Seraphina’s POV

"Don’t dare lecture me about what my mate requires," I said, each word dripping with barely contained fury. "You have no understanding of what exists between us."

Vivian’s composure cracked for just an instant, and beneath her icy facade, I caught a glimpse of genuine fear.

"You whisked him away for one brief moment," she sneered, recovering quickly. "How impressive. One fleeting encounter cannot undo months of your negligence. You are nothing but a coward, Seraphina. My daughter-in-law should possess backbone."

Raw energy surged through my bloodstream like liquid fire. Every instinct screamed at me to unleash my fury, to demonstrate exactly how much of a "coward" I truly was. I could level this entire mansion without breaking a sweat if I chose to.

But Julian’s face flashed in my mind. The agreement we had made. His carefully constructed strategy.

If I struck at Vivian now, I would validate every accusation she had hurled at me. I would appear unhinged, monstrous even, destroying whatever delicate plan Julian was weaving.

I drew in a steadying breath and wrestled my power back into submission. The frigid air around us gradually warmed.

"I am remaining here, Vivian," I declared, my tone deliberately measured. "I have no intention of departing. You may sing Cordelia’s praises until your voice gives out. You may scheme to drive me away. But I am the Luna of the Zenith Fang. I carry the future Alpha in my womb. And I am bound to Julian as his true mate. Those facts are immutable."

Vivian’s eyes became thin slits. "We shall see how long that lasts. The pack elders have begun whispering among themselves. They desire a Luna who demonstrates consistency, reliability. They have grown weary of your theatrical outbursts, Seraphina. Step too far out of line, and you may discover yourself truly exiled this time."

She spun around with military precision and marched from the room, her stilettos striking the marble floor like the steady beat of a war drum.

I collapsed back into my chair, my entire frame trembling. Not from terror, but from the white-hot rage still coursing through me.

This was a complete catastrophe. My own mother-in-law had declared war on me. She was actively supporting Cordelia’s cause. Together, they were orchestrating a campaign to poison the entire pack against me, clearing the path for my replacement.

My gaze fell on the delicate porcelain tea service arranged on the nearby table, and I fantasized about hurling every piece against the wall.

Instead, I forced myself to retrieve my phone from my pocket. I desperately needed intelligence. I needed to know what evidence Caleb had uncovered. If I was going to emerge victorious from this battle, I could not rely solely on interior decorating and pleasant conversation. I needed ammunition. I needed concrete proof that Cordelia and her family posed a genuine threat to everything we held dear.

I dialed Caleb’s number with shaking fingers. The phone rang endlessly.

"Answer, Caleb," I muttered under my breath. "Please just answer."

At last, his voice came through the speaker. "Luna?"

He spoke barely above a whisper, as if he were concealed in a broom closet somewhere.

"Caleb! Thank goodness. What is your status? Have you discovered anything new?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"I have uncovered something enormous, Seraphina," he said, his breathing rapid and shallow. "This goes far beyond simple deception. I located a concealed basement beneath the Alpha’s residence here at Phantom Fang. They are storing items down there... sinister artifacts. Things that should never see daylight."

"What sort of artifacts?" I pressed, my pulse hammering against my ribs.

"I cannot discuss specifics over an open line," Caleb replied tersely. "But Seraphina, you must warn Julian to exercise extreme caution. They are not merely targeting the pack’s leadership. They want him specifically. They covet his abilities. And Cordelia serves as their primary weapon."

"Caleb, hold on—"

The connection died abruptly. I stared at my phone screen. No signal whatsoever.

I rose from my chair and crossed to the expansive window overlooking our territory. The rolling emerald hills of my pack’s domain stretched endlessly before me, appearing serene and untouched beneath the afternoon sun. But I now recognized this tranquility as nothing more than an elaborate facade. Corruption had taken root within these very walls. It festered in Vivian’s poisonous words, lurked behind Cordelia’s saccharine smiles, and thrived in the shadows of whatever secrets Julian continued to guard.

I was no longer simply defending my marriage or my position. I was waging war for the very essence of the Zenith Fang itself.

And if Vivian believed she could dismiss me as a spineless coward, she was about to receive the education of her lifetime. This White Wolf had finished playing by anyone else’s rules.