The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 237

**Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe**
**Chapter 237**

As Luna Evelyn turned her gaze away from the entrance, a shadow of disappointment flickered across her features. The hope that had briefly ignited within her now dimmed like a candle snuffed out by an unwelcome gust of wind.

Alpha Remus, sensing her distress, stepped closer and enveloped her shoulders in a warm, protective embrace that only an Alpha could offer. His presence was meant to be a shield against the world, but it did little to alleviate the weight pressing down on her heart.

“What troubles you?” he asked, his voice steady yet laced with concern.

Luna Evelyn forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, a bitter mask that she wore with resignation. “Aysel probably isn’t coming,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, thick with unspoken pain.

A heavy silence hung between them, stretching out like the darkness of the night. Alpha Remus paused, his mind racing through the tangled web of emotions that had been woven over the years. It wasn’t that he loved Aysel any less than his other children; rather, the years of tension and misunderstanding had clouded his ability to connect with her. His comprehension of Aysel had become as fragile as gossamer, even more so than his grasp of Celestine’s complexities.

He remembered a time when Aysel had been a soft, innocent cub, her laughter echoing like music in the halls of their home. But that little girl had faded into a distant memory, replaced by a figure shrouded in misunderstanding and hurt. The Moonvale Pack had been on the brink of expansion back then, and he could not afford any blemishes on his reputation as Alpha.

Regret clawed at him; he often cursed the incident that had altered their lives irrevocably. If it hadn’t happened, perhaps they would never have taken Celestine in, and Aysel would not have felt the sting of betrayal. The distance that had grown between him and his daughter felt insurmountable, like an ocean of sorrow that separated them.

In recent days, they had only shown Celestine a slight cooling of attitude, and already the rumors had begun to swirl outside the pack. Whispers mocked them, branding them as ungrateful for mistreating the “daughter of their benefactors.” Just moments ago, someone had brazenly questioned Celestine’s whereabouts, and that judgment stung like a thousand barbed thorns digging into his back.

In that moment of realization, Alpha Remus felt a flicker of understanding for Aysel’s plight. How agonizing it must have been for her to stand accused by the very pack that should have embraced her. Yet, even with this newfound insight, he felt trapped in a cage of expectations and societal norms.

If they had been any other pack, would they have treated an adopted daughter, one who had endured imprisonment, with more kindness? The question gnawed at him, but the onlookers remained steadfast, their eyes glimmering with self-righteousness as they reveled in the chaos.

“Enough,” he finally declared, shaking off the tumultuous thoughts that threatened to engulf him. “Go cut the cake. Everyone is waiting for you.”

With a resigned sigh, Luna Evelyn nodded, her spirit lifting ever so slightly as she followed him into the hall. They were a family of five: a devoted Alpha and Luna, two sons, and one daughter. To the outside world, they appeared as a picture-perfect pack, radiating harmony and unity.

Yet, Celestine felt the weight of scrutinizing gazes upon her, sharp and piercing like daggers. She fought to ignore the disdainful looks that seemed to follow her every move. No matter what, she had already been accepted into Moonvale, and Aysel’s position had been hers the moment she crossed that threshold.

Just as the formal speeches began to wrap up and the ceremonial knife was poised to slice through the cake, an unexpected commotion erupted. A servant from Moonvale stumbled into the room, his face pale and eyes wide with alarm.

“Alpha! Luna! The second young miss—she’s sent a gift!” he gasped, breathless with fear.

Luna Evelyn’s expression transformed, a spark of joy igniting her features. Even Alpha Remus felt a wave of relief wash over him.

He paused, as if contemplating his next words. “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?”

With a click of his tongue, he added, “If that’s truly your wish, I’m sure our Alpha Magnus Sanchez and Lady Vale wouldn’t hesitate to cover the band fees.”

As he spoke, the funeral troupe behind him played even louder, the erhu wailing like a wounded beast, while the suona pierced the air with its anguished cries. Alpha Remus felt a lump form in his throat, knowing that if he retaliated, Jackson and Magnus Sanchez would surely follow through on their threat.

The hall, once filled with the chatter of guests, fell into an oppressive silence. The celebratory feast had morphed into a grim procession, and the weight of misfortune hung heavily in the air.

Fenrir, sensing Luna Evelyn’s legs begin to tremble, stepped closer to support her. His gaze darkened as he leveled it 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 replied casually, rapping his knuckles against the edge of the framed portrait, his smile devoid of warmth. “Yuna Ward. Mother of your adopted daughter Celestine. Also once Lady Vale’s biological aunt.”

He allowed a faint smile to grace his lips, one that sent chills down Luna Evelyn’s spine. “Didn’t she die while protecting Lady Aysel?”

The tension in the room crackled, a storm brewing on the horizon of their lives.