Celene’s POV
I spent the entire night packing away my pup's belongings.
By the time the first light of dawn shone through the windows of the Alpha Manor,I was so exhausted that I finally fell asleep.
When I woke again,another day had already begun.
I went downstairs to find something to eat.
"Celene."
Lucian walked toward me.His eyes followed me for a long moment before he reached out,intending to brush my hair aside.
I stepped away before he could touch me.
His hand froze in midair.
"That room was always prepared for a pup.You'll still be his mother.We'll remain mates forever.No one can ever take your place."
A soft laugh escaped me.
"Alright."
Lucian blinked.
For two days,he had been trying to ease the tension between us,yet my attitude had never changed.
A trace of impatience entered his voice.
"Think carefully about this!"
Just then,the manor bell rang.
My brother,Rhydan,had arrived.
He entered with a frown and walked directly toward Lucian.
"I told you not to bring Rionna and the pup here."
Then his gaze landed on me.His eyes were sharp and guarded.
"You haven't been making things difficult for Rionna and the pup,have you?"
Before I could answer,Lucian immediately shook his head.
"As long as I'm here,no one will harm Rionna or the pup."
Hearing the voices,Rionna came downstairs and rushed straight into Rhydan's arms.
The coldness on his face disappeared instantly.
"If anyone treats you badly,tell me right away.Mother,Father,and I will always stand with you,Rionna."
Rionna lowered her head and shook it gently.
"It's alright.Celene has never really liked me.I'm used to it."
I looked at the three of them.Disbelief and mockery filled my chest.
So my parents and brother had known all along that Rionna had given birth to Lucian's pup?
Yeah…every single one of them must had known.
I was the only fool left in the dark.
A dry laugh escaped my lips.
"The Greymoss Clan truly raised an impressive daughter.She stole eighteen winters of my life,bullied me the moment I returned to the territory,seduced my mate,gave birth to his heir,and then moved straight into my den like she belongs here."
Rhydan's expression darkened.His voice cracked through the room like thunder.
"Watch your words,Celene.If you hadn't suddenly appeared,Rionna would never have felt so insecure.Everything she did came from fear that you would take our love away from her."
His icy eyes fixed on me.
"Even if she made mistakes,you forced her into it.And honestly,Alpha Lucian should have chosen her as his mate from the beginning."
I laughed.The sound was rough and bitter.
Rionna had framed me,lied about me,and slandered me more times than I could remember.
Every time,my parents knew the truth.Yet all they ever said was:"You're the older sister.Let her have her way."
Whenever gifts were bought or rewards were given,Rhydan always let Rionna choose first.
"Rionna only has us,"he would say.
Many nights,I hid alone in my room and cried.
At that moment,Lucian had been the only one who comforted me.He wiped away my tears.He gave me the best of everything.He told me again and again that he loved me.
He held me as if I were the most precious person in the world.
Yet in the end,the mate I trusted most betrayed me.
And the family I had longed to belong to never truly accepted me.
Lucian frowned at Rhydan's words.He wanted to argue,but remained silent.
He still believed I was the one he loved and Rionna had been a mistake.
But hearing me attack her made anger appear in his eyes anyway.
His face turned cold.
"Celene,I've already explained everything.Rionna was given a heat potion.Was I supposed to stand there and watch rogue wolves violate her?If you had been in her place,I would have helped you too."
If I had been in her place,he would have helped me too?
Helped me into his bed?To have his pup?Then moved into this Alpha manor?
Right on cue,tears gathered in Rionna's eyes.Her body trembled pitifully.
"I'm sorry,Luna Celene..."
Rhydan immediately pulled her into his embrace.
"You have nothing to apologize for,Rionna.Stop crying.We'll take you to your favorite restaurant."
As they prepared to leave,Rhydan threw one final icy look at me.
"Celene,if you keep causing trouble and targeting Rionna,I'll send you back to the territory where you came from.You can return to struggling for survival."
A cold smile touched my lips.
They all believed I had grown up in some poor and forgotten pack.They thought I would have nothing without the Greymoss Clan.
What they did not know was that my adoptive family,the Evercrest Pack,ruled one of the strongest territories in Silvercrest Territory.
When I insisted on returning to my family,my parents,Alpha Cassiel Evercrest and Luna Ashara,had held back tears and told me,"Celene,if they ever treat you badly,come home.Our territory will always welcome you."
But I had chosen blood ties over the people who truly loved me.
I pushed them away,believing sincerity would be returned with sincerity.
What a foolish mistake.
Rionna left surrounded by everyone's attention and protection.
At the manor entrance,she suddenly stopped and glanced back.Victory sparkled in her eyes.
Her lips moved silently.‘You lost again,Celene.’
I met her gaze.
Then slowly,I smiled.
