Seraphina’s POV
Damon’s face darkened, his expression contorting as if he were staring at a stranger rather than the woman he once called his Luna. His jaw clenched tightly, the vein on his temple pulsing with anger.
Althea staggered to her feet, her disheveled hair clinging to her tear-streaked face. Blood trickled from her nose, smudging the remnants of her makeup, leaving her looking more defeated than defiant. Yet, despite her disarray, she shrieked, her voice trembling with desperation:
“You think threats will get you what you want? No way! Damon will never let you win!”
I turned to face the gathered crowd, ignoring her frantic cries. Raising my voice, I addressed the investors with unwavering confidence:
“Take a good look at the chaos that has engulfed Crimson Hollow Pack tonight! This isn’t an accident—it’s the direct result of Alpha Damon and his mistress’s incompetence! If you trust them with your money, don’t expect a Carnival City; you’ll end up with a Chaotic City instead!”
A heavy silence fell over the room, thick with tension. The once-adoring eyes of the investors now shifted toward Damon, their gazes tinged with doubt and unease.
Althea’s voice cut through the stillness, shrill and panicked. “Don’t listen to her lies! She’s the one behind all this mess—she’s trying to sabotage our project!”
I smirked, my tone sharper than a blade. “If I can create chaos, why can’t you put an end to it? Isn’t this just further proof of your own incompetence?” My eyes scanned the crowd before returning to Althea. “And let me remind you—I built the Carnival City project from scratch. I’m the only one who knows every detail about it. Without me, you won’t even manage to lay the foundation of a single building!”
The murmur of the crowd grew louder. Investors exchanged glances, their faces etched with doubt and deliberation.
It was at that moment that Caden stepped forward, his commanding presence cutting through the tension like a knife. All eyes turned to him as he stood tall, his green eyes glowing with authority. His words carried the weight of a king delivering a decree:
“I support Seraphina as a partner.”
A hush fell over the crowd, broken only by the audible gasps of surprise. Caden exuded a calm, unshakable confidence, his powerful aura drawing every gaze.
“Seraphina has proven that without her, Crimson Hollow Pack is nothing but a chaotic mess,” he continued. “Bring her on board as a partner, and you’ll secure real profits. Keep her out, and you’ll only invite disaster.”
His words rippled through the room, and I could see heads nodding in agreement. A surge of excitement coursed through me—I could feel the scales tipping back in my favor.
Chapter 0023
The chaos outside had done its job. It sowed doubt in the investors’ minds about Damon and Althea’s ability to lead. Their carefully constructed façade was crumbling under the weight of public opinion.
An older investor stepped forward, his voice measured but firm. “Alpha Damon, we have no objections to the Emerald Howl Pack joining. After all, we all want this project to succeed under capable hands.”
Althea’s voice faltered as she weakly protested, “The project is already in good hands without Seraphina…”
Another businessman scoffed, cutting her off. “Then why can’t you stop the chaos in the city? If you can’t even manage that, what makes you think you can handle a massive project like Carnival City?”
The crowd erupted into laughter, their mocking jeers aimed at Althea. Her face drained of color, and she swayed unsteadily, turning desperately to Damon for support.
Damon drew in a deep breath, the humiliation etched onto his face as he struggled to maintain his composure. His voice was strained as he growled, “A word in private, Seraphina.”
“Of course,” I replied smoothly, a victorious smile playing on my lips.
Damon stormed off toward a side room, his every movement bristling with frustration. Althea trailed behind him, her steps faltering. I lifted the hem of my dress and followed at a confident pace.
Before I could enter, Caden stopped me, his hand brushing my arm. His voice was soft but edged with concern. “Need me to join you?”
“No need,” I replied with a wink. “Don’t forget, I can take Althea down with one hand.”
His chuckle rumbled low in his chest. “Very good point.”
With that, I stepped into the room. The moment the door clicked shut, Damon whirled around, his eyes blazing with fury.
“Seraphina… Are you happy now?!” he snarled, his voice laced with venom.
“Not even close,” I replied coldly. “You still haven’t agreed to return my soldiers or my money.”
“FUCK!” Damon cursed loudly, pacing the room like a caged animal. His fists clenched and unclenched as though restraining himself from striking something—or someone.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned to me, his face twisted in frustration. “FINE! Maybe I’ll acknowledge you as a partner! But forget about the money and soldiers.”
I held his gaze, my tone icy as I retorted, “If you don’t release my soldiers, they’ll keep creating chaos in the city. You can’t stop them.”
Damon’s voice dropped to a dangerous growl. “Then I’ll round them all up and throw them into cells.”
“You’re severely understaffed,” I shot back sharply. “You don’t have the manpower to stop the chaos. Think about it, Damon—what good does it do you to keep a group of ‘troublemakers’? You’re better off letting us go. And as for the 30 million—that’s a small price to pay compared to the future profits of Carnival City. Make the compromise now and get construction started, or continue bleeding your pack dry. The choice is yours.”
