Free Web NovelChapter 213: Chapter 213 Spy
Sylvia’s POV
The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Frostline Enterprises as I stepped out of the elevator.
As I rounded the corner toward my office, I nearly collided with Serene. She was carrying a small box of personal items, her expression uncharacteristically subdued.
"Serene?" I asked, immediately noticing something was different about her.
"Sylvia," she acknowledged, her voice lacking its usual barbed edge. "I was hoping to catch you before I left."
My brow furrowed. "Left? What do you mean?"
Serene gestured toward the box in her arms. "I’m taking some time away from the company. I’ve enrolled in a business management program at Howling Peaks University."
I blinked, certain I’d misheard. "You’re going back to school?"
"Don’t look so shocked," she said with a small smile that held no malice. "After everything that happened at the tribunal... I realized something." She took a deep breath. "I’ve been competing with you for years, but I never bothered to actually qualify myself for the position I thought I deserved."
The admission stunned me into momentary silence. Charna stirred within me, equally surprised but cautiously approving.
"I’m not helping Frostline with my current skill set," Serene continued when I didn’t respond. "And unlike you, I haven’t been learning the business from the ground up all these years. It’s time I earned my place rather than just expecting it to be handed to me."
I searched her face for any sign of manipulation or hidden agenda but found none. "That’s... actually impressive, Serene."
She shrugged, a flicker of the old defensiveness crossing her features. "Don’t act so surprised. I’m not completely devoid of self-awareness."
"I didn’t mean—"
"I know," she sighed. "Old habits. Anyway, I was heading to Mother’s office to tell her the news. Care to join me? I could use the moral support."
The request was so unexpected that I found myself nodding before I could think better of it. As we walked side by side toward Alpha Astra’s office, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d stepped into an alternate reality.
James, my mother’s Beta, nodded respectfully as we approached. "She’s expecting you both," he said, opening the door.
Alpha Astra stood by the window, her silver-streaked dark hair gleaming in the sunlight, her posture as regal as ever. When she turned to face us, her eyes—the same violet shade as mine—softened visibly.
"My daughters," she said, extending her arms. "Come in."
Serene immediately rushed forward, embracing our mother with the easy affection she’d always shown. I hesitated, then stepped closer, accepting a brief but firm hug.
"I’m proud of you both," Alpha Astra declared, gesturing for us to sit. "Your conduct at the tribunal yesterday was exemplary. You showed courage and integrity—qualities essential to our bloodline."
"Thank you, Mother," I replied formally, still uncomfortable with displays of emotion around her.
Serene set her box down on a chair. "Mother, I have something to tell you. I’ve decided to take some time away from the company to further my education."
Alpha Astra’s expression remained unchanged, but I caught the slight nod that indicated this wasn’t news to her. "A wise decision. Knowledge is never wasted, especially for a daughter of the Frostfang Pack."
"You knew already?" Serene pouted playfully. "I wanted to surprise you!"
"Little in this pack happens without my knowledge," Alpha Astra replied with a small smile. "James helped you with the university application."
"And you didn’t say anything about Caesar Conrad being the Wolf King!" Serene accused, crossing her arms with exaggerated indignation. "Mother, how could you keep that from me? The Wolf King! The most powerful Alpha in the country!"
A slight tension formed between my mother’s brows. "It wasn’t my secret to share."
"But you knew!" Serene persisted, moving to perch on the arm of our mother’s chair with the easy familiarity I’d always envied. "You could have at least given me a hint! I made such a fool of myself around him."
Alpha Astra chuckled, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind Serene’s ear. "Would you have believed me if I told you? Or would you have pestered the poor man until he confirmed it?"
"I would never!" Serene protested, though her grin betrayed her.
"You absolutely would have," I interjected, finding myself smiling despite the peculiar ache watching their interaction always caused me.
As I observed their easy banter, a revelation slowly dawned. My inability to connect with my mother this way wasn’t solely her fault. My own personality—reserved, independent, reluctant to show vulnerability—had contributed to the distance between us. I had always assumed Alpha Astra favored Serene because she wasn’t her biological daughter, but perhaps it was simply that Serene’s openly affectionate nature made her easier to love. freēwebnovel.com
The thought didn’t fill me with the usual bitterness. Instead, I felt a strange peace. We were who we were. And watching them together, I realized I didn’t begrudge Serene the happiness she brought to my mother. Alpha Astra deserved that joy.
