Chapter 111: Chapter 111 The Impossible Choice
Seraphina’s POV
My hands trembled with excitement as I stood in the kitchen, preparing lunch for my daughter for the first time. The simple task of making grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup felt monumental. Every movement carried the weight of all the moments I had missed with Elena.
Theo bounced around the kitchen island while I tied Elena’s tiny apron around her waist. Usually, I banned Theo from helping because his assistance created more chaos than actual help. But today was different. Today, Elena was here, and I would endure any mess if it meant watching her smile.
"Alright, my helpers," I said, adjusting the apron strings. "Theo, you can tear bread into pieces for croutons. Elena, stir the soup gently. No splashing."
Of course, Theo immediately abandoned his assigned task. He grabbed an entire block of cheese and headed straight for the blender. "I can make cheese powder!" he announced, his face already dusted with flour from earlier mischief.
"Not today, sweetheart," I laughed, unplugging the appliance before he could create a disaster.
But even Theo’s chaos felt precious. Elena stood on her step stool, completely focused on stirring the thick red soup with careful, deliberate movements. Sunlight streaming through the window caught the golden highlights in her hair. The concentrated expression on her small face made my chest tighten with overwhelming emotion.
Looking at her was like seeing myself as a child. Despite the black magic still clouding our pack’s memories, despite everyone else seeing Roxanne when they looked at Elena, I knew the truth. My maternal instincts screamed it. This was my daughter. The knowledge hit me like a physical force, making my eyes burn with unshed tears.
I turned away quickly, focusing intensely on buttering bread slices so the children wouldn’t witness my emotional breakdown. Stay strong. She’s here now. Everything will be okay.
We worked together seamlessly. Elena followed every instruction with quiet precision. Theo provided enthusiastic chaos balanced with spontaneous hugs that left floury handprints on my clothes. When we finished preparing the meal, all three of us carried steaming platters toward the dining room.
The temperature seemed to drop the moment we crossed the threshold. The kitchen’s warmth evaporated instantly, replaced by arctic hostility radiating from Vivian.
Julian, Quincy, Vivian, Elena, Theo, and I took our seats around the large table. The silence felt suffocating. Vivian’s stare burned into me like a physical assault, each glance loaded with judgment and barely contained fury. I concentrated on helping Theo handle his soup bowl without spilling.
Julian sensed the dangerous undercurrents. "How was your trip, Mom? Dad? Did you visit many territories?"
"Fine," Vivian replied curtly, never breaking her hostile gaze from my face. Heat crept up my neck under her scrutiny. If the children weren’t present, I might have hurled my spoon at her head.
"Meet anyone interesting?" Julian pressed, desperately trying to salvage the conversation.
"Several," she answered, dissecting her sandwich crust as if it had personally insulted her family lineage.
Fury simmered in my veins. I wanted to tell her to eat her food or leave my house immediately. But Theo and Elena didn’t need to witness warfare between me and their grandmother. I swallowed my rage for their sake.
Julian cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. "Seraphina, since Mom and Dad are back and things have stabilized, we should schedule the Mating Ceremony immediately."
Panic and relief crashed through me simultaneously. Now? With everything spiraling out of control around us? The timing seemed impossible.
But then I caught Vivian’s expression deepening into pure venom.
Yes. Absolutely now.
I needed that ceremony desperately. I needed to become the official Luna, not just Luna in name only. Vivian’s confidence in disrespecting me stemmed from my unofficial status. Once crowned, she would be forced to show proper deference.
"That sounds perfect, Julian," I replied, injecting extra sweetness into my voice specifically for Vivian’s benefit.
She slammed her fork down with a sharp clatter that made Theo jump. "Darling, perhaps you should reconsider," she said, false concern dripping from every word. "Seraphina just returned days ago. We don’t know what complications might arise."
She was deliberately provoking me.
Julian’s eyes turned glacial as he stared at his mother. "We’ve attempted this ceremony multiple times. Something always interferes. I refuse to wait any longer."
His firmness silenced Vivian immediately. She compressed her lips into a bloodless line and returned to mutilating her food.
The remainder of the meal passed in uncomfortable silence. We rushed through our final bites. I stood abruptly. "Come on, kids. Let’s clear these dishes."
Theo and Elena followed me back to our kitchen sanctuary, away from the dining room’s toxic atmosphere. We scraped plates and loaded the dishwasher together.
"Thank you both for being such wonderful helpers," I said, wrapping my arms around them.
Elena stepped back slightly, her expression growing solemn. "I need to go home now," she said quietly. "My mother is probably looking for me."
The words struck me like a physical blow to the stomach. My mother. She meant the woman who had stolen her, the imposter keeping her from her real mother.
I nodded, gripping the counter edge as my knees threatened to buckle. "Of course, sweetheart."
The pain was excruciating. Hearing her call someone else mother felt like my heart being ripped from my chest. I knelt to hug her goodbye, breathing in the lingering scents of tomato soup and soap in her hair.
As I released her, my phone erupted in shrill rings across the counter.
Dorian’s name flashed on the screen.
My blood turned to ice. I knew exactly why he was calling. I couldn’t let him suspect I’d discovered the truth. I had to maintain my facade as the desperate, ignorant mother.
Taking a shaky breath to steady my racing pulse, I answered.
"Hello?" I made my voice sound exhausted and fragile.
"Seraphina," Dorian’s voice carried dark amusement. "You’re getting remarkably comfortable. Too comfortable for someone supposedly desperate to find her missing child."
My teeth ground together painfully. I wanted to scream that I’d found her, that she was standing right beside me saying goodbye.
"I’m just emotionally drained, Dorian," I lied, keeping my voice trembling.
"A truly devoted mother wouldn’t feel drained doing whatever necessary to recover her child, Seraphina. She would be relentless," he sneered. "I suppose you don’t love her as intensely as you pretend."
Rage exploded in my chest, white-hot and violent.
"I can’t do what you’re asking," I whispered, unable to voice his unthinkable demand aloud.
"Oh, you can’t?" He sounded entertained. "Well, time is running short now that the old wolf has returned."
The old wolf. Dorian knew Quincy was here. He knew everything.
"You have hours, Seraphina. You know what must be done to get your daughter back," Dorian continued, his voice hardening to steel. "Choose carefully. Your father-in-law or your daughter. You cannot have both."
The line went dead.
I stood frozen, staring at the phone, trembling violently. The choice was impossible. My mind screamed while my body felt encased in ice.
A gentle hand touched my shoulder. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Julian.
I hadn’t heard him enter. He must have come in while Dorian’s terrorizing call consumed my attention. He quietly guided Theo and Elena from the kitchen.
When he looked at me questioningly, I finally voiced what I’d dreaded telling him since his return.
"He wants me to kill your father."
