Chapter 33: 25th Birthday

"Papa said that he shall think about it, but until now, he hasn't said another word!" I complained, pacing back and forth.

My birthday was approaching. It had been a few weeks of discussing having Valerian as my pet hadn't progressed well.

I couldn't even ask Papa again since he was out of town to deal with something in our family business. Our family business was part of the weaving and textile industry that was going well. So, Papa mainly went out to check and audit the accounting records every month. In an unfortunate case, this was the time that he needed to audit.

Zoe would be left in charge of the manor since she was my father's first wife.

I went to her study room when I was summoned. "Yes?"

Zoey's eyes darted to me before she stood up and tossed the budgeted statement for my birthday this week.

"Your budget is only 80,000 gold coins to host a birthday party. And you dared to spend a hundred thousand gold coins?!" she asked, raising her voice.

I creased my forehead, bewildered. "I have spent less than the budgeted amount, Zoey. What on earth are you saying?"

I knew what she was doing. Whether I regressed to this timeline or not, Zoey was doing anything to sabotage me. She wanted to play the part of the villainess in my life, so she would do anything to ruin me.

"Do not fool me, you illegitimate child!" Zoey looked furious. This time, I caught her hand when she almost slapped me.

I almost smirked since being regressed was to my advantage. I was already anticipating it.

"Unhand me!" she barked.

I released her hand after that. She looked more annoyed when I picked up the documents and read them.

I even saw the seal of the House of Cantavalle, meaning that Papa had already approved the budgeted statement, yet Zoey still dared to say something and was twisting everything.

"Shall I amend it?" I asked her. "However, there is already a sealed wax here."

Zoey snatched the documents from my hand. "Get out!"

Shrugging, I got out and met Ismael in the hallway.

"Greetings, 1st sister." He bowed his head before me.

I nodded. "2nd brother..." I greeted back before I walked past him.

"Where are you going, Domi?"

"None of your business," I said nonchalantly.

I needed to get away from him. Ismael was a troublemaker and hard to deal with. In short, he was a great pester, just like his older brother, Arthur.

"I want to come!"

"No."

But Ismael, as annoying as he was, immediately clung to my shoulders and rested his chin on it. "Come on, Domi. I have missed you, sister."

I smiled wryly, hearing that teasing, annoying tone. I ignored him even though he was clinging to me like a koala.

Ismael Jackson Cantavalle, our 2nd brother and Papa's 4th pup, 22 years old, had the same mother as Arthur. He was the most annoying brother I could ever have since this man was kind of... touchy.

He liked to cling to one of us—most especially to me. He would pester me until I exploded.

"Dominixe... Notice me, please..." Ismael knelt on the ground while I sat on the bench to breathe fresh air.

I looked at him, seeing like he was a puppy wanting to be pet by his master.

"Can you halt now? You are being bizarre again." I arched my eyebrow, knowing we both had bad blood against each other.

Ismael hated me to the core, but he used clinging to me to pester me. But he was one of a hell dangerous Alpha slayer. He was the fifth to the best Alpha slayers in our family.

He was good at using a spear as his killing weapon. Of all Papa's children, only Ismael had mastered using a spear, unlike all of us who used swords.

It was why I needed to put my guard up every time I would be with him. He had already dared to sneak out to attack me before.

"No. I will stay here until you talk to me." He wriggled his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes and watched him taking my hand. I used that as a chance to catch him off guard by hastily reaching for his neck.

"What are you planning, Ismael?" I asked, drawing my face closer to him so I could examine the expressions he was going to show.

"Nothing." He feigned ignorance and raised his hands as if he was surrendering.

I squinted my eyes before I released him. I was about to stand up when he halted me.

"Say, Dominixe." I arched my eyebrow when he sat next to me and held my hand where I was wearing some jewelry as my accessories. "I have heard that you threatened Caroline." He turned at me with an earnest expression. "What are you doing, and you are doing that to our sister?"

"What do you mean? I cannot threaten her, but she can threaten me. Is that it?" How dare Ismael says that to me! "Do you understand how this household runs, Ismael?"

Ismael smiled, a menacing one. "I know. I mean, that is not my issue if we are threatening each other."

"Then, what are you trying to say?"

"What I mean is..." He drew closer to my ear and whispered. "If you have other plans for this household, tell me." Ismael's tone sounded husky.

I felt his breath fanning near my neck before he softly blew it. That was the moment I hastily reached for his neck and straddled him.

"Do not ever do that again, 2nd brother. I am not interested in an incestuous relationship with you, so halt it," I said coldly.

He smirked. "You know that I liked to play antics when it comes to you, 1st sister."

One thing I did not like much about Ismael was playing antics on me as if he was trying to engage in a relationship with me. I was not interested in an incestuous relationship even though Papa allowed them into the Cantavalle family.

Papa already experimented with Ismael and Caroline for this kind of relationship. Caroline's first was Ismael since Papa ordered Ismael to sleep with her.

It was a messed up arrangement, yes. That kind of relationship did not even happen in the royal lycan family. But Papa wanted to do that in his case.

