All Chapters of The Alpha's Betrayal: My Second Chance To Defy Fate: Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

SERAPHINA’S POVThe moment I hit her with my magic, everything stopped.The weeds strangling Darragh withered and fell away. Eamon's broken bones stopped making those horrible crackling sounds. Even the rain seemed to pause mid-fall, drops hanging in the air like suspended diamonds.But then the curse kicked in with brutal force.I found myself stumbling backward, my feet moving without my permission. Ten meters. Always ten meters between us. The invisible chain that had bound us since I was but a child, snapping taut the second we got too close.Mother pushed herself up from where she'd landed, rain streaming down her face. But for the first time since she'd appeared, she wasn't smiling. Her composure had cracked. She looked... fragile. Broken."Seraphina," she whispered.The way she said my name made my chest ache. Like she was tasting it for the first time in years. Like it hurt her mouth to form the syllables.We started circling each other without meaning to. The curse pulled us

SERAPHINA’S POVThe barrier quivered around us, rippling like heat over sun-baked ground. Mother pressed her palms flat against it, her face twisting between confusion and fury.“What is this?” Her voice cracked. “What have you done to me?”I stayed back, the curse holding its grip even in this prison I’d built. Ten meters, always ten. Yet now she couldn’t run toward vengeance or away from me. We were sealed together, bound in a circle neither of us could escape.“I used natural law against you,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. “Do you remember the ballroom spell you cast earlier? That was three-way magic. Targeted. Breakable. By you or by your blood. Me.”Her skin went pale. “Seraphina…”“But this barrier,” I lifted a hand toward the unseen walls that pressed in around us, “this only ends in two ways. Either I release it, or you force me by ending my life.”The words hung heavy in the damp night air. She let her hands fall, shoulders slumping for just a breath before the curse drew

BRIGID’S POVThe rain hammered against the car roof like bullets. Heavy, relentless, angry. I loved it.My sentinel stood outside with an umbrella, water dripping from his jacket sleeves. He kept glancing at me through the window, probably wondering why I refused to get out. I let him wonder. Because if he had any brains, he would know that I could not get my custom gown wet.Not to mention, the storm felt like a sign, like the universe was finally acknowledging that tonight would change everything.I pressed my fingers to the glass and watched the water stream down in perfect rivulets. Beautiful. Cleansing. This was the kind of weather that washed away old problems and cleared the path for new beginnings.The issue at hand however was that Ronan seemed to be ignoring my calls and texts. Either that or he was having a very busy night. Securing his new Luna was priority after all.When the rain finally stopped, I stepped out with practiced grace. My gown remained pristine despite the w

CIARA’S POV (THREE MONTHS LATER)The satin of my wedding dress felt like liquid moonlight against my skin. I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror, hardly recognizing the woman looking back at me. Five months ago, I was fighting for my life. Today, I was about to marry the love of my life.The dress was everything I'd dreamed of and nothing I'd ever expected to wear. Ivory silk cascaded from a fitted bodice that hugged my curves like a second skin. Delicate lace sleeves wrapped around my arms, ending in points at my wrists. The neckline dipped just enough to be elegant without being scandalous. A chapel train flowed behind me, embroidered with tiny silver threads that caught the light like stars.My hair was swept up in an intricate bun, with loose curls framing my face. Pearl pins dotted throughout held everything in place. The veil was my mother's, yellowed with age but still beautiful. It fell to my waist, held by a simple silver comb that had belonged to Darragh's gran

CIARA’S POVThe first contraction hit me like a lightning bolt while I was arranging flowers in the kitchen. One moment I was humming softly to myself, adjusting purple irises in a crystal vase, and the next I was doubled over, gripping the marble countertop so hard my knuckles went white."Oh goddess," I gasped, my breath coming in short bursts. The pain radiated from my lower back around to my belly, squeezing like a giant fist. "Not yet. It's too early."But even I knew that wasn't true. I was thirty-eight weeks along, and this baby had been restless for days. Kicking and rolling like it was running out of room. Which, considering how huge I'd gotten, was probably accurate.Another contraction hit before the first one had fully faded, this one stronger and longer. I cried out, my legs trembling as I tried to stay upright. The vase slipped from my hands and shattered on the floor, water and flower petals scattering across the pristine tiles."Darragh!" I called, my voice cracking wit