Seeing Melanie’s stunned, almost horrified expression, Xarion lazily lifted his gaze.

"What, your hearing gone with your age?" His tone dripped with undisguised mockery. "He called me father."

As if that wasn’t enough, he casually slung an arm around Aren’s shoulders and arched a brow.

"Go on, son. Call me again. Let your mother hear it clearly."

Aren nodded obediently.

Then, in a bright, crisp voice, he exclaimed, "Father!"

Melanie and the elders behind her froze completely. Their mouths hung open, eyes wide with disbelief.

The young master of the succubus clan... calling the Snow Wolf King his father?

Had he lost his mind?

Melanie was the first to snap out of it. She pointed at Aren, her voice sharp with fury. "Aren, have you gone insane?"

Her voice rose into a shrill pitch. "Your father has been dead for years! Not even bones left!"

She stared at him, her thoughts in chaos.

If Xarion was his father, then what was Rory? His mother? Then what did that make her?

For a moment, Melanie felt like she might truly lose her mind.

"You’re the one who’s dead." Aren frowned, clearly displeased.

He didn’t like this woman at all.

Sharp face, sharper tongue.

He pointed at Xarion, utterly serious. "My father is right here."

Then he looked up at him, eyes bright and innocent.

"Right, Father?"

Xarion didn’t even blink. "You’re right."

Aren immediately turned back to Melanie, smug. "See? My father says I’m right."

Then his expression hardened, and he pointed at her in warning.

"Old female, I’m telling you—don’t curse my father. Even if you’re a female, I’ll still hit you."

Melanie nearly coughed up blood on the spot.

Her son—who had always been respectful—was now calling her "old female" and threatening her.

The elders behind her looked even worse, their expressions as if the sky had collapsed.

This was bad. Very bad. Their young master’s mind... was truly broken.

One elder, still clinging to a shred of hope, stepped forward cautiously and spoke.

"Young Master... do you still recognize us?"

"Young Master... do you still remember who I am?"

Aren looked him up and down, his expression instantly turning to disgust, as if he’d just spotted something filthy.

"I don’t know who you are," he said bluntly, "but I do know what you are."

The elder’s eyes lit up with hope. "You do?"

"Yes." Aren nodded seriously, then pointed at Melanie. "You’re her mate, right?"

The elder froze.

Then his face cracked—hope shattering into pure horror.

He jumped back like he’d been stung, hands flailing wildly. "No! I’m not! Absolutely not! Don’t spout nonsense!"

The sheer terror on his face made it look like being mistaken for Melanie’s mate was worse than death.

"Aren!" Melanie finally snapped and lunged forward to strike him.

But before her hand could land, Rory moved faster.

Clap!

The slap rang out sharply.

Melanie’s head snapped to the side, her ears ringing as darkness flashed across her vision. A streak of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.

She stared at Rory in disbelief.

"You... you dare hit me?"

Rory stepped forward, grabbing her by the hair.

"I dare."

Her voice was ice-cold.

"Not only can I hit you—I can kill you. Want to try me?"

Another series of sharp slaps echoed through the hall, each one landing cleanly across Melanie’s carefully made-up face.

Rory’s gaze was fierce.

"Let me make one thing clear. Aren is the match personally chosen for me by the Beast God. He is mine."

Her grip tightened.

"Anyone who dares touch him won’t be leaving here in one piece today."

The elders finally stirred, trying to intervene.

"Rory, how can you strike someone like this? She is the mother of our young master—"

They didn’t get any further.

One cold glance from Xarion and Paros froze them in place.

Rory laughed softly, without warmth. "So what if she’s his mother?"

Her eyes swept over them. "I’ll hit her—and I’ll hit you too."

Then she turned slightly, her tone casual but decisive.

"Xarion. Jasper. Teach these old fools a lesson. Make them unrecognizable. And send word to the succubus clan. If they want them back, they’ll bring something worth trading."

Her lips curved faintly.

"And if they don’t come... Leave them here. Let the carnivorous plants use them as fertilizer."

"How dare you?!"

Melanie, only Rank Six, was completely overpowered. She couldn’t even touch a strand of Rory’s hair—reduced to helpless fury.

"You’re Aren’s mother," Rory cut in coldly, "and you still dare speak like this?"

Melanie gritted her teeth, voice shrill. "If you kill me, when Aren regains his senses, he’ll never forgive you. You’ll never become his mate!"

Rory let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"You think that scares me?"

Her gaze was steady, unshaken.

"If he refuses to stay because of this, he’s free to leave. There are plenty of males in the galaxy. I’m not lacking him."

"You—!"

Melanie choked on her anger, unable to speak.

Bang!

Rory threw her to the ground without ceremony. Then she took out a chain. The very same type that had once bound Aren—now modified and restored.

Melanie’s pupils shrank instantly.

"What are you doing?"

Rory smiled faintly. "What do you think I’m doing? I’m letting you experience it for yourself."

Every ounce of suffering Aren endured—she would return it.

Watching Rory approach with the chain, Melanie finally felt fear.

"You can’t do this... I’m his mother—"

Rory didn’t bother listening.

The chain snapped shut around her with a sharp click.

In an instant, countless fine spikes pierced through her skin and sank deep into her flesh.

"Aaah!"

Melanie screamed, her body convulsing in pain.

Rory stepped forward, dislocated her jaw with a swift motion, then slipped the storage ring from her finger.

"Mm—!"

Melanie’s eyes widened in panic as she struggled, but it was useless.

Rory ignored her and opened the ring.

Meanwhile—

Xarion and Paros had already dealt with the elders in mere breaths.

Wen, Jasper, and Aren stepped forward with reinforced bindings, securing the elders tightly.

The hall fell into a heavy silence.

Only Melanie’s muffled, broken cries echoed through the air.