GATEWAY

Debra's POV:

I stood in a corner, looking at the grand wedding in front of me, the crowd coming and going. However, instead of feeling festive, my heart was full of unwillingness and grievance.

Today was my father's second wedding, and the Silver Ridge Pack was holding a grand wedding ceremony for him since he was the Alpha.

Although this wasn't his first marriage, my father still attached great importance to it. He made sure that the wedding venue was decorated lavishly, and I overheard some people saying that it was even more beautiful than that of his wedding with my mother. My father had also invited many Alphas here, which showed how much he loved and respected his new bride.

But what he failed to realize was that today was also the death anniversary of my mother.

The wedding progressed smoothly, and everyone looked so happy. My mother's grave, on the other hand, was desolate and lonesome, without anyone there to visit her.

I didn't want to be at this stupid wedding. I just wanted to accompany my mother now.

"Debra, where are you going?"

A sharp female voice sounded from not far away, interrupting my conversation with Vicky Todd, my maid.

I turned to look in the direction of the voice and saw my stepmother, Marley Clarkson, and her servant walking to us.

Marley was much younger than my father. In fact, she was only four years older than me. She was the daughter of the Alpha of the Frosty River Pack and exceedingly beautiful. Marley's white wedding dress billowed in the breeze. Her wavy blonde hair framed her face perfectly. She looked as pretty as a porcelain doll.

Not wanting to talk to her, I turned my head away.

"Are you planning to miss an occasion as important as this and embarrass your father's Luna?" Marley demanded.

"Of course not!" Vicky hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "Debra's tired and wants to have a rest, that's all."

"Is that so?" Marley narrowed her eyes at me and suddenly cracked a smile. "Good. I want to talk to you about something."

"Why?" I asked, staring at her vigilantly.

I never got along with Marley, but for the sake of my father's happiness, I tried to stay out of her way as much as possible. And Marley never came to me on her own accord.

Now, she wanted to speak with me. My intuition told me that something bad was about to happen.

"Relax." Marley's grin widened. "I just want to borrow the necklace you're wearing. It'll go perfectly with my wedding dress."

"Sorry, but no." I refused without hesitation. "This was my mother's."

The necklace I was wearing was the only thing my mother had left me, and I treasured it dearly. It was my only connection to my mother. Whenever I was wearing it, I felt that my mother was close and had never left me.

Of course, I would never lend it to anyone, let alone my stepmother.

Marley seemed to read my mind. She softened her tone and said gently, "Why are you so cold to me? It's our first day together as a family."

If Marley treated me as a family like she claimed, she wouldn't have tried to take away my mother's last belonging.

"Sorry, but I can't lend it to you." I narrowed my eyes at her coldly.

"Then don't blame me. I need that necklace." Marley's gentle smile was instantly replaced by a sneer. She then signaled to her servants.

The two servants immediately sprang into action. One grabbed my left arm, while the other grabbed my right. They forced me to kneel, my knees hitting the ground hard.

Wincing in pain, I raised my head and saw Marley standing before me.

Her beautiful face was tainted with mockery. She stretched out her slender hand and yanked the necklace off my neck.

The next second, the clasp came undone and the necklace was taken away from me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I never thought this woman would be so shameless. "Marley, give me back my necklace!"

Even Vicky was aghast. "You can't do this! That necklace was given to Debra by her mother!"

As she spoke, Vicky hurried forward to block Marley from leaving.

One of the servants who were holding me kicked her away.

Vicky stumbled and fell, her forehead slamming into the stone pillar. Blood trickled down from the wound, staining her pale face.

Vicky was my mother's best friend. After my mother passed away, she stayed in the pack for my sake and remained single all her life. She practically raised me.