However, in my previous life, I remembered that Ismael would find his mate soon. What I remembered was he realized that he was disgusted about the incestuous relationship after Papa found out who Ismael's mate was and even killed her.

Ismael suffered a huge blow for losing her. But he pretended that he was alright. He was too chained by Papa, and Ismael couldn't even avenge the death of his mate.

We had the same case when I lost Valerian.

Ismael's mate was a new maidservant that would come soon.

She would arrive on my birthday as new personnel in the household.

That was why I was planning to save her from taking Ismael's trust. I wanted him to be part of my plans to destroy the system of Papa's messed-up legacy.

Sighing, I tapped his cheek, not looking at him with disgust. "Drop your antics. You are very disgusting that you are lusting over me." I rolled my eyes before I got off his lap.

I knew Ismael's goal.

He was not really interested in lusting over me. He was only using that to catch me off guard so he could sabotage me.

Because he wanted to be an heir candidate just like his brother, Arthur, so he could compete for their mother's attention.

"You are really no fun, Dominixe."

I left Ismael, hearing his laugh roaring all over the garden. I shook my head, not wanting to get involved with him ever again. But that was not going to happen.

I would have to deal with him soon.

A few days passed, and my birthday arrived. All the preparations were being handled as we waited for our guests to arrive.

However, the guests were not just ordinary. My birthday celebration was private, so only invited guests could come here.

Only the elites, who knew about our underground family business as Alpha slayers, could come. Those were Papa's subordinates from when he gained connection from managing our family business. My fiance in my previous life, Warren Porter, was part of the elites and his family.

Apparently, these elites wanted the same goal. They wanted to shake the whole kingdom with the presence of the Alpha slayers.

They were bound to watch and enjoy everything. They wanted to see the downfall of the Yuanzhong Kingdom.

"I thank everyone for coming to my eldest daughter's 25th birthday." Papa turned to me and raised his flute glass at me. I nodded and smiled at him before I searched the crowds and happened to meet Warren's gaze.

I looked away and held my glass so tight, remembering what happened in my previous life when he coerced himself into me and ended up being badly beaten by me.

I would love to do it again.

"My eldest daughter is hard-working to show the whole kingdom that the people should be frightened of the Alpha slayers. Soon enough... we will shake the whole kingdom more once we have slaughtered one of the horsemen."

I maintained a neutral facade when I glanced at Papa, who looked so proud that he had finally moved to infiltrate one of the powerful packs here in our kingdom. The look of abomination was glinting in his eyes as if he was calling Ernest Dunn to show him the work of art he had done to him.

One single Alpha had made him be like this.

As much as I wanted to feel sorry for Papa since he had to become a villain for the whole kingdom, unfortunately, I couldn't.

As soon as Papa finished his speech, everyone clapped and was touched by his words. Some of the elites were sniffing as if they got teary-eyed.

I memorized their faces and would soon tell Henry about the elites who supported the House of Cantavalle. He would be shocked that most of the elites were under his father's retainers.

I had to see him by the end of this month to make a report about them.

"Dominixe."

I snapped back when Papa approached me. "Yes, Papa?" I curtsied before him. I almost stiffened when he was with someone—that someone I did not want to deal with at this timeline again.

"I would like to introduce you to Warren Porter, the eldest son of Marquis and Marchioness Porter and the next head of the House of Porter," he said in a calm yet cold tone as he ushered that man to be in front of me. "Young Lord Porter, this is my eldest daughter. Her name is Dominixe Lilith Cantavalle. She is running as the heir candidate in my household."

Warren removed his hat and placed it on his chest before gently bowing his head. "Please to meet you, Lady Dominixe."

I almost squinted my eyes at him, looking like he was a great gentleman. My blood was boiling just by seeing him. I curtsied before him. "The pleasure is all mine, Lord Warren."

He smiled and offered his hand. "If I may?" He lowered his gaze to my hand.

I smiled, almost bitter, but I had to stop myself, or else Papa would be able to read the disgusted expression I wanted to show. "Very well." I placed my hand on top of him.

I watched him kissing the back of my hand while he had this sensual gaze.

That was the moment I wanted to kill Warren right away. Just one sensual look at me... It was enough that I would kill this man.

"Also, I have prepared your birthday present, Dominixe."

I looked at Papa, surprised. "B-Birthday present?" I parroted.

Papa nodded. "If you excuse us, young Lord Porter."

Warren nodded. "Certainly, Marquis Cantavalle."

"What present, Papa?" I was bewildered when he ushered me to the front of the people before the door swung open and revealed a large cage covered with black cloth.

"Since my eldest daughter has wished for something she wants, who am I not even to grant it?" Papa said as he approached it and reached for the cloth.

I creased my forehead and sniffed the air as I smelled the metallic rust of blood. It was as if he held someone as his capture. But I stiffened when I smelled the familiar hyacinth scent in that cage.

It was also the moment my wolf whispered something hastily.

Hold on... Do not tell me...

"Behold! My gift for Dominixe..." Papa suddenly tugged the huge black cloth. As soon as Papa revealed the person behind it, I could have sworn I had chills down my spine when I met the man with familiar chartreuse eyes that made my jaw drop. "...the Duke of Alsfield as my daughter's pet!"