Free Web NovelChapter 73: Chapter 73 Warm
Sylvia’s POV frёeωebɳovel.com
The crushing blow of Mother’s words struck Selene like lightning. I watched her face crumple, tears instantly welling in those wide eyes that had always known how to manipulate everyone around her.
"No, please, Mother, I don’t need to rest... I just want to stay by your side," Selene pleaded, her voice breaking in that perfect, practiced way that had won her sympathy countless times before.
I maintained my position against the wall, a cold smile playing at my lips as I observed the theater unfolding before me.
Mother turned away, refusing to look at Selene’s tear-stained face. A small victory, perhaps? But I knew better. This wasn’t punishment—it was protection. By sending Selene away under the guise of "needing rest," Mother was sparing her from further questioning, from the proper investigation this incident deserved. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Another convenient escape for the pack’s precious princess.
The bitter taste of disappointment flooded my mouth as I watched Mother’s calculated moves. I returned to my pack with my head high and my true nature reclaimed, I still found myself second place in my mother’s heart.
When Selene’s dramatic sobs finally faded down the corridor, Mother turned to face me. Our eyes met—hers flickering with rare uncertainty as they encountered my icy stare. She knew exactly what I was thinking. The shame was there in her gaze, however fleeting. But the great Alpha Astra Frost would never admit fault, not even to her own daughter.
"You go accompany Selene as well, Hugo," Mother instructed, her voice returning to that commanding Alpha tone. "She’s not feeling well."
"Of course, Alpha. Right away," Hugo replied with false concern, the smug satisfaction barely concealed beneath his polite veneer.
As he passed me, Hugo’s eyes flashed with undisguised triumph.The bond between him and Selene had always been built on their mutual love of power games and manipulation. A perfect match of ambition and deceit.
My fists clenched involuntarily, nails digging into my palms as I fought to maintain my composure.
But I was done hiding.
Just as the growl began rising in my throat, I felt warm fingers cover my clenched fist. The touch was gentle yet firm, immediately drawing my attention away from Hugo’s retreating form.
"It’s alright, I’m here," Caesar murmured close to my ear, his voice deep and steady like an anchor in a storm. His scent wrapped around me, calming the raging wolf within.
I watched as Mother smoothed over the scene with practiced diplomatic ease, assuring the gathered elite wolves that this was merely sisterly drama, nothing worthy of gossip. "You know how siblings can be," she said with a practiced laugh. "Just a harmless disagreement."
The guests nodded and smiled, crystal glasses catching the light as they toasted her words. Of course they understood—every powerful pack had its secrets, its shame hidden behind wealth and influence.
My stomach churned with disgust. Politics over principles. Always.
Unable to bear another minute of the charade, I slipped away to a quiet corner of the ballroom, grabbing a glass of blood-red wine from a passing server. The first glass went down easily, burning a path down my throat that didn’t come close to matching the fire of betrayal in my chest. The second glass followed just as quickly.
The pain cut deeper than I wanted to admit. I’d returned from the Stoneclaw territory stronger, my Alpha nature fully embraced, ready to claim my birthright. Yet Mother still saw me as secondary, an afterthought to Selene’s dramatics.
As I raised the third glass to my lips, a hand encircled my wrist. Caesar stood before me, his midnight silver-blue eyes studying me with an intensity that made my skin tingle. For a moment, I thought he meant to stop me—another man trying to control what I did with my body.
"What?" I snapped, frustration bleeding into my tone. "Are you going to stop me from having a drink too?"
A slow smile spread across his face, transforming his severe features into something dangerously appealing. "Not at all. I thought you might want company. Drinking alone is overrated."
His response caught me off guard. No lecture about proper behavior for an Alpha’s daughter. No pretense of concern that masked a desire to control.
Before I could formulate a response, Caesar took another glass from a nearby table and clinked it against mine. "To new beginnings," he said, his eyes never leaving mine as he tilted his head back and drained the glass in one smooth motion.
I watched, transfixed, as his strong throat worked, the defined line of his jaw tightening slightly with each swallow. The powerful Alpha presence he radiated contrasted with this simple, companionable gesture.
Something warm and unexpected fluttered in my chest, spreading through my limbs like wildfire.
