!
Chapter 24
“What?”
“Alpha King?”
“Our Alpha King?”
Aaron looked down from his high position, seething with anger, his eyes flashing a wolf as he watched Ryan being held down by the warriors.
“You’re the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack who betrayed my mate?” He locked eyes with Ryan.
“You’re the one who adopted your future Luna Queen, yet still mistreated her–the Luna of the
Blood Moon Pack?”
Aaron’s usual gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by an overwhelming aura of authority.
Ryan and Audrey bowed their heads in silence.
Tessa had already known Aaron’s identity, but she hadn’t wanted their personal feelings to be affected by these matters, so she’d never brought it up.
Aaron smiled at Tessa, immediately stepping to shield her.
“If you wish, we can hold each of them accountable.”
“I could strip him of his Alpha title and banish him from the pack, or I could lock your biological parents in the dungeon for the way they treated you.”
Aaron glared at them, his face cold, as if he couldn’t wait to have them thrown out.
“Let me handle this.”
Tessa, sensing the tension, told Aaron not to worry and took control of the situation. She guided the two of them outside.
“Can
you stop causing trouble? Now that I’m out of the pack, are you still not letting me go?”
“Is it fun to keep harassing me? I think it’s all just hypocrisy!”
Tessa spoke each word with clear anger.
If she was being honest, she hated them. All the pain they had caused her was unbearable.
Audrey trembled as she looked at Tessa, her tears flowing freely.
Tessa paused. It was the first time she had ever seen her mother cry.
Chapter 24
22.64%
For a moment, she wondered–was she crying for her?
But it didn’t seem that important anymore.
“Tessa, will you come back with me?”
“Mom misses you.” Audrey’s voice softened, no longer sharp but full of gentleness, as she spoke to
Tessa
For twenty years, she had never spoken to her like this–only to Chloe.
Tessa had once longed for such tenderness, but now, it didn’t seem to matter anymore.
Tessa softened her tone slightly.
“I’m not going back. What’s so great about that house?”
She knew that her mother’s offer wasn’t out of love but because she had learned that Tessa was her real daughter.
But everything was too late now.
When she was five, she gave her mother her favorite Barbie doll to make her happy. Audrey accepted it, and Tessa had smiled all day. But the next morning, the doll was in Chloe’s hands.
At eight, she was bullied by pack members and locked in the dungeon, left without food. She disappeared for two days, and no one came to find her.
At twelve, she had learned how to please her father, focusing on training. She had worked hard, even taking Luna lessons, becoming an excellent future Luna. But when she won an award, all she got was indifference.
At sixteen, her wolf hadn’t appeared yet, and they told her she wasn’t worthy of one. When her wolf finally awakened, they ignored her joy and instead worried about why Chloe’s wolf hadn’t appeared.
At twenty, she got into the best design school, but no one was happy for her. They constantly doubted her ability, saying she’d never become a great designer.
The more they rejected her, the more she wanted to prove herself.
And she did—she became a famous designer, a powerful Luna, with strength comparable to the
warriors.
But in that house, she was still just an outsider, without a voice.
How could she forget? She hadn’t forgiven any of it—she had simply learned how to please herself.
Seeing Audrey cry, endlessly apologizing, didn’t stir any emotion in Tessa.
Chapter 24
22.64%
She had waited twenty years for that apology.
She fought to keep her emotions in check, but Scarlett had somehow walked behind her, her hand gently resting on her shoulder.
“It’s okay, dear.”
“It’s all going to be okay.”
Scarlett’s comforting words made Tessa want to cry.
Scarlett hugged her, as if she were comforting her own child.
Audrey stood by, her heart heavy.
She longed to hold her daughter, but had never had the chance.
After a moment, Tessa composed herself. “Forget it. I don’t want to go back to that house.”
“I’ve found myself a home.”
It was clear that Scarlett was the mother Tessa had found for herself.
Audrey stepped forward, hoping to convince her, but Tessa continued to step back.
“You’ve already interfered enough with my life. Do
you understand?”
“My life has just begun.”
Audrey’s heart broke hearing Tessa say those words.
“But I still love you, Tessa.”
“No mother wants to see her child suffer.”
Audrey was defending herself, but Tessa didn’t want to listen.
Now that Chloe had been kicked out of the pack, perhaps she was their last hope.
“I told you, I’m never going back!”
At her words, Audrey collapsed, overwhelmed with emotion.
“Luna Audrey! What’s wrong?”
Chapter 24
