Chapter 53

Gideon’s POV

The ride back to the pack house felt numb and blurry. The tires of the car grinding on the road, the sound of the engine, I was too distracted to not hear those sounds. My mind kept repeating the words said by Nurse Emily, and the file that showed the false as truth.

Daphne.

Now her name sounded like the venom. For years she pretended to be soft-spoken, smiling, affectionate and dutiful. For the world she is the perfect Luna. To me, once, she had been more. She was my sweetheart since we were young even before my mate Claire entered my life.

I clearly remembered the girl Daphne was. Her golden hair shone in the sunlight, her laughter was like sweet music. I always believed that she was tender, kind and protected and cherished a heart with care.

But that was far from the truth. I had been blind.

I gripped onto the steering wheel tightly and the leather made noise in my grip. Every good memory I had of Daphne seems to turn into dust after her betrayal. Her smiles were no longer gentle but calculated and sharp. Her touch now felt cold and possessive rather than loving.

Even Daphne's concern for Leo felt fake, the way she stayed by Leo seemed full of purpose instead of love and compassion, she was taking care of him for the power he held.

And Claire.

My heart aches with guilt. She was brave, strong and loving. She always used to carry herself as a strong warrior and perfect Luna yet there was sadness in her eyes. How many times had I brushed her off? How many times had I favored Daphne’s words over hers? How many times have I made Claire suffer in silence just because of one mistake?

I had misunderstood her. Again and again.

The thought made my heart quiver in guilt. Claire was my true mate and light and I had let her go just because of a woman who manipulated and deceived me, trapped me in her web of perfectly woven lies.

I slammed my car’s breaks as I saw the pack house ahead and looked at the grand structure of the mansion. My hands shook as I cut the engine. I felt heavy with anger and guilt as I blamed my own blindness about right and wrong.

I got out of the car as the night’s cold air greeted me. Wolves patrolling dipped their heads respectfully, but I barely noticed. My strides were determined and sharp with each step I felt resolve and fury.

The halls were silent inside, the lights were dim because almost everyone was about to sleep. I went back to my study and shut the door so no one would disturb me. I threw the file on the desk as some pages spilled out of it and it felt like the papers were mocking me about how I let Daphne change the mother's name.

I looked away from the file and stared at my reflection on the window, I looked pale, haunted and stern.

I poured myself a glass of wine as I shook my head to forget about the guilt and drank it in a single swallow. The burn did nothing to ease the storm inside me.

How had I been so blind?

The truth was not difficult. I had chosen the easy path. After Claire’s supposed death, I had been broken, my world shattered. Daphne was always there to whisper promises and offer comfort saying that life will go on. And I, desperate, grieving, had let myself believe her.

But in my mind I know. Daphne indeed planned it. She had stolen Claire's existence as a mother, Leo as a son and stolen my trust to manipulate me. And I had handed it all to her willingly.

The shame of it clawed at me. I didn't just let Claire down but also betrayed her. By believing Daphne's lies. I had realised that by choosing Daphne, I had broken the trust of the woman who was my destined mate.

I grabbed the edge of the table so tightly my knuckles turned white. No more.

The more I learned about Daphne's true face the more crystal clear the truth became, this woman didn't deserve my devotion and loyalty and the title of Luna. This woman loves shadows then light. Who twisted love into puppet strings, who took every chance to destroy my family.

Nurse Emily’s words kept on repeating in my mind. She bribed me to hurt Claire.

That was only one thread. If Daphne had done this much, I wondered if she had done anything else this bad.

I thought back. How often had rogues seemed to know our movements, our patrols? How often have accidents struck at the worst possible times? How often has Daphne suddenly disappeared and came back when no one was watching?

The pieces began to shift into place, forming a picture I didn’t want to see but could no longer deny.

She was dangerous. Not just manipulative. Dangerous.

I sat back heavily in my chair, the glass forgotten in my hand. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, growling low. He hated Daphne. He had never accepted her, even when I forced the bond into place. He had mourned Claire in silence, and I had silenced him in return.

Now, he raged with I-told-you-so fury.

She is not our mate, he growled in my head. She never was. You let her steal what was ours. “I know,” I whispered. My voice cracked. “I know.”

The silence of the study pressed in around me, thick with the weight of my regrets. Every decision, every moment where I had favored Daphne over Claire, returned like ghosts to haunt me. The way I had dismissed Claire’s warnings. The way I had let Daphne paint herself as the victim, as the perfect Luna, while Claire’s truth was buried.

I rubbed my temples, exhaustion threatening to crush me. But beneath it, determination flared. I could not undo the past. I could not erase the pain I had caused Claire, the years stolen from Leo, the lies I had swallowed. But I could carve a new path forward. I could dig out every root of Daphne’s schemes and expose them. I could uncover every betrayal, every crime.

And when I was ready—when the evidence was undeniable—I would tear the mask from her face before the entire pack.

For Claire. For Leo. For the truth.

I stood, pacing the length of the study. My mind sharpened, shifting from fury to focus. I needed more witnesses. More proof. Emily’s testimony was powerful, but alone, it could be dismissed. I needed others—doctors, guards, anyone Daphne had manipulated. I needed to track her schemes through the years, uncover every bribe, every falsehood.

And I would.

Because I would no longer be the blind fool Daphne counted on.

The door creaked, and I stiffened. A servant peeked in timidly. “Alpha, forgive me. The Luna is waiting in your chambers. She says she wishes to speak with you.”

My stomach turned. Daphne. Of course. She always seemed to sense when the walls of her lies were cracking.

I clenched my jaw. “Tell her I am busy with work.” The servant bowed and left, the door closing again.

I stared at the file on my desk, the ink that bore her name where Claire’s should have been. My hands shook—not from fear, but from the fury I barely contained.

Soon, Daphne.

You’ve hidden your sins in the shadows long enough.

The storm is coming, and this time… it will not pass you by.