The Lunar Bond Between the Unwanted Heirs | Read Free Preview
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Chapter 1 — Caught In The Act
The moonlight gently cascaded onto the ground, resembling the Moon Goddess bathed in holy radiance, tenderly watching over her faithful followers.
Seraphina Lane of Solaris Pack was questioning if the Moon Goddess was playing a joke on her.
She was a vulnerable being without an inner wolf, even weaker than the feeblest Omega within the pack. It seemed as though she was not under the protection of the Moon Goddess.
At that moment, her legs felt weak and her entire body was overwhelmed with discomfort.
“It's so hot...” Seraphina murmured, her consciousness gradually blurring.
Suddenly, she found herself colliding with a firm chest, and then the two of them tumbled onto the bed together.
The sound of rapid breathing echoed in her ears as waves of pain and pleasure washed over her. Her mind was a complete blank. She was unable to distinguish between reality and dreams anymore.
When she opened her eyes the next day, she felt an intense soreness throughout her body. Every movement she made, made her feel as if she was falling apart.
She turned to one side and saw a man standing by the bed. He was tall and lean, casually rolling up his sleeves with his back to her. Each of his movements exuded an air of elegance, making it seem as though even his manner of dressing was an art.
Sensing a movement behind him, the man turned around.
His eyes were as sharp and icy as a hawk's, instilling fear in anyone who dared to meet his gaze. At that moment, he was staring intently at Seraphina.
“M-Mr. Theodore?” Seraphina finally got a good look at the man, and for a moment, she felt as if the world was spinning.
The man standing before her was none other than the youngest son of the Alpha of Moonshine Pack, Theodore Fairchild. But most importantly, he was Elara Lane's fiancé.
I can't believe I...
“Why were you in Elara's room?” Theodore questioned coldly.
After dinner last night, he had felt dizzy. Elara had supported him and led him to her room to rest.
Seraphina averted her gaze, her voice hushed as she confessed, “I've been set up!”
If I still can't figure out who tampered with my bowl, then I'm simply too naive.
The Alpha couple from Moonshine Pack had visited Solaris Pack last night. Their visit was to discuss the potential marriage between Theodore and the second daughter of the Lane family. Both families shared a meal together.
Seraphina never dreamed that even something as mundane as eating at home could lead to problems.
When she realized something was off and decided to go to the hospital, she encountered Sterling Fairchild, the current Alpha of Moonshine Pack, in the hallway. He was Theodore's father.
Sterling scrutinized her from head to toe, his gaze carrying an unsettling hint of intrusion that made her feel a wave of nauseating discomfort.
Seeing him approach, Seraphina was so frightened that she abruptly pushed open a door beside her. She then immediately shut it and locked it, not realizing she had just entered Elara's room. Little did she know what would unfold next.
Seraphina found it ironic. Elara refused to marry Theodore because of his status as an illegitimate child, yet she was capable of such a despicable act.
Theodore's expression turned even colder when he learned that Seraphina had been manipulated. She's also a victim? So, was last night intentionally orchestrated by someone?
Something suddenly flashed through his mind, causing his brows to furrow. He asked inwardly, “Aiden, where did Elara go last night?”
Aiden was his inner wolf, possessing considerable strength. However, his status was somewhat awkward. To avoid trouble, Theodore rarely allowed Aiden to take control of his body.
“She brought you to the room and then she never showed up again.” Aiden's voice echoed in his mind.
A glimmer of disappointment flashed in Theodore's eyes, and the atmosphere around him grew even colder.
The sound of knocking echoed through the room. Theodore cast a nonchalant glance at Seraphina before proceeding to answer the door.
Seraphina quickly wrapped herself up in the blanket.
The door swung open, revealing none other than Elara.
She glanced toward the bed. When she saw Seraphina hiding under the covers, she desperately tried to conceal the smile in her eyes.
This settles it. Theodore and Seraphina have been involved, and I've caught them in the act. I no longer have to marry Theodore, the illegitimate child.
Quickly, Elara concealed her smug expression and feigned shock, letting out a piercing scream. She donned a look of hurt as she gazed at Theodore. “You two...”
Her shout summoned the Lanes and Fairchilds, causing a crowd to gather at the door.
“What exactly is going on here?” The Alpha of Solaris Pack, Gregory Lane, feigned a troubled expression as he looked at Harrison Fairchild.
Harrison instantly noticed a woman's blouse, jeans, and bra scattered all over the floor. The bedroom was even filled with an indescribable scent lingering after their intimate encounter.
