My hands rested folded on the table, steady, even though part of me ached to clench them into fists. I kept my tone measured-not just for the audience, but for myself. I couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud the facts.
I didn’t rush to deny Luna Daria’s accusations outright. Instead of anger or defensiveness, I focused on the truths that mattered.
There was no need for shouting or finger-pointing. The truth carried far more weight than any manufactured outrage.
I explained that Xavien and I met in high school, making it clear our connection began in our teenage years.
I described the nervous smiles, shared books, late-night phone calls-small details that painted a believable picture of young love.
I didn’t directly deny the claim of a childhood engagement, but I posed a simple question: why would an eighteen-year-old boy pursue a girl still in elementary school?
A quiet laugh slipped from my lips as I asked, leaving the audience to draw their own conclusions. Sometimes, disbelief is more powerful than denial.
When I spoke about the hardships we endured to marry, I hinted that Luna Daria had never liked me and had always treated me harshly.
I avoided calling her cruel outright; my words were careful, almost reluctant-like someone trying not to speak ill of their in-laws but failing. The message landed anyway.
I also pointed out that cooperation with the Shadow Pack had only begun recently, contradicting Luna Daria’s claim that our families had been close enough for an arranged marriage when we were children.
The timeline didn’t lie, nor did the contract dates. I let facts speak where emotions might have been twisted.
After sharing our story, I presented solid evidence to dismantle her lies.
Taking a deep breath, I reached into the folder beside me and laid out the truth piece by piece-no theatrics, just cold, clear facts.
I showed chat logs, voice recordings, and photos-undeniable proof.
I explained the full truth behind the financial settlement. It wasn’t blackmail, as she claimed, but a deal made after she discovered her son’s infidelity.
The screenshots bore timestamps and signatures. The audio played her voice-bitter yet resigned-agreeing to the terms. It was all there, irrefutable.
Regarding her accusation that I was in a hotel with another man, I revealed she had deleted the second half of the hallway video.
But I had footage showing me leaving through the main entrance just nine minutes later.
My final piece of evidence was Xavien’s own words. He had admitted his mother’s claims were false.
His voice, low and weary, played through the speakers: “She made it up. All of it.”
That sentence hit harder than any accusation I could have thrown.
Even after all that, I chose not to reveal the worst evidence I possessed-shocking voice recordings and private photos from our bedroom.
I wanted to preserve the last shred of Xavien’s dignity.
It would have been easy to destroy him with the truth, but I wasn’t here for revenge. I sought clarity.
Once the truth was out, public opinion shifted dramatically.
The internet ignited with comments-some apologetic, some silent observers. But the tide had turned, and this time, it was in my favor.
And me? After finishing what needed to be done, I went home, packed a small bag, and by eleven that night, I was driving away from Denver.
Cecilia
The highway stretched out endlessly beneath the night sky, illuminated intermittently by the glow of passing streetlights. Though it was late, traffic flowed steadily, a quiet hum accompanying my journey. I lowered the windows, allowing the cool night air to brush against my skin, carrying with it the faint, sweet fragrance of wildflowers hidden somewhere in the darkness.
The road ahead curved gently, the streetlights forming a shimmering golden ribbon that seemed to beckon me away from the turmoil of Denver and the chaos I had left behind. I hadn’t lied to Alpha Sebastian-I truly was heading to my grandmother’s home, a sanctuary where I could gather my thoughts and plan my next move.
Originally, Harper had offered to record the video for me, but I had chosen to take on the task myself. Something deep inside insisted that this had to be my voice, my face confronting the lies that had been spread about me. Maybe this was the final battle in a war I never wished to fight.
I recalled the exhaustion in Xavier’s eyes when he had visited Harper’s apartment. The fight had drained us both, leaving scars deeper than visible wounds. I hoped that by the time I returned, he would have come to his senses. Perhaps then we could finally end this twisted dance between us, once and for all.
I needed these few days away from Denver. I knew Cici and her family might lash out in anger, but I wasn’t about to let a lone wolf challenge an entire rival pack. Sometimes, a strategic retreat was the smartest choice.
–
Meanwhile, at the Blood Moon Pack house…
Luna Dora was desperately trying to reach Xavier, calling him repeatedly, but he refused to answer. The rejection from her own son-her Alpha-was a sharp humiliation she couldn’t swallow. Her heart ached with frustration and disbelief.
Alpha Claude’s face was set in a harsh, stone-like expression as he turned toward his mate. “You should never have let that Shadow Pack witch manipulate you,” he growled, his voice low and filled with authority. His eyes flashed with dominance, the golden rings around his pupils glowing brighter with each word. “Now, not only have we been publicly humiliated, but the pack has suffered heavy losses. How did I end up with such a foolish Luna?”
Luna Dora’s anger and frustration boiled over. She had endured constant berating all day, her own son treating her like an enemy, and now her mate was insulting her. Her composure finally cracked.
