17 Chapter 17 Perfect Trap
Viviana moved closer, her eyes boring into mine with chilling intensity.
Words weren’t necessary when the truth blazed in their eyes. In Julian’s guilty stare. In Roxanne’s triumphant gaze. Perhaps he’d never truly cared for me, never felt genuine love. That bitter reality I might have survived.
But he’d been intimate with her.
Roxanne, my sister in every way except blood, the girl who shared my parents, had declared her victory so casually. Right there, with everyone listening.
I should have felt relief knowing they finally understood my departure. I didn’t belong in this world. My supposed mate craved my sister instead of
Fresh tears cascaded down my cheeks, burning hot trails. “Please, I’m begging you. Let me go. Speak to your son and your mate. Give me freedom. You have the daughter-in-law you always dreamed of now. We can pretend, Viviana. Pretend you cared about me. But honestly, you only supported my Luna position because you had no alternative. You’ve never approved of me, and I don’t need your approval anymore. I just want out. I swear I’ll never interfere again. You can finally have Roxanne, the girl you always wanted for
your son.”
The unspoken promise hung between us like a death sentence, obliterating any remaining hope of freedom.
Her words struck like physical blows. The callousness was staggering, especially from another woman. She studied me with absolute coldness.
Eventually, footsteps echoed behind me. I tried pretending solitude, hoping whoever it was would disappear. Instead, they closed the gap between us. My body shook violently until warm arms encircled me, offering unexpected comfort.
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“What you’re going to do immediately, Viviana said, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper, “is arrange your features into a pleasant expression. You’ll stand beside your mate as Luna. And you’ll earn every pack member’s respect. The task will be significantly harder now that you’ve proven unreliable. But I’m confident you’ll manage the repairs.”
But she couldn’t imagine it. She’d never truly understand. Her mate adored her, would move mountains for her happiness.
Her smile held pity mixed with something else I couldn’t identify. “We both know you need more than space, dear. And you have every reason to feel this
way.”
“I’m unclear why you expected everyone to wait indefinitely,” she continued, her stare unwavering and harsh, “while you indulged your selfish desires. These are direct consequences of your choices. If you hadn’t abandoned your responsibilities, your mate would never have sought companionship elsewhere.”
I walked straight out of the Fang House. My spine stayed rigid, my chin lifted with false pride, even as my spirit crumbled under the weight of betrayal and
shame.
“I can only imagine your pain right now,” Viviana said softly, her fingers gentle
on my arm.
Distance meant nothing when the wounds were internal. Every step I took, the pain traveled with me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice hoarse and broken. “I just needed space.”
I stepped back from her embrace.
I wanted to stop the tears. Viviana had always insisted I never reveal weakness to anyone. Yet here I was, doing exactly that. The humiliation and agony proved too overwhelming to contain.
“You don’t simply retire or resign from being someone’s mate, or from being Luna. The Moon Goddess made her selection.” Her voice turned arctic,
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cutting. “And I apologize if accepting you proved difficult, but respect must be earned through actions, not granted freely.”
Running wouldn’t heal a shattered heart. The agony carved through me like shattered glass, stealing every breath from my lungs. The pain wasn’t something others could witness, but I felt each brutal second as it destroyed the last fragments of hope I’d been clinging to.
Viviana. Julian’s mother.
Viviana’s expression shifted dramatically. The pitying smile vanished completely.
I gaped at her, speechless. Repair this? How could anyone repair what my mate and sister had destroyed? How could I fix this public humiliation?
“Because if you refuse,” she breathed, so quietly that even with enhanced werewolf hearing, only I could catch the words, “you won’t just lose everything. Your father will suffer the consequences of your selfishness. And I guarantee you, the price will be far beyond his ability to pay.”
I was completely trapped.
Werewolf hearing meant nothing stayed private. I refused to glance back at the crowd. Humiliation already burned through my veins like poison. Heat flooded my cheeks while my stomach twisted into knots.
Seraphina’s POV
Passing Alpha Quincy near the entrance, I met his eyes directly. No words were needed. I hoped he finally grasped what my heart had been screaming all along. He’d broken me down, dismissed me completely. Maybe now he’d understand the damage he’d caused.
Ice flooded my veins. My father. She wouldn’t dare, Would she?
Escape wasn’t an option. My father remained somewhere nearby, binding me to this nightmare. I wished desperately for a wolf companion, someone to share this crushing burden, but the Moon Goddess had left me empty. The
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loneliness cut deeper than anything else.
Viviana had never been openly cruel to me. But she’d made her feelings clear repeatedly through cold glances and calculated distance. Why was she here now, offering comfort? Maybe she wasn’t. Maybe this was her perfect opportunity to twist the knife deeper. Her chance to finally secure her preferred choice for her son.
My breath caught as the comforting embrace and gentle words evaporated.
“I need to find my father, I begged, desperation coating every word. “I need to leave this place. What will it take for everyone to let me go and live freely? Your son has made his choice crystal clear” My voice climbed higher, becoming frantic. “This isn’t his fault. You all arranged this disaster. You created this suffering”
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