Chapter 221: Crumbling Heights
Giselle's POV
Before anyone could ask their questions, Alpha Theron had already made a move to answer them.
"Honored guests," he began, his deep baritone voice carrying a weight of authority. "I understand the confusion and speculation that has arisen regarding my relationship with Astrid. Allow me to set the records straight."
Alpha Theron paused, his eyes briefly meeting Astrid's before he continued. "Many years ago, before I became the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack. I was engaged in an affair with a young omega."
Gasps filled the room when Alpha Theron gave his confession, and whispers started to grow among the guests.
After all, a forbidden relationship between an Alpha and a lowly Omega is unheard of. It's even more surprising, especially coming from the Alpha of the most developed Pack.
"Astrid and I were able to establish her true lineage three years ago after a series of tests. To my great surprise and joy, I discovered that she was indeed my long-lost daughter.
A collective gasp rippled through the assembly, the weight of Alpha Theron's revelation settling heavily upon the guests.
I felt my own heart thundering in my chest, my mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions as I processed this unexpected turn of events.
Astrid is actually the Shadowfang Pack's Alpha's own flesh and blood? How could this be? How on earth could this be possible?!
If only I had known Astrid's true identity. If only I knew that she was not a person I could afford to mess with, I would have stirred away from her path.
I swallowed a lump that formed in my throat as fear gripped my heart. Is this the moon goddess's way of punishing me?
At that moment, the weight of my actions pressed heavily upon me, and I felt everything I built slowly crumbling beneath me.
Had I gone too far in my quest for power?
I had been blinded by my desire to be a Pack's Luna. I made so many schemes, sacrifices, and compromises, and in the end, it led me to this.
I thought the fight was over and I already won, only to find myself stuck beneath the pile of my sins with no way to escape and redeem myself.
Alpha Theron continued to speak, extolling Astrid's virtues and officially welcoming her as a part of his family.
"From this day forward, your happiness shall be our happiness, and your sorrows shall be our own. We shall stand beside you, supporting you through every triumph and every challenge, for you are now one of us - a cherished member of our Pack, bound to us by the unbreakable ties of family," Alpha Theron's last words echoed through the halls and haunted my mind.
Astrid is no longer just a rival to be vanquished but a formidable adversary, with her father and the whole Shadowfang Pack backing her.
The tables had now turned, and I found myself grappling with the realization that this fight against Astrid was still far from over.
My knees buckled, and thankfully, the seat behind me was able to catch me. The others followed suit, and they sat after the proclamation was over.
I stared at Astrid with fear in my eyes. What is she thinking? What could her plan possibly be?
Now that she has the Shadowfang Pack's influence behind her back, she's definitely going to target me.
Astrid must hate me with every fiber of her being. I took away everything from her. I killed her son.
For sure, she's not going to stop until she drags me to the ground.
"Killian made a great mistake; he just lost the chance of becoming the son-in-law of the Shadowfang Pack's Alpha."
"He must be hitting his head in regret after this for divorcing his ex-wife."
My ears perked up when I heard the guests whispering around us; their topic of conversation was none other than Killian.
I glanced at Killian, who had a blank expression on his face and his eyes looking forward. He chose to ignore their whispers, but that doesn't mean that he couldn't hear them.
I clenched my hands together to stop them from trembling. First, Astrid and now Killian. I feel myself standing over a crumbling building.
I can't let myself fall from the heights. I must hold myself together. I've already sacrificed a lot for this.
I even gave away my own daughter for this. Being a Luna for three years and being resented forever is not what I wanted to be.
I've done a lot of things. My sins are too much. There's no turning back.
I turned tense as I remembered Astrid's furtive glance at me and at Killian. She's planning something, I know it.
Just that look in her eyes, I know she's planning trouble already.
I have to speak to her and talk her out of what she's possibly planning against me. I need to convince her, and hopefully, I can make a deal with her.
I have to do anything that I can to avoid this impending disaster.
Right now I'd rather kneel before her and beg for her forgiveness than face her wrath. Now that I know
what she's truly capable of, I need to be smart and learn to compromise.
Meanwhile, as long as Killian believes that I am the real mother of his son, I know there's nothing for me to fear.