“Theodore, what on earth is going on?” His face reddened with embarrassment, and his voice took on a stern tone.
Chapter 2 — Facing The Reality
Instead of responding right away, Theodore turned his gaze toward Elara. Upon meeting his eyes, Elara quickly looked away.
Elara felt not the slightest bit of guilt. Theodore was indeed quite handsome and had an impressive presence. He was even more attractive than Maverick Fairchild, the next Alpha of Moonshine Pack. Unfortunately, his low status as Sterling's illegitimate son left him with no promising future. While he currently had Harrison's protection, he had no real prospects once Harrison was no longer around.
Seeing her reaction, Theodore let out a self-deprecating laugh. Is it because of my status as an illegitimate child?
Aiden sighed at that moment. “I warned you not to act impulsively. She was never meant to be our destined mate, yet you insisted on marrying her.”
Indeed, his inner wolf had revealed early on that Elara was not his destined mate. However, their childhood bond had led him to decide to marry her regardless. So what if they weren't destined mates? In werewolf society, there were plenty of instances where couples who weren't destined mates still ended up as husband and wife.
Unfortunately, reality hit him hard, making all the beauty, the memories he had cherished for fifteen years, and the obsession imprinted on his heart feel like a cruel joke.
He lifted his chin toward Harrison and said, “It's exactly as you saw it!”
He had simply shared a meal with the Lanes but found himself set up, and the Lanes were unlikely to admit to drugging him. He couldn't afford the embarrassment.
“Stop this nonsense!” Harrison barked.
A month ago, Theodore unexpectedly expressed his intention to marry the second daughter of the Lane family. This visit to Solaris Pack was meant to discuss his marriage to her. However, just as we settled the matter, he ended up sleeping with his fiancée's younger sister. What on earth is going on? There must be more to this situation than meets the eye.
“Tell me what exactly happened,” Harrison demanded in a deep voice.
If Theodore insisted there were hidden circumstances, he would undoubtedly support him.
Theodore calmly stated, “Grandpa, if Ms. Seraphina agrees, I want to marry her!”
“What about Elara?” The Luna of Solaris Pack pretended to look concerned.
Gregory appeared even more somber, looking utterly heartbroken. “What's done is done. The previous engagement obviously no longer matters!”
Beneath the covers, a cold, mocking smile tugged at the corners of Seraphina's lips, her face streaked with tears.
It was only then that she realized the true meaning of the words she had faintly heard when she passed by the study yesterday afternoon.
“Elara doesn't want to get married. Just find a way to get someone else to marry him. We absolutely need to secure this one-billion project.”
It turned out that she was the “someone else” they had referred to, and their so-called solution was to drug her.
“Ms. Seraphina, I'll be waiting for you downstairs. If you're willing, we can register our marriage later,” Theodore said, then left without giving attention to anyone else.
Since everything from fifteen years ago had already ended, it no longer mattered whom he chose to marry.
After getting married, he would shoulder the responsibilities that a husband should. He was not Sterling; he would never let a woman down.
Selene Ziegler, the Luna of Solaris Pack, said awkwardly, “I apologize for my poor guidance which has led to this embarrassment. Gregory, could you please lead everyone to breakfast? I need to have a private chat with Seraphina to understand what exactly happened.”
Harrison had no choice but to lead his son and grandson downstairs.
In an instant, only Selene was left at the door. She stepped into the room and gently closed the door behind her. With a tenderness akin to a loving mother, she called out, “Seraphina.”
Seraphina peeked out from under the blanket, her gaze distant as she looked at Selene.
Selene was startled but quickly feigned self-reproach, saying, “Seraphina, I've failed to protect you. I'm sorry!”
Seraphina cast a mocking glance at Selene.
Selene was too guilt-ridden to meet Seraphina's eyes, but she had no choice but to continue persuading her. The future of Solaris Pack depended on it.
The day before, Moonshine Pack had come to discuss a marriage alliance. Harrison had personally agreed to offer a collaboration project worth a billion to Solaris Pack as a gesture of sincerity for the proposed union. She was resolute in persuading Seraphina to marry into their family.
“Seraphina, I'm not sure how all of this came about, but given what has transpired between you and Mr. Theodore, marrying him would be the best decision.”
Seraphina remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on Selene.
Selene's heart skipped a beat, but she steadied herself and continued, “Seraphina, I've already checked. Mr. Theodore has no bad habits. He's handsome, has a great demeanor, and his business acumen is top-notch. He's a good man. Marrying him will definitely lead to a happy life for you.”
