Author’s pov
Maggie flinched as if she’d been slapped.
She stumbled back and bumped into Liora, who looked just as stunned.
The entire Locke family froze, faces pale, eyes wide, as if a ghost had walked into the room.
An illegitimate daughter trying to claim a piece of the Locke fortune would’ve been scandalous enough.
But this ? A real heiress, thought to be dead for years, was suddenly standing right in front of them.
It wasn’t just shocking. It could destroy the family power structure they had worked so hard to build.
Who among them would welco that kind of chaos ?
Only Cassian looked genuinely pleased, but that was because he’d never cared about being the heir. He’d always preferred his freedom to boardroom battles.
But Zane was the real winner tonight.
The dream he had buried years ago ca back to life. When his mother confird what he had secretly hoped for, he couldn’t speak. His chest tightened with emotion.
"Cece... "He stepped forward, arms open to hug his daughter.
Alpha Sebastian moved in one smooth motion, blocking Zane’s path. One hand stopped him, the other gently pulled Cecilia closer, shielding her.
"Please, Uncle Zane. Not so fast,"he said politely, though his eyes were cold enough to make his aning clear.
Cecilia closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Everything around her sounded distant, as if she were underwater.
Martha’s words kept repeating in her head. She was Rebecca Cole’s daughter.
The na "Rebecca "had always been just another bit of rich-people gossip to her, the kind of story you’d hear over coffee or scrolling through society news. She and Beta Sawyer used to laugh about it, trading theories the way people talk about celebrity scandals.
Now she wasn’t just an observer. She was the headline.
It felt unreal.
Zane finally stepped back. Even with the disappointnt, a trace of joy stayed in his eyes. He told himself there was still ti. They had years ahead to put things right.
The ballroom slowly ca back to life. Conversations started again, low and buzzing like a hive.
"Well, that’s a bombshell—a granddaughter back from the dead !"
"Martha’s been playing the long ga, hasn’t she ?"
"So people won’t be sleeping tonight, that’s for sure."
"Do you think she’ll challenge Cassian for the heir spot ? She’s Zane’s daughter with his first wife, and she doesn’t look like soone you can push around."
At the ntion of her sharpness, a ripple of uneasy laughter moved through the crowd.
Martha’s voice rose above the noise, calm and commanding.
"Tonight, I bring my granddaughter ho,"she said. "Not just to prove she’s alive, but to return the status and honor that have always been rightfully hers."
The room went silent again.
Every eye turned to her, waiting to see what Martha Locke would say next.
Martha’s gaze moved across the crowd with calm authority. "I’ve heard that so people have looked down on my granddaughter, people too narrow-minded to see past family nas and bloodlines.
I won’t argue with them, but I’ll say this. Today, I’m standing up for her. Anyone who treated my granddaughter unfairly will answer to ."
The words hit the room like a thunderclap.
Everyone was reminded of just how powerful the Locke family was.
It was clear who Martha was calling out : the Elder Luna Black, the Blood Moon Pack, and the Shadow Pack.
Elder Luna Black, still reeling from the earlier shock, nearly choked on her outrage. Did Martha really have to humiliate her in front of everyone ?
Alpha Claude’s jaw tightened. His eyes cut toward Luna Dora, cold and accusing. He’d already thought her foolish for pushing Cecilia away, a woman who had been loyal and competent beyond asure.
Now, watching the Lockes take her back, his anger boiled.
If they hadn’t forced that divorce, the Blood Moon Pack would be connected to the Lockes by marriage, maybe even to the Coles.
Now every benefit had gone to the Silver Peak Pack.
Luna Dora felt the pain like hot oil on her skin. Martha’s words hit her right in the heart, each one cutting deep. Regret burned inside her.
She began to suspect that Luna Regina had known the truth from the start and had played all of them perfectly. The Blacks had always been good at strategy.
Alpha Xavier, anwhile, stayed unnervingly calm. He looked at Cecilia, wishing he were the one holding her right now instead of watching from a distance.
"We’re leaving, "Luna White snapped, turning sharply away. Anger rolled off her in waves. Since the day Shadow Pack had crossed paths with Cecilia, trouble had followed them everywhere.
She had planned to use Maggie’s connection to the Lockes to climb higher and maybe get revenge for her daughter.
But now her greatest enemy had turned out to be Zane Locke’s real daughter. The irony was almost unbearable.
Martha barely glanced at them as they marched off.
Shadow Pack had never mattered to her, and Blood Moon Pack wasn’t much higher on her list. Her real target tonight had always been Luna Black.
Then Martha turned back and, with deliberate grace, took Cecilia’s arm, gently moving her away from Alpha Sebastian.
Her tone turned sharp again. "Alpha Sebastian, if you intend to marry my granddaughter, have your grandmother bring a proper proposal. We’ll discuss it like civilized people. "
Alpha Sebastian’s mouth curved into a small, knowing smile.
"As it should be, Madam Martha , "he said, his voice calm and steady. "I only hope you’ll be kind when the ti cos, so I have a real chance to win the woman I love. "
Martha’s eyes softened for a heartbeat, though she kept her regal composure. "Even if I approve, the Cole patriarch might not be so quick to let her go. We’d much rather keep her here in Colorado Springs. "
She gave a pointed smile. "There are plenty of fine young n here who’d be lucky to have her. "
The Cole patriarch caught her cue imdiately. "And she’ll need my approval too, "he chid in. "You won’t whisk my granddaughter away that easily. "
He was already picturing introducing Cecilia to his wife at the family estate, imagining the joy on her face.
Alpha Sebastian forced a polite nod, though frustration flickered in his eyes.
[ Every step toward claiming Cecilia seed to co with a new obstacle. ]
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