Chapter 9：The Wolf’s Revenge
1774words
This time, James didn't object.
"What terms do you want?" he asked, his voice weary.
"I only want what is mine," I answered, "you can keep everything I gave you during our marriage."
He looked at me in surprise: "You don't want more?"
"What I wanted was never money, James," I said calmly, "but respect and honesty."
The divorce proceedings went unexpectedly smoothly.
The media storm gradually subsided, but the reputation of the Reed family was beyond repair.
James lost most of his business partners, and the Reed Group was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Helen was forced to sell her mansion and moved into an ordinary apartment.
Aria was still abroad, reportedly starting over in some small European city.
And I, finally gained freedom.
"You look different," Marcus commented as we talked by the bonfire in wolf territory.
"I feel different too," I smiled in response, "lighter, more... complete."
"How does revenge taste?" he asked curiously.
I thought for a moment, then shook my head: "Not as sweet as I imagined. But the feeling of justice is good."
Marcus nodded: "Revenge only brings momentary satisfaction, while justice brings lasting peace."
Back in the city, I began to rebuild my life.
The company flourished, and my leadership gained more recognition.
《Business Weekly》named me "Most Influential Female Entrepreneur of the Year."
During the interview, the reporter carefully brought up the Reed family incident.
"What did that experience teach you?" she asked.
"It taught me the true meaning of strength," I replied, "not the ability to control others, but the ability to maintain dignity in the face of betrayal."
Three months after the divorce, I received Noah's invitation.
"Just a small gathering," he said on the phone, "a few friends, no pressure."
I hesitated for a moment, then agreed.
I hadn't seen any members of the Reed family since Victor's funeral.
The gathering was held in Noah's new apartment, simple and cozy.
"Thank you for coming," he greeted me at the door, "I know this might not be easy for you."
"It's alright," I smiled and said, "that's all in the past."
Entering the living room, I was surprised to see James there as well.
He looked much better than at the funeral, but still much older than the confident businessman I remembered.
"Emma," he nodded in greeting, his voice calm.
"James," I responded, without hostility, but without warmth either.
Noah looked nervously between us: "I hope this is okay?"
"Of course it's okay," I assured him, "We're all adults."
The dinner atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed.
We talked about work, weather, even politics—anything except the past.
After dinner, James requested to speak with me alone.
We walked out onto the balcony, overlooking the city lights.
"I want to formally apologize," he said, getting straight to the point, "for everything."
I looked at him, searching for any signs of insincerity, but saw only genuine remorse.
"I accept your apology," I finally said, "but that doesn't mean I can forget."
"I understand," he nodded, "I just... want you to know I truly regret it."
"Why?" I asked, "Because the plan failed? Or because your father died?"
"Because I hurt the only person who truly loved me," he said softly, "because my greed and selfishness destroyed everything beautiful."
I remained silent for a moment, letting the night breeze caress my face.
"How is Aria?" I finally asked.
"I don't know," he smiled bitterly, "she took the money I gave her and disappeared. Never contacted me again."
"Did you love her?"
He thought for a moment, then shook his head: "I was captivated by her, attracted to her youth and adoration. But that wasn't love."
"Did you ever love me then?"
The question surprised him, but he answered quickly: "Yes, to the best of my limited understanding. But I didn't know how to love someone properly."
I nodded, accepting this honest answer.
"How are you doing now?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
"Rebuilding," he replied, "starting from scratch. I found a job at a small company, earning just a fraction of what I used to make, but... it feels more real."
"I'm glad to hear that," I said, and I truly was.
"What about you?" he asked, "You look... renewed."
"I found myself again," I smiled and said, "no longer someone's wife, just myself."
We stood in comfortable silence for a while, then returned indoors.
When leaving, Noah walked me to the door.
"Thank you for coming," he said again, "it means a lot to James."
"To me as well," I admitted, "it's a kind of... closure."
On the way home, I felt a lightness I had never experienced before.
The conversation with James gave me a strange sense of relief, as if the final puzzle piece had finally fallen into place.
The next day, I received an unexpected email—from Aria.
"Emma," she wrote, "I know an apology may be too late, but I need to say it. I'm sorry for hurting you. I was blinded by jealousy and greed. I hope one day you can forgive me."
I stared at the screen, unsure how to respond.
Eventually, I simply replied: "Thank you for your honesty. May you find peace in your new life."
