Chapter 3 Settling the Score

• After standing for just over ten minutes, Crimson Shadowblade's new body was already feeling fatigued. Her legs were weak, not only from the blow to her head but also due to her lack of exercise, which had left her physically fragile.
• Crimson Shadowblade couldn't help but wonder how this body managed to look so strong while being so weak.
• With such poor physical condition, she wasn't even sure if she could survive long enough to rejoin Shadowfang Pack and seek her revenge.
• What a pity! It was such a waste that her former body, which was as tough as iron walls, had been blown to bits. After years of grueling training, it all ended up as food for the fish in the sea.
• At the same time, somewhere far on the other side of the continent...
• In the luxurious central manor, within a study that was understated yet undeniably opulent, the Alpha of Midnight Pack sat at his desk, a file laid out before him.
• "What a shame," he murmured in a low, magnetic voice that was filled with shattered hopes.
• A moment later, he spoke again, this time with a clear and candid lament. "What a shame for such a talented warrior."
• His gaze fell back onto the file. The name written clearly across the top was none other than Crimson Shadowblade.
• This elusive and brilliant warrior, whose gender remained unknown to the wolves of countless packs, now had most of her details laid bare in front of the Alpha of Midnight Pack.
• Back at the hospital, Olivia had only stayed one night before her mother, Melisenna, urged her to return home early the next morning.
• "Hurry up and change your clothes. We're going home. The school only gave us a pitiful amount of compensation, and we can't afford to keep you in the hospital."
• Melisenna tossed the clothes she had brought onto Olivia's bed, grumbling all the while about how little money they had received.
• Olivia's eyes grew cold. She sat motionless on the bed, her body meek as an omega, but the wolf deep within her soul refused to bow to such provocation.
• Melisenna quieted down upon sensing the change, though she continued nagging at Olivia to hurry. "Get up already! What are you sitting there for? I need to get to work soon."
• Considering that she had taken over Olivia's body, she held back her resentment toward this spiteful mother.
• After leaving the hospital, Melisenna left her behind, tossing just enough change at Olivia for her bus fare. She shoved the house keys into the girl's paws and headed off to work on her own.
• Relying on the original owner's memories, Olivia made her way back to the house where this body used to live.
• A concussion was no small issue, and the doctor had refused to let Olivia leave the hospital, but Melisenna's stinginess had overridden any medical advice. With no one able to stop her, Olivia did nothing once she got home except jump into bed and fall asleep.
• She slept until nightfall.
• "Come on, you pig. All you do is eat and sleep. Why didn't you just fall to your death?"
• Olivia opened her eyes to see Ella Gibson standing at the bedside, glaring at her with disgust.
• "What are you staring at? Get up and eat. Do you need someone to remind you to eat? Even a cripple is more useful than you!" Ella snapped before turning on her heel and walking out, unwilling to spend another second in the room.
• Olivia was also painfully aware of how much the original owner of her body had been bullied by her sister.
• Ella was so young, yet so wicked. She was definitely in need of a good lesson!
• Olivia stepped out of the room.
• "Let's have dinner," her father called, setting down a plate and some utensils for her.
• The bare living room spoke volumes of their poverty. Not a single valuable item could be found, and the light bulb, which was covered in a thick layer of dust, gave off a faint, dim glow.
• The five-member family sat around a small, termite-ridden square table. The spot left for Olivia was in the corner.
• Next to the empty seat was a handsome young boy dressed in a blue-and-white school uniform. He was Olivia's younger brother, Ethan Gibson. Despite his vibrant youthfulness, he was rather skinny.
• He had been eating quietly, but when Olivia came over, he silently shifted his chair to the side, making extra room for her larger frame while he sat at the narrow end of the table.
• "Feeling better after some sleep? Eat up," their father said, placing a piece of meat in her bowl. He added apologetically, "We don't have much, and we couldn't afford to keep you in the hospital any longer. Just rest at home, and when you're better, you can go back to school. Tomorrow, I'll get us some ribs for dinner."
• "With her lousy grades, it doesn't matter if she goes to school or not. I bet the teachers are relieved that she's not there!" Ella sneered, her voice laced with mockery.
• "Ella! Olivia is your sister. How can you say such things?" Their father scolded her angrily.
• "What are you yelling for? Where's the lie in what Ella said?" Melisenna chimed in, her tone growing more irate. "I don't know what's inside that pig brain of hers. She can barely score five or ten points on a test! She embarrasses me to no end."
• After scolding Olivia, Melisenna redirected her anger toward her husband. "Do you know how your relatives laugh at me? Why did I even mate someone as useless as you? Back then, even though your brothers were ordinary omega wolves, they all made something of themselves in the pack. Some are working for Alpha families, while others are assistants to the Betas! What about you, though? You ended up in the lowest-tier factory, relying on your brothers' leftovers just for basic food and shelter. If you had worked harder, our son's leg wouldn't have been crippled. If I had known, I would have refused to be your mate from the start. I wouldn't be suffering with you now!"
• Olivia's father kept his head down. He remained silent as he gripped his glass. His face, aged beyond his years from exhaustion, turned a deep red with shame.
• Ethan continued eating quietly, his expression indifferent. He was numb to such things, but when his mother mentioned his crippled leg, the grip on his fork tightened slightly.
• "You're really hopeless, aren't you? Mom and Dad are fighting because of you, and all you care about is watching TV! You're like a lump of mud that can't be shaped into anything. Why do I have a sister like you?" Ella spat, glaring at Olivia and stirring the pot with even more venom.
• Sure enough, Olivia caught the sharp, almost hateful glare from Melisenna that followed.
• However, she merely shifted her gaze away from the TV, turning instead to look at Ella.
• Her eyes were as cold as blades.
• "What's with that look? Did I say something wrong?" Ella sensed something off about Olivia ever since the latter returned from the hospital. Normally, she would have shrunk back, head lowered and neck tucked in, too frightened to eat, let alone look back at her like this.
• But now, Olivia's gaze carried the same silent dominance as that of a high-ranking wolf. The unspoken pressure made Ella instinctively avoid eye contact.
• "You little brat, how dare you glare at your sister! Finish your food and wash the dishes. Just looking at you makes me angry!" Melisenna snapped, throwing another insult at Olivia's way before eating her food.
• Olivia cast a glance at Melisenna, but she didn't intend to confront them yet. She turned her attention back to the television.
• The TV was old, the model outdated by several years.
• At that moment, it was broadcasting news of a massive explosion on an island in Southport.
• A flicker of cold light flashed across Olivia's eyes.
• The Shadowfang Pack...
• One day, Crimson Shadowblade would get her revenge.