33 Chapter 33 Roxanne Reveals Truth
He moved closer, his palm settling protectively against my lower back, a claiming gesture that somehow provided comfort in this moment. “Advance notice would have been courteous,” he stated, his voice controlled but carrying an edge of steel. He addressed my parents directly, his eyes shifting between them. “Seraphina and I find these ambush visits inappropriate. Particularly when they clearly distress her.”
Julian’s presence trailed behind me, his steps creating a quiet rhythm that followed mine. His nearness pressed against my awareness like a suffocating blanket, but I kept my gaze fixed ahead. All I craved was sanctuary within our walls, distance from his games and theatrical gestures.
“That conversation could have happened at any scheduled time,” Julian countered, his tone growing harder. “Instead of cornering us. And frankly, Alpha Maxwell and I have no outstanding pack matters to address. Unless there’s an urgent reason for this unannounced intrusion, I expect an explanation.” His alpha presence filled the confined space with unmistakable authority.
“Concerned about what exactly?” I pressed, my voice climbing. “We’re perfectly fine. We’re content. Your worry is completely unfounded.” The sarcasm dripped from my words since this arrangement was precisely what they’d demanded, so their presence
made no sense.
The declaration exploded in the already tense silence, a devastating revelation that left me completely breathless.
My mother twisted her fingers nervously. “Seraphina, we’ve been concerned.” The statement was laughably false given the complete absence of warmth between us, especially after our last bitter conversation.
I felt grateful he’d voiced what I couldn’t without seeming heartless toward my own family.
Upon reaching our weathered oak entrance, I prepared to barricade myself inside. But as my fingers brushed the cold surface, something made me pause.
“Then explain it to me, Julian,” I demanded, my anger reaching a boiling point. “Because it certainly wasn’t genuine desire. This was all strategy, and I refuse to be a pawn.” I pivoted away, unable to withstand his penetrating stare any longer.
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33 Chapter 33 Roxanne Reveals Truth
A wave of dread crashed over me, washing away any lingering frustration with Julian. “Mom? Dad? Why are you here?” The question emerged as barely a whisper, tinged with unwelcome shock. Their visit was completely unexpected, and if I was being truthful, entirely unwanted.
My father finally relaxed his defensive posture. “This has nothing to do with pack affairs, Julian. It’s personal.”
“Stop,” I snapped, my stare boring into the ground where his mouth had claimed mine, desperate to scrub away the memory. “I understand exactly why you did it. For Alpha Dorian’s benefit. You noticed him observing us, and you needed to put on a performance. You were territorial, weren’t you?” The accusations poured out bitter and unfiltered. This wasn’t how a first kiss should happen, not as theater, not born from male pride. My chest constricted with longing for something authentic, something chosen rather than seized in a moment of possessive display.
“Julian,” she whispered, her attention fixed entirely on him. In that instant, every part of me went numb and silent because I sensed what was coming and felt completely unprepared. “I need to tell you something.” She drew a trembling breath, her hand moving instinctively to cover her stomach. “I’m pregnant. And you’re the father.”
My mother forced a brittle smile. “Seraphina, sweetheart. We thought we’d surprise you with a visit.”
Before I could demand clarification, before my mother could offer another hesitant response, our front door groaned open. Roxanne stood framed in the doorway, her complexion ashen, her eyes wide with a combination of terror and excitement. Her focus locked immediately onto Julian, her voice quivering as she spoke.
Personal. The word settled over us like a dark cloud, heavy with hidden meanings. Personal involving whom? My parents and me? My parents and Julian? My stomach clenched with anxiety. I despised feeling blindsided, kept in darkness about incoming revelations. “Personal in what way?” I questioned, stepping away from Julian’s touch, needing space to process. “What could possibly be so personal that it justifies this uncomfortable surprise visit?”
The burn from Julian’s kiss seared my lips, leaving behind a sensation that felt more like violation than affection. I wrenched myself away, my pulse hammering against my throat. “Never. Never do that again, Julian.” The words escaped hoarse and raw, carrying a rage that caught me off guard.
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33 Chapter 33 Roxanne Reveals Truth
My parents. Positioned in the center of our living space, radiating anticipation. My mother wore an expression of concern deeper than her usual disapproval, while my father stood rigid, arms folded, his face an unreadable mask.
Then my blood turned to ice.
My mother’s facade cracked slightly. “Julian, we meant no offense. We simply wanted to check on how you’re both adjusting.”
Heat flooded my cheeks at the thought of facing Alpha Dorian or the children after that spectacle, knowing they’d likely witnessed our entire exchange.
His striking features twisted with bewilderment, then something resembling shame flickered across his expression. “Seraphina, I…”
Seraphina’s POV
“A surprise?” I repeated, my thoughts spinning wildly. “You didn’t even call first.” My gaze shifted between them before settling on Julian, who had entered behind me. His jaw was clenched tight, his stare fixed on my parents with an intensity that matched my own bewilderment and irritation.
He exhaled slowly, the sound weighted with exhaustion. “Seraphina, there was more to it, You must realize that.”
The well-worn route to our home stretched endlessly before me. I marched forward with fierce determination, each footfall a silent protest against his manipulation.
My father released a weary sigh. “There are facts you’re unaware of, Seraphina. Information we’ve kept from you.”
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