Chapter 174
174
Third Person’s POV
Rowena noticed Adelaide’s red–rimmed eyes and understood her emotions.
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The necklace, a gift from her late mother, had finally returned to her, and with her mating ceremony approaching, the timing was oddly perfect.
“This necklace was always meant for you. Take it as a symbol of your mother’s love,” Rowena said softly.
Adelaide felt a lump in her throat. The gift from her mother, after all these turns, was back in her hands.
Rowena insisted, “Give me one dollar for the necklace–a token of its return.”
Adelaide quickly objected, “That’s not enough. I’ll pay its full value.”
“One dollar is more than enough,” Rowena said meaningfully. “Your mother showed me great respect that day. She could have argued, as it was her custom–made piece, but she chose to yield. This dollar symbolizes the necklace’s return, and its true worth is covered by her grace and magnanimity.”
Despite Adelaide’s protests, Rowena stood firm. Adelaide accepted the gesture.
As Rowena left, she invited Adelaide to visit the Glenveil Pack. “Consider us friends. Feel free to drop by or invite me to the Frostfang Pack for a chat.”
This clearly signaled that the two packs should keep in touch going forward.
Adelaide naturally understood this wasn’t about flattering her.
She was somewhat familiar with how the Glenveil Pack operated.
As an ancient pack with a century–long heritage, many of its members held prominent positions in the royal family or government. They never had to ingratiate themselves with others.
That being said, it’s always better to have more friends than enemies. And with the connection through this ruby necklace, it seemed even more fitting.
Adelaide smiled and nodded. “It’s an honor to have you as a friend.”
After Rowena’s departure, Adelaide visited the room where Airella once lived. She sat on the crescent- shaped sofa, her favorite spot, and put on the necklace.
Tears fell as she closed her eyes.
Beata stood outside, wiping away her own tears.
She knew Adelaide’s pain , silent and hidden.
At dinner, Ivy and Jessica recalled the necklace’s history.
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conflict.”
“Ah, that’s why the ruby necklace was given up. We thought about getting the workshop to make another one. But on the one hand, time was tight, and on the other hand, Luna Rowena already had one. Luna Airella thought it would be pointless to make another, so she let it go.”
Jessica wiped her tears and said in a choked voice, “I never thought the ruby necklace would come back to you after all that. It was supposed to be a mating gift from Luna Airella to you. And now, right before you’re gonna mate with Alpha Lance, it’s back. Maybe it’s not a coincidence. Maybe Luna Airella’s looking out for it from beyond.”
Adelaide, too, felt her mother’s presence in the necklace.
The six gems represented her six brothers, their protection with her always.
Putting on the ruby necklace, she felt a flicker of anticipation regarding Lance.
It wasn’t about craving Lance’s love.
She knew he might have someone else in his heart, and even if he didn’t, she was savvy enough to know that love can’t be forced–giving often yields little return.
She simply hoped that as his mate, her life might align with her mother’s words, becoming peaceful and stable.
Lance had been gone to the Shadow Peaks for days. Adelaide wondered when he’d be back and if he’d bring a letter from her mentor.
Thinking of her mentor filled her with guilt.
After returning to the city, she hadn’t visited her mentor or schoolmates once.
She didn’t even invite them to her mating ceremony with Ulrik years ago.
The ceremony was simple back then. Airella didn’t want to be extravagant.
Airella had planned to visit the mentor with Ulrik after his victory in battle.
Little did they know that opportunity would never come.
When she learned Ulrik was going to war, Airella had been very worried. Maybe she even regretted it back then.
A couple of days later, Lance still hadn’t returned.
The gossip didn’t stop, but the focus shifted from Adelaide to Wanda, and even to Madison’s estate.
In the past, Madison’s estate was super secretive, but now rumors were leaking out.
Rumors spread about Madison’s breeder, claiming she’d had at least twenty over the years. Now, only a few
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were left, and they almost never showed up in public.
Royal family secrets always piqued people’s curiosity. Everyone loved to speculate and make up stories to pass the time and satisfy their need for drama.
Some said Madison killed those breeders; others said that was impossible.
Wanda returned to live at Madison’s estate, and the two of them were really feeling the pressure from all the gossip.
The more the public had criticized Adelaide before, the angrier they were now.
Especially after the rumors about the breeder at Madison’s place came out, Madison was beside herself. She was so mad she started suspecting her own close aides of spilling the beans.
The whole estate was thrown into chaos as she checked everyone one by one. And with Wanda in a foul mood, she took out her frustration on the omegas in the estate every day.