Sometimes, forgiveness isn't for the other person, but for yourself.
A month later, I received shocking news—Helen had passed away.
"The doctor said it was heart failure," Noah told me on the phone, "but I think she simply... gave up. After losing everything, she had no will to go on."
I attended her funeral, which was even simpler than Victor's.
Only James, Noah and a few old friends were present.
No media, no business partners, none of those "friends" who once surrounded the Reed family.
Standing by the grave, I felt a deep sadness, not just for Helen, but for the entire tragedy.
A family that destroyed itself because of greed.
After the funeral, James approached me for another conversation.
"I'm leaving this city," he told me, "too many memories, too much pain."
"Where will you go?" I asked.
"The West Coast," he answered, "a small city where nobody knows me. To start over."
"I hope you find peace," I said sincerely.
He nodded, then took a small box from his pocket.
"This is yours," he said, handing it to me, "I've been wanting to return it to you."
I opened the box and saw our wedding rings inside.
"I don't need this," I said softly.
"I know," he replied, "but I need to return it. It's... a symbol of the end."
I took the box, feeling its weight—not just physically, but emotionally.
"Thank you," I said, "good luck, James."
"You too, Emma," he smiled, the first genuine smile I had seen from him in a long time.
After he left, I placed the box on the desk, contemplating this strange journey.
From being loved to being betrayed, from pain to revenge, and finally to peace.
Life can be so ironic sometimes.
That night, I went to the wolf territory and ran under the full moon.
Transformation was no longer a painful process, but an experience of liberation.
In wolf form, everything became simple and clear.
No complicated relationships, no pain of betrayal, only pure instinct and freedom.
Under the moonlight, I howled to the sky, the sound echoing through the forest.
This is not a mournful howl, but a proclamation of victory.
The wolf's revenge has been completed, not through bloodshed and violence, but through truth and justice.
The Reed family has paid the price—not one I imposed, but one they chose themselves.
After returning to human form, I felt a calmness I had never experienced before.
The cycle of revenge has ended, and a new chapter is about to begin.
The next day, I received an unexpected business proposal—to acquire the remaining assets of the Reed Group.
"This is a good opportunity," my financial advisor said, "the price is low, and some projects still have value."
I considered it for a moment, then shook my head.
"No," I decided, "that chapter is over. I want to look forward, not backward."
Instead, I started a new project—establishing a support network for the werewolf community.
For years, we have lived in the shadows, afraid of being discovered, afraid of persecution.
It's time for a change.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Marcus asked worriedly, "Revealing the existence of werewolves could bring danger."
"Hiding and fear are the true dangers," I answered, "We need to educate people, help them understand that we are not monsters, just different."
The project met resistance at first, but as time passed, more and more werewolves joined.
We established safe meeting places, provided legal and medical support, and even began collaborating with human doctors to study werewolf physiology.
Six months later, we held our first public event—a seminar on peaceful coexistence between supernatural beings and humans.
The media's reaction was unexpectedly positive.
"Emma Reed breaks myths, reveals werewolf truths", "Supernatural beings step out of the shadows: The beginning of a new era".
Of course, there were opposing voices; fear and prejudice don't disappear overnight.
But the first step had been taken, and that was the most important thing.
A year later, I received a letter from James, postmarked from a small city on the West Coast.
"Dear Emma," he wrote, "I saw your seminar on television. Your courage is astonishing. I think you've finally found your true self, no longer hiding, no longer afraid. I'm proud of you, although I have no right to say so."
At the end of the letter, he wrote: "I've found a kind of peace here. Not happiness, but peace. I think that's what I need right now. I hope you've found more."
I smiled as I folded the letter and placed it in the drawer.
Some stories don't have perfect endings, only inevitable ones.
The Reed family story ended in tragedy, but from the ashes, new life began.
For me, revenge is no longer a driving force, but a chapter from the past.
Now, I focus on building, not destroying; on creating, not retaliating.
The wolf's revenge has been completed, but the wolf's journey has just begun.
On nights with a full moon, I still transform and run through the forest, feeling the wind through my fur.
But now, I no longer run alone.
Other werewolves joined me, forming a new pack—not based on fear and secrets, but on understanding and acceptance.
This is the true victory, not through destroying enemies, but through creating new possibilities.
The wolf's revenge ended, and the wolf's rebirth began.
