Episode 3
Seraphina’s POV
My heart thundered against my ribs as I took another step toward him, reaching out with trembling hands.
A shrill scream shattered the air.
Althea crumpled to the ground, clutching her chest as sobs wracked her body. “No…my chest…” she gasped between cries.
Damon snapped from his trance, rushing to her side in a flurry of panic. “God! What’s happening to you?”
“My chest…it burns…” Althea’s tears carved wet trails down her cheeks. “Just let me go, Damon. The bond you share with your mate—it’s undeniable. How can I ever compete with that?”
“But our love,” Damon asserted with fierce conviction, “it conquers all! Come, let me take you to the hospital.”
He effortlessly scooped her into his arms, balancing Lucian on his hip. Casting a scathing glance my way, he hissed a warning, “Don’t push me toward a divorce, Seraphina! Without me, you’d be penniless and destitute. Be kind to Althea and Lucian. That’s your only ticket to staying under my roof!”
With those harsh words, he stormed off, leaving a void where my heart once beat.
Perhaps Fiona was right—maybe I should secure a competent divorce lawyer to safeguard at least a basic future.
But standing against Damon, a formidable Alpha with endless resources, seemed a hopeless endeavor. I couldn’t possibly afford a lawyer strong enough to challenge him in court.
Lost in a haze of despair, I drifted back to my room, the weight of my situation crushing me. The morning brought no relief, only a call from work—a reminder of the world moving on without regard for my turmoil.
A staff member from the Carnival City project informed me that CEO Alexander wished to discuss our contract. Perhaps the rumors of my impending divorce were causing ripples of doubt about my reliability.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I managed to get out of bed and head to the office.
To my astonishment, Althea was the only person there when I arrived.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice echoing in the empty space. “And where is everyone?”
She smirked, a cruel glint in her eyes. “I gave them the day off. Oh, and I’ve already spoken to CEO Alexander. He’s coming here to sign the contract today. You’re welcome.”
My heart sank. “You have no right. This office is mine!”
Her laughter was like ice. “Not anymore. I told Damon I wanted the Carnival City project. And he agreed that I should have it.”
Disbelief and rage clashed within me. I had poured my soul into this project, working tirelessly to prepare budgets, draft proposals, and secure investors.
And now, it was being handed to his mistress as if it were nothing more than a trinket.
“Why the surprise? Damon would give me anything,” Althea tossed her hair, her smile smug. “This project is a decent stepping stone for me to become Damon’s Luna.”
My breath caught. “You want to be Damon’s Luna?” I stammered, “But you said you were here out of love. That you had no interest in his position!”
She laughed, a sound that chilled my spine. “Oh, please. I just say that for Damon. Of course, I want to be Luna. Why else would I bother with him?”
Reeling, I stumbled back. “You don’t love him! You’re just hopping from one Alpha to another! I’m going to expose your deceit—”
“Go ahead,” she stepped closer, her voice dripping with contempt. “Damon trusts me implicitly. He’d do anything for me. Let me share a little secret. Remember your miscarriage?”
A cold dread gripped me. “What about it?”
She leaned in, her smirk vile. “When I first had Lucian, Damon brought him here, telling you he was adopted because I couldn’t keep him. But then you got pregnant too. I panicked. How could you care for Lucian if you had your own child?”
My heart thudded painfully. “What are you saying?”
“Damon figured it out,” Althea whispered conspiratorially. “He slipped wolfsbane into your drink to solve the ‘problem’. Your miscarriage wasn’t accidental. He ensured Lucian would be your only child—that’s the depth of Damon’s devotion to me.”
The room spun as her words sank in, a maelstrom of shock, rage, and utter heartbreak enveloping me. “No… NO!” I cried out, tears streaming down my face. “This can’t be true… Damon wouldn’t… I need to confront him!”
“Whatever,” Althea’s laughter echoed mockingly as I shoved past her, desperation fueling my steps.
I needed to see Damon, to hear the truth from him. But as I dashed out of the building, a truck barreled toward me. It was too late to avoid it.
The impact hurled me through the air, agony exploding through my body as I hit the ground hard, blood pooling beneath me.
Through my blurring vision, I saw the truck driver approach, his expression detached.
“He…Help…” I gasped, tears mingling with blood.
But he merely glanced at me then turned to Althea. “Miss Althea, what’s next?”
“Take her to the woods and bury her,” she instructed sweetly, looking down at me with faux sorrow. “Once she’s gone, Damon will have no choice but to make me Luna.”
As darkness encroached, my last thoughts were of betrayal and despair. This was no accident. This was murder.
And with that realization, I surrendered to the encroaching shadows.
