---- expand the northern territories' influence, Ironwood Pack and my Ashen Peaks Pack will be united in marriage soon. Damon confessed that applying to bond with you was just to use you. No matter who you are, he'll abandon you immediately. So I advise you to leave voluntarily. I can even give you some money. Otherwise, you're just embarrassing yourself." I looked up, my gaze steady and calm. "When will your marriage alliance be announced?" Lydia paused, then smiled smugly. "Early next month. The exact date isn't set yet, but it won't be long." Early next month-right after the mating ceremony. So Damon had planned it all along. Use me to threaten my brother into withdrawing from the Alpha King race during the mating ceremony, then marry into the Ashen Peaks Pack alliance. Damon Blackwood, you truly have no heart. My voice was flat. "Did you investigate me? If you had, you'd know I don't lack money. If you came here ---- today to humiliate me, you miscalculated." Lydia's face instantly turned ugly. I glanced at her and added, "And let me remind you- Damon Blackwood has no heart. He doesn't love anyone but himself. Marriage alliances for mutual benefit are fine, but if you fall for him, you're dead." I stood up to leave, but Lydia suddenly shot up and grabbed my wrist, her voice shrill. 'How dare you say that about him!" Before I could react, Lydia had grabbed a cup of scalding silver water from behind her and threw it at me. I couldn't dodge in time. The burning silver water splashed across my body. I was frozen by the excruciating pain, unable to move. But Lydia wasn't satisfied. She shoved me hard to the ground. My wolf was suppressed by the silver and couldn't emerge. My back slammed hard against the table corner. I crashed to the floor, my head hitting the ---- ground with a sharp pain. Everything went blurry, and I could feel blood flowing. Just then, the restaurant door was thrown open. "Lydia Ashford, what are you doing!" Acold voice suddenly rang out behind me, filled with suppressed fury. I looked up through my blurred vision to see Damon striding over, several pack guards following behind him. He wore a black coat that made his expression look even more terrifyingly dark. He shifted into his Alpha wolf form and used all his strength to shove Lydia away, sending her flying to the ground. Then he stripped off his coat to wrap around me, his voice trembling slightly. "Sage, are you hurt?" Lydia endured the pain and stared at him in disbelief. "Damon, I'm your destined mate! You've already sworn before the Moon Goddess that you would bond with me! You're attacking me for her sake?!"