one he used to think was docile and harmless. "Don't you always say work is never done and that I should learn to treat myself and enjoy life?"

My voice was even. My eyes even held a faint hint of a smile. But for some reason, Landon's body paused almost imperceptibly. I could almost smell the brief, leaked scent of an Alpha's wariness.

He immediately smiled, too. He tried to wrap me in his usual gentleness. "Okay. Then I'll skip the office today. I'll come with you."

I knew he wanted to monitor me, to make sure that a huge sum of money didn't slip from his control. Maybe he also wanted to mess with the property title, to put it in both our names as "mates". That would only benefit him and Aaliyah in the end.

"No need." My smile brightened. I turned and raised my index finger, then gently tapped it on his chest. I felt the firm muscle under his shirt tense instantly. "I want to pick it out myself. Once I find the right one, I'll bring you to see it. It's a surprise for you."

My fingertip carried a wisp of power I wasn't fully familiar with yet. It held a faint, cool trace of the Moon-Shadow Bloodline.

Landon seemed thrown off balance by my teasing-yet-distant gesture. He tried to grasp my wrist and said, "A surprise for me?"

"Of course." The curve of my lips didn't change. I pulled my hand back quickly, as if it were just a casual touch.

"Alright. I'll do as you say." His voice was low and sounded indulgent. He gave my shoulder a light, embracing squeeze.

I endured the wave of nausea spreading from where he touched me and didn't pull away. It wasn't time for the final confrontation yet.

Landon's POV:

I watched Natalie drive away. The smile vanished from my face. I tugged irritably at my tie. Was it my imagination? Had Natalie changed? Was Aaliyah's presence making her jealous? Was it a woman's natural sensitivity?

I shouldn't be worrying about her. Because no matter what Natalie did, in my heart, my one and only true soul-bound mate was Aaliyah.

Natalie's POV:

An hour later, I stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows of a penthouse apartment, staring down at the city below—one ruled by werewolf packs.

This was the penthouse I'd set my sights on, tucked right in the heart of the financial district. Its decor was ultra-modern, mixing cutting-edge technology with subtle, primal wolf-inspired motifs. Spacious, with a skyline view that took my breath away.

"I'll take it. Draw up the paperwork—solely in my name," I told the sales manager, a wave of satisfaction washing over me. This place was move-in ready, meaning I could walk away from that so-called home of lies and betrayal whenever I chose.

"Right away, ma'am!" The sales manager's face lit up with delight. He'd clearly mistaken me for an ordinary buyer at first, but his attitude shifted instantly: I was escorted to the VIP lounge, where tea and refreshments were laid out as I waited for the contract.

I'd barely settled in when a spoiled, haughty voice sliced through the air—heavy with the unmistakable arrogance of a high-born werewolf. "So you're the one trying to steal the penthouse I had my eye on?"

I glanced up to see a young woman storming over, dressed in custom luxury that clashed violently with her simmering rage. Two bodyguards with imposing auras flanked her, and a female sales associate scurried nervously behind them. She oozed the entitled arrogance of a spoiled, high-ranking pack brat.

"Did you speak to me?" I arched a single eyebrow, my tone cool and unamused.

"Who else?" she snapped, yanking off her sunglasses. Her sharp, striking eyes—flecked with a faint golden sheen, a telltale wolfish trait—bored into me, her demeanor utterly rude and unapologetic. "I had my eye on the Building A penthouse first!"

"The manager made no mention of this unit being reserved, and you haven't put down a deposit, have you?" My voice turned ice-cold, with zero patience for the childish tantrum in front of me. "By the rules, I secured it first. It's mine." I stood, ready to walk away from the nonsense.

She stamped her stiletto on the marble floor in frustration, her jaw clenched tight. "Whatever! I'm not here to bargain—I have priority! You will step aside, whether you like it or not!"

I glanced over my shoulder, genuine confusion crossing my face. "Priority?"

The female sales advisor spoke up, her voice dripping with disdain. "Our properties here—especially premier residences like this one—require Bloodline and Asset Verification. It's never first-come, first-served; priority is granted based on a client's status and standing within the pack hierarchy."

She laid heavy, deliberate emphasis on the words "Bloodline" and "status."

"These rules reek of the worst parts of pack society," I murmured. A faint frown formed as the realization clicked. This was werewolf society's ironclad class system.

