Chapter 5: The Crimson Fang Pack's Apology Visit
1242 Words
Chapter 5: The Crimson Fang Pack's Apology Visit
(Seraphina's POV)
"I understand, Mom. I'll be right back."
Talia, who had been eavesdropping, immediately perked up. "What happened? Who called?"
"The Volkov family came to apologize," I said calmly, continuing to eat my meal.
Talia's eyes widened. "Damien too?"
"Yes."
"That bastard has some nerve!" Talia slammed her fork down. The sound echoed through the dining room like a gunshot.
"Sera, I'm coming with you. What if they try to bully you? What if you soften toward that trash again?"
I looked at her gratefully. "Thank you, but..."
"No buts!" Talia declared, jumping to her feet. "I'm definitely going!"
Her chair scraped against the floor. Her face was flushed with righteous anger.
Kaelan, who had been silently observing our exchange, suddenly spoke. "Go with her."
Talia blinked in surprise. Her mouth fell open.
Kaelan's expression remained cool as ice. "Go to the vault and bring some moonlight wine and healing herbs as gifts."
I quickly interjected, "Alpha King Kaelan, that's too generous. We can't accept such expensive gifts."
"It's not for you," Kaelan replied flatly. His dark eyes met mine across the table.
"It's proper etiquette when visiting the Thorne family."
His tone brooked no argument. I could only nod in acceptance.
Thirty minutes later, Talia and I arrived at Thorne Manor in Willow Bay. Though not as astronomically expensive as the Blackwood territory, our family estate ranked among the top residential areas in the Northern Territory.
The ancient oak trees cast long shadows across the courtyard. Their branches swayed in the afternoon breeze.
The moment I stepped into the living room, the atmosphere felt suffocating. It was like walking into a tomb.
My parents sat in the main seats, their faces pale and expressions unpleasant. Dad's jaw was clenched tight. Mom's hands were clasped so hard her knuckles were white.
On the nearby sofa, Magnus and Cassandra wore apologetic smiles that looked more like grimaces. Their faces were strained with false cheer.
Behind them stood Damien, his face dark and sullen. He clearly didn't want to be here. His shoulders were hunched like a scolded child.
Our eyes met across the room. For a split second, his face seemed to transform into that demonic expression from my past life‚the one he wore while setting the fire.
I froze, my blood turning to ice. My breath caught in my throat.
"Sera?" Talia whispered sharply beside me, snapping me back to reality.
I quickly composed myself and greeted my parents. "Dad, Mom."
My voice came out steadier than I felt. I forced my hands to stop trembling.
Talia immediately launched into her charm offensive. "Aunt Marianne, you look so radiant today! Your skin is glowing‚you could pass for someone in their twenties!"
My Mother's tense expression softened slightly. A genuine smile flickered across her face.
"Little Talia, you're too kind."
"These are some moonlight wine and healing herbs from our family vault," Talia continued smoothly. She held up the elegant gift boxes.
"My brother specifically selected them for you. He said the Thorne family has always been so good to us, and he wanted to express his gratitude."
She handed the gifts to My Mother with a bright smile. "Please don't refuse‚my brother will scold me if you do."
My Mother accepted the gifts, her smile becoming more genuine. "Your brother is too thoughtful. Helen, please take these to the storage room."
"Next time, don't bring anything," My Mother added warmly. "Just having you visit is gift enough."
I noticed Magnus and Cassandra exchange meaningful glances. Their eyes became more determined. The mention of Kaelan's name had clearly shifted something in the room's dynamics.
Magnus straightened in his seat. Cassandra's fake smile grew wider.
My father cleared his throat. "Magnus, please continue with what you were saying."
Cassandra immediately seized the opportunity. Her voice dripped with false warmth like honey from a poisoned jar.
"Seraphina, dear, about yesterday's incident‚Damien had to rush to the hospital because a friend was in a terrible car accident. You know how loyal he is to his friends."
She nudged Damien with her elbow. The gesture was sharp and demanding.
"Damien, apologize to Seraphina properly."
Damien remained silent, his jaw clenched tight. He stared at the floor like it held the secrets of the universe. His hands were balled into fists at his sides.
I watched this pathetic display with growing amusement. In my past life, I would have been heartbroken by his coldness. Now, I found it almost entertaining.
The silence stretched on. It filled the room like thick smoke.
Cassandra's smile became strained. Cracks appeared in her perfect facade.
"Damien?"
Still nothing. He might as well have been a statue.
Magnus's face was turning red. His breathing grew heavy with suppressed anger.
I decided to help them along. "A friend had a car accident?"
My voice was perfectly innocent. But there was an edge of sarcasm underneath that could cut glass.
"Which friend? Do I know them?"
Damien finally looked up. His eyes flashed with irritation and something darker.
"Maybe I should visit them too," I continued sweetly. My smile was sharp as a blade.
"After all, any friend of yours is a friend of mine. We've known each other for over ten years‚surely I know most of your friends by now?"
Cassandra's smile faltered. Her mask was slipping fast.
"Well, it's... it's someone from university. You might not know them."
"Oh?" I tilted my head. My expression remained innocent as a lamb's.
"How interesting. And this friend was so badly injured that Damien had to stay at the hospital all night? Was he performing surgery? Or perhaps he's secretly a doctor now?"
The sarcasm in my voice was becoming impossible to miss. Talia snorted with barely contained laughter.
Her shoulders shook with the effort of staying quiet.
"I mean," I continued relentlessly, "what exactly could Damien do at a hospital that the medical staff couldn't? Unless he has some special healing abilities I'm not aware of?"
Damien's face was turning red. Anger and embarrassment warred across his features.
His hands trembled slightly. I could see him fighting the urge to lash out.
"And the timing is quite remarkable," I added. My voice grew colder with each word.
"This emergency happened to occur right during our engagement ceremony. What are the odds?"
The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. Everyone shifted uncomfortably.
Magnus cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Seraphina, you know Damien has always been‚..."
"Loyal to his friends?" I interrupted. My eyes never left Damien's face.
"Yes, Aunt Cassandra mentioned that. But I have to wonder‚if loyalty to friends comes before commitment to his fiancée, what does that say about his priorities?"
The room fell silent. Even my parents looked stunned by my directness.
Dad's eyebrows had risen to his hairline. Mom's mouth hung slightly open.
Talia was grinning like a wolf. Her eyes sparkled with wicked delight.
Magnus and Cassandra looked like they'd been slapped. Their faces had gone pale.
Damien was staring at me like he'd never seen me before. His mouth opened and closed like a fish.
I smiled sweetly at Damien. The expression felt foreign on my face but satisfying.
"So tell me, Damien. What's this friend's name?"
My voice was silk over steel. Soft but deadly.
"Which hospital were they taken to? I'd love to send flowers."
- Writer
