Chapter 0038 – Seraphina’s POV
Damon stood frozen in place, his expression a mix of confusion and guilt. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice strained and uncertain.
“But Althea… she’s so soft and kind. After giving birth to Lucian, she stayed in Silverclaw Pack alone. She always told me she didn’t want to be the other woman, that she’d bless the two of us. She’s… a really good person…”
A sharp, cold laugh escaped my lips, unbidden. “She didn’t want to interfere in our marriage? Then what, pray tell, has she been doing since arriving at Crimson Hollow Pack?”
“That’s because you were hurting Lucian—”
“You still believe her lies?” I snapped, my voice trembling with frustration. “When Lucian was with me, he was a healthy, lively child! But after just two days with Althea, he nearly became a murderer! Can’t you see, Damon? Between me and Althea, who’s the real liar?”
Damon’s eyes darted back and forth, his expression torn. He opened his mouth but said nothing. The silence stretched painfully, eroding what little hope I had left.
I took a step back, disappointment flooding my chest. “Whatever, Damon,” I said coldly.
I turned to leave, but Damon called after me, his voice filled with desperation. “Seraphina, wait—”
Before he could finish, the crowd roared with renewed fury.
“Alpha Damon, how are you going to punish this cheating woman? She’s a disgrace to Crimson Hollow Pack! You should expel her!”
Damon spun around, his face dark with rage. “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” he bellowed, his voice echoing like thunder. “Who told you Seraphina is an adulteress? That’s fucking slander!”
The commotion stilled momentarily, the crowd shrinking back in uncertainty.
“But we all heard… that Seraphina cheated on you with Alpha Caden,” someone muttered hesitantly.
“Yeah, she stripped naked and crawled into his bed, but he ignored her. Everyone’s talking about it…”
Veins bulged on Damon’s forehead. His jaw clenched tightly before he roared at the soldiers, “Arrest everyone spreading these rumors! Throw them in jail!”
“Yes, Alpha!”
The soldiers sprang into action, dragging away the most vocal offenders. The air filled with cries and pleas for mercy as chaos erupted.
“Don’t arrest us!” someone screamed. “It was Miss Althea! Her maid told us these things…”
Damon’s gaze sharpened, and he pointed at the trembling maid on the ground. “And get that maid too! Take her to Althea’s room—I’ll question her myself later!”
I watched the scene unfold, my emotions tangled. Part of me felt vindicated—this was the first time Damon had ever publicly defended me. But the satisfaction was fleeting, swallowed by a deeper, more profound disappointment.
The damage was already done.
Without looking back, I turned and walked away. Damon’s voice echoed behind me, calling my name, but I ignored him.
Isolde, Caleb, and Nora followed closely, shielding me from lingering stares. We didn’t stop until we were far from the courthouse and the seething mob.
“What a bunch of idiots,” Nora spat, her disgust palpable. “It’s a good thing you left.”
I exhaled slowly, nodding. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Liam clapped my shoulder with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. “Hey, cheer up! Didn’t Alpha Caden invite you to Obsidian Crest Pack? Take this chance to relax and enjoy yourself.”
My heart fluttered at the thought of Caden, but the excitement quickly cooled as I remembered the rumors about his girlfriend.
Forcing a small smile, I asked, “Would you all like to come with me? I’m sure Caden wouldn’t mind.”
Liam nudged Caleb with a chuckle. “No way Caleb’s passing up a chance to meet his idol. And Isolde will go, too.”
I turned to Nora and Liam. “What about you two? And Trent?”
Liam shook his head, his tone serious. “We’ll take the 2,000 soldiers back to Emerald Howl Pack first. We need to test the waters there and prepare for your return.”
I nodded, though the mention of my pack sent a pang of unease through me. Eason still hadn’t responded to my messages. The possibility that he might have given up on me gnawed at my resolve.
Nora must have sensed my worry because she wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Don’t stress. We’ll do everything we can to get Eason on board. He’s your brother, and he loves you. Even Alpha Sid respects you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, hugging her tightly.
I had a month to make peace with my pack, to convince them to uphold the contract for Carnival City. The timeline felt impossibly short, but I had no choice but to try.
________________________________________
Althea’s POV
This was the darkest day of my life.
Damon stormed into my room like a hurricane, dragging my maid behind him. His eyes blazed with fury as he hurled accusations at me.
“You spread those rumors, didn’t you?” he shouted, his voice shaking with barely contained rage.
I tried to defend myself, but Damon wasn’t listening. He grabbed a vase and smashed it against the wall, the shattering glass echoing like thunder.
Lucian, terrified, ran to my side and screamed at him. “Stop yelling at Mommy! And stop sending me to boarding school! It’s all Seraphina’s fault! She should go and kill herself!”
Damon’s hand lashed out before I could stop him. The slap landed hard across Lucian’s face, the sound reverberating in the room.
“Don’t you fucking say that again!” Damon roared, his face twisted with fury.
I rushed to cradle Lucian, shielding him with my body. “DO NOT TOUCH HIM!” I screamed, my voice breaking.
Damon cursed under his breath, throwing a teacup against the wall before snarling, “Lucian is leaving tomorrow! And don’t make me regret bringing you back after divorcing Seraphina… Because right now, you’re nothing compared to her!”
His words cut deeper than any slap.
He stormed out, leaving me kneeling on the floor amidst shattered porcelain and glass. I clutched Lucian tightly, tears streaming down my face.
Seraphina. That bitch.
This was all her fault.
“Mommy, I don’t want to go to boarding school!” Lucian sobbed. “Why did you say the poison candle was my idea? It was yours! If you hadn’t said that, I wouldn’t have to leave!”
I covered his mouth quickly, whispering urgently. “Shh! If I hadn’t said that, they would’ve stripped me of my title as Luna. Do you want that to happen?”
Lucian stared at me with wide, frightened eyes before slowly shaking his head.
“You have to inherit Crimson Hollow Pack,” I continued, my voice trembling but firm. “When Carnival City opens, Blazewood will become the richest pack in the world. Nothing can go wrong.”
“But… I’m Daddy’s only child. Everything should already be mine,” Lucian said, his voice innocent yet cutting.
I looked at his small face, my heart heavy with unspoken fears.
There were too many ways things could go wrong—Damon could remarry Seraphina and have more children, or a bastard heir could emerge.
And the worst possibility…
They could discover Lucian’s secret.
Those deep gray eyes… the one feature that neither Damon nor I possessed.