Just then, the male manager hurried back with the contract, his face etched with apology. Catching sight of the young woman beside me, he leaned in to murmur, "Ma'am, my apologies. That's Eleanor Kelly, one of the heirs to the Kelly clan of the Grayclaw Pack."

The name registered at once. The Grayclaw Pack was among the top five werewolf packs in commercial power, and the Kellys were one of their most influential clans. No wonder her arrogance knew no bounds.

The female advisor cut in again, her tone crisp and unyielding. "I know this is inconvenient, but I'm sorry. Rules are rules."

"Actually, it's not inconvenient at all," I said softly, letting out a slow breath. The unfamiliar power coiled inside me stirred, a low hum thrumming beneath my skin. "It just feels unjust. But if we're playing by your rules," I turned to the manager, my voice sharp and unwavering, "my priority trumps hers. This penthouse is mine."

My meaning was unmistakable. My bloodline and standing outranked even the Kellys of the top-tier Grayclaw Pack.

"What?" Eleanor and her advisor blurted in unison, their faces draining of color.

"She said she has priority?" Eleanor whipped her head toward her advisor, certain she'd misheard.

The female advisor's head snapped down to her data pad at once, pure disbelief flooding her features. Any guest with standing above the Kellys would have arrived with advance notice. Someone of that level would have demanded a senior manager's personal attention.

To her, I was dressed in plain, unassuming clothes, my aura so muted it was nearly undetectable. There was no way someone like me could hold higher priority than the Grayclaw Pack's Kellys.

"Ma'am, I think there's a misunderstanding," the female advisor began, her voice tight as she tried to restate the rules. "What we require for these residences is—"

"Verify it," I cut her off, handing over my identification once more. After dealing with Landon and Aaliyah, these petty snobs were beneath me.

The male manager looked skeptical but hurried to follow protocol.

At that moment, the heavy drapes of the second-floor VIP lounge shifted slightly. A towering silhouette rose and strode out. An aide at his side caught his unspoken order at once and murmured to a nearby attendant:

"Go. Tell the team downstairs. There is no need to verify that lady's assets. She is the heir to the Moon-Shadowed Pack."

The attendant's eyes went wide with shock. The Moon-Shadowed Pack? The legendary clan that ruled a sprawling business empire and commanded ancient, unrivaled power? No one had ever breathed a word of a hidden heir in their ranks!

Meanwhile, the female advisor had run out of patience and snapped, "Ma'am, enough of this posturing! We've made it crystal clear—buying a residence here requires official pack status verification!

You may have some trivial wealth, but this penthouse is well beyond that! Do not waste Ms. Kelly's precious time any longer. Otherwise, I'll have security escort you out."

By now, Eleanor had regained her composure. She scoffed, shoving the advisor roughly aside, her voice cold with disdain: "It's fine. I'll wait. I want to see exactly what so-called 'priority' you could possibly have."

Her gaze turned sharp and challenging. "But let's be clear—if you have no real priority and you've wasted my time, you will apologize and beg for my mercy. And if you don't, don't blame me for making this unpleasant for you."

She couldn't have been more than early twenties, her youthful features twisted with spoiled arrogance—she was clearly a coddled young Alpha from her pack.

I smiled faintly, holding her gaze: "Fine. And if my priority does outrank yours? Will you apologize and beg for my forgiveness?"

"You!" She spluttered, the word bursting out in rage, utterly speechless.

Just then, the male manager came rushing back, nearly sprinting, mopping sweat from his brow in a panic. His voice trembled with a potent mix of profound respect and abject fear: "Ma'am, I beg your pardon! You hold absolute highest priority—please forgive our terrible negligence earlier! I offer you my most humble and sincere apologies!"

The female advisor, still dumbfounded, started to protest—until a colleague yanked her aside, murmuring urgently in her ear. Her face drained of all color in an instant, deathly pale. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she crumpled to the highly polished marble floor.

Regaining her senses, she didn't even try to stand, trembling out a desperate apology. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Scott. I was blind to your status—I offended you. Please, don't hold it against me."

Eleanor's eyes snapped wide, her golden wolfish irises flaring, nearly bursting into their full primal glow. "The Scott clan? Which Scott clan?" Her voice shook with raw disbelief.

In the upper echelons of Maritime City's werewolf society, there was only one Scott clan that could strike fear into the Kellys—the Scott bloodline of the Moon-Shadowed Pack.

