Seraphina’s POV
My heart dropped to my stomach. Roxanne’s cruel words sliced through like a blade, but I stood there and took it. This was what I deserved for even imagining a different future with Julian. The pain felt familiar, a constant companion that had lived in my chest for years.
If he really wanted Roxanne back, why hadn’t he told ? Why hadn’t he rejected outright? I would have been devastated, but I never would have stood in his way. He had never cared about my feelings anyway. I was a fool for thinking things could be different. I should have known she would return, and that he would welco her back without hesitation. He always had.
"I’m glad you decided to co ho," I said, forcing my voice to stay level even as my knees threatened to buckle. "But whoever brought you from the airport should be the one helping you settle in. Tell them I can’t do it."
I turned and walked away, fighting every instinct to run. Behind , I could hear her soft laughter, each sound like a knife twisting in my wounds. My legs felt weak and unsteady, but I couldn’t collapse. Not here. Not where she could see.
I barely rember making it back to my room. The second I closed the door behind , I locked it and stumbled toward the bathroom. I turned the shower on full blast, letting the freezing water shock my system. I wanted to scream until my throat was raw, wanted to break sothing, but I couldn’t afford to lose control.
I was exhausted in every possible way. Physically drained from years of trying to prove myself. ntally worn down from constant rejection. Emotionally empty from loving soone who would never love back. I had no tears left to cry because crying never changed anything.
This brought back every horrible mory from my early days at Solstice Fang. Living there had been a daily nightmare.
I was Alpha Maxwell’s biological daughter, but they treated like I was nothing. Like I didn’t exist.
They had always chosen Roxanne over without a second thought. My father spent hours teaching her pack managent, took her hunting, showed her how to fight. He never once asked if I wanted to learn. My mother cooked Roxanne’s favorite als, took her shopping for clothes I could only dream of owning, treated her like a best friend. She barely acknowledged my presence.
All because I had no wolf.
My mother had actually told once that she regretted bringing to Solstice Fang in the first place. They saw as an embarrassnt, a stain on their perfect family image.
Watching them shower Roxanne with the love and attention I desperately craved was torture. It felt like they were ripping my heart out over and over again.
After a long shower that did nothing to wash away my pain, I collapsed into bed. I expected to lie awake all night with my thoughts spinning and my heart aching. But my body and mind had reached their limit. I fell into a deep, rcifully dreamless sleep.
My phone ringing jolted awake. This was unusual since nobody ever called unless sothing was seriously wrong. I answered without checking who it was. His voice made my stomach clench.
"Where are you?" Julian’s tone was ice cold and demanding.
I sat up quickly, trying to clear the fog from my brain. I was usually prepared for everything. If we had sothing important planned today, I wouldn’t have slept so deeply. I couldn’t figure out what he ant.
"Why aren’t you here yet?" he repeated when I didn’t respond imdiately. I searched my mory frantically, trying to rember if I had forgotten sothing crucial.
"Where am I supposed to be?" I finally managed to ask.
"Roxanne ntioned she told you about her welco party." His words hit like a physical blow. He was angry at for not being there to watch him celebrate the woman he really wanted.
"I can’t make it," I whispered, already knowing it was pointless. I wanted to hang up and disappear forever, but I knew better. When Julian gave an order, I had to obey.
"You’re my mate. You will be there. I expect to see you soon." The line went dead before I could argue. Of course. The master had spoken, and the servant would comply. Just like always.
I forced myself to get ready, applying makeup to hide how exhausted and broken I looked. My future mother-in-law constantly reminded that a Luna must always appear put-together, that she must set an example for the pack. I hated makeup, but it was the only way to mask the pain written all over my face.
I was late when I finally arrived at the pack bar. Even from outside the massive building, I could hear their loud laughter and celebration. Roxanne’s voice rang out above all the others, bright and joyful.
I pushed through the heavy doors and stepped inside. The entire room went silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward , filled with hatred and disgust. They didn’t need to say a word. Their silence spoke volus about how unwelco I was.
They didn’t want there, but I forced myself to hold my head high and walk toward their table. When I got closer, I realized there was no seat for . Roxanne was sitting right next to my mate, looking like she belonged there more than I ever had.
I didn’t break down. I didn’t let them see how much their rejection destroyed . I found a small empty table in a dark corner, away from their laughter and happiness. I held everything inside, but my heart felt every cruel slight.
I didn’t belong in their perfect mont because I had never been one of them. They had all grown up together, shared mories and inside jokes I would never understand. They loved Roxanne like a sister and hated for supposedly breaking her heart.
I had been humiliated many tis before, but this felt different. Worse. Gift after gift appeared for Roxanne, each one more thoughtful than the last. I hadn’t received so much as a kind word since she returned. I knew I wasn’t their first choice, but I didn’t deserve this level of cruelty.
I wasn’t asking them to stop loving her. I just wanted a tiny fraction of that warmth and acceptance. I had tried so hard to earn their respect, but nothing I did was ever good enough.
They had called nas, excluded from everything important, and made it clear I would never truly belong.
"This is all so wonderful! Thank you for these amazing gifts! I missed you all so much!" Roxanne gushed, practically lting into Julian’s side. "But surely you got sothing special too? Sothing you picked out yourself?"
Everyone knew Julian would have brought her a gift. When he pulled out an elegant necklace, my heart stopped.
"I saw this on my way back to the pack. It reminded of you." He smiled at her in a way he had never smiled at .
I stared at my mate in shock. Julian was always too busy with pack business to shop for gifts. Everything he gave was selected by his beta and delivered like a business transaction. He had never personally chosen anything for . Not once.
On my first birthday as his mate, I received flowers and a generic card. The next year brought a fruit basket. I knew he hadn’t picked any of it. These gifts were just obligations, things he had to do to maintain appearances for his father. He wanted us to look happy together in front of Alpha Quintus, so I played my part.
Everything about our relationship was fake, designed to fool others.
I thought the evening couldn’t get worse until soone suggested Roxanne should thank him properly for such a personal gift. Right in front of .
"Roxanne," her closest friend said with a sly grin, "Julian personally selected that necklace just for you. Don’t you think such thoughtfulness deserves a proper thank you?"
"Kiss him!" soone else shouted.
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