Chapter 4
Ruby’s POV
“Your father will be here soon. Please have a seat, Ruby.”
Mom guided Calliope to the sofa, completely unfazed by the turmoil unfolding around us. My
My hands clenched tightly at my sides as I struggled to swallow the bitter taste of my anger. Dominic’s handprint on my cheek, along with the fresh wound at the corner of my mouth, was clearly visible.
Mom saw
She really saw it. And yet, she completely ignored it!
My eyes widened in disbelief as I watched Mom invite Dominic to sit with her. She knew. She knew he had slapped her eldest daughter, and still. F waited–stupidly–for some defense a mother protecting her child. But no. Nothing caine for me..
“How long are you going to stand there, Ruby!”
I almost missed the way she pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly exhausted.
“We need to finish this discussion. You’ve been awful enough this morning”
“Calliope is pregnant!” I yelled, my teeth clenched in frustration. “And does my awfulness even compare to hers!”
Mom gasped, her face nurning pale. She froze as Calliope slid off the sofa and fell to her knees.
M–Mom
Calliope stammered, shaking her head as she gripped our mother’s hands tightly, her whole body trembling. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.
“Please. Mom,” she begged through ragged breaths, “L.. I was reckless! Forgive me! I should have-
The next moment shattered my composure. Dominic swooped in, wrapping Calliope in his arms with a sickening tenderness. His embrace was gentle, loving, and a sense of protectiveness.
“Let’s move to your seat Calliope. I’ll handle the rest from here,” Dominic said, gesturing for her to sit.
e shook her head. “H–but we’re breaking the elder’s rules.”
she
“Please, Calliope
I took a step back, my gaze darting anxiously between the three of them. Mom looked like she was struggling to stay composed, but whether it was a trick of the light or not, I caught a glimpse of something close to panic in her brown eyes. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and suddenly, it all made sense..
“Y–you knew..”
My voice
voice cracked. Mom closed her eyes in defeat
“You knew, Mom” Lrepeated, horrified as I covered my mouth. “You knew about their affair this whole time, and you just let it happen!?!
Mom clasped her hands tightly, refusing to meet my gaze.
“You have every right to be angry, my daughter. But this… but this is for the future of the Pack” she said softly, almost resigned.
“For the future of the Pack, you say?”
My jaw dropped as 1 questioned my own sanity after hearing her words.
“You can talk so easily about the Pack’s future while you’re paving a path of hell for your Luna–your daughter!!” I exploded, my voice shaking with
rage.
“Stop. Ruby
Dominic glared at me, his eyes burning with anger. Meanwhile, Calliope continued sobbing quietly in
uietly in his arms
is arms, too afraid to say anything.
“Show some respect to your mother,” he growled through gritted teeth. “As Alpha, I won’t tolerate this disrespect. None of this would’ve happened if it weren’t for you! You’re the problem here, Ruby. We’re just trying to find a solution without causing more harm.”
Chapter 4
Trans flowed freely down my face. Me! Am I the problem again here!
Dominic clcked his tongue. “The Elders demand a male heir. They’re not satisfied with two generations of Lucienne descendants without one. You know well than the Lucienne clan, your family, was the main pioneer in building this pack alongside the Foster.”“”
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “There’s no history of the Lucienne bloodline without a male heir. That’s why your mother, who the Elders already labeled a fathure, placed so much hope on you. But look at where we are now.
Wiping her tear–filled eyes, my mom added. “As a Lucienne, I ask for your understanding, Ruby..”
“Everything I did was to protect you and your mother. Your father even begged me to convince the Elders not to dethrone you like they did to your mother. Dominic interjected
Their words rang in my ears. I absorbed all of it, but I couldn’t help but question how easily they betrayed me. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. First, my sister and husband, now my parents and the elders–people who had always been close to me had all turned their backs with such case. What’s the point of me even being here..!
I
I gripped the sides of my dress tightly. With what little sanity I had left, I forced myself to ask one last question.
“Was it the Elders who proposed Calliope as a consort for the Alpha?”
Dominic responded, “Yes.”
My lips trembled, “Since when?”
“Six months ago
I choked on my tears, struggling to stay upright. Six m
months… Six months of lies, secrets, and deception
“Sister”
I glanced at Calliope, her tearful eyes full of regret and despair.
“I’m sorry I’m really sorry!
Her sabs grew louder as she collapsed to her knees, burying her face in her hands. I stood there, frozen, torn between the love I had for her and the searing pain of her betrayal.
“Ruby. I know this is h
is hard for you
“Mom.” I unterrupted, my voice filled with disappointment as I looked at her one last time. T’m disappointed in you.”
I turned away, leaving my mom with my two greatest heartbreaks. The road ahead stretched out, cold and empty, but as I stepped out of the room, my anger was momentarily snuffed out by the sight before me. Pack members were running in panic and fear.
Something was terribly wrong.
Before I could fully process what was happening, my father–pale and disheveled–emerged from the crowd. He rushed toward me his face was etched with a near–death level of worry. I lud rarely seen him like this–so broken, so distressed. Any resentment I felt toward hin vanished. replaced by a sudden wave of anxiety.
“Ruby! Where’s Dominic?” His voice was frantic.
“H–he’s with mom.” I stammered, still trying to comprehend everything, but I quickly grabbed his arm as he started to leave. “Why? What’s happened, Father!”
His eyes darted around, wild with paranoia and helplessness.
“W–we’ve been attacked, Ruby
“What?” My heart plummeted as shock surged through me. “By who? Who would attack us!?”
Jin as my father was about to reply, a deep, noble baritone voice echoed down the hallway.
“Well, I must say. I’m hurt that you’d call my friendly visit an “attack: my friend”
Every nerve in my body went rigid at the sound of that voice. Slowly. I turned toward the entrance, where a tall and imposing figure stood flanked by two others. He grinned, his familiar red eyes glinting with both amusement and danger.
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Chapter 4
“And.” the man’s sl
man’s sharp gaze landed on me, his grin widening. “Who is this beautiful lady with tears in her eyes?”
