Chapter 76

Gideon’s POV

I watched them from a distance how they were talking with each other so lovingly and clenched my fists.

The air in the room was tense as everyone in the pack house watched them quietly not knowing what to make of this situation. Daphne stood before him in her tattered dress, her hair a disheveled mess that somehow still managed to look artfully pitiful. The bruises — faint reminders of her time in the dungeon — painted her pale skin like tragic ornaments.

Those who didn't know Daphne properly would definitely fall for her so-called weak and fragile persona.

But I knew better than to trust her lies. She was performing.

Justin’s eyes darkened as he took in her condition. He was a good, strong Alpha, the kind who will take care of his mate no matter what and who believed in fairness and instincts of protection. He was exactly the type which is easy for Daphne to play with.

“Tell me, what happened to my mate?” Justin asked calmly and coldly not liking the bad condition of his mate. “Why is your pack member, your pack prisoner, in such a poor condition?”

Alpha Justin’s tone was slowly getting rude even now my warriors were starting to feel a bit uneasy.

“She is not only a prisoner but a traitor as well,” I replied evenly.

Justin clenched his fist. “Even if she is a traitor she didn't deserve to be treated like this.”

I didn’t flinch and looked at him coldly, not liking him trying to order me in my own pack. “She’s alive, isn’t she?”

For a moment, he looked at me with disbelief, then turned back to Daphne. “Is that true?”

And that was the moment I saw it — the faint sparkle in Daphne’s eyes. She looked satisfied that she was about to make a comeback as a Luna of another pack.

She looked down and her body trembled slightly as she started speaking in a tone that would make anyone believe her. “I only ever tried to serve this pack. But they…” Her voice broke, and tears welled up in her eyes. “They hate me because I’m an omega. They said I was not worthy of standing with them even though I am the daughter of beta of Gideon’s father.”

A murmur of sympathy spread through Justin’s men who stood near the door. I could feel my patience for Daphne wearing thin.

“That’s enough Daphne,” I said coldly. “You are not going to twist the truth.”

She slowly looked at me, her eyes widened with fake innocence. “Twist the truth? No, I am telling him the truth he needs to know.”

“You keep on lying,” I growled annoyed.

Her lips trembled as if she was about to cry. “I was locked in the dungeon for weeks, Gideon. Without food, without sunlight. Tell me — is that how you treat people in your pack? Or is it just the people who you know you can't control?”

Justin’s expression was slowly changing into anger and I could tell he was not having how I treated his mate and turned to me.

“What she said is true?” he demanded, turning to me. “You really made her starve?"

To calm down I took a deep breath. “She’s manipulative. She is very dangerous. Everything she’s saying is to get a reaction out of you.”

Daphne took a step back as if she was hurt by what I said. “Dangerous? For what? For being loyal to my pack?” She sniffled. “For not being as strong as your warriors? I tried to help this pack, Alpha Justin. I tried to make them see me as one of their own… but they never did.”

Her voice cracked at the perfect moment — I could almost see the Goddess of Deceit smiling down on her.

Justin’s fists clenched. “No one deserves to be treated like this, Gideon.”

I ignored Daphne's drama and continued to speak. “You don’t know her. You don't know how much she made me suffer.”

Daphne quickly looked at me and for a second she let the mask of innocence slip as the anger took over her expression and so did her tears as she continued to act.

“I only ever did what you asked me to,” she whispered. “You said you needed me to keep the peace. I did everything for you — everything — and this is what I got in return.”

The lie she told sounded so funny it almost made me laugh.

“You are talking about peace?” I spat. “You call the games you played with me with help of manipulation and betrayal peace? You almost got an innocent woman killed!”

Justin frowned. “What do you mean Alpha Gideon?”

Daphne turned to face Justin dramatically. “He means that because of me he lost his mate, Claire,” she murmured, as if even the name hurt her. “He blames me for what happened, but it wasn’t my fault. She—she never liked me. She told everyone I was a snake. And when things went wrong, they all believed her.”

That was it. She finally played her victim card.

Turning the story around. Making herself the victim while the real victim was my mate Claire.

Justin looked between us both, clearly torn, his instincts clashing with his reason. He was a decent man — maybe too decent for this world. I could see the conflict in his eyes; part of him wanted to trust his new mate, and another part was trying to believe I wasn’t the monster she was painting me to be.

But Daphne leaned into him, pressing her hand lightly against his arm, her voice trembling as she whispered, “I was so scared… I thought I’d die in that cell. I didn’t think anyone would ever come for me. But then you did.”

She looked at him like he was her hero. And just like that, I knew she had him.

Justin’s stance softened slightly and spoke quietly. “Don’t worry as long as I am here, no one will dare to hurt you.”

I almost pitied him. Almost.

Because he didn’t realize what he’d just said was the same thing every fool who ever got close to Daphne said before she destroyed them.

Goddess help him — he had no idea what kind of hell he’d just invited into his heart. Daphne gave a small, tearful smile and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thank you, Alpha Justin,” she whispered. “You’re the only one who’s ever shown me kindness.”

Justin’s men murmured in approval. To them, it looked like a tragic love story — two fated souls finding each other against all odds.

To me, it looked like the beginning of another disaster.

“Take her,” I said flatly. “If you believe her, then take her with you.” Daphne’s head snapped up, surprised.

Justin looked at me, narrowing his eyes. “You’d just let her go?”

“I’d let her go because she’s not my problem anymore,” I said coldly. “But when she brings chaos to your pack, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Daphne gave a soft, mocking laugh that only I caught. “You think the Goddess would curse two mates with chaos?” she asked sweetly.

I met her gaze head-on. “I think the Goddess is testing him.”

The smile faltered on her lips for just a second, and I knew she understood my meaning. “Be careful who you trust,” I said quietly, not knowing if it reached Justin's ears or not. “Not every wounded bird deserves saving.” I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples.

For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t angry — I was tired.

I knew exactly how this story would go. Daphne would twist Justin around her finger, turn his loyalty against me, and before long, the alliance we’d just formed would start to crumble.

I had seen it before. I had lived it.

And now, another Alpha was about to learn the same painful lesson I once did — that sometimes, the most dangerous enemy doesn’t come with claws or teeth… but a pretty smile and a soft voice that knows exactly what to say.