With a mocking smile, Seraphina asked, “If he's so great, why didn't you let Elara marry him?”
At the dinner table, the two packs had agreed for Elara to be married off, as Theodore had specifically expressed his desire to marry her.
Feeling overwhelmed with guilt as if her secrets were exposed, Selene took a deep breath and said, “Seraphina, you know we initially planned for Elara to marry Mr. Theodore. Elara was quite fond of him. But then last night, something happened between you and Mr. Theodore. Can you tell me what exactly happened? Didn't you go back to your room to sleep after saying you were dizzy? How did you end up in Elara's room?”
Chapter 3 — Three Conditions
A bitter laugh echoed in Seraphina's heart. How did I end up in Elara's room? Are they planning to pin all the blame on me, accusing me of seducing Mr. Theodore?
What amused her was that she genuinely couldn't find a reason to argue back. Indeed, there was no valid reason for her to be in Elara's room. She claimed she was drugged but lacked proof. Everyone had shared the same meal last night.
Suddenly, her eyes twinkled as she asked, “Where did Elara go last night?”
If it wasn't for a deliberate scheme, Elara wouldn't have spent the entire night away from her room, only to catch them red-handed the next morning.
Selene's gaze momentarily revealed her guilt, but she quickly composed herself and said, “I spent the entire night persuading her.”
She had to come up with a reason for Elara's absence throughout the night.
“Persuading her to marry Mr. Theodore?” Seraphina asked.
“Yes!” Selene smiled awkwardly.
“Didn't you say Elara was quite fond of Mr. Theodore? Why would you need to persuade her all night?”
Selene was taken aback, her heart filled with resentment toward Seraphina. However, she dared not offend her at the moment, as she was relying on her for the project.
With a smile, she said, “She was reluctant at first.”
“Is it because Mr. Theodore is an illegitimate child?”
“You... Seraphina, how could you speak like that?” Selene was somewhat annoyed.
Seraphina looked at Selene with a face full of mockery. What, they've done what they did, and I'm not allowed to talk about it?
“I suppose Mr. Theodore and I make quite a pair since we're both illegitimate children!”
“You!” Selene looked at Seraphina in shock.
“How did I know I was an illegitimate child, right?”
Selene furrowed her brows, looking at Seraphina.
Seraphina smiled, a hint of hurt hidden behind her radiant face. “Aunt Selene, do you remember when Elara and I fought over a dress when I was thirteen? She took my dress and pointed at me, calling me a loveless illegitimate child with no parents to care for me.”
Seraphina began to address Selene as Aunt Selene.
Indeed, Gregory and Selene were her uncle and aunt. Her mother, Juliana Lane, had entrusted her to them when she was just a month old, hoping to provide her with a normal family.
It wasn't until she turned thirteen that she discovered they weren't her real parents.
She had been clinging to a fantasy, hoping that this was all a lie, a deceit spun by Elara.
However, by the time she reached her eighteenth birthday, her coming-of-age, she had not yet found her inner wolf. Whispers and speculations began to circulate within the pack.
Everyone was saying she couldn't possibly be a purebred werewolf descendant and her father must have been an ordinary human.
He had not only abandoned her mother but also refused to acknowledge his own child. This led to her mother's mental breakdown and subsequent car accident.
These were secrets she had overheard. She remembered discovering the truth by eavesdropping, then hiding behind the flower bed and crying alone for the entire afternoon.
After her birth, her mother had given all her savings to Gregory and Selene, aiding them in expanding Solaris Pack to its current scale. All she asked in return was for them to treat Seraphina kindly and provide her with a complete family. But they didn't.
All the tasty treats, fun toys, and useful items were only for her elder sisters. All she could have were the things they didn't want.
Even though they weren't particularly nice to her, Seraphina still appreciated their upbringing.
However, from last night onward, all her gratitude had turned into a weapon, one that severed familial ties.
Selene's face contorted. She furrowed her brows, pondering on how to persuade Seraphina to agree to the marriage.
Seraphina lifted her gaze to meet Selene's, her voice calm yet resolute as she declared, “I don't mind marrying Mr. Theodore, but I have three conditions!”
A wave of joy swept over Selene. She took Seraphina's hand, gently stroking the back of it. “Whatever conditions you have, feel free to express them. Think of me as your mother. Rest assured, as long as it's within my abilities, I will fulfill your wishes.”
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