Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Ex-mate’s father is my fate: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 16

The morning light felt like a physical weight against my eyes. I hadn't slept. The image of the woman in the restricted wing, the one who looked so much like me, was burned into my mind. My father’s crest on that door was a brand I couldn't ignore.A soft knock at the door made my hand go instinctively to the dagger hidden under my pillow. I didn't say come in, but the door opened anyway.Seraphina stood there, wearing a smile that was far too bright for the hour. She looked polished, her gold hair perfectly braided for the hunt. In her arms, she held a bundle of deep green silk."I know things have been... tense," she said, her voice dripping with a sweetness that made my teeth ache. She walked toward the bed, laying the fabric out. "The traditional hunt starts in an hour. I wanted to bring you this peace offering".I stared at the dress. It was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, a hunting habit reinforced with leather at the joints. It was exactly what a high ranking wolf should we

The green silk dress lay in a heap on the floor like a dead snake. I stood in front of the vanity mirror in my new suite, my breath coming in short, jagged bursts. My skin was a map of red, angry welts where the silver-wolfsbane had tried to eat its way into my marrow.Nyx had swallowed the worst of the poison, but the physical toll was heavy. My hands shook as I reached for a basin of cool water. Every movement felt like rubbing salt into an open gash. My side was the worst, a long, blistering burn where the laced fabric had pressed tightest during the ride back .I dipped a cloth into the water and pressed it against my ribs. I hissed, my vision swimming with white spots. The pain wasn't just physical. It was a reminder of Seraphina’s smile and Kael’s silence. It was a reminder that in this house, I was surrounded by predators who wanted to see me rot.A soft click at the door made me freeze. I didn't have my dagger. I didn't have my wolf on the surface. I was just a girl with raw s

The Great Hall was a cage of expectations. I stood on the raised dais, the black silk of my dress a sharp contrast to the gold and silver decorations. Darius was a mountain of cold at my side. He didn’t need to shout to be heard. His silence was louder than a scream."I want to ensure the health of the Silver Moon heir," Darius said. His voice echoed, bouncing off the vaulted ceiling. "And I want to celebrate the bonds that hold this pack together."I watched Seraphina. Her hand was plastered to her stomach. Her face was the color of sour milk. She knew. She knew the ceremony would look for the soul spark of a child. She knew it would lay bare the truth of her bond with Kael."We will hold the Mate Recognition Ceremony tonight," Darius announced. "Under the peak of the moon."A murmur rippled through the pack. It was an ancient rite. It was a truth teller. It didn’t just show if you were mates. It showed the strength of the connection. It showed if there was a new life blooming.Sera