Chapter 8

• 【Jason POV】
• My old home—the rundown yard with stone walls and fences plastered with mud—has long since disappeared.
• Now, the Constance family’s den is a mansion-style villa nestled in the scenic east district of Nuremberg, right by Thousand Island Lake.
• Steel railings guard the entire estate, symbolizing both security and the Constance family’s current status.
• I stood in front of the massive iron gate, watching dozens of servants hustling in the huge garden. They were laying down red carpets, decorating with flowers, and setting up a stone altar to receive the Moon Goddess’s blessing…
• Everything screamed celebration.
• Of course, that’s from an outsider’s point of view.
• From the inside, all this is soaked in my blood and tears.
• And they—my family, especially my brother—are enjoying everything bought with my suffering, breaking their promises by hurting the girl I love!
• “Hey, omega, are you some helper sent by Alpha Horn?”
• A guard, an omega, barked at me from behind the gate. “Didn’t anyone teach you the rules? To get into this noble estate, you gotta use the side door!”
• Looks like my family never even mentioned me to the new servants. They probably think, or even hope, I’ll rot forever in that hellhole prison on Devil’s Island!
• “My name is Jason Constance!”
• The moment I said it, the two guards’ faces changed.
• “Oh, Mr. Jason, we’re terribly sorry. Please come in!”
• The gate swung open, and I strode inside. Soon enough, I spotted my brother Mark standing in front of the villa, barking orders at the servants.
• He was dressed in a flashy suit, every move dripping with aristocratic swagger, looking sharp and full of himself.
• Maybe he caught the look in my eyes, because he quickly noticed me.
• “Jason?”
• Mark’s eyes widened in shock, then his brow furrowed. “Why the hell are you back so soon?”
• “Looks like you’re not exactly thrilled to see me.”
• I gestured at everything around us. “You’re enjoying all this—everything I bought with my freedom and humiliation—but you don’t think you owe the family’s biggest hero a little respect?”
• “Hero? You?”
• Mark sneered, acting like he’d completely forgotten all the sacrifices I’d made for this family. Proud as hell, he said, “The family’s success is all because of me! You had nothing to do with it! Now that you’re back, just stay put and don’t cause us any trouble!”
• He acted like it was all perfectly natural, and honestly, I think he really convinced himself of it.
• “Mark, you’re seriously shameless!”
• I stared coldly at Mark. “How the hell did you promise me this? You said you’d keep Lucia safe and happy, so this is how you do it? You intercepted her letters and supplies meant for me, kept her from seeing me, and even forced her to marry you!?”
• Mark sneered with contempt. “I did exactly what I said. She’s safe with me, being my mate means she’s happy. What good would it do to have her waiting around for you?”
• He let out a bitter laugh. “Who knows when you’ll get out? Even if you do, you’re a broke, stained omega. Do you really think you deserve someone as amazing as Lucia?”
• His disdain for me was so deep, even worse than when we were kids. “What can you do for her? You can’t even keep her safe! Can you give her happiness!?”
• “Face it, Jason. Accept that you’re just a loser. Be a loser in peace. I can support you—if you behave and show some gratitude. Otherwise, I can throw you back in prison without breaking a sweat.”
• I took a step forward, and an invisible weight slammed down on Mark like a mountain crushing him.
• His face went pale, and he instinctively took a half step back. For the first time, I saw doubt and fear flicker in his eyes.
• “Come on, Mark. Let me see what kind of arrogant balls you really have!”
• I said, voice cold as steel.
• “Jason, are you looking for a death wish!?” Mark growled, his face dark. “I’m your brother, the chief beta of the Iron Fang pack, and soon to be its alpha! I’m not some defective you can just mess with! Apologize right now, or else—”
• Right then, my parents came out of the house.
• “Jason, you’re back?”
• “Jason, why are you already fighting with your brother right after you got here?”
• From my mom’s face, I caught a flicker of surprised happiness, but my dad’s eyes were full of blame.
• This was exactly why I came back, even though I could’ve just crushed Mark right then and there—because of my mom.
• Even though Master X told me my parents aren’t my biological ones, my mom raised me. Before I went to prison, she even gave me Lucia’s letter.
• I had to care about family to some extent. I’m not like Mark—heartless and ruthless.
• “Have you guys even thought about coming to see me these past five years?” I asked them.
• My dad avoided my gaze, but from my mom’s eyes, I caught a trace of helplessness—she glanced at Mark with a look that said she was stuck in the middle.
• “Jason, you sacrificed for the family back then. Now the family won’t shortchange you. You can enjoy everything that’s already set up for you—on one condition: you show respect to your brother!”
• My dad warned me, “After everything you’ve been through, you need to face reality. Accept your fate. Let go of Lucia. Admit that Mark is better than you. He’s the one who brought the family glory. He’s the one Lucia should be with.”
• He paused, then added, “If you really love Lucia, then—”
• “Dad, you don’t get to talk about love!”
• I cut him off coldly.
• Five years ago, he used the same bullshit to convince me.
• Five years later, hearing it again just made me sick.
• Love—something so pure—how the hell can it be twisted by liars like this into a tool to control people’s minds?
• “Jason! You’re out of line!”
• Dad snapped, “Looks like prison turned you wild. No respect for rules anymore!”
• “Rules?”
• I sneered, “Listen up, here are my rules.”
• My voice was calm, not loud, but clear enough to reach every corner of the garden. All the servants stopped what they were doing and turned to me.
• I looked Mark straight in the eye. “Tomorrow, you’re doing three things: step down, confess, and repent. And you’ll do it to Lucia, to me, and to Alpha Horn, on your knees, begging like a lost dog.”
• “If you manage to earn everyone’s forgiveness, you’ll still be family in name only. I’ll spare your worthless life. Otherwise…”
• My gaze swept over my shocked mother, my furious father, and Mark, whose eyes flashed with cold murder intent, ready to kill me on the spot.
• “You’ll become my enemy—one I have to wipe out.”
• “The rest of your life? You’ll spend it in hell, tortured every single day for what you’ve done.”
• “This is your last warning.”