Chapter 75

Claire’s POV

The sound of children’s laughter echoed faintly across the pack grounds, carried by the cool breeze of the late afternoon. Nova’s hair glowed under the sunlight, her little hand gripping Leo’s as they both ran ahead, giggling about something only they understood.

I followed close behind, my heart lighter than it had been in weeks. For a brief moment, everything had felt almost normal again — just me and the children, away from politics, betrayals, and the ghosts of the past.

But that peaceful moment shattered instantly as I saw her. Daphne.

I could recognise her even from a distance, the sight of her made me very furious and made me feel very tense. I was able to tell that something very wrong was about to happen.

She was standing near the grand entrance of the pack house for some reason she was looking very smug and confident. She was surrounded by pack members, but all their attention wasn’t on her — it was on the man standing before her.

I saw Gideon speaking seriously to the mysterious man and said “Alpha Justin Royce, think about it carefully.”

“Alpha Justin Royce.” I spoke his name thoughtfully and then I remembered who he was. The Alpha of the Moonstone Pack.

And judging by the stunned expression on his face, I already knew what was happening before the words even left his mouth.

“Mate.”

My eyes widened as he spoke that word. I stumbled a bit as I realised Daphne is Alpha Royce’s mate.

The word itself made me realise how dangerous the situation has become as I felt the blood drain from my face.

Leo gently tugged on my sleeve looking at me concerned. “Miss Warrior?”

I looked at Leo and Nova who just stood there waiting for me to take them back to their rooms. I lifted a hand quickly, pressing a finger to my lips. “Kids please be quiet,” I whispered softly. “Stay here, both of you.”

They nodded, obedient and wide-eyed, and I crouched beside them, pulling them slightly behind the thick pillar by the steps. We made sure we are not caught watching this scene but also made sure we can see everything clearly.

Daphne took a deep breath pretending to be overwhelmed with emotions. Her lips parted in a soft gasp, and her eyes filled with tears — those fake, shimmering tears that I’d seen her use a thousand times before.

“Oh Moon Goddess I am so happy,” she whispered dramatically, taking a shaky step towards Justin. “You are… you’re truly my mate? Am I dreaming?”

Alpha Justin looked at her with a love struck gaze, his expression was gentle and almost reverent. “Yes Daphne,” he said softly and he held her hand, as if the word itself was sacred. “You are my Mate.”

I bit my lip not realising I almost drew out blood from it. Of course. Of course fate would play such a cruel joke.

After everything Daphne had done — poisoning Gideon, manipulating the pack, nearly getting me killed — she still got rewarded with a mate. And not just any mate, but an Alpha.

I clenched my fists, my breathing became uneven with anger.

Nova looked at me concerned, seeing the change in my mood, “Mommy, do you know who that man is?”

“He is someone very important,” I murmured softly, as I kept on looking at the drama before us. “And someone very unlucky.”

Because he had no idea what kind of venom he’d just claimed as his fated partner.

Gideon stood to the side, silent and tense. His expression was unreadable, but I saw the flicker of disbelief in his eyes. He didn’t look jealous — no, this wasn’t that kind of emotion. I saw horror in his eyes as if he was worried what new disaster Daphne was about to bring.

Daphne turned her gaze toward Gideon then, her tears still glistening beautifully, but her lips curled into that smug, victorious smile I knew too well.

That look, that smug little twist of her mouth made my nails dig into my palm.

Leo frowned and whispered to me as if snarling, annoyed at Daphne's audacity. “Here we go. She's doing it again,” he muttered under his breath.

I glanced at him gently. “Doing what Leo?”

“looking at my father smugly like that,” he whispered fiercely. “Like she thinks she won.” I knew Leo was right. She thought she had.

She dramatically flung herself into Justin’s arms, sobbing pitifully. “I thought… I thought I will never find my mate in this life,” she cried, her voice shaking with perfectly measured despair. “But the Goddess… the Goddess hasn’t abandoned me after all.”

Justin’s hands hovered over her uncertainly before he wrapped his arms around her, awkward but sincere. “Don’t cry my mate,” he murmured. “You will be fine now. You have me.”

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt, I cringed so much. Safe? If only he knew the truth — that the creature he held wasn’t a wounded woman, but a serpent wrapped in silk.

Daphne peeked up at him through her lashes, then turned her head ever so slightly toward Gideon again. That look of triumph — smug, poisonous — it was meant for him.

She wanted him to see. She wanted him to suffer.

I could literally tell she was trying to taunt him as if saying: you thought I will let you off so easily, the game has just begun.

My jaw clenched. I wanted to march right into that hall, drag her by the hair, and tell Justin exactly what kind of monster she was. But I didn’t move. Not yet. The last thing I needed was to expose myself before the time was right.

Gideon finally spoke up and broke the silence. “That’s Enough,” he spoke firmly and coldly. “Daphne, stand still."

Daphne stood still and hesitated, as she gently stood away from Justin and lowered her face like some regretful saint.

“Alpha Gideon,” Justin interjected firmly, “with all due respect, she’s my mate now. Whatever punishment she is suffering now she is under my protection.”

“She doesn't deserve it, you have to believe me,” Gideon interrupted, his tone flat. “And I can tell you she won't be a good Luna.”

A series of whispers came from the crowd.

Daphne continued to play the part as an innocent victim like a professional she was. “I never meant to hurt anyone,” she whispered. “I only wanted to be loved…”

Her voice sounded so fragile and broken some younger Wolves started to believe her words. I wanted to scream.

She was good — too good. She knew exactly how to manipulate wolves and gain sympathy without any problem.

Justin frowned. “Alpha Gideon I really think she deserves a second chance for herself.” Gideon’s eyes darkened. “Redemption doesn’t fix the damage she has done.”

The silence in the room was intense.

Even Daphne froze, her lip trembling just enough to sell the moment.

My chest tightened painfully. Gideon’s words hit something deep — an echo of what we had lost, of what Daphne had stolen.

Nova tugged at my sleeve. “Mommy,” she whispered, “why does that man sound sad when he talks to her?”

Because he’s remembering someone else. Because even when Gideon spoke to Daphne, I could feel that weight in his voice — that quiet grief that had never really faded.

The crowd began to disperse slowly as Gideon turned away, clearly done with the spectacle. Justin led Daphne gently toward the courtyard, murmuring something soft I couldn’t hear.

Daphne nodded along, playing the docile mate now that she had achieved her next victory.. Only then did I stand, brushing dirt from my skirt, my pulse still thrumming hot with anger. Leo looked up at me. “Miss Warrior?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

He frowned. “Why did that man say she’s his mate if she’s… bad?”

I exhaled slowly, crouching to meet his gaze. “Because sometimes,” I said softly, “even the Moon Goddess makes mistakes.”

He blinked, confused. “But the Goddess doesn’t make mistakes.”

My lips curved into a bitter smile. “Then maybe this time, she meant for us to see one.” Nova wrapped her arms around my leg. “Will she come back here again?”

I looked toward the doorway where Daphne had disappeared. My eyes narrowed. “Not if I can help it.”

Because I knew Daphne. Her arrogance, her hunger for power, her obsession with control — none of that would die just because she had found a mate. If anything, she’d grow worse.

And if she thought her new title as “Luna of Moonstone” would protect her from me… she was wrong.

I took the children’s hands firmly and led them toward the back door, away from the main entrance, my mind already spinning with possibilities.

Daphne might have fooled Justin. She might have even fooled half the pack. But she could never fool me.

Not again.

And if fate had chosen to tie her life to another Alpha’s… then fate would have to live with the consequences, too.