Episode 13
I never thought Seraphina would be this hard to eliminate.
I was certain she would die that night. I buried her with my own hands, under the cover of darkness, confident that the problem was solved. Damon, the Luna title, and the Carnival City project—all of it was supposed to be mine.
But fate had other plans. A rainstorm came and washed away my perfect crime, and that wretched woman survived.
Not only did she return, but she also brought Alpha Caden as her knight in shining armor. The thought of it alone makes my blood boil.
How could a pathetic divorcee like her capture the attention of someone as powerful as Alpha Caden? Why does she still hold sway over the Carnival City project? Even Damon, who should have been mine by now, is scrambling to win her back!
I am the one who should be admired, envied, and desired!
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as hatred consumed me. I have to get rid of her for good.
But another attempt won’t be easy. Seraphina is on guard now, surrounded by powerful allies. Fortunately, I still have my trump card—Lucian.
Seraphina craves Lucian’s love. A woman without children is desperate for validation, easy to manipulate.
“Lucian, my dear,” I cooed, running a hand through his hair, “you did wonderfully. The poison is hidden in the scented candle. Remember to tell that woman you can’t sleep without it and let it burn all night. And don’t forget the antidote I gave you.”
“I know, Mom,” Lucian replied with a mischievous grin. “But how long do I have to stay near her? She’s so annoying.”
I knelt to his level, my voice soft and coaxing. “Not long, my sweet boy. Just a week at most. Don’t you want to help Mommy get rid of this troublesome woman?”
Lucian nodded eagerly. “Of course! She makes me sick every time she pretends to care about me. I can’t wait for it to be just you, me, and Dad again!”
A smug laugh escaped my lips. My sweet Lucian—so loyal, so perfect.
“I have to go now, Mom,” he murmured suddenly, his tone urgent. “I hear her coming.”
“Good luck, my baby,” I whispered, my voice dripping with satisfaction as I hung up the phone.
Slipping into a sheer lingerie set and spritzing myself with my favorite perfume, I prepared for Damon’s return. When he finally staggered in, reeking of alcohol, his eyes darkened with desire the moment they landed on me.
“Fuck, Althea,” he growled, his voice thick with lust as he closed the distance between us. In seconds, he had torn my lingerie to shreds and thrust into me with a fervor that made me gasp.
Sprawled beneath him, a victorious smirk spread across my face. Seraphina is nothing but a pitiful divorcee.
I, on the other hand, am irresistible, smarter, and more cunning. Men can’t help but fall at my feet. Soon, Seraphina will be nothing more than a distant memory. Everything that was hers—Damon, the title of Luna, and the Carnival City project—will belong to me.
Seraphina’s POV
After parting ways with Caden, I returned to my room to find Lucian already washed up and lying quietly in bed. His innocent face lit up as he saw me, his little arms reaching out.
“Mom, hug me!” he exclaimed, his voice full of warmth.
My heart melted on the spot. I rushed to embrace him, holding him close.
“Mom,” he murmured softly, his voice muffled against my shoulder, “can you light the scented candle by the bed? I can’t sleep without it.”
I didn’t hesitate. “Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, lighting the candle without a second thought.
The floral scent it emitted was soothing, unique. It filled the room as I lay down beside Lucian, my heart brimming with love for the little boy I had raised. That night, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, I woke groggy, as though I hadn’t slept enough. A dull ache pulsed behind my temples, but I brushed it off as exhaustion from the past few days.
After helping Lucian get ready for school, I saw him off with a wave as the bus pulled away. But when I headed to the dining hall for breakfast, I was met with an unexpected response.
“There’s no food for you,” one of the maids remarked hesitantly, her head bowed.
“What do you mean?” I asked, stunned. “How can there be no food?”
Her voice trembled. “Ms. Althea said you’re no longer part of Crimson Hollow Pack and shouldn’t be freeloading anymore… So she ordered the kitchen not to serve you.”
My fists clenched at the audacity. Freeloader? I was the one who had saved this pack from bankruptcy and made the Carnival City project possible. And Althea dared to treat me like this?
“Please don’t be angry, Luna Seraphina,” the maid pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. “We all know you were a great Luna, but Alpha Damon said Althea will be the next Luna soon, and we can’t disobey her.”
I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to stay calm. “Don’t worry. I won’t blame you. And don’t call me Luna anymore.”
The maid hesitated before offering a suggestion. “Perhaps if you begged Ms. Althea, she might—”
“She won’t beg anyone,” a deep voice cut in from behind me.
I turned to see Caden standing at the doorway, holding a picnic basket. His presence filled the room like a storm, commanding attention.
“Good morning, Seraphina,” he remarked with a charming smile that made my heart skip.
“Morning,” I replied, my voice soft.
The maid bowed quickly. “Alpha Caden, we were instructed to prepare anything you want. We can send meals directly to your room if you’d like—”
“No need,” Caden interrupted, his tone sharp. “And tell them to stop sucking up to me.”
He turned back to me, his grin softening. “Interested in having breakfast somewhere else?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Of course.”
A Drive to Possibility
Caden drove us out of the city himself, his sleek Maybach speeding through the countryside. Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the top of a mountain. He stepped out and opened the door for me.
“Come take a look,” he remarked, his voice rich with anticipation.
I followed him to the edge of the cliff, where the view took my breath away. Below us lay a vast desert, with a small oasis glimmering at its center. This was where Carnival City would rise.
Caden stepped closer, his deep voice filled with admiration. “Seraphina, you’re a genius.”
His words sent warmth coursing through me. It had been so long since anyone acknowledged my hard work. I turned to him with a teasing smile. “Flattery won’t make me sign the contract any faster, Alpha Caden.”
He chuckled, the sound deep and magnetic. “I mean it. Only a visionary could see endless possibilities in a desert like this.”
His words resonated with my deepest ambition. Carnival City wasn’t just a project—it was my dream.
“When Alexander told me about this project, I was hooked immediately,” he confessed, his eyes intense. “Not just because of the proposal—but because your name was on it.”
Elin’s voice shouted in my mind. “He likes you! Kiss him already!”
I resisted the urge, though my heart raced. Caden was a charmer, but I wouldn’t let myself fall into another toxic relationship.
“Seraphina,” he murmured, his gaze darkening. His eyes held a hunger that sent shivers down my spine.
