Chapter 3: The Truth

After Maria's call, the living room went completely silent.

Theodore stared at his phone, a strange uneasiness settling deep inside his chest. Maria's final words kept echoing in his mind.

"Diana's dead!"

It couldn't be true.

Diana had disappeared before. She always came back eventually. She was stubborn, dramatic, and far too attached to him to simply vanish.

Before Theodore could say anything, Elara suddenly began trembling in her mother's arms.

"Please don't blame Diana," she whispered through her tears. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't had my birthday party, she wouldn't have gotten upset and run away."

"Elara, this isn't your fault." Mom pulled her closer. "You're always so kind. Diana should have learned from you instead of constantly causing trouble."

I hovered nearby, listening to every word.

Even in death, they still couldn't stop blaming me.

I remembered being twelve years old. I'd studied until my eyes burned, trained until my muscles screamed, and ranked first in both academics and combat among the young wolves in our pack.

I'd rushed home with my certificate, hoping my parents would finally be proud of me.

But Elara had been crying on the couch because she'd ranked seventh.

My father had immediately turned on me.

"Why do you always have to make your sister feel inferior?"

That day, I learned that excellence was a crime in my family whenever it made Elara feel small.

"But Diana still hasn't returned," Elara murmured. "Do you think she really doesn't want this family anymore?"

"Good riddance," Adrian scoffed. "She's done nothing for this family. She's always been a burden."

Elara lowered her eyes as if she hated hearing him speak that way.

"Then... should we activate the Moon Goddess Karma Settlement?"

My soul froze.

The Karma Settlement was an ancient system governed by the Moon Goddess. It could calculate the balance of everything exchanged between people—the money, time, care, protection, sacrifices, and even emotional support they had given one another.

Once activated, the truth could no longer be hidden.

My father immediately agreed.

"We've tolerated Diana for long enough."

Mom nodded.

"She needs to learn that actions have consequences."

Theodore remained silent.

For one brief moment, I thought he might finally question them.

Then Elara coughed weakly.

His expression softened instantly.

"We'll do it," he said.

A bitter smile touched my lips.

Even after my death, he still chose her.

A knock suddenly sounded at the front door.

Two representatives from the pack council stood outside. One carried a gilded trophy while the other held a certificate.

"Are Diana Mitchell and Elara Mitchell home?" one representative asked.

Mom's face immediately brightened.

"Of course. Thank you for coming."

She reached for the trophy.

The representative hesitated before handing it over.

"This is Diana's Silvermoon Devotion Medal. She was supposed to receive it today, but she never appeared at the ceremony."

Mom's smile faded for only a second.

Then she quickly recovered.

"Oh. Diana probably doesn't deserve it anyway."

She glanced at Elara and sighed dramatically.

"If only Elara weren't so fragile. She would have accomplished so much more."

The representative stared at her in disbelief.

"Actually, ma'am, the medal was awarded because—"

Mom cut him off.

"Diana has always been jealous of her sister. She even tried to hurt Elara with silver. Then she ran away when we confronted her."

The representatives exchanged a confused look.

"Diana hurt Elara?" one whispered after Mom closed the door.

"That doesn't sound right," the other replied. "Every time I've seen Diana at the pack clinic, she's been covered in injuries herself."

My soul trembled.

They knew.

Someone had finally noticed.

But before I could feel any relief, Theodore's phone suddenly vibrated.

A message from the council appeared on his screen.

[Moon Goddess Karma Settlement: Petition received. Public judgment will begin tonight.]

Theodore stared at the notification for a long moment.

Then he looked at Elara.

"We'll settle everything tonight."

I watched him silently.

They wanted the truth.

So did I.

And this time, I wouldn't be the one afraid of what the truth would reveal.