Episode 10
Seraphina’s POV
“How exactly have we bullied you?” I demanded, my voice laced with frustration. “Need I remind you that it was you who barged into my room this morning? And let’s not forget—you slapped my maid!”
Althea shrank behind Damon, crocodile tears streaming down her cheeks as she clung to his shoulders. “You rejected Damon,” she sobbed, her voice trembling theatrically. “So now it’s my duty to manage Crimson Hollow Pack’s projects. But Seraphina won’t even let me do that! If this isn’t bullying, what is?”
“We’ve already been through this—Carnival City isn’t a Crimson Hollow Pack project!” I snapped, my frustration boiling over.
But Althea’s sobs grew louder, drowning out my words. She buried her face deeper into Damon’s shoulder and wailed, “Look how harsh she is, Damon! She has Alpha Caden’s support now and walks all over me. She even rejected you in front of everyone. How could she do that to you?”
At the mention of my rejection, Damon’s expression darkened. He turned to Caden, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.
“Alpha Caden, I am the Alpha of Crimson Hollow Pack, and the decision of whether Althea stays or goes is mine alone. I’d also appreciate it if you kept your distance from Seraphina—the divorce isn’t finalized. She’s still my wife!”
Caden’s green eyes narrowed, his expression dangerous, like a predator sizing up prey.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm despite the disgust curling in my stomach. “Let it go,” I murmured quietly to Caden.
“Why?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Because they’re not worth my time,” I replied firmly. “As long as I remain part of the project, that’s all that matters. Althea doesn’t bother me.”
My focus was clear: become the official partner for Carnival City and start building the project. Althea would get what she deserved in due time.
Caden’s lips quirked into a faint smirk. “If it were up to me, I’d toss them both into the river and let the crocodiles sort it out. But I respect your decision.”
Before the tension could escalate further, one of the elders stood abruptly, his tone overly cheerful. “It’s breakfast time! Please, join us in the dining hall, Alpha Caden.”
Caden extended his arm to me, an elegant gesture that left no room for refusal. I placed my hand on his arm, and together, we walked toward the dining hall.
Breakfast Tensions
As we entered, the aroma of freshly prepared food greeted us. Damon strode purposefully to his Alpha seat at the head of the table. The chair beside his—the Luna’s seat—was mine by right.
But before I could reach it, Althea rushed ahead, sliding into the chair with an air of smug triumph. She settled herself comfortably, her gaze meeting mine with a gleeful glint.
I scanned the room quickly. There wasn’t a single vacant chair left. I was left standing awkwardly in the middle of the room while the rest of the guests avoided my gaze.
I called for a servant. “Bring another chair.”
The servant, however, remained frozen in place, deliberately ignoring me.
Althea giggled, her tone mockingly sweet. “Seraphina, did you forget? Damon is divorcing you. You’re no longer the Luna. You can’t order the servants around anymore.”
Her words were meant to humiliate me, but I refused to give her the satisfaction. Fixing her with an icy glare, I turned to leave the dining hall.
Before I could take a step, Alexander rose from his chair, his tone humble yet firm. “Miss Seraphina, please take my seat.”
Althea straightened in her chair, her face pale with anxiety. “Mr. Alexander, why would you do that? Just let her stand—”
“Miss Seraphina is my Alpha’s business partner,” Alexander interrupted coolly. “That makes her my superior. I cannot sit while she remains standing.”
I glanced at Caden, who gave me a small, encouraging nod. With a gracious smile, I accepted. “Thank you, Alexander.”
Alexander pulled out the chair for me, and I took my seat. Althea clutched her dining knife tightly, her knuckles white with fury as she glared daggers at me. Her rage was palpable, and I had no doubt she wanted to stab that knife straight into my chest.
Damon, clearly uncomfortable with the situation, barked at a servant, “Hurry! Bring Mr. Alexander a chair!”
As the tension simmered, breakfast was served. The clinking of silverware filled the room, but the undercurrent of animosity remained.
Damon’s Desperation
Damon turned to Caden, his voice eager and almost pleading. “Alpha Caden, when can we sign the Carnival City contract?”
Caden sipped his coffee leisurely, his movements calm and measured. “No rush. I’ll need to inspect the land first.”
“But that shouldn’t delay signing the contract,” Damon pressed, his desperation barely concealed. “We can sign it now and transfer the first half of the construction funds. That way, we can begin building immediately—”
Caden’s coffee cup hit the table with a soft clink, his emerald eyes glinting coldly. “You seem unusually eager to get your hands on those funds, Alpha Damon. It makes me wonder—do you have other plans for that money?”
Damon’s face flushed, his discomfort unmistakable. “Of course not,” he mumbled.
I lowered my head, suppressing a bitter laugh. I knew Damon’s finances better than anyone. Without me managing the pack’s resources, Crimson Hollow’s extravagant spending habits would have run it into ruin years ago. Now, Damon was desperate to use the construction funds to cover his mounting deficits.
“And Emerald Howl Pack will need to be included in the contract,” Caden added, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Damon’s jaw tightened. “I haven’t agreed to that yet,” he muttered darkly.
“Then there will be no contract. And no funds,” Caden replied icily.
Defeated, Damon sank back into his chair, staring blankly at his plate. Not even Althea’s flirtations, including her attempt to have him feed her a cherry, could draw him from his brooding silence.
A Proposal Turned Sour
After breakfast, Caden left to inspect the land. Damon sought me out, his expression a mix of frustration and calculation.
“I can’t give you back the 2,000 soldiers and 30 million,” he began curtly.
“Then we’ll let the Supreme Tribunal decide,” I shot back. “Let them determine who’s in the right.”
His eyes darkened with anger. “Do you really want to drag this pack’s reputation through the mud over a divorce? Do you want every Alpha to laugh at us?”
“I’m no longer Crimson Hollow’s Luna, Damon. Its reputation doesn’t concern me,” I replied, my voice steely.
We locked eyes in a silent battle of wills until Damon finally relented, scratching his head in frustration. “Crimson Hollow Pack doesn’t have that kind of money right now.”
“What a surprise,” I remarked dryly.
Damon’s face twisted with indignation. “It’s not that I don’t want to return your dowry. There’s just no money!”
“Then sell something,” I suggested coolly. “Your yachts, your sports cars, your summer house you’ve visited once. It’s just 30 million—you’ll manage.”
“Sell my possessions?!” Damon roared, his voice filled with outrage. “Do you know how that would look?”
He glanced toward Althea, who was hovering nearby, nervously fiddling with her dress. Then, his tone softened, almost pleading.
“I have another suggestion, Seraphina,” he said, stepping closer. A bad feeling churned in my gut.
“What?” I asked warily.
“I never wanted to divorce you,” he murmured urgently. “You’re my mate. We belong together. Come back to me.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “What about Althea? Would you get rid of her?”
He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I promised her the title of Luna. But many Alphas have mistresses. If you stay as mine, we can avoid all this mess. Isn’t that better?”
The audacity of his words left me speechless.