“Yes, I’m stupid!” she snapped, her voice trembling with rage. “Why don’t you just replace me? Find yourself a smarter Luna!” Her eyes narrowed sharply, a dangerous glint shining through.
“Oh wait, you already have one, don’t you? That mistress of yours who’s been warming your bed abroad. Why don’t you just let her and that bastard child of yours walk right into the Blood Moon Pack and make them your new Luna and heir!”
The slap echoed through the room, sharp and unforgiving. Alpha Claude’s hand struck her face with enough force to make a human collapse.
“Who are you calling a mistress? Who’s a bastard?” he snarled, his teeth elongating slightly as his control slipped.
Luna Dora stood frozen, her fingers trembling as they touched her reddening cheek, disbelief washing over her. A bitter laugh escaped her lips, and inside, her wolf let out a soft, painful whine.
“What did I get for ignoring the truth for over twenty years?” she whispered, her voice shaking. “You were sharing a bed with that woman overseas while I stayed here in an empty house. And now, you call me stupid.”
Her shoulders sagged, as if the weight of all her mistakes pressed down on her entire body.
“You’re right,” she admitted quietly. “I am stupid. Truly stupid.”
Without another word, she turned and began climbing the stairs. Each step was slow and heavy, burdened by the crushing weight of regret.
“Dora…” Alpha Claude called after her, regret already seeping into his voice. They had maintained a fragile peace for so long-he shouldn’t have pushed her like this. The pack needed stability now more than ever.
As Luna Dora entered her bedroom, her phone rang. It was Cecilia. The call was relentless, like a death knell.
She locked the door behind her and finally answered. “Instead of harassing me, why don’t you focus on handling the current situation?” she said sharply.
Cecilia’s voice was low and cold, a whisper in the dark. “So what if she made your evidence look bad? That doesn’t mean everyone will believe her. I have plenty of ways to confuse them.”
There was a pause. “But that’s not why I’m calling. If Xavier refuses to mate with me through the ancient rites, the next scandal to break will be yours.”
Luna Dora’s fingers trembled as she held the phone, struggling to keep her fear and rage in check. “I’ve done everything you asked! Now the entire Blood Moon Pack treats me like a criminal-I’m already suffering! Besides, you’ve seen it yourself: I have no influence over Xavier. He doesn’t listen to a word I say!”
“That’s not my problem,” Cecilia replied coldly. “You have one week.”
Then the call ended abruptly.
–
Luna Dora sank to the floor, feeling as though she had been plunged into icy water. When she tried to rise, her legs gave way, and she slid back down.
If Claude discovered that secret… he might use it as an excuse to bring that woman and her child into the Blood Moon Pack, stealing what rightfully belonged to her son. No. That was absolutely unacceptable.
–
Over the next two days, the battle on the internet raged like wildfire.
At first, the overwhelming majority found Cecilia’s response credible and compelling. The evidence she presented was solid, and her calm, collected demeanor lent weight to her words.
But gradually, dissenting voices began to emerge.
Anonymous accounts claiming to be Blood Moon Pack members started posting messages like: “Cecilia is just an actress. Her video was so fake it hurt to watch. Her true colors showed at the airport when she attacked Cici. Don’t be fooled.”
Then, someone claiming to be a hotel employee pointed out supposed inconsistencies in Cecilia’s video, alleging that a pillar at the hotel entrance had been under renovation and covered up at the time-a detail her footage supposedly missed-suggesting tampering.
One after another, these suspicious “witnesses” appeared.
Soon, social media influencers and verified accounts jumped into the fray, acting as amateur detectives. They scrutinized every detail, spun wild theories, and presented speculation as fact.
A blogger took a different angle, highlighting how modern AI technology could easily swap faces, manipulate videos, alter voices, and forge chat records.
Before long, even body language experts and psychologists weighed in, eager to capitalize on the trending story involving two powerful packs.
The public was left bewildered, unable to separate truth from fiction.
The debate grew heated, splitting opinions sharply.
Some stood by Cecilia, arguing that despite disputed evidence, her marriage certificate was legitimate-she was Alpha Xavier’s lawful mate without question. They pointed out that Cici’s behavior hardly matched Luna Dora’s glowing description, instead exhibiting traits of a homewrecker.
Moreover, the fact that Alpha Xavier contradicted his mother at such a critical moment suggested Cecilia wasn’t the disappointment Dora claimed. His tone hinted at guilt.
Others sided with Cici, believing the Shadow Pack princess’s love was passionate and pure-perhaps she had been unaware she was the other woman until emotions became too tangled to retreat. They admired how she knelt for love and silently endured being slapped, proving her deep devotion to Alpha Xavier.
They also questioned: if Cici had truly harmed Luna Dora, why would Dora foolishly defend her? The contradiction seemed impossible.
This spectacle continued for days, with the public eagerly awaiting the next “episode” in this real-life drama between two powerful families.
Yet, all the main players remained silent, no new statements emerging from either pack. The tension hung heavy in the air, an unspoken promise that the storm was far from over.
Cecilia
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