Seraphina’s POV
I was making my way through the packhouse corridors, intending to discuss patrol rotations with the Beta, when cruel laughter stopped cold.
"Look who we have here, the rejected mate," a voice dripped with venom.
My blood ran ice cold. They were talking about Penelope. The sa woman who now watches over my children with genuine care.
I shoved the door open without hesitation. Four pack mbers surrounded Penelope like vultures circling prey. She sat curled into herself on the sofa, her skin ashen and eyes swollen from tears.
"Seriously, Penelope," Kiara purred with sickening sweetness, crouching down to et her eye level, "you have to be the most pathetic wolf in this territory. Did you miss the announcent? Your precious mate is gone forever. You’re nothing but abandoned garbage now."
Penelope recoiled as though physically struck, wrapping her arms tighter around her knees.
The fury that had been simring inside for weeks erupted. I stord across the room before I could think twice. My Luna presence flooded the space like a tidal wave, pinning all four torntors in place.
"Explain to exactly what you think you’re doing," I demanded, my tone deadly quiet.
Kiara scrambled for composure, forcing her lips into a saccharine smile. "Luna, we were only having so fun. Penelope understands we care about her, don’t you?"
My stare could have cut glass. "You consider torturing a pack mber entertainnt? You find pleasure in mocking her pain, her humiliation?" My voice remained controlled, but the weight of my authority made them quake. "I heard nothing resembling humor. Only savage cruelty."
I studied each of their faces until sha forced them to look away.
"Allow to be crystal clear," I pronounced each syllable with deliberate precision, my Luna power crushing down on them like gravity itself. "I will not permit, nor will I ever excuse, the abuse of anyone under my protection. Not in this pack. Not while I draw breath."
mories of my own tornt flooded back, every instance I was made to feel worthless and broken. That poison would never spread to another soul on my watch.
"Should I discover that any of you have continued harassing Penelope or anyone else, banishnt will seem rciful. You’ll spend your remaining days scrubbing floors and emptying waste buckets. Leave my sight imdiately."
They fled like startled prey, stumbling over each other in their desperation to escape.
Once the door slamd shut, heavy silence settled over us. I turned toward Penelope slowly. Her fra trembled as she gazed at through tear-clouded eyes.
"Seraphina," she breathed, her voice raw with emotion. "I’m so incredibly sorry."
I frowned, genuinely puzzled. "Sorry for what exactly?"
"For everything," she sobbed. "For being one of those monsters. For laughing while others destroyed you all those years ago. I was despicable. Yet today, you’re the one who rescued . I don’t deserve such kindness."
I settled beside her on the cushions.
"You’re absolutely right," I stated without sugar-coating. "You were complicit in my suffering. But right now, you’re the victim, and no one deserves that treatnt."
She dragged the back of her hand across her wet cheek. "But why? After everything I did to you?"
"I intervened because I endured worse abuse than you can imagine," I confessed, feeling the familiar ache in my chest.
I leaned closer, capturing her attention completely. "But here’s what you must grasp, Penelope. Bullies only have power when you surrender it to them. You cowered there waiting for or soone else to play hero. That ends today."
Her expression went completely blank.
"You shouldn’t need to fight your battles," I pressed firmly. "You’re a capable woman. You must confront those cowards directly and force them to retreat. Unless you defend yourself, they’ll never stop circling, regardless of how often I intervene."
I rose to my feet, ready to demonstrate my conviction through action. "I have responsibilities to handle. The next ti I enter this room, I expect to see you standing tall, telling them exactly where they can shove their opinions. Are we clear?"
She nodded with growing determination, a spark of defiance finally igniting in her gaze. "Perfectly clear, Luna."
I departed the packhouse and made my way toward the dungeon.
Following her return from dical care, I established strict guidelines that while she remained imprisoned, excessive torture was forbidden. It served no constructive purpose. I required her conscious, rational, and prepared to answer for her cris.
Being in that place brought back horrible mories of losing my child, but I steadied myself and fulfilled my duty.
I approached Roxanne’s cell. She sat against the frigid stone wall, absorbed in reading.
I gripped the iron bars, uncertain how to begin. Typically, I arrived ard with cold rage, but today I felt emptiness toward her.
Roxanne glanced up. She appeared neither frightened nor calculating. She looked exhausted.
"Hello, Seraphina," she said quietly.
"Seraphina, I realize you won’t trust , and you shouldn’t have to. But this confinent has shown how completely wrong I was. I was a terrible human being. I am still a terrible person."
My suspicion flared instantly. This felt like textbook manipulation.
"Spare the theatrics, Roxanne," I cautioned, my voice hardening. "Don’t attempt so redemption performance to secure your freedom."
To my complete astonishnt, Roxanne released a genuine laugh. Not mockery, but acceptance.
"Freedom? Seraphina, honestly," she shook her head, still smiling sadly. "I’ve earned everything that’s coming. After what I inflicted on you, after the life I stole, I know I deserve this prison."
"Then explain the laughter," I demanded, thoroughly confused.
"Because for the first ti in years, I’m speaking pure truth, and it feels foreign," she explained.
I exhaled heavily, running fingers through my hair. I had no ti for her spiritual awakening. I ca here with a specific purpose.
"I’m not here for your confessions, Roxanne," I declared, my heart heavy with purpose. "I’m here because Elena must learn the truth. She deserves to know her entire life has been built on lies. And I want those words to co from you."
Roxanne’s face crumpled, all traces of laughter vanishing. She nodded slowly.
"I understand that revealing the truth won’t restore the years I stole from her and from you, the ti I robbed you of being with your real daughter," Roxanne whispered, tears threatening to fall. "But perhaps Elena will finally know. And maybe, sohow, you can beco the mother and daughter you were ant to be. She deserves that reality."
I turned to leave, having accomplished my goal, but one final thought demanded voice.
"I need you to understand sothing. I don’t hate you."
She stared at , shocked. "How is that possible?"
"Because rather than abusing my daughter the way your mother abused , you genuinely loved her. You truly cherished Elena. That will always earn my respect."
I drew a steadying breath.
"But respect isn’t forgiveness," I clarified sharply. "It ans I’ll allow you to live. Because it would be cruel to tell my child soday that I murdered the woman who raised her for five years. I refuse to burden her with that truth."
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