When Selene returned to the house, Alpha Astra was waiting on the couch, clearly expecting a debrief.

Understanding her mother’s intent, Selene sat down beside her, linking arms and leaning against her affectionately.

"Thank you, Mom," she said softly.

Alpha Astra smiled warmly. "You’re my daughter. Of course I don’t want to marry you off prematurely. Besides, Hugo’s desperation was way too obvious."

"Who knows what the Gray Pack is really scheming?"

Selene looked up in surprise. "Mom, you saw through it from the beginning?"

Alpha Astra playfully tapped Selene’s nose. "Little one, your mother has been around the block more times than you can imagine."

"Their amateur-hour manipulation tactics aren’t nearly enough to fool me."

"Actually, I was planning to discuss whether I should marry Hugo at all," Selene admitted, looking slightly embarrassed. "I didn’t expect him to show up here before I could talk to you about it."

"Thank god you’re perceptive enough to read my signals. I knew you’d understand me."

Fury flashed in Alpha Astra’s eyes. "My daughter, that calculating family actually thought a plate of braised ribs would be enough to secure your hand in marriage?"

Seeing her mother’s anger, Selene felt touched but tried to calm her. "Mom, don’t get too worked up. I handled myself, didn’t I?"

"I just feel like something’s seriously wrong with the Gray Pack. Otherwise, why would they be in such a rush to get me married into their family?"

"Our engagement is already official. Everything else should follow naturally in due time. Aren’t they being suspiciously pushy?"

Alpha Astra completely understood her daughter’s concerns and quickly moved to reassure her. "Sweetheart, I feel exactly the same way—there’s definitely something fishy about the Gray Pack. We’ll think very carefully before giving them any kind of answer."

"Besides, my precious daughter doesn’t need to marry anyone if she doesn’t want to. I can support you for the rest of your life."

"Mom..." Selene was overwhelmed with emotion at these words. She hugged Alpha Astra tightly, unwilling to let go.

"Mom, you’re absolutely the best. You really are the person who understands me most in this world."

Alpha Astra’s eyes crinkled with pure love as she stroked Selene’s silky hair. "Silly girl, you’re my daughter. Who else would I protect if not you?"

While mother and daughter enjoyed their perfect harmony, the scene at Hugo’s home was drastically different.

Alpha Gray slammed his teacup to the floor. "That Frost witch! I knew she’d interfere. She must have seen right through our plan, which is why she won’t let her daughter marry into our family. I know exactly what kind of cunning fox that woman is."

Hugo watched Alpha Gray’s rage with growing anxiety, noting how his father’s complaints completely missed the point.

"Dad, what are we going to do now?" he asked.

Luna Gray looked equally panicked, turning her gaze toward Alpha Gray for guidance.

Faced with their expectant stares, Alpha Gray exploded. "Why are you both staring at me? Do I have something on my face?"

"Neither of you can think of solutions? You hit the slightest roadblock and immediately look to me for answers. Absolutely useless."

Alpha Gray’s harsh criticism included Luna Gray, which immediately set off her temper.

"Excuse me?" she snapped. "He’s not just MY son, and this isn’t just MY company. Why are you acting like I’m the only one who benefits from this?"

Her retort ignited Alpha Gray’s anger further, and the two began shouting at each other.

Hugo watched the scene unfold with a pounding headache. Neither parent was offering any actual help. At such a critical moment, all they could do was fight without contributing a single useful idea.

He wanted to scream in frustration. In that moment, Hugo found himself thinking about Selene’s family. At least her mother had the wisdom to protect her daughter from a rushed marriage.

But what about him? He was just being pushed around like a pawn without any real choice in the matter.

The realization filled Hugo with profound self-pity. But he recognized that he couldn’t rely on his parents for anything useful.

He would need to keep working on Selene himself. This company wouldn’t just be handed to him, and marrying Selene wasn’t just for Alpha Gray’s benefit.

After all, he would inherit everything eventually. If he didn’t fight for it himself, who would?

The thought made Hugo realize how pathetic the situation had become. Suddenly, he found himself desperately missing Rosalie.

With darkening eyes, Hugo abruptly left the Gray Pack, driving toward his private villa outside the territory.

Luna Gray heard the door slam, and both parents immediately stopped fighting.

She looked at Alpha Gray and said, "Enough with the performance."

"So you knew what I was doing," he replied.

Luna Gray rolled her eyes. "Of course I knew your game."

"After decades of marriage, I can read your intentions the moment you open your mouth."

Alpha Gray rubbed his nose sheepishly. "So what do you think we should do now? He’s probably gone to see that woman again. I don’t even need to guess."

Luna Gray rolled her eyes again. "I know that too."

"We got rid of him because we need to decide whether to force his hand."

Alpha Gray’s interest was piqued. "How do we do that?"

"Like this..." Luna Gray leaned close and whispered her plan in his ear.

After listening, Alpha Gray nodded enthusiastically, agreeing it was a solid approach.

"Alright, let’s try it."

Luna Gray’s tone became deadly serious. "We have to try. This is our only shot. If the Eastern Ridge alliance falls through, we’ll have to scrap the entire project."

Alpha Gray understood the stakes all too well.

He grasped the logic, but forcing Frostline Enterprises into this arrangement would never be simple. Not with Alpha Astra’s cunning, and Sylvia was equally formidable.

"We’ll take it one step at a time," he sighed. "That’s all we can do."