The sky was still very dark. The atmosphere was also very quiet. The gates of Shadowpack Castle opened slowly, Eve's car tyres squeaked softly on the rocks. When she arrived in front of the castle, Eve got out of her car and walked quietly inside. She tried to minimise the squeaking sound of the door as she pushed it open. Eve crept towards the stairs leading to her room. But before she could reach the stairs, a voice erupted from the marble staircase ahead.

“EVELYN PARKER! COMING HOME AT TWO IN THE MORNING! GREAT! VERY IMPRESSIVE!”

Eve lifted her face—and, sure enough, standing above her was Grace Parker. An elegant old woman with tightly bunched white hair, wearing a luxurious-looking grey satin pyjama. Her hands were folded in front of her chest, but her gaze was like an arrow ready to pierce Eve’s body.

“Grandma. You scared me.” Eve tried to stay calm, but her steps were a little unsteady.

“DON’T YOU REALISE WHAT TIME IT IS?! AND DO YOU THINK I’M PROUD TO HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER WHO ONLY KNOWS HOW TO WASTE MONEY AND GET DRUNK AT CLUBS?!”

“Oh my goodness, Grandma. Don’t act like a child. It’s just a small party. You were young once too, weren’t you?” Eve muttered as she walked past Grace, unwilling to argue.

Grace followed, her steps faster than

Eve’s. “WAKE UP, EVE! YOU’RE BRINGING SHAME TO OUR FAMILY! AND AGAIN WITH THAT GOOD-FOR-NOTHING GUY?!”

Eve turned around instantly. Her eyes were as sharp as a sword ready for battle.

“Don’t say that again!” Eve’s voice rose. “And who’s blaming? It’s Grandma who’s embarrassing! If Grandma hadn’t blocked my cards, I wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of my friends! Grandma does not want them to avoid me!”

“YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? I BLOCKED ALL YOUR CARDS ON PURPOSE BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO WASTEFUL AND IT’S NO LONGER LOGICAL!” Grace shouted loudly. “And I won’t let Antoine—that lazy, sycophantic, good-for-nothing—take advantage of your stupidity!”

Eve immediately defended herself. “He’s not like Grandma thinks. He cares about me! He’s always there for me. While Grandma? Grandma only knows how to control my life like a puppet! I also want to live freely. Like other girls my age.”

Grace stood motionless, breathing heavily. But her eyes remained fixed on Eve, sharp. “You’re not a puppet. You’re the future Alpha of the Shadowpack. And you must act like it! You can’t keep being spoiled and running away from your responsibilities! Soon, you’ll be the leader of this pack.”

And that was the sentence that set everything off. Eve couldn’t accept it.

Eve glared, her eyes red, her voice trembling but filled with anger.

“I never asked to be Alpha! I never asked to be born to Alpha Emmanuel and Luna Jullie, who died defending the pack! I hate feeling lonely. I hate living confined in a castle without a single friend!”

Grace’s voice softened, but remained firm. “None of us wanted any of this to happen, Eve. But we have to face our destiny.”

“ENOUGH! IF GRANDMA WANTS IT, LET GRANDMA BE THE ALPHA! TAKE THE POSITION! I’M TIRED!”

After that, Eve ran up the stairs, tears streaming down her face. Grace tried to call out to her, but Eve had already slammed her bedroom door shut.

Eve threw herself onto the bed. She cried loudly, releasing all the sadness, disappointment, and shame that had mixed together.

"I’m sure Grandma is happy. I was humiliated by a stranger like that," Eve muttered while continuing to cry, occasionally hitting the bed to vent her frustration.

“Why does everyone have to control my life? Why do all these burdens have to fall on me? Why is God so unfair to me? I just want to live peacefully, like my friends. Is that wrong?” she thought, sobbing.

She hugged the pillow, crying her heart out.

Crying over the loss of her parents.

Crying over the pressure from her grandmother.

Crying over herself, who was tired of all this.

Eve kept crying until she fell asleep without realising it. Still with tears on her cheeks.

As Eve drifted deeper into her dreams, she caught a faint shadow of a man who looked familiar yet unrecognisable. His calm smile. His deep gaze.

And in her sleep, Eve whispered softly, "Who are you?"

****

The sun hung high in the sky. The midday air seeped in through the large windows of the cold yet majestic Shadowpack castle.

In the main dining room, Grace Parker sat alone. The spoon and fork in her hands moved slowly, but the food on her plate remained almost untouched. A piece of grilled fish and fresh salad had been half-heartedly touched. Usually, Grace ate with elegance and dignity, but today something was troubling her mind.

Her thoughts were still swirling, recalling last night’s events.

The fierce argument with Eve. The screams. The cutting words. Eve’s wounded gaze. It all felt like a dagger piercing straight through her heart.

Grace sighed softly, placed her fork down, then looked toward the entrance. “Miriam,” she said, calling out in a low yet firm voice.

The elderly housekeeper who had served the Parker family for over 20 years stood behind Grace. Her posture was straight, her hair white, and her demeanour always respectful as she faithfully accompanied the Queen.

“Yes, Madam?” she said, bowing slightly.

Grace did not respond immediately. She stared blankly ahead. After a few seconds of silence, she asked softly, “Has Eve woken up yet?”

Miriam hesitated for a moment but answered honestly. “I sent the young maid to check, Madam. However, Miss Eve has not left her room since last night. And the door has been locked from the inside.”

Grace’s eyebrows furrowed. “Has she eaten anything?” Miriam fell silent, shaking her head slowly.

“She hasn’t left her room. Even the breakfast tray we placed outside her door is still untouched.”

Grace pressed her lips tightly together. Behind her firmness and often explosive voice, a growing concern crept into her distant gaze. Her heart was uneasy. Despite her tough exterior, Grace couldn’t deny that Eve was right.

Unfortunately, she had no choice. Eve was her only granddaughter. The only descendant of the Parker family who would one day become the leader of this pack.

But Eve's blind love for Antoine frustrated her.

"Miriam," Grace muttered suddenly.

“Yes, Madam?”

“What do you think… what should I do?”

Miriam smiled gently, like a mother speaking to her daughter. “Madam has raised Miss Eve well. But… I think Miss Eve is at a turbulent age. Whatever you tell her, she’ll refuse—unless she finds the answer herself.”

Grace looked at Miriam. “Do you mean I should stay silent and let her self-destruct?”

“No, Madam,” Miriam shook her head slowly. “But… perhaps it’s time for a softer approach. Not with commands, but with the heart.”

Grace fell silent, her fingers lightly pressing the teacup. Miriam continued, “Or… if Madam is worried about Mr. Antoine… perhaps it would be better for Miss Eve to be introduced to someone who can truly protect and value her. A man who can make her feel comfortable… without being taken advantage of by insincere people.”

Grace narrowed her eyes. “Are you talking about... an arranged marriage?”

“Yes, Madam. I mean, I’m talking about possibilities. The world is vast. And not all men are like Antoine.”

“Yes, you’re right. But which man can I trust right now?”

Suddenly, a guard arrived, slightly out of breath.

“Excuse me for interrupting, Madam. But there’s a man outside

who wishes to see you.”

Grace and Miriam exchanged confused glances.

“Who?”

“It’s me, Mrs. Parker.”