The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 80

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**Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe**
**Chapter 80**

**Aysel’s POV**

The events of that evening had cast a shadow over Alpha Remus, a palpable unease that lingered in the air like a storm cloud waiting to unleash its fury.

I could sense it, the sharp, metallic tang of his anxiety seeping through the fabric of his meticulously pressed jacket. It was as if the very essence of his discomfort clung to him, a reminder that beneath the facade of control, he was struggling to maintain his grip on the situation.

He was determined to assert his authority, to remind the pack that I was still tethered to his rules, bound by the traditions that governed our lives.

“The bracelet,” he began, his voice slightly hoarse as he cleared his throat, “is Aysel’s. However, it is to be bestowed upon her only during her mating ceremony. This evening’s gift is not the one you see here.”

With a subtle flick of his gaze, he signaled to the butler, a silent command that echoed through the courtyard.

Years of ingrained habits took hold. The butler hesitated for just a heartbeat before stepping forward, intent on retrieving the box from my hands.

But then, a shadow loomed between us.

Magnus.

His low, menacing growl reverberated through the open courtyard, a sound so powerful it silenced even the crickets, their chirping falling into an abrupt hush.

“Oh?” His voice dripped with a deceptive calmness, yet every wolf present could feel the weight of dominance woven into his words. “Is this truly how the Alpha of Moonvale upholds tradition? The adopted daughter wears the sacred relic without question, while the true-blood heir must wait until marriage to claim what is rightfully hers?”

His mockery hit its mark with surgical precision.

Every pair of eyes turned toward Celestine Ward—my so-called cousin, though the scent of her blood had always felt foreign to me, a reminder of the divide between us.

She froze, the jade bracelet glinting faintly against her wrist like a taunt.

I recognized her intention; she had donned it tonight to provoke me, to remind me of the privileges I had been denied.

But now, the trap she had set for me snapped back, tightening around her own throat.

Panic flickered across her face as she attempted to conceal her arm, but Jeanne from the Nightshade Pack—blessedly bold and irrepressibly nosy—seized her wrist mid-motion, lifting it high for all to see.

“Oh, wow,” Jeanne exclaimed, her tone feigning innocence as she looked around. “Celestine, your bracelet is strikingly similar to Aysel’s!”

The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Wolves, born of instinct and attuned to scent and silence, suddenly felt the tension in the air, every gaze piercing like daggers.

“She’s not even mated,” someone muttered under their breath.

“Then how did she come by it?” another voice hissed, the suspicion palpable.

A slow, sharp smile crept onto my face, a mask of calm barely concealing the storm within.

“My grandmother’s relics were crafted as a pair,” I declared, my voice resonating across the courtyard, each word deliberate and measured. “One for me and one for my cousin. I recently uncovered the fact that hers was gifted long ago—while mine, it appears, was hidden away. Tell me, Luna Evelyn—what is the reason for this?”

The scent of Luna Evelyn’s discomfort soured the air, her carefully maintained composure beginning to crack under the weight of scrutiny. Even Alpha Remus shot her a dark, accusing look, his facade of control fraying at the edges.

He attempted to smooth over the tension, his voice gruff as he said, “Your sister merely borrowed it for the ceremony. You’ve always been too sensitive, Aysel. Let’s not create a scene. Take it now; it’s yours.”