"Earth to Sylvia," Serene called, waving a hand in front of my face. "You zoned out there. Thinking about your Wolf King mate?" Her tone was teasing rather than malicious.
"Sorry, just... processing everything," I replied.
"Speaking of processing," Serene said, suddenly serious. "I owe you both an apology." She took a deep breath. "Especially you, Sylvia. I’ve been... awful to you for years."
I stiffened, unprepared for this conversation. "Serene, you don’t have to—"
"Yes, I do," she interrupted firmly. "I was jealous. Insanely, stupidly jealous. I convinced myself you were stealing what should have been mine—Mother’s attention, the pack’s respect, the company leadership. I told myself I cared more about all of it than you did." She shook her head. "But I was wrong. So wrong. You weren’t stealing anything; you were earning it, day after day, while I was just... existing on entitlement."
The silence that followed her confession was heavy. Alpha Astra’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"I haven’t been perfect either," I admitted quietly. "I resented you for having the relationship with Mother that I couldn’t seem to build. I thought she loved you more because you weren’t a reminder of her failed mate bond." The words were painful to speak aloud, but they needed to be said. "I pushed people away because I was afraid of being hurt or rejected. Including both of you."
Alpha Astra made a soft sound, almost like a wounded animal. "My girls," she whispered, reaching for both our hands. "I’ve failed you both if you ever thought for a moment that my love was conditional or unequal."
"It wasn’t you, Mother," I insisted. "It was me. I built walls and then blamed others for not climbing them."
"And I was too busy throwing tantrums to notice anyone else’s pain," Serene added.
A tear slid down Alpha Astra’s cheek. "This is all I’ve ever wanted—for my daughters to understand each other, to stand together. The Frostfang Pack needs both of you, in different ways."
The three of us sat together, hands linked, as years of misunderstandings and hurts began to dissolve.
After a moment, Alpha Astra straightened, ever the Alpha even in emotional moments. "Now, about this Wolf King situation," she said, her tone shifting to business. "Sylvia, I’m concerned about the implications for you and for our pack."
I nodded, having anticipated this. "The timing of his revelation is... complicated."
"To put it mildly," she agreed. "The Northwestern Territories pack is already reaching out through diplomatic channels, seeking clarification on our position. Other powerful packs will follow."
Serene frowned. "Why should we have to take a position at all? Caesar is Sylvia’s mate."
"It’s not that simple," Alpha Astra explained. "For generations, the Wolf King has been more legend than reality, appearing only in times of great crisis to unite the packs. Caesar has broken tradition by revealing himself during peacetime. Some will see it as a power grab."
"And Frostfang can’t be seen as supporting a power grab," I concluded.
"Nor can we oppose the Wolf King," Alpha Astra confirmed. "We must maintain neutrality, which puts tremendous pressure on you, Sylvia. Your personal relationship versus pack diplomacy." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
The weight of her words settled on my shoulders. I was only just beginning to understand what being Caesar’s mate truly entailed. "I’ll find a way to navigate this," I promised. "There must be a middle ground where I can honor both commitments."
"If anyone can find it, it’s you," Serene said with unexpected sincerity. "You’ve always been the strategic one."
A soft chime interrupted our conversation—Alpha Astra’s phone. She glanced at it, her expression darkening immediately.
"Mother?" I questioned, alarm rising at her sudden change in demeanor.
Alpha Astra’s jaw tightened as she looked up from her phone. "James just sent an urgent Mindlink. Vertex Group has abruptly terminated all contracts with Frostline Enterprises."
The blood drained from my face. "What? That’s impossible. Those contracts are worth millions—they’re our financial backbone for the next quarter."
"It gets worse," Alpha Astra continued, her voice chillingly calm. "The financial news is breaking the story now. Vertex Group’s CEO has been publicly identified." Her eyes met mine, hard as amethysts. "It’s Caesar Conrad."
