Betrayed By My Mate Saved By His Rival

---- Chapter 22 Seraphina's POV Three months later. I stood in the rose garden of Julian's estate, watching Lydia chase butterflies. She was laughing, the fear gone from her face. "Mommy, look!" She ran over, holding up a red rose." Daddy Julian said this is for you." Daddy Julian. She called him that so naturally now. "Thank you, sweetie." I took the rose. "Go find your dad. I have some work to do." "Okay!" She skipped away. I went back to the study and opened my laptop. Asmile, sharp and cold as a shard of ice, touched my lips. Isent a single mind-link to the elders of my bloodline: Sell.

Everything. Ten minutes later, I got a reply: As you wish, Luna. ---- Julian was helping, too. His business network spanned the globe. Ethan's empire was crumbling, piece by piece. Just like he had once destroyed my family. "What are you busy with?" Julian asked, walking in. "Watching a show." I turned the screen to him." Blackwood Enterprises dropped another 15% today." "They won't last much longer," Julian said, sitting beside me. "Do you still care?" "No," I said honestly. "I just want to see it end." "End how?" "T want to see him with nothing. No power, no pack, no name." Julian nodded.

He didn't try to stop me. He understood my rage. "By the way, I saw the news," he said. "Ethan and Lilith's mating ceremony was a disaster." "Oh?" Lasked, feigning indifference. "What happened?" "The evidence got out. Lilith was arrested," Julian said ---- simply. "The word on the street is that the Blackwood family is finished." I listened, but felt nothing. Not even a flicker of satisfaction. The thrill of revenge wasn't as sweet as I'd imagined. Maybe because I just didn't care about them anymore. "Sera..." Julian's voice turned serious.

"I want to ask you something." "What?" "Mate with me," he said, taking my hand. "Officially. Before the Moon Goddess." I froze for a second. "Are you sure?" "Completely," his gaze was firm. "I want to give you and Lydia a name. A real home." I looked at him, this man who had cared for us so selflessly for three months. He never pushed, never demanded. He gave me all the time and space I needed to heal. ---- "Okay," I nodded. "I will." Julian's eyes lit up with surprise and joy. "Really?" "Really," I smiled. "You're a good man, Julian.

You deserve to be loved." He stood up, pacing the room with excitement. "T'll start the arrangements immediately!" he said. "We can't wait. No telling what might happen." "Tn such a hurry?" "Of course I am!" He turned to me. "I've waited for you for years. I don't want to wait another day." Aweek later, the mating ceremony was ready. Julian moved with the speed and precision of a king preparing for his coronation. He had overlooked nothing. The air was thick with the scent of white roses and my favorite lilies. A string quartet played the soft, aching melody I loved. And the dress...

it fit like a second skin, as if woven from moonlight and hope. "When did you prepare all this?" I asked, amazed. ---- "T've had it ready for years," he confessed, his voice soft as he adjusted my veil. "Just in case. Just hoping." "You were that sure I'd say yes?" "Not sure," his eyes were soft. "But I was willing to take the chance." The ceremony was held at dusk. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the square. I wore a white gown, holding a bouquet of white roses. Julian was in a black tuxedo, looking as handsome as a prince. Lydia, in a little pink dress, was our flower girl.

She was as happy as a little bird. "Mommy, you look so pretty!" she chirped. "Thank you, baby," I kissed her forehead. The music began. We walked slowly toward the altar. Julian's pack members stood on either side, their faces full of blessings. Everything was perfect. ---- Until we reached the altar. "SERA!" The name was a raw, desperate scream that shattered the perfect peace. It was a sound I knew in my bones. A sound Thad prayed I would never hear again.