Chapter 185: Chapter 185 The Charade Begins
Seraphina’s POV
The car ride home passed in comfortable silence. Elena and Theo slept peacefully in the backseat, Theo still gripping his makeshift wand from our adventure.
I stole glances at Julian as he drove. The tension had melted from his features, erasing the harsh lines that usually bracketed his eyes. This was the man I had fallen in love with all those years ago. Periodically, he would catch my gaze and offer a genuine smile that reached his eyes.
"Almost home," he murmured, careful not to disturb the sleeping children.
Through the windshield, I watched the towering pines of the Zenith Fang territory close in around us. Usually, this view filled me with warmth and belonging. Today, it twisted my stomach into knots.
"The charade begins again now, doesn’t it?" I whispered.
His smile dimmed slightly. He reached over to squeeze my fingers before returning his grip to the steering wheel. "Yes. I have to become that version of myself again."
"I despise that version," I admitted, though I understood the necessity behind his actions. He hadn’t revealed his complete strategy yet, but I trusted him enough to follow his lead. "I prefer the real you."
"So do I, Seraphina," he said quietly. "But you need to stay strong. Remember our conversation. Don’t let Cordelia provoke you. Let her believe she has the upper hand."
We turned into our driveway, and my heart plummeted. Cordelia stood posed on our front porch like she belonged there. Her pristine white sundress and delicate cardigan made her look like she was attending a garden party. A plate of what appeared to be homemade cookies balanced in her hands.
My inner wolf snarled with territorial rage. I want to tear her throat out, she growled in my mind.
The feeling is mutual, I responded silently. But we have to be strategic about this.
Julian inhaled deeply, and I watched his entire demeanor shift like watching storm clouds roll in. His expression went blank, his jaw hardened, and all warmth drained from his posture. He became that cold, distant Alpha again.
He stepped out of the vehicle without acknowledging my presence.
"Julian! Thank goodness you’re home!" Cordelia’s voice rang out, sickeningly sweet and pitched high enough to make my teeth ache.
She practically skipped down the porch steps, completely ignoring me as she made a beeline for Julian. Her perfectly manicured fingers landed possessively on his forearm.
"I was beside myself with worry," she gushed. "You vanished without a word this morning."
Julian didn’t recoil from her touch, though he didn’t encourage it either. He simply stood there like a statue.
"I took the children for an outing," he replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. The contrast between this icy tone and the warm voice that had spoken to me on the mountain made me wince internally.
"How thoughtful of you," Cordelia cooed, finally sparing me a glance. Her eyes gleamed with smug satisfaction, as if she had just claimed a victory. "Hello, Seraphina. Did you enjoy your little excursion? You look rather... disheveled."
I glanced down at my mud-caked boots and windblown hair. I looked like I had been hiking all day, which I had. She looked like she was ready for a photoshoot.
"I had a wonderful time with my family, Cordelia," I replied, keeping my voice steady and refusing to let her see how her words stung. "The children had a blast."
I opened the rear door to gently wake Elena and Theo from their nap.
"Time to go inside, sweethearts," I said softly.
Theo’s eyes fluttered open, immediately seeking out his father. His small arms stretched toward Julian expectantly. "Daddy? Will you carry me?"
Julian looked at his son, and for one fleeting moment, I glimpsed the love burning in his eyes. But then he noticed Cordelia still clinging to his arm, and his expression shuttered again.
"Your mother will take you, Theo," Julian said coldly. "I have important pack business to discuss with Cordelia regarding supply allocations."
Theo’s face crumpled in confusion and hurt. Just hours earlier, his father had been spinning him in circles and sharing in his laughter. Now that same man wouldn’t even acknowledge him.
"But Daddy—"
"Go," Julian commanded, already turning away from us.
He strode up the porch steps with Cordelia practically draped over him, whispering something in his ear. She glanced back at me with a cruel little smile before they disappeared into our home.
The rejection hit me like a physical blow. I knew it was all an act, understood it was necessary, but watching him choose her over his own child in that moment nearly broke my resolve.
"Mommy? Did I do something wrong? Is Daddy angry with me?" Theo’s voice quavered as tears threatened to spill.
I gathered him into my arms, holding him close while Elena climbed out of the car. She stood beside me, staring at the front door with a deep frown. My perceptive daughter sensed something was amiss.
"No, baby," I assured Theo, pressing kisses to his forehead. "Daddy isn’t upset with you. He just has a lot of responsibilities right now. He’s under tremendous pressure."
"He likes that woman better than us," Elena stated matter-of-factly, her voice eerily reminiscent of Julian’s emotionless tone.
"That isn’t true, Lena," I said, though the words felt hollow on my tongue.
I guided them through the back entrance to avoid witnessing whatever performance Julian and Cordelia were putting on in our living room. After drawing warm baths for both children, I tucked them safely into their beds.
I lingered in the hallway afterward, straining to catch fragments of conversation drifting up from below. Cordelia’s tinkling laughter grated against my nerves, punctuated by the low rumble of Julian’s responses.
Every instinct screamed at me to storm downstairs, to unleash my White Wolf power and blast that woman out of my territory. I wanted to demand that Julian end this charade immediately.
Instead, I remained frozen in the hallway, forcing myself to breathe deeply and maintain control.
He has a strategy, I reminded myself. He promised this is all part of a larger plan.
I retreated to our bedroom, finding it empty and cold. Julian was still downstairs with her. I collapsed onto our bed, staring up at the ceiling as the house seemed to close in around me. The air felt thick and suffocating, nothing like the crisp mountain atmosphere we had enjoyed earlier.
I realized that being Luna required more than just strength and fighting ability. Sometimes it demanded patience and restraint.
But as Cordelia’s voice continued to drift through the floorboards, I made myself a solemn vow.
I would honor my agreement with Julian and stay out of his machinations. But if Cordelia dared to harm my children in any way, or attempted to claim another piece of my home, our deal would be null and void.
My Alpha side might be willing to play along with this game, but my White Wolf was rapidly losing patience. And when a White Wolf reached her breaking point, everyone within striking distance should fear for their lives.
I closed my eyes but found no peace in sleep. I simply waited, hoping that Julian would return to me before dawn broke.
