“You…” My voice shook with pure, undiluted rage. “You lied?”
She hummed. “And guess what? He chose us.”
Something inside me snapped.
I let out a guttural scream and hurled my phone across the room. It shattered against the wall, pieces flying everywhere. But it wasn’t enough.
It would never be enough.
I grabbed the nearest vase and smashed it onto the floor. Then another. And another. I knocked over lamps, ripped blankets off the bed, threw anything I could get my hands on.
I wanted to destroy everything.
I wanted to burn this whole fucking house down.
My body shook as I collapsed onto my knees, sobs wracking through me.
She took everything.
My husband. My family. My daughter’s last moments.
And she had the audacity to call me just to rub it in my face.
That night, in the guest room, I made my decision. I wasn’t running. I wasn’t cowering. Damon was going to face the consequences—whether he liked it or not.
The next morning, I got up. The house felt empty without Alyssa’s laughter, without Damon’s footsteps. I made breakfast—coffee, an omelet—forcing myself to act like everything was fine.
Damon finally showed up, walking into the house like he owned it. He paused in the hallway, eyeing the mess in the master bedroom. “What happened here?” His voice was cold, no concern, just curiosity, like he didn’t know what he’d done.
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Instead, I focused on the eggs sizzling in the pan. The smell of coffee filled the room, grounding me. He didn’t need to see me break.
He showered. I went about my business, ignoring how his presence made my skin crawl. After a while, he came into the kitchen, freshly dressed, leaning against the counter.
“I’ll be announcing tonight,” he said. “Selena will be my second mate. You’ll have to deal with it, Florence. Whether you like it or not.”
I didn’t flinch. Didn’t even look up. I calmly took a sip of my coffee. It was the only thing that made me feel something other than fury.
He stood there, expecting me to react. I didn’t. I just ate in silence.
“You done?” I asked flatly, finally.
He didn’t respond. Just walked away, back to Selena, like I was nothing.
Tonight, everything would change.
The pack gathering was buzzing with fake smiles and whispers, but I knew the truth. They all knew about Selena. They knew how Damon had abandoned his own daughter.
I walked into the room, head held high, the DNA results clutched tightly in my hand. The room fell silent the moment I entered. I didn’t care about their stares.
I walked straight to Damon, ignoring the pack’s shocked looks. Without a word, I slammed the envelope onto the table in front of him. The contents spilled out.
“What is this?”
I crossed my arms, leaning forward. “That’s the paternity test, Damon. It proves Alyssa was your daughter. You abandoned her. And for what? That bitch? Selena? You’re seriously that stupid?”
His eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?” He stepped closer, trying to intimidate me. But I wasn’t scared anymore.
“You really believe her lies, Damon?” I said, shaking my head. “She’s been feeding you all this crap about me cheating on you with her dead husband. Telling you Alyssa’s not yours. And you just believed it, didn’t you? You’re an idiot. You’re supposed to be an alpha, but all your brain’s doing is hiding in your legs. If you even have one.”
I pointed at the DNA test again, my finger jabbing at it like it was his soul. “Take a good look, Damon. That’s your daughter’s DNA. Your blood. And you turned your back on her. You turned your back on us.”
I watched his face twist with disbelief as he slowly picked up the test, scanning the results. His fingers shook as he read it, his mouth going dry.
“Alyssa was your daughter. But you were too busy believing Selena’s twisted little story. You let her poison your mind with her lies, and now you’re standing here looking like a damn fool. This whole time, you’ve been choosing her over your own daughter. I knew you were a weak alpha, but I never thought you were this stupid.”
He reached for the table, trying to steady himself. His eyes darted around the room, like he couldn’t focus.
Damon stumbled toward me, his hands trembling. “Florence… I—”
“Save it,” I snapped, stepping back. “You had your chance to be a father. To be a mate. But you chose that lying, manipulative bitch over your own flesh and blood. You’re nothing but a joke, Damon. An alpha who couldn’t even protect his own family.”
Before Damon could respond, Selena, who had been lurking nearby, stepped forward,“Florence, this is too much. You’re being cruel.”
Without even thinking, I turned and slapped her across the face so hard that the sound echoed through the room.
Her daughter, Clara, started crying in the corner, looking up at me with wide eyes. “You’re mean! Why are you hurting my mummy?”
I didn’t care. I wasn’t sorry. I shot Selena a cold look. Then look at Damon.
“I’m done, Damon, and tonight I’m officially rejecting you.” I pulled the mate mark on my neck. It felt like a thousand needles piercing my skin, the pain burning through me, but I didn’t flinch.
“Goodbye,” I whispered, my heart breaking but resolute.
I turned on my heel and walked away. The last thing I heard was Damon’s voice, desperate and pleading, but it was too late. I didn’t look back.
I drove my car out of the pack’s territory, the roar of the engine cutting through the silence like a promise to myself. I wasn’t anyone’s second choice. Not anymore.
I was free.
