Chapter 0024
Seraphina’s POV
Damon’s brow furrowed deeply, the weight of my words sinking into his consciousness. His jaw clenched as if he were physically grappling with the decision before him.
Suddenly, Althea broke the silence, her voice sharp and piercing like a glass shattering on stone.
“Damon! You’re not seriously considering her proposal, are you?!” she shrieked. Her chest heaved with indignation, and her eyes burned with rage. “She betrayed us when she dragged her pathetic home pack into this! She rejected you so cruelly—this woman has no faith, no loyalty—”
“Do you have a better idea?!” Damon roared, cutting her off mid-rant. His voice echoed in the room, carrying his frustration.
Outside, the cacophony of my soldiers causing havoc continued unabated, their chaos a living testament to Damon’s crumbling grip on power. With every passing second, I could see his confidence eroding, and the doubt in the investors’ eyes deepening. He knew this stalemate only strengthened Obsidian Crest Pack’s leverage to back out of the deal entirely.
Finally, Damon’s shoulders slumped, defeat etched into every line of his face. “Fine,” he growled through gritted teeth. “I’ll free your people.” He paused, glancing at me warily. “But the money… I really don’t have that much.”
A slow, satisfied smile spread across my lips. This was the moment I’d been waiting for.
“You can always borrow from Althea,” I said, my tone light and mocking.
“WHAT?!”
Their simultaneous exclamation filled the room.
Turning to Althea, I let my smirk widen. “You claim to be the daughter of Silverclaw Pack’s Alpha, right? Surely raising 30 million is child’s play for someone of your status. Now that Damon’s in a pinch, why don’t you show your love and lend him the money?”
The color drained from Althea’s face. Her composure cracked as she stammered, “But…but that’s my money! Why should I give it to Damon?”
Feigning surprise, I arched an eyebrow. “Aren’t you two in love? Isn’t he your future husband, your Alpha? And yet, you won’t even help him in his time of need?” I let my voice drop to a sneering whisper. “It seems, Damon, that your mistress doesn’t hold a candle to me. When I married you, I brought wealth and soldiers into the fold without hesitation.”
My words struck a nerve. Damon’s expression darkened as he turned to face Althea. His voice was low and dangerous, each word laced with reproach.
“What do you mean, Althea? Rich or poor, in sickness and in health—have you forgotten your own promises?”
Althea faltered, her lips trembling. “But… who would’ve thought an Alpha could be this poor?! When I left Silverclaw Pack for Blazewood, you promised me wealth and honor! And now—now you can’t even deliver on that!”
Damon’s eyes blazed with fury, his voice rising with each word. “This is only temporary! And yet you won’t stand by me through a short-term hardship?!” He took a step closer to her, his disappointment palpable. “Let me remind you, Althea, if you had managed the pack affairs properly, we wouldn’t be short on soldiers—or dealing with this mess right now!”
Tears welled in Althea’s eyes as she covered her face with her hands. “So now it’s all my fault?” she sobbed, her voice muffled.
I watched the scene unfold with quiet satisfaction.
“I’ll leave you two to sort this out,” I remarked coolly, turning toward the door. “I’ll be outside.”
As I stepped out, I could still hear their heated argument echoing behind me. Damon borrowing money from Althea was the final piece of my plan. Whether she lent it or not, it would plant a deep rift between them, one that would only widen over time.
Damon thought Althea was the perfect Luna? I thought with a smirk. Let’s see how far this highborn lady is willing to go for him now.
The Banquet Hall
Moments later, Damon and Althea returned to the hall. Their appearance spoke volumes—Damon’s face was a mask of simmering rage, while Althea’s disheveled hair and tear-streaked face betrayed the fiery argument they’d just endured.
“So?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, my voice deliberately calm.
Damon’s lips curled into a scowl as he bit out his response. “You’ll get your partnership, the 30 million, and your 2,000 soldiers. Now stop your damned soldiers from wreaking havoc!”
“When will I receive the money?” I asked, my voice sweet but firm.
“First thing tomorrow morning,” he growled.
A triumphant smile spread across my face. It was clear that Althea had been forced to shoulder Damon’s burdens, and I doubted she was happy about it.
I pulled out my phone and quickly sent a message to Trent, instructing him to stand down. Then I looked back at Damon, my smile widening into a sly grin.
“Alright, Alpha Damon,” I remarked, my tone laced with mockery, “why don’t you announce my new status to all the guests and investors?”
Damon’s glare was venomous, but he had no choice. His hands were tied.
The chaos outside had quieted, and the guests returned to the hall, murmuring amongst themselves as they resettled. At the front of the room, the stage gleamed under the chandeliers. On the long table lay three pristine copies of the Carnival City contract, alongside an elegant pen waiting to seal the deal.
Damon ascended the stage first, his movements slow and deliberate as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. When he reached the microphone, he took a deep breath, his voice hoarse as he addressed the crowd:
“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome the partners of the Carnival City project: the representative of Obsidian Crest Pack, Alpha Caden… and—”
He paused, grinding his teeth audibly before forcing out the next words.
“…the representative of Emerald Howl Pack, Miss Seraphina.”
