Julian’s POV
The door closed behind with a soft thud, sealing inside with the storm I knew was brewing. The silence lasted barely a heartbeat before Roxanne’s rage crashed over like a tidal wave. I could sense her fury radiating through the hallway before she even appeared, but today I had no patience for her dramatics.
"How could you do this, Julian?" Her voice cut through the air as she erged from the shadows, her face twisted with anger. "How could you betray everything we built?"
I drew in a slow breath, steeling myself for the battle ahead. "Lower your voice, Roxanne. Elena is sowhere in this house. She doesn’t need to witness another one of our fights." Her constant need for confrontation was exhausting, but I refused to let our daughter suffer for it.
My calm response only fueled her fire. Her eyes blazed with indignation. "Now you suddenly care about Elena’s wellbeing?"
"I have always cared about Elena," I replied without flinching. "She has always been my first concern."
Roxanne moved closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper that sohow felt more threatening than her earlier shouting. "In all these years together, Julian, did you ever feel even an ounce of love for ? I stayed by your side. I helped you through your darkest monts. I was there when you needed soone most."
I t her gaze steadily, knowing that any interruption would only escalate this further. "I never forced you to stay, Roxanne. The only reason you remained was because of Elena. Don’t try to rewrite history to make it sothing it never was."
Her composure cracked, and she pulled herself up straighter, her voice hardening with resolve. "Fine. If that’s truly how you see things, then I’m done. I’m leaving this place, and Elena cos with ." The threat didn’t surprise . She had been building toward this mont for weeks.
"You want to leave? Then go," I said with complete indifference. "I won’t stand in your way. You deserve to find whatever happiness you’re searching for. But Elena stays here with ."
Desperation crept into Roxanne’s expression. "Why wasn’t I ever enough for you? I gave you everything I had. I tried to be the perfect partner, the perfect luna. I loved you with every part of myself."
Her theatrical performance had finally pushed past my breaking point. I was done with her constant accusations and manipulations. It was ti to speak the truth we had both agreed to bury.
"You knew the reality from the beginning, Roxanne," I said, my voice deadly quiet. "You knew Seraphina was my fated mate. You knew I was planning to build my future with her before you trapped with your pregnancy lie."
The color drained from Roxanne’s face as if I had physically struck her. We had sworn never to speak of this, especially not where Elena might overhear.
"Don’t pretend to hold the moral high ground here," I continued relentlessly. "I have raised Elena every single day since her birth, knowing full well she isn’t my biological child. I have never loved her any less because of it. I have never revealed that truth to anyone. So don’t push any further."
Roxanne stared at with the look of soone whose world had just collapsed. "We promised each other we would never speak of this again," she whispered, as if I had committed the ultimate betrayal.
"Well, I’m speaking of it now because I’ve reached my limit," I told her firmly. "I’m exhausted by your constant attempts to make the villain in your story. I am a devoted father. But being a good father doesn’t make naive or weak. If leaving is what you want, then do it. But if you choose to stay, then you keep your mouth shut and let make my own decisions about my life."
I didn’t give her the chance to respond. I walked away, leaving her standing there with whatever combination of heartbreak and rage she was feeling. I had stopped caring which emotion dominated.
I headed straight to Elena’s room, where I found her already awake, sitting cross-legged on the carpet with her building blocks scattered around her.
"Daddy!" she squealed with delight, abandoning her toys to rush into my arms.
I lifted her up and held her close, breathing in her innocent sweetness. "Hello, my little star."
When I first learned of Roxanne’s pregnancy, I had resented the idea of this child, seeing it as the final destruction of my future with Seraphina. But the mont Elena was born, I was desperate for sothing to anchor to this life, sothing that could be truly mine. The disappointnt when I realized the truth had been crushing.
A wolf’s instincts don’t lie. I knew she wasn’t mine the mont I caught her scent, but it no longer mattered.
"Where were you last night, Daddy?" she asked, tilting her small head with curiosity.
"I had so important business to handle," I said smoothly, the lie coming easily. "But I’m here now. How about we make breakfast together, just you and ?"
Her face brightened with pure joy, and that radiant smile made every sacrifice worthwhile. I set her down gently and told her I needed to clean up first.
In my bedroom, I closed the door and finally allowed myself to breathe. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind a wave of regret. I shouldn’t have brought up Elena’s paternity. What if she had been listening? What if she heard even a fragnt of that argunt? That fear haunted more than anything else.
I love Elena completely. She is my daughter in every way that matters. I would never risk losing her over a fight with Roxanne.
My thoughts inevitably turned to Seraphina. How was she coping with everything? I couldn’t reach her anymore. She had shut out completely after what I had done. I despised myself for marking her without permission. I resented her for abandoning , and I wasn’t sure I could ever forgive that betrayal. But I also knew I couldn’t survive losing her again. I needed her back. I could only hope I hadn’t destroyed every chance we had.
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