"Hurry with the paperwork. I have other business to attend to." I had no patience for drawn-out theatrics. A faint confusion niggled at me though; the verification process had been surprisingly quick.

The manager all but thrust the contract forward. I signed my name, and he immediately ordered his staff to handle the rest of the formalities.

"You're a Scott daughter? How is it I've never laid eyes on you?" Eleanor stared at me unblinking, her mind clearly reeling. She had met every other Scott heir her age, but I was a complete stranger, a ghost in the pack's lineage.

"This is absurd! You're all in cahoots to fool me!" The more Eleanor thought about it, the angrier she grew. The idea of a hidden Scott heir seemed impossible. With a single sharp glance, her bodyguards snarled, their oppressive auras flaring to life. They were ready to use force.

But before the sales office staff could so much as react, a team of men in crisp black suits filed into the main hall in silent, precise formation. They moved with the cold efficiency of trained enforcers, their immense power rolling off them in waves. They herded Eleanor and her entourage to the side in a single seamless motion.

Their leader was a middle-aged man with an unwavering stride, his voice crisp and authoritative. "Ms. Kelly. I am Everett Bennett, Steward of the Moon-Shadowed Pack."

His words sent a ripple of shock through the room. It was not just Eleanor; even I felt a flicker of surprise. I wondered why Moon-Shadowed Pack members had appeared so suddenly.

I looked to Everett. He cut an immaculate figure in a tailored black suit, his hair slicked back to perfection. Gold-rimmed glasses and crisp white gloves completed his polished demeanor and lent him a scholarly air. Still, the unshakable, formidable aura of a core member from an ancient wolf clan clung to him, heavy enough to press down on every werewolf in the room.

At the sight of him, Eleanor's arrogance crumbled in an instant. Her voice dropped to a nervous murmur. "Mr. Bennett. Is she truly of the Scott bloodline?"

"She is." Everett's gaze glanced coolly over Eleanor before locking firmly on me. His eyes held a faint flicker of scrutiny, yet also a profound, relieved reverence, as if he had finally found a long-lost treasure. "The lady before you is the biological daughter of our late Alpha Scott, and the sole, rightful heir to the Moon-Shadowed Pack."

With that, Everett stepped past the frozen Eleanor and stopped before me. His unwavering stare made me shift slightly, a faint unease pricking at me. Then he executed an ancient, formal wolf clan salute, bowing to me in a flawless ninety-degree bow. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Ms. Scott."

"Hail Ms. Scott!"

The men in black chorused the words in perfect unison, their voices ringing out as one. They sounded sharp, unwavering, and full of unyielding loyalty.

Natalie's POV:

The scene made me pause for a second. Eleanor looked like she might collapse. She gripped her purse tightly. Her instinct was to flee, but Everett's people subtly blocked her exit.

"Ms. Scott," Everett said, straightening up. He didn't turn around. A faint, polite smile was on his face, but his voice held undeniable authority. "I heard there was some unpleasantness with Ms. Kelly. Shall we handle that for you now?"

Eleanor's face went ghostly pale. She remembered her earlier threats. Was she going to apologize and beg? If she did that, she'd be a laughingstock in their social circle forever!

"That won't be necessary," I said after a few seconds of silence. "I didn't lose anything." The goal of establishing my position was achieved. There was no need to push it too far.

Everett gave a slight nod and turned his gaze to Eleanor. His tone remained calm but carried immense pressure. "In that case, Ms. Kelly, please offer an apology to Ms. Scott. This will ensure our families can still do business cordially in the future."

Eleanor visibly swallowed hard. Under the overwhelming pressure from Everett, she was forced to bow her head to me publicly. Her voice was strained. "Sorry, Ms. Scott."

As soon as she finished, the men in black opened a path for her. Eleanor, burning with shame, almost immediately hurried away with her entourage, covering her face.

After Eleanor left, Everett gave a look. The female sales advisor who had sat on the floor was silently escorted away.

Before I could think it through, Everett stepped forward again. He made an elegant 'after you' gesture.

He said, "The paperwork here will be handled properly by the family. The car is waiting outside, Ms. Scott. Please come with us."

I looked up, meeting Everett's deep, sharp eyes behind his glasses. My initial surprise had faded, and it was replaced by a calm scrutiny.

