42 Chapter 42 False Alarm True Pain
“Oh Seraphina, sweetheart!” Viviana exclaimed, her eyes practically dancing with delight. “Can you believe it? A grandchild at last! We’ve been hoping for this moment for years!” 1
Julian’s parents had clearly received the news already, and their presence here seemed entirely motivated by this announcement.
My house promised sanctuary, a place where I could finally drop this exhausting pretense. I struggled with the lock, desperate to reach the safety of closed doors. But before I could step inside, strong arms encircled me from behind. My body tensed defensively, ready for confrontation, but the familiar scent and gentle pressure identified my captor immediately. Julian.
“Please excuse me,” I whispered, barely managing to force the words past my constricted throat. I turned away from the scene, my legs moving without conscious direction. I needed escape, somewhere their jubilation couldn’t penetrate.
I escaped the room desperately, my heart hammering against my ribcage like a caged animal. The empty hallway provided blessed relief from that suffocating atmosphere of førced celebration. I doubted anyone would even notice my departure, given their current state of euphoria.
“Seraphina? What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice carrying unexpected gentleness beneath its deep timber.
Those words provided exactly what I needed, though whether I could endure this daily torture for months ahead remained an unanswered question.
“I’m perfectly fine,” I lied, my voice pitched too high and strained. I couldn’t discuss this with him. Not now. Not ever. I pulled away from his concerned presence, leaving him with unanswered questions reflected in his eyes. He seemed ready to probe deeper, but I refused to give him that opportunity. I continued walking, Roxanne’s triumphant expression and his parents’ joyful chatter echoing endlessly in my mind.
The urge to scream my anguish aloud nearly overwhelmed me, but the words remained trapped in my throat. What could I possibly say? That my mate was expecting a child with another woman while his parents celebrated right in front of me? That I felt discarded like a broken toy, suddenly irrelevant to Julian’s life?
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Every affectionate glance, every animated conversation about baby names or nursery themes, felt like calculated torture. They behaved as though I’d become invisible, completely ignoring the fact that I stood right there, Julian’s chosen mate, forced to witness their celebration of the very thing that had destroyed my world.
Despite my anger, I harbored no ill will toward this unborn child who had no choice in these circumstances. The baby remained innocent in all of this chaos.
How could I compete with the woman carrying his firstborn, especially if she delivered
a son?
The shrill ring of my phone had torn me from sleep, Roxanne’s panicked voice claiming some urgent medical emergency that demanded immediate attention. My pulse had raced as we sped toward the packhouse, and I could see the tension etched across Julian’s features during the entire journey.
I should have realized that moments of happiness in my life were merely preludes to greater disasters.
Roxanne, with deliberate malice, basked in her parents’ adoration, her hand claiming territorial ownership of her belly. Every smile she flashed in their direction felt like a targeted attack against me. The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive, stealing the oxygen from my lungs. My breathing became labored. I couldn’t endure another second. I couldn’t bear watching their pure happiness while mine lay in complete
ruins.
Though I’d be lying if I claimed part of me didn’t feel bitter resentment toward this pregnancy, knowing it would forever serve as ammunition against me. This child would become a permanent reminder of my inadequacy, a wound that could never fully heal.
Then I collided directly with someone.
Alpha Quincy, typically reserved and measured in his responses, matched his wife’s enthusiasm completely. “A little one joining our family! Seraphina, can you imagine? Julian becoming a father! Our bloodline continuing!”
His reaction stunned me. I’d anticipated outrage, expected him to share my fury over this situation. Instead, he looked as though nothing in the world could diminish his elation.
My greatest fear was that something terrible might happen to the baby, especially knowing my stress might have contributed to Roxanne’s condition. The guilt
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42 Chapter 42 False Alarm True Pain
consumed me as we rushed through the night, only to discover there had been no
emergency at all.
Seraphina’s POV
Roxanne appeared radiant and perfectly healthy when we arrived. The urge to confront her about this manipulative stunt burned through me, but the presence of distinguished guests made such an outburst impossible.
Their overwhelming joy crashed over me like a devastating wave, threatening to drown me in their excitement. They discussed nursery designs, potential names, and elaborate future plans. Each word, every euphoric declaration, drove another sharp blade deeper into my chest. They understood my pain perfectly. They knew exactly how devastating this pregnancy was for me as Julian’s mate. Yet their indifference was complete. Perhaps they acknowledged my suffering, but their delight in this new life completely eclipsed any concern for my emotional destruction.
A firm, commanding presence stopped my flight. I staggered backward, preparing for impact, then looked up to find Alpha Dorian studying me. His forehead creased with worry, his blue eyes searching my expression intently.
This woman rarely displayed such overwhelming emotion. Though I’d witnessed her love for Julian before, I’d never seen her face light up with such unbridled happiness.
Alpha Quincy and Viviana stood in the room, their faces illuminated with pure joy, their voices carrying triumphant celebration.
He pressed his face against my neck, releasing a soft, plaintive sound from deep in his chest. “Seraphina,” he murmured, his voice heavy with raw emotion. “I’m here with you. I love you.”
Perhaps my reaction seemed selfish, but the unfairness of everyone celebrating this like some magnificent accomplishment felt unbearable. Alpha Quincy’ enthusiasm disappointed me most, though I supposed family loyalty would always triumph over everything else.
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5 O
OOR
