Chapter 4

The next day, two astonishing things happened at the estate.

Lilian, who had always loved sleeping late and dressing revealingly, actually dressed properly and went early in the morning to offer tea and greetings to Luna Marian.

It silenced the people who always called her shameless and complained that the old madam was biased.

Kristin was found pregnant again, though the fetus was unstable and she needed medicine to nourish it.

She had always feared bitterness more than anything, but this time she obediently drank every drop.

She also followed the doctor's orders, walking carefully and no longer bouncing around like before.

Those waiting to see her lose another child and mock her for deserving it had no chance to speak.

In the dining room, Cedric looked pleased and teased with a smile.

"Mother, look. I was right to hand Seraphina over to the rogues. See how much more obedient they are now?"

Luna Marian nodded cheerfully in agreement.

I listened numbly to their words. I had long been used to a life in which no one cared about me.

It was rather laughable.

In more than ten years, the number of times they had eaten with me like this could be counted on one hand.

Because I was the luna, because I already possessed status and honor others could not have, I could not receive extra concern or companionship. That would be unfair to the others.

So Cedric could accompany Kristin while she flew kites when I was giving birth.

And Luna Marian could tell Lilian to stay away from me when my fever would not break, lest she catch my illness.

I noticed that Kristin was distracted. Several times, the food she picked up slipped from her chopsticks.

Lilian looked even more haggard, glancing at Cedric with fear from time to time.

"Lilian, today you have finally made me proud. What reward do you want? Name it."

"Yes, and Kristin too. At last, you have learned some rules. It was not a waste for me to go against everyone's objections and bring you into the estate. Now that you are pregnant again, whatever you want, I will buy it for you."

Hearing this, Lilian and Kristin trembled. Their eyes reddened at once.

It was as if they had been waiting for this moment.

They both knelt and begged through tears.

"I don't want anything, Mother. Lilian will behave from now on. I will never anger you again or disgrace you. Please bring Sera back, or my conscience will never be at peace!"

"Yes, Alpha Cedric. I promise I won't run around or jump anymore. I will take my medicine properly and give birth to this child. It was all our fault. We will never run off again!"

Seeing them not only admit their mistakes but plead for me in this way, I was somewhat moved.

In truth, Lilian and Kristin were not bad people. They were merely a little spoiled and yearned for freedom.

Though they sometimes disliked me restraining them with rules, every time I fell ill, they were the first to bring werewolf supplements to see me and stay by my side to care for me.

Seeing her adopted daughter cry so miserably, Luna Marian felt pained.

"Cedric, leaving Seraphina in that kind of place makes me uneasy too. Lucas and the others are about to return. Bring her back."

Cedric helped the equally tearful Kristin up and placed a piece of her favorite food into her bowl, but his expression was cold.

"When Seraphina was here, you two made mistake after mistake. Now that she is gone, you have become obedient. Clearly, she did not teach you well."

"In that case, it may be better if she never comes back. At least my inner household will be peaceful. This was her dereliction of duty. Her father and Lucas will only feel ashamed of her."

Listening to him, I found it ironic and absurd.

This was the man who had been my mate for more than ten years.

Although I had never received even the slightest pity from him, I had still worked diligently to be his perfect luna and bear his child.

Yet now, he cared less for me than two outsiders who had received a little of my kindness.

Pale-faced, Lilian and Kristin supported each other and left, looking utterly lost.

Luna Marian sighed.

"How long do you intend to leave Seraphina outside?"

"Lilian looked haggard just now. She clearly did not sleep all night."

"Kristin has no appetite either. If this continues, both of them may fall ill. You had better bring Seraphina back quickly and form the mate bond with her again."

"Do not forget that the Silverwood family is no pushover. And you cannot truly make Lucas acknowledge another she-wolf as his mother. He is your biological son!"

Cedric set down his chopsticks. His expression finally shifted, but only into greater impatience.

"Mother, why don't you understand my intentions?"

"I only thought that if Seraphina stayed outside a few more days, the two of them would behave better. Then we would not have to worry about them being hurt all the time."

He pondered for a while, then finally spoke.

"Fine. They will not return to the country for another three days anyway. I will bring Seraphina back before then. I will comfort her and tell her that what happened before was only meant to frighten her. I will form the bond with her again. Is that acceptable?"

I gave a bitter laugh.

By then, I feared the only thing he would receive would be my bloated corpse.