•• Damien’s POV •••
I stared at Victoria’s retreating back. Her cold gaze and the way she seemed as though she didn’t want me to touch her, the way she yanked her hand away from mine, made me feel panicked and miserable.
What had happened? Last night she still initiated to be intimate with me. But then a thought entered my mind. Her forced laugh when she asked if I still didn’t want to ever bond with a she-wolf, which I nodded as an answer.
She might have thought I didn’t know her laugh was forced, but I knew her. I knew her laugh, I knew when she felt sad or happy. I knew her, although she didn’t know that.
She was my mate, of course, I knew her. I knew everything about her, even though I couldn’t feel her emotions through our matebond, yet I had watched her closely, so closely, whether from afar or when we were together, some people might have called me a cree
•• Damien’s POV •••"Those pictures are fake! They’re photoshopped!"Diana’s voice shrieked through the chamber, bouncing off the stone walls like the last desperate cry of a cornered animal. Her hands trembled as she shoved the stack of printed photographs back toward my mother. "You expect me to believe you’d fall for this crap?"Mother didn’t flinch. Her expression remained steady, calm as marble. She sat on the couch like the Luna she was - a Luna who’d heard enough lies to last a lifetime.I didn’t move either. My fingers still clutching some of the pictures, my spine straight, jaw clenched. I believed my mother.There would be no way she faked those images, especially because she used to favor Diana. She had no reason to frame her.“I’ve already had the images verified by two members of the High Circle,” my mother said evenl
•• Damien’s POV •••I took my phone from my suit pocket and scrolled through the media folder until I found the proof I needed: a recording of my conversation with Alpha Martin.“Diana, I gave my invitation to Diana.” Alpha Martin’s voice came through my phone speaker, and I saw that Diana’s face had started to turn pale.“Are you sure about it?” Noah’s voice came next.“Yes, I’m sure,” Alpha Martin replied.“Diana, my sister?” My voice came next.“Yes,” Alpha Martin’s voice was heard again, this time sounding confused. “Was there anything wrong? She said she needed the invitation, and since she’s your sister, I didn’t think of anything by giving it to her.”“You didn’t hear the news?” Noah asked.“Diana gave the invitation to my fian
•• Damien’s POV •••I stared at Victoria’s retreating back. Her cold gaze and the way she seemed as though she didn’t want me to touch her, the way she yanked her hand away from mine, made me feel panicked and miserable.What had happened? Last night she still initiated to be intimate with me. But then a thought entered my mind. Her forced laugh when she asked if I still didn’t want to ever bond with a she-wolf, which I nodded as an answer.She might have thought I didn’t know her laugh was forced, but I knew her. I knew her laugh, I knew when she felt sad or happy. I knew her, although she didn’t know that.She was my mate, of course, I knew her. I knew everything about her, even though I couldn’t feel her emotions through our matebond, yet I had watched her closely, so closely, whether from afar or when we were together, some people might have called me a cree
•• Victoria’s POV •••To hide my trembling fingers and my feelings, I placed my teacup on the table and pretended to choose the cute, small cakes to eat.Luna Astraea didn’t seem to sense my mood shift because she acted like nothing had happened, and we chatted about the newest fashion, and she also asked about my new perfume line.I was happy to provide her with the answers until I felt tired, not because of how boring the conversation was, but because I still hadn’t fully recovered, and this time, she saw the shift in my mood.“Oh, I’m sorry to keep you for so long, dear,” she apologized. “You must still be feeling weak. Do you need a doctor to check on you?”She looked so worried, so I had to reassure her with a smile, “I’m fine. I just still need to recuperate.”This time, she looked guilty, and I didn’t feel upset
•• Victoria’s POV •••Before she could answer because I didn’t think she knew, I told her, “It was Diana. She worked with Elijah to frame me. She didn’t succeed; that was why she threatened me to leave Damien and the U.S. in exchange for her to take down all her posts. But of course I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t leave Damien.”Luna Astraea’s eyes only widened slightly in disbelief, but she didn’t look too shocked by the news. I smiled bitterly. So it was true that Damien didn’t tell her just how wicked Diana was, and even after I told her about this, she still didn’t look like she would punish Diana.“That was the reason why she kidnapped me and left me to die, because I wouldn't comply with her threats. And that wasn’t the first time she framed me,” I said. I might as well tell her everything. “On the day Diana arrived,
•• Victoria’s POV •••“Hello, dear, do you have time to visit me today?” Luna Astraea's voice sounded from my phone. “It’s been quite some time since we enjoyed afternoon tea together.”I chewed on my bottom lip as I thought of her question. Should I meet her? Did she know what her adopted daughter had done to me? If she didn’t know… Maybe I should meet her and tell her about it then.“Sure, Luna Astraea,” I replied softly. She was still Damien’s mother and a lovely she-wolf. I still respected her, so I couldn’t be harsh to her.I heard her sigh of relief. Did she think I wouldn’t want to meet her?“That’s great,” she replied, her voice still as gentle as usual. “I have asked someone to pick you up.”“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I told her. “I can ask one