Chapter 8
“Goodness, son. Finally! I’ve been waiting far too long to meet Vlanche again!” Mother Thornton beamed, pulling Vlanche into a warm embrace, her happiness radiating through the room. They shared kisses and exchanged affectionate words, the kind reserved for long–lost family.
“I missed you so much, Mom,” Vlanche said, her tone soft and emotional as their hands lingered in each other’s grip like they were a mother-daughter duo reunited after years apart.
Mom? The word hit me like a slap.
They weren’t even together. And yet here she was, seamlessly fitting into his world in a way I never had.
“She’s with me because she’s currently staying in my pack,” Lucian explained, hist voice calm, almost proud. “After the
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rogue attacks wiped out her entire pack, she’s taken on the role of second Beta.
She’s been invaluable to us.” He smiled
warmly at her before sliding into the chair beside her–her–instead of me.
“You‘ re so beautiful, Vlanche. You always have been,” his cousin Regine chimed in, her tone syrupy but pointed.
Vlanche giggled softly, casting her eyes down as if she were some shy, innocent girl. “Not really… but thank you. You‘ re all so kind for making me feel so welcome.” She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her movements deliberate and graceful, like she knew exactly what she was doing.
I clenched my jaw and took another sip of my juice, the cool liquid doing little to extinguish the fire burning in my chest. I was the Luna, but sitting there, ignored and invisible, I felt like nothing more than a shadow in the room.
“Yes, she’s really beautiful, adorable,
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Chapter 8
and humble,” Lucian said, his tone full of admiration, as laughter and chatter rippled through the room.
“What a great fit!” his father added with a firm nod, as if Vlanche had already claimed her rightful place in the family.
“And what about you, Freya?” Mrs. Winterpelt turned to me with a sugary smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “At least tell us about the pack‘ s development. Surely you’ve been keeping busy with something.”
I forced a polite smile and began, “Well, the pack’s been doing great-”
But Luna Jade cut me off with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Lucian, why don‘ t you have Vlanche work with you more. often? She seems like a perfect fit for leadership. Those natural talents in her bloodline are truly remarkable. It’s such a shame what happened to her pack, but perhaps it was fate bringing her to you.”
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apter 8
said, he comment hit me like a blow, and my anddolf stirred angrily inside me, growling in
otest. But I clenched my fists under the ble and kept my expression calm.
s father
Fren F
e had She has a certain grace about her, ace inbesn’t she?” Regine chimed in, her eyes rinkling with a mixture of admiration and
ugness. “Not everyone can carry emselves like that. Honestly, Freya, you uld learn a thing or two from her.
e withe
h here h
5 dexes de
eping Regine, that’s enough,” Aunt May said
th a laugh, though her voice was
and band
ything but reprimanding. “But she does ve a point. Vlanche just has this aura out her. It’s refreshing, really.”
gran gres
offveroff vit
anche blushed delicately, her cheeks iciaLucia
ged with just the right amount of pink to ake her look like an innocent flower.
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like a per
Oh, please,” she murmured, her voice
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V remark
ened to
and modest. “You‘ re all too kind.
m just doing my best to help out where I
- n. Freya’s done such an amazing job as bringin
- a. I could never fill her shoes.”
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Her words were meant to sound humble, but the slight upward tilt of her lips told a different story.
Lucian chuckled lightly, leaning toward her. “You‘ re selling yourself short, Vlanche. You‘ ve been a vital part of the pack ever since you arrived. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
The table erupted into another round of agreement, voices overlapping as they showered her with praise.
I sat there, my juice untouched, the glass trembling slightly in my hand. My wolf clawed at my insides, furious and restless, but I kept my composure. The humiliation was suffocating, yet I refused to let it show.
Luna Jade’s gaze shifted back to me, her smile sharp as a blade. “And Freya, dear, you must be so relieved to have someone. like Vlanche around to help Lucian. You must be overwhelmed trying to keep up with everything when you can’t even do one single thing…”
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apter 8
to somfore I could respond, Vlanche leaned Itofhibser to Luna Jade, her eyes bright with
citement. “Mom, I have something to 1 you,” she said, her voice filled with 1, lean, le
ticipation, a wide grin spreading across r face as she glanced at Lucian.
ivedtician’s expression softened, a rare
ou yourmth lighting his features as he looked
her.
amoo ano
layerlap m pregnant!” Vlanche whispered but iseraiteshe made it loud for me to hear.
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