Chapter 2

Without a word, they rushed at me and brutally pinned me down on the gravel-covered ground.

The baby in my belly seemed to sense my danger and started kicking violently.

A warm liquid suddenly gushed out, instantly soaking through my jeans.

Terrified of losing this child I'd waited three years for, I screamed in panic, "My baby! Let me go! I need to get to the medical center!"

Jessica walked over and slapped me hard across the face.

More than a dozen slaps in a row left my ears ringing, my vision spinning, and blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.

"How dare you talk back? How dare you pretend?"

"Today I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of the Moon Goddess, you shameless bitch!"

I was dizzy from the beating, but I knew I absolutely couldn't pass out now.

I used my last bit of strength to shout at the crowd.

"I'm Lycan King Marcus's daughter! Whoever helps me contact the enforcement hall, I'll give them a million dollars!"

"Please! Save my baby!"

The crowd burst into laughter.

"A million dollars? Is she crazy?"

"Look at what she's wearing, she probably doesn't even have a hundred dollars."

"These rogue wolves will make up any lie to scam money these days."

Jessica laughed even more wildly, pointing at my nose and cursing, "Lycan King? Why don't you say you're the Moon Goddess's illegitimate daughter?"

"The Lycan King's daughter travels with armored convoys and elite warriors."

"Look at you, covered in dirt, as a dog kicked out of its home!"

Just then, an old woman pushed through the crowd and rushed to my side.

"Stop hitting her! She's Kyle's Luna! She's Elena!"

"I'm Kyle's mother! I can vouch for her!"

She was Kyle's mother, Martha.

Due to her weakened wolf spirit, she'd been recuperating in her hometown for years.

After I got pregnant, I'd secretly brought her here without Kyle knowing.

I wanted to surprise him, so he could reunite with Martha when the baby was born.

Martha saw me covered in blood, and tears immediately streamed down her face.

Ignoring the enforcers' attempts to stop her, she threw herself in front of me, shielding me with her frail body.

"You blind bastards, how can you bully people like this!"

Jessica's expression changed, a flash of panic in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by malice.

She looked Martha up and down, taking in her plain clothes and aged appearance, and a mocking smile curved her lips.

"Kyle's mother? What a joke!"

"Kyle already told me his mother is recuperating in Canada with professional caregivers. How could she be dressed like this?"

"You must be someone she paid! Trying to put on a sob story to get sympathy!"

"Or maybe you're this bitch's poor mother, and you're both here to scam people together?"

Martha trembled with anger. She tried to explain, but Jessica cut her off.

"Enforcers! Beat this old woman too! I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

"Daring to impersonate Alpha Kyle's mother is an insult to the pack!"

Following orders, the enforcer raised his high-voltage baton and brought it down hard.

The baton struck Martha squarely on the back.

Martha screamed, her body jerking violently, and she spat blood directly onto my face.

Another enforcer grabbed her hair and slammed her head down hard.

Martha's forehead hit the stone steps on the ground, blood instantly gushing out and staining her graying hair red.

Jessica still wasn't satisfied. She stepped forward and stomped her high heel down hard on Martha's hand.

"Still pretending? I think you're tired of living!"

"Kyle's mother is a noble werewolf. How could she look as shabby as you?"

Martha's hand bones made a crushing sound. She convulsed in pain but still used her body to shield me.

"Stop hitting her, please, don't hit Elena, she's carrying a baby."

"I really am Kyle's mother, my name is Martha, and I can prove it."

Jessica sneered and kicked Martha in the stomach.

Already weak, this kick made Martha pass out immediately.

Her face was covered in blood, her hair matted against it, her whole body limp on the ground, completely still.

Warm blood slid down my cheeks, burning hot against my skin.

"Martha!" My eyes widened, my heart feeling like it was being torn apart.

On my own territory, I couldn't even protect the elder who was trying to shield me.

The onlookers all believed Jessica's lies and started condemning Martha.

"This old woman has no conscience left for a bit of money! The older they get, the worse they become."

"Serves her right! People like this need to be taught a lesson!"

People started throwing rotten vegetables and empty bottles at us.

"Get out! Don't dirty our territory!"

"Beat these scammers to death!"

All kinds of garbage hit the unconscious Martha and me, giving off a nauseating stench.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out, "Enough! What's all this commotion about!"