Once Despised, Now Begged

Seraphine's POV

The Steelfang Packhouse radiated extravagance, a testament to Henrietta’s meticulous orchestration of her son’s engagement banquet. The grand ballroom pulsed with the murmurs of pack members and allies, each dressed in their most elegant attire. The entire event was a blatant display of wealth and status. Leonel’s mother had spared no expense, ensuring Aurora’s position as the future Luna was indisputable, and the message was clear to everyone present.

Hidden in the shadows, I remained unnoticed, tucked away in a secluded corner of the bustling hall. A headscarf obscured my features, and Elin had skillfully masked my scent, allowing me to move undetected. Yet, despite the precautions, the weight of betrayal pressed against my chest, suffocating and unrelenting.

“Seraphine, if they recognize you…” Elin’s whisper was frantic, her grip on my arm tightening. “They’ll rip you apart. Everyone believes Leonel sent you away on a vacation.”

“Vacation?” I echoed, bitterness dripping from my voice. “I suppose betrayal comes with rewards now.”

My gaze drifted over the sea of faces—their laughter, their false smiles. Their conversations floated through the air, each word laced with venom.

“Have you heard about the royal family’s bounty?” a woman murmured to her companion.

“Yes,” a man replied, lowering his voice. “They’re desperate to find the prince’s murderer. Maximilian may have been a disgrace, but his death shamed the kingdom.”

“Disgrace is putting it lightly,” another voice interjected. “He squandered fortunes and seduced countless women. Honestly, his death feels like justice.”

Hearing Maximilian’s name sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. Until now, I hadn’t allowed myself to process his death—my eldest brother, a cruel man who had inflicted more pain on me than I could count. But listening to them speak of him so casually… Did he deserve to die? Did anyone? The questions gnawed at me, but I shoved them aside. There was no room for grief in a hall filled with traitors.

“Aurora is perfect—strong, poised, and of noble blood. Seraphine was always… ordinary.”

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails bit into my palms. Their words sliced through the fragile remnants of my pride. But it wasn’t just the guests who scorned me—Henrietta, Leonel’s mother, added her own venomous sting.

“I never approved of Seraphine,” she remarked, sipping her champagne. “She was always beneath us. Aurora will provide the Alpha heir we need.”

My vision blurred as I struggled to steady my breathing. The pain of their words burrowed deeper than I had expected. And then, Henrietta spoke again, her voice coated in saccharine deceit as she rested a hand on Aurora’s arm.

“Aurora, my dear,” she cooed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, “I can’t wait to meet my grandchild. I hope you conceive the Alpha heir soon.”

The words struck me like a physical blow. My own child—the one I had lost—the only tether I had to a future, was gone. Grief surged within me, threatening to unravel what little composure I had left. I gripped my stomach, my nails digging into my flesh as I fought to contain the tears clawing their way to the surface.

“Seraphine,” Elin pleaded once more, her voice thick with urgency. “Please, let’s go. You don’t have to do this.”

But I remained frozen, unwilling to turn away. I was done. Done hiding. Done being the fool. I yanked my arm free from her grasp, my voice low but resolute. “No. I’ve had enough. If they want to celebrate, I’ll give them something worth remembering.”

And with that, the last thread snapped.

I stepped forward, letting my scarf slip from my head. Gasps rippled through the crowd as whispers spread like wildfire, eventually giving way to a stunned silence. I didn’t need to speak—the recognition was immediate.

“Seraphine?”

“I thought she was on vacation!”

“What is she doing here?”

The murmurs were a mixture of disbelief and disdain. My presence had shattered their perfect evening. Leonel appeared beside me in an instant, his face a storm of anger and shock, his grip on my arm firm.

“Seraphine,” he hissed, his voice low and furious. “What are you doing here? You told me you were leaving today.”

I tilted my head slightly, feigning innocence. “Did I? I must have changed my mind.” My gaze swept the room before settling on his mother across the way. “What’s this celebration for, Alpha? You didn’t mention it when you suggested I take a vacation.”

Before Leonel could respond, Henrietta stepped forward, her lips curling into a sneer, her voice sharp with disdain.

“Yes, Seraphine, you shouldn’t be here!” she spat. “Can’t you see this gathering isn’t for a lowly omega like you?”

I squared my shoulders, lifting my chin defiantly, my voice steady yet laced with steel. “I wasn’t aware that an omega—who happened to be the Alpha’s long-term partner—needed permission to attend her own pack’s gathering. Or does that rule only apply to me?”

A tense silence fell over the room as I locked eyes with Henrietta.

“You’ve always been insolent,” she sneered. “What else can we expect from a she-wolf with such a lowly background? Are you so desperate for my son’s wealth and power?”

My blood boiled, but I kept my voice calm, each word dripping with venom. “Don’t project your own greed onto me, you wretched old hag.”

A collective gasp echoed through the ballroom, but Henrietta was beyond reasoning. Her hand shot up, and before I could react, the sting of her slap seared across my cheek.

I stumbled slightly but didn’t fall. Straightening, I met her furious gaze, unwavering. “You can strike me, Henrietta, but it won’t change the truth—you are nothing but a greedy old hag.”

Her face twisted with rage, her voice trembling as she shrieked, “Leonel, I want her banished! This instant! Guards, remove this insolent omega from my sight!”

The guards advanced, their hands reaching for me, but before they could touch me, a voice rang out from the corner of the room.

“By the Moon Goddess!” an elderly man gasped, cutting through the rising commotion. “The princess with the ice bloodline has been revealed!”

A stunned hush fell over the room as all eyes turned to him. He held up a newspaper, the front page displaying a portrait of a woman—her features strikingly similar to mine.

Whispers erupted around me, the murmurs growing louder as more faces turned to compare the image to my own.

“Doesn’t this look just like Seraphine?” Someone exclaimed, pointing in my direction.