Chapter 101 Making up
Ryder POV
"I deserve honesty." She corrects. "And respect. And to be treated like I'm strong enough to handle difficult things."
"You're the strongest person I know." I mean every word. "Divine or not, you're fucking incredible."
"Then treat me like it." She stands, pulling me up with her. "No more protection. No more control. Just partnership."
"Partnership." I agree. "Starting now."
We head back to the main house together, fingers intertwined. The pack notices immediately, relief visible on their faces. They've been worried about the distance between us.
Seraphina is in the kitchen when we enter. She looks up, and something flickers in her eyes when she sees us together.
"Morning." Her smile is warm and genuine-looking. "I'm glad to see you two worked things out."
"We did." I keep my arm around Jolie. "And I think we need to have a conversation, all three of us."
"Oh?" Seraphina sets down the dish she was washing. "About what?"
"About why you're really here." Jolie's voice is calm but firm. "And who hired you to destroy our mate bond."
The mask doesn't slip, but I see the momentary surprise in Seraphina's eyes. She wasn't expecting Jolie to know already.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Seraphina's voice is confused, hurt. "I came here seeking