Seraphina’s POV
Walking into my childhood ho felt like stepping into a minefield. Every footstep seed too loud, every breath too noticeable. My parents barely acknowledged my existence, which was both a relief and a familiar sting. At least their indifference ant no imdiate interrogation.
I retreated to the pack library during the day, losing myself in dusty novels that transported anywhere but here. When that beca too suffocating, I locked myself in my old bedroom, staring at walls that held no happy mories. Occasionally, I ventured through the pack lands, savoring the rare monts of solitude where no one expected anything from .
The invisibility I’d mastered over the years served well now. People here had always been experts at pretending I didn’t exist.
Then my phone started ringing.
The first ti Julian’s na flashed across the screen, my heart hamred against my ribs like a caged bird. My finger hovered over the answer button, trembling with possibility. What would his voice sound like? Angry? Concerned? Would there be any trace of the mate bond that supposedly connected us?
I almost answered. Almost.
But I caught myself before making that mistake. Hope was a luxury I couldn’t afford anymore. Every ti I’d reached for it in the past, it had crumbled in my hands, leaving more broken than before.
So I let it ring. And ring. And ring.
Each subsequent call beca easier to ignore. I shoved the phone deep into my dresser drawer, burying it beneath old sweaters that slled like teenage dreams and disappointnt. I couldn’t bear to hear his voice, couldn’t risk his words dragging back into a life that had never truly wanted .
My parents left alone for several days, but I knew that grace period wouldn’t last forever. When they summoned downstairs on the fifth day, I understood my ti was up.
I found them positioned in the sitting room like judges at a tribunal, their faces set in matching expressions of stern disapproval. The formal setup made it clear this wasn’t a casual family chat.
"Seraphina, why are you here? Is sothing wrong?" Those were the first words out of my mother’s mouth. Not "we missed you" or "how are you doing." Just suspicion wrapped in maternal concern.
I settled into the chair across from them, the distance between us feeling like an ocean. We hadn’t seen each other in months before my unexpected arrival, and our only interactions over the past three years had been during official etings between my father and Julian.
"I missed you both, so I decided to visit." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue, but part of desperately wanted it to be true. Despite everything, so foolish corner of my heart still craved their affection.
"A visit? Without Julian?" My father’s eyebrows drew together in a sharp line.
"He’s tied up with pack business," I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. "He said I could stay as long as I needed."
The lie felt fragile, ready to shatter at the first sign of scrutiny. If they’d spoken to Roxanne, my deception would crumble instantly. But knowing my sister’s talent for manipulation, she’d probably keep quiet to maintain her position in the Zenith Moon Fang without our parents dragging back to complicate things.
Surprisingly, they didn’t push the issue imdiately. I allowed myself to believe I’d bought more ti, but that hope died quickly.
"You’re returning to your pack tomorrow morning," my mother announced during dinner, her tone brooking no argunt. "It was generous of Julian to allow this visit, but you can’t abandon your mate and your duties indefinitely."
Normally, I would have nodded obediently, accepting their decision without protest as I’d done my entire life. But sothing had changed during my ti away. I’d tasted freedom, however briefly, and the thought of returning to that suffocating existence made my chest tight with panic.
"No."
The word escaped before I could stop it, carrying a strength I didn’t know I possessed. The lightness that followed was intoxicating. For once, I’d spoken my truth without cowering.
My parents stared at as if I’d grown a second head.
"What did you say?" My father’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"I said I’m not going back to the Zenith Moon Fang." I set down my fork and t their shocked gazes head-on. "I’ve done everything you asked for three years without complaint. I played the perfect daughter, the obedient pawn in your political gas. But I’m done."
"Have you completely lost your mind?" My mother’s face flushed red. "Tomorrow is Julian’s Alpha succession ceremony and your Luna ceremony. You’ve been away long enough. Go back tomorrow and fulfill your obligations, or I swear I’ll drag you there myself."
"Your threats don’t scare anymore." I stood, ready to escape before this conversation spiraled further. They’d never cared about my thoughts or feelings before, why would they start now?
"SIT DOWN!" My father’s Alpha command slamd into , but I remained standing. "How dare you disrespect your mother?"
"Mother?" I laughed bitterly. "You an Roxanne’s mother. I’m just the charity case you took in to maintain your reputation as benevolent leaders."
The words I’d swallowed for years finally spilled out, raw and unfiltered.
"We never treated you and Roxanne differently. You’ve always been the difficult one, so don’t bla us for your problems."
"Difficult?" I stared at them in disbelief. "I’m the one who never caused trouble, who followed every order without question. You only dislike because I don’t have a wolf."
"Without that mate bond to Julian, no Alpha would have wanted you as Luna," my mother said coldly. "You should be grateful instead of jealous of Roxanne."
"I’m tired," I said simply. "Tired of begging for scraps of acceptance from people who will never see as enough. Those pack mbers hate , and Julian barely tolerates my existence. I won’t go back to that."
"You’ll try harder because that’s not sufficient reason to abandon your duties."
The futility of this conversation crashed over like a wave. Nothing I said would matter. Nothing ever had.
"Call Julian," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos in my heart. "Tell him the wedding is off. I’m not going back. I’m done."
My father’s face contorted with rage. Before I could react, his hand clamped around my arm like a vise, dragging from the room. I scread and fought, but his grip only tightened as he hauled up the stairs.
He threw into my bedroom with enough force that I hit the floor hard, tears streaming down my face. The betrayal cut deeper than the physical pain.
"Please don’t do this," I begged, but he looked at with such disappointnt that it felt like another blow.
The door slamd shut, followed by the decisive click of a lock.
I scrambled to my feet and threw myself against the door, pounding and pleading, but silence was my only answer. The windows were too small to escape through, a cruel reminder that this room had once been an office, never ant to house a prisoner.
My phone buzzed from the drawer. With shaking hands, I retrieved it and read Julian’s ssage.
JULIAN: Seraphina. This has gone far enough. I expected so form of communication from you, but you’ve been ignoring , and my patience is exhausted. If you don’t return imdiately, I won’t hesitate to strip your Luna title and give it to soone who actually deserves it.
I stared at the words until they blurred, understanding finally settling over like a shroud. Even now, even after everything, it all ca down to duty and titles. Never love. Never .
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