Chapter 79

Claire’s POV

Next morning the air felt more thick and uneasy.

Even the breeze that usually carried the soft scent of pine and dew now seemed heavy—stale. The entire pack was waiting in the courtyard knowing today was the day Daphne will be leaving this pack for good and become Luna of Alpha Justin's pack.

And there she was standing at the entrance of the courtyard. Daphne.

Draped in silver silk, her hair tumbling in golden waves over her shoulders, a triumphant smirk painted across her perfect face. She looked every bit the Luna she so desperately wanted to be—and yet, to every wolf standing here, she looked like what she truly was: a snake pretending to be a queen.

Alpha Justin Royce of the Moonstone pack stood beside her tall and proud, his hand held Daphne’s waist protectively. His expression was one of fierce devotion… blind devotion.

I was standing behind Gideon while holding hands of Leo and Nova. Gideon on the other hand looked tense, his posture was straight, his shoulders were taunt with the anger he was hardly able to control.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on Daphne. Some whispered with each other and some looked at Alpha Justin and Daphne with plain disgust.

“Isn’t that the woman who nearly destroyed us last winter?” someone spoke quietly. “I can’t believe she’s back,” another whispered. “And with another Alpha no less.”

Daphne ignored them all. Her attention was locked on Gideon, that sickly sweet smile never leaving her lips.

“Hello, Alpha Gideon,” she purred, her voice was full of mockery as she did courtesy. “It seems I owe you a thank you. If not for your cruelty, I would never have met my true mate.”

Gideon looked at her furiously. “Cruelty?” His voice was low, steady, but laced with a quiet warning. “You have lied, hurt and manipulate the people who trusted you. You were stripped of your title because you abused it, Daphne. Don't you dare twist the truth and make yourself like the victim.”

She just chuckled pretending to be a broken person. “Oh, Gideon, always the noble Alpha. Still so righteous, even after everything you’ve lost.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward me then, a glint of recognition—or was it calculation?—passing through her eyes before she looked back at him. “But it doesn’t matter. My mate sees me for who I truly am.”

Justin stepped forward protectively infront of Daphne and spoke in sharp tone. “That’s enough. You don’t get to speak to my Luna that way.”

The whispers of the crowd grew louder as the heard Justin. My Luna.

Those words were the biggest insult to Gideon. I saw the muscle in his jaw tighten, his fists clench at his sides.

He took a deep breath and looked at Justin in the eyes. “Alpha Royce, I’m warning you one last time—she’s not who you think she is. Daphne knows how to play innocent, how to twist emotions to get what she wants. She’s done it before. She’ll do it again.”

Justin looks like he was about to lose his patience. “How dare you accuse my mate of deception?”

“I am just warning you,” Gideon spoke calmly, even though there was an edge of coldness in his eyes. “For your sake, and your pack’s.”

Daphne pressed a trembling hand to her chest, pretending to look hurt. “You see? He’s obsessed with ruining me. He’s doing this because he can’t stand the thought of me being happy.”

A few of the pack members hissed softly, but no one believed her—not truly. I could feel the collective disgust radiating from the wolves around us. Even if they didn't dared to speak their expression spoke what they wanted to speak.

But Justin didn't notice them or maybe he didn't wanted to notice it.

He looked at Gideon, his anger rising. “I don’t know what your problem is, Alpha Gideon, but if you think I’m going to let you come between me and my Luna, you’re mistaken.”

Gideon’s expression shifted—something between disbelief and pity. “You’re letting her blind you.”

“I’m protecting her,” Justin snapped. “Something you clearly failed to do when she was under your roof.”

Daphne leaned into him, sighing dramatically, as if the whole world was against her. “It’s alright, my love. Let them talk. The truth always reveals itself.”

She cast a sidelong glance at me as she spoke those last words, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth. My stomach twisted. There was something behind that look—something dangerous.

Leo tugged gently at my hand, whispering, “Mom… why is everyone angry?”

I knelt beside him quickly, forcing a calm smile. “It’s just… pack business, sweetheart. Nothing for you to worry about.”

But my heart wasn’t steady. Not anymore.

BBecause Daphne knew. She had to. That look she’d given me—it wasn’t random. It was the look of someone holding a secret over your head, waiting for the perfect moment to drop it.

I stood again, moving slightly closer to Gideon. He didn’t turn, but I knew he sensed me there.

His voice deepened, authority radiating through every word. “You’re welcome to stay for the day, Alpha Royce, but after that, you’ll leave my territory. Whatever decisions you make about your Luna are yours to live with—but her presence here will only cause trouble.”

Justin straightened, his grip tightening around Daphne’s waist. “You don’t get to dictate where I go, Gideon. I came here to take my mate home. And if you truly are the honorable Alpha everyone claims, you’ll let her pack her things and come with me without any more of this nonsense.”

The whole pack became very quite.

Gideon sighed annoyed as he was now running out of patience. “Fine. Do what you will. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

With that, he turned, gesturing for the crowd to disperse. The pack obeyed, though many lingered long enough to throw Daphne one last look of contempt before leaving.

As Gideon started walking back toward the mansion, Daphne’s voice followed him, sharp and mocking. “You may have taken my title once, Gideon, but I’ll have something better soon—something you can never take back.”

He froze, his shoulders stiffening. For a heartbeat, I thought he would turn and confront her, but instead, he just shook his head.

Without another word, he walked away.

I quickly went after him and the kids followed me too. The silence between us was heavy as we entered the hall.

I finally spoke up. “You did what you could. He wouldn’t have listened, no matter what you said.”

Gideon didn’t look at me at first. He closed his eyes and rubbed his nose out of hobby. I’d come to recognize as his way of holding back frustration. “Justin was a good man once,” he said quietly. “But Daphne has him under her spell. He won’t see reason until it’s too late.”

I hesitated. “I wonder if she is planning very big?”

He finally looked me in the eye calmly. For a moment, all the Alpha hardness fell away, replaced by weary concern. “She’s always planning something.” His voice dropped lower. “But this time… I think she’s after more than power.”

A chill ran through me. “What do you mean?”

Gideon’s gaze lingered on me for a moment too long. “Just… stay close to the children. And don’t trust her, no matter what face she shows you.”

I answered. “I won’t.”

But the nervous in my heart didn't leave.

As Gideon walked away toward his study, I caught sight of Daphne through the window. She stood outside beside Justin, her expression hidden behind a mask of grace. But as the sunlight caught her face, I saw it—a flicker of pure satisfaction.

She’d gotten what she wanted. Power. Protection. A blind Alpha who adored her. But I can tell there was something more to that smile. Something colder.

She was waiting for something.

And I had the sinking feeling that when she finally decided to act, the secret I had fought so hard to protect—the one Ivan had warned me about—would no longer be safe.