Chapter 3 3

Chapter 3

I struggled to my feet. "Threaten you?"

For the first time, his Alpha command had no power over me.

I met his glare without flinching.

"If you want to leave, I won't stop you," Damien said coldly. "But don't expect your tears to change anything. I have a duty to Clara and her daughter."

Elder Edmond stepped forward. "Alpha, please explain yourself."

Damien stood tall. "Eight years ago, I was on a secret mission to wipe out the remnants of the Red Moon cult. I was ambushed. Clara Vance saved my life."

He paused, his voice heavy with pain.

"She took a silver blade for me. It pierced her wolf's heart. Shattered her on the spot."

Murmurs of sympathy spread through the pack.

Losing your wolf was a fate worse than death.

"Clara saved my life and lost everything. Her daughter, Chloe, has Fading Sickness. Only my scent can stabilize her. If I'm not there, she'll die. Just like Noah."

Tears streamed down my face.

Lost her wolf.

My own wolf shattered from the grief of losing Noah, and he didn't care.

He only cared about Clara. That damn Omega...

Damien walked toward me. "I need you to understand. This isn't betrayal. It's a responsibility."

Just then, his phone buzzed.

I glanced down.

The message on the screen stared back at me.

Sent the night Noah died.

"Damien, can you stay with me tonight? Chloe's asleep, and I'm so scared to be alone."

At the exact moment I was screaming for Noah's death.

Noah's burial was the next day.

I waited for Damien at the Moonshadow Cemetery.

The ceremony was about to start, and he was still a no-show.

A white car pulled up. Clara and Chloe got out.

Clara walked up to me. "Seraphina, I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't be here, but Noah was such a sweet boy..."

Chloe, however, was looking around wildly. "Where's Daddy?" she yelled. "Where's Daddy Damien?"

The entire cemetery fell silent.

Everyone looked from Chloe to me.

Just then, Damien's car appeared.

He got out, and the moment he saw Chloe, his expression softened.

"Chloe? What are you doing here?"

"Daddy!" Chloe ran to Damien, and he immediately knelt to hug her.

It was a tenderness he had never once shown Noah.

The elder began the rites, but Chloe clung to Damien's hand the whole time.

She didn't even notice Rori crying silently beside me.

After the ceremony, Clara approached me, her voice a low hiss only I could hear. "Seraphina, I'm so sorry. But Damien has no choice. Chloe needs a father's love to survive."

The irony. What about his actual children? Didn't we need a father's love?

After we returned from the funeral, Damien cornered me in the bedroom.

"About today. Your behavior in front of the pack was very disappointing."

I stared at him, my eyes red and raw.

"Now, I want you to revoke that stupid Rejection Ceremony." His Alpha command hit me like a tidal wave.

But nothing happened.

I just stood there, calming the storm inside me.

"No," I said softly.

Damien froze. "What?"

"I said no. I will not revoke the rejection."

Damien snapped. "How dare you? I am Damien Blackwood! I am your Alpha!"

I watched him silently.

"Damien, Noah is dead."

"Don't you dare use Noah against me!" he roared. "His death had nothing to do with me! I was saving a life! What were you doing? Crying? Complaining?"

"You're right," I nodded. "I did nothing."

My calmness only enraged him more.

"Since you know what your problem is, then fix it! Support me like a real Luna should!"

"Support you in what?" I asked. "Support you while you let another woman's child call you Daddy?"

"Chloe is sick! She needs a father figure! Rori still has you. Chloe only has me."

"Damien, do you love Clara?"

He froze. "No... It's a responsibility."

"Then do you love me?"

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

I turned to leave. Damien grabbed my arm. "Where do you think you're going?"

"The guest room."

He finally snapped. "You think this little ceremony changes anything? Fine. Keep up this pathetic tantrum, and I'll move Chloe into this house myself! I'll put her in Noah's room. I'll erase every trace of our family's disgrace."

My heart seized. "You wouldn't."

Seeing my fear, a smug look flashed in his eyes. "Try me. Keep acting out, and see if I don't."