I didn't move immediately but asked quietly, "Go with you? Where?"

"Back to the Moon-Shadowed Pack territory, of course. Back to the place that truly belongs to you." Everett's smile was warm and certain. It held an ancient, irresistible will.

"Moon-Shadowed Pack?" I repeated the name. It was no longer just an unfamiliar pack name. It was the source of my bloodline. A vast, ancient werewolf clan.

"Precisely. Moon-Shadow Manor will henceforth be your home. Your true residence and domain." Everett's voice carried an ancient rhythm.

I was silent for a few seconds. Alexander was my biological father. An inheritance containing ancient power and staggering wealth had landed on my head. Returning to the family was inevitable. I had nowhere to run. Nor did I need to run anymore. What was mine, I had to grasp with my own hands.

I gave a slight nod. The slowly awakening power inside me seemed to hum in resonance. "Very well. Since it's my family, my territory, I should see it for myself." What needed facing would be faced sooner or later.

On the way to Moon-Shadow Manor, Everett briefed me on the family's current state. The Moon-Shadowed Pack's assets were vast. Most core assets and territories were directly controlled by my father, Alpha Alexander. A smaller portion was managed by Alexander's father and his brother, Matthew Scott.

Now, all of Alexander's legacy, including his Alpha title, territorial authority, and the massive business empire, legally fell to me, his only bloodline. This meant I, a mixed-blood who had just learned of her heritage, instantly became the most powerful heir to the Moon-Shadowed Pack.

Currently, Alexander's father was convalescing at a werewolf sanctuary abroad. Internal family affairs were temporarily managed by Alexander's Luna, Penelope Scott. The family business was run by their adopted son, Samuel Scott.

An hour later, the elongated luxury car entered an estate shrouded by ancient protective wards. It was less a villa and more a small fortress.

It was immense, with a grand, archaic style. Every stone seemed steeped in the aura of age and power. It took over ten minutes to drive from the main gate to the manor house. We passed meticulously maintained woodlands. I could faintly sense the wolfish auras of patrolling guards.

This was my first time setting foot in such an opulent, power-saturated place. Nervousness was inevitable, but I kept my expression neutral. As if I belonged here all along.

Everett led me to the main hall's drawing-room. Heavy oak doors were silently opened by attendants. Before a huge panoramic window stood a graceful, imposing figure. She radiated an undeniable pressure belonging to a high-ranking female werewolf.

The noblewoman was flanked by two attendants with steady auras. On a nearby sofa sat a young male werewolf in a tailored suit. His gaze was sharp. It locked onto me the moment I entered. It held scrutiny and undisguised aloofness.

Seeing me, the noblewoman, Penelope, let her eyes rest on me for only a brief moment. She then walked over gracefully. Everett quietly identified her for me and the man on the sofa as the adopted son, Samuel.

Penelope raised a hand, and Everett and the rest of the attendants withdrew silently. In an instant, the vast drawing-room, filled with the scent of an ancient pack, held only me, Penelope, and Samuel.

"You are called Natalie?" Her voice was even, carrying a kind of condescending gentleness.

I nodded. She wore a formal smile, but I could clearly feel the icy rejection beneath it and a kind of instinctive disdain for mixed blood.

"Sit. Since you're home, you don't need to stand on ceremony," said Penelope. She sat first, her posture elegant.

Samuel also gave me a slight nod. His voice was polite but cold. "Hello, Ms. Anderson."

I sat on the edge of the sofa opposite them, my back straight. "Mrs. Penelope Scott, you asked me here to..."

"Let's be direct," Penelope cut me off without any preamble. "I asked you here today, hoping you would voluntarily relinquish a portion of your inheritance." She glanced at Samuel. He immediately pushed a prepared parchment scroll towards me. It emitted a faint aura of magical contract.

"Ms. Anderson," said Samuel, his voice was detached, as if stating a simple fact, "my father passed away unexpectedly. You inherited everything in his name. This includes the Alpha title and territorial authority.

"However, the operational control of the family business and the management of our core forces cannot be handed to a low-ranking werewolf with no experience in pack affairs. As compensation, the family is willing to pay you a substantial sum. Enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life."

I picked up the contract and scanned it. It was written in ancient werewolf script. It said, "Voluntarily relinquish all claims to the Moon-Shadowed Pack Alpha succession, territorial authority, and all related assets..."