Chapter 4

"You thought this was your fight alone, my dear brothers?" the Veil Alpha sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "You are but pawns in a game much greater than yourselves. And Seraphina... well, she holds the key to it all."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed, his voice filled with defiance. "What game are you playing, Veil Alpha? Why involve Seraphina in your twisted machinations?" 

The Veil Alpha chuckled, relishing in the chaos he had sown. "Ah, Gabriel, always the righteous one. But you fail to see the grand tapestry of destiny that unfolds before you. Seraphina is not just any Luna; she possesses a power that can reshape the world of werewolves." 

A surge of anger coursed through me as the Veil Alpha's words sank in. How dare he view me as a mere pawn in his game! I stood tall, my voice dripping with determination. "I will not be a pawn in anyone's game. My choices are my own, and I will fight for the love and unity we have built." 

Adrian, who had been silent throughout the confrontation, stepped forward with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Veil Alpha, you underestimate our bond. Seraphina is not yours to manipulate. We will protect her from your twisted ambitions." 

The Veil Alpha's smile widened, his gaze shifting between the three of us. "Oh, my dear Adrian, you think you know everything. But what if I told you that your loyalty has been misplaced all along?" 

A hush fell over the chamber as the Veil Alpha's words hung in the air, casting doubt and suspicion over the bond we had shared. Adrian's eyes narrowed, a mix of confusion and anger flickering across his face. "What do you mean?" 

The Veil Alpha chuckled darkly. "Do you truly believe that your love for Seraphina is genuine? Or is it merely a product of manipulation, a bond forged through illusions and deceit?" 

Adrian's fists clenched, his voice trembling with a mix of defiance and uncertainty. "No... I love her. Our connection is real." 

But doubt had taken root within Adrian, and the seed of betrayal had been planted. The Veil Alpha's words began to sow discord among us, eroding the foundation of trust that had once united the alpha brothers and Seraphina. A flicker of hesitation crossed Adrian's face, his conflicted emotions laid bare for all to see. The Veil Alpha seized the opportunity, his voice dripping with venomous persuasion. "Adrian, join me. Together, we can reshape the werewolf world. Seraphina will be yours, free from the burdens of fate." 

Adrian's eyes darted between the Veil Alpha and his brothers, torn between love and ambition. The room fell into a charged silence as the weight of his decision hung in the balance.

Gabriel stepped forward, his voice laced with determination. "Adrian, don't let his manipulations sway you. Remember our bond, the love we share with Seraphina. Together, we are stronger than any deception." 

"Shut up Gabriel. You know nothing! All you ever cared for was nothing but yourself. And you want to take Seraphina away from me too? I won't take that." Adrian growled. 

But before I could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows, casting an eerie presence upon the chamber. It was Seraphina's grandfather, the one who had arranged my ill-fated mating and set the stage for the turmoil we now faced. 

A mix of shock and anger washed over me as I locked eyes with my grandfather. "You! How could you betray me? Your own granddaughter!" 

My grandfather's voice dripped with disdain as he met my gaze. "I did what was necessary for our pack, for the preservation of our bloodline. You were meant to fulfill a prophecy, to bring power and control. But you proved to be more of a liability than an asset." 

The revelation struck me like a bolt of lightning, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. My mating, the Veil Alpha's involvement, and now my grandfather's true role—all intertwined in a web of deceit and manipulation. 

Lucian's voice rang out, filled with fury. "He used you, Seraphina. He used our love for his own selfish gain. How could he betray us?" 

But tears welled in my eyes as I stepped forward, my voice trembling. "No, it's not what you think. I never wanted any of this. My grandfather... he forced me into that mating, into this chaos. I didn't ask for any of it."

Lucian's expression softened, a mix of empathy and longing in his eyes. "Seraphina, is this true? Did he truly manipulate you all along?" 

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, I was a pawn in his twisted game. But I love all of you. I never wanted to hurt any of you." 

The chamber fell into a heavy silence, the weight of betrayal and confusion hanging in the air. We were at a crossroads, torn between the love we shared and the shadows of deception that threatened to tear us apart. 

Amid the chaotic scene, a figure materialized from the shadows—a perfect reflection of myself. My heart skipped a beat as I stared into the eyes of my supposed dead twin. But something felt off. A sense of unease gnawed at my insides, whispering that this was not what it seemed.

The twin stepped forward, wearing an identical expression of shock and confusion. "Seraphina," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I can't believe it. We've finally found each other."

"What? What are you?" I looked confused with my heart beating faster against my chest. I looked around and saw everyone was as confused as I was. Gabriel, Lucian, Adrian. 

"What is she? She looks exactly like Luna." said the soldier who was standing as a guard mistakenly before keeping quiet abruptly. 

Gabriel, Lucian, and Adrian exchanged wary glances, their instincts on high alert. Gabriel stepped forward, his voice tinged with suspicion. "How can we be sure you're telling the truth? This could be another ploy, another layer of deception to confuse us."