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“Freya, that‘ s… all wrong,” Vlanche stammered, her voice trembling as she stepped forward. “In fact, Lucian doesn’t even care about me. It was all a lie! He was
forced to be with me because… because he thought you couldn’t get pregnant!”
Her desperation was palpable, but her tone felt hollow, insincere.
I tilted my head, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. “Oh, it doesn’t matter, Vlanche. I know what’s real.”
“Freya, please,” she begged, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You have to believe me… it’s all a misunderstanding
Lucian opened his mouth, ready to speak, but my mother’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
“There’s no misunderstanding here,” she said sharply, stepping forward with an
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authority that made the entire room fall silent. Her gaze burned into Lucian, who flinched under its weight. “Yes, I told the other packs to refuse alliances with you. And why wouldn’t I? My daughter is worth far more than you, Lucian.”
The crowd murmured softly, and my mother’s tone grew even colder. “In fact, I found out about the vile comments your weak and powerless family made about Freya. You think you could insult her, ridicule her, and still have the audacity to stand here?”
“That’s not the truth!” Lucian blurted out, his face pale as he took a shaky step. forward. “I mean… did Freya tell you that?”
“No,” my mother said, her voice steady but unforgiving. “Alpha Darian did. And so did my spies, who are everywhere.”
Lucian froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. His shoulders slumped as the reality of his
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situation sank in.
“I’m sorry!” he suddenly cried out, desperation thick in his voice. He rushed toward me, his movements frantic and unhinged.
My mother stepped forward to block hist path, her stance protective and firm. But I raised a hand, my voice cool and composed.
“Mother, let him,” I said, my tone devoid of warmth.
He moved with the speed and intensity of a wolf whose mate was slipping away. His voice was raw. “It was my fault last time. I let
my temper and instincts get the better of me. I said things I didn’t mean–did things I regret. But don‘ t let this escalate to a pack council decision, please. I’ll fix it–I‘ 11 banish Vlanche the moment I get home! No, forget that–I‘ ll cast her out of the pack right now! She means nothing to me. Freya, please say something.” He desperately said, “Vlanche told you
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already that I don’t care about her!
That’s the truth.”
He left Vlanche trembling behind him, her once–confident posture shrinking under the weight of his rejection. Lucian stepped closer, his movements deliberate, his voice almost a whimper–like a wolf baring its
neck in submission.
I regarded him with a calm composure that belied the storm within me. “She destroyed our bond? You‘ re good at spinning stories. Did she hold you down. and force you to betray the mate bond?”
His eves dimmed as he stammered. “I… I admit I had a moment of weakness, but she pursued me! She said you sent her to look after me when you were always away… with the healers, tending to the pack s needs. You were distant, Freya–always distant. I thought you didn’t love me. anymore. I was angry. But I swear, I never wanted her to replace you. I never
intended that!”
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For a moment, I froze. Eight years ago, Lucian had looked at me the same way, his eyes burning with unwavering
determination. “I’ll never let you down, Freya,” he had promised under the full
moon.
But now?
I shook my head, my voice as cold and final as winter’s breath. “The moment you broke the mate bond, Lucian, you ended us.”
His fists clenched, and his jaw tightened. I could see the wolf in him struggling- wanting to fight for me, yet knowing the battle was already lost.
“Freya Stormhood, I can’t believe you‘ re still listening to these low life. wolves,” Mother said.
Vlanche snapped, “How is this possible? She was literally just an omega!”
She pointed a trembling finger at me, her voice rising in disbelief. “She’s just a
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Luna who mated beneath her! Why would
she bond with someone like Lucian if she
were truly an alpha–born?”
My gaze darkened, and a low, threatening growl rumbled from my chest. But instead of lashing out, I smiled faintly–helplessly.
“Yes,” I said softly, “why did I ever choose you, Lucian?”
“I left my pack for you. I severed ties with my family and risked everything. I poured my power into helping you establish yourself as an alpha. For eight years, I stood by you, cooked for you, supported you… and you still betrayed me.
“But thank you,” I added with a quiet strength, my smile sharpening. “If you hadn’t broken our bond, I might have wasted the rest of my life as your Luna, never stepping into my rightful place as an alpha.
His shoulders sagged under the weight of his own regret. His wolf whined softly, a
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sound only I could hear, as he took another
step toward me.
“Freya,” he murmured, his voice breaking, “I don’t care who you are. You‘ re my mate. Whether you‘ re an alpha or not, my feelings for you haven’t changed!”
He reached out to me, his eyes pleading. “Come back to the den, please. I’ll do whatever it takes. I swear, no one else will ever come between us again. I’ll never touch another she–wolf, and I don‘ t care about having pups anymore. Just… come back. You‘ re my world. Without you, I’m nothing.”
At the mention of pups, I paused, my sharp resolve softening for the briefest moment. My voice was low, almost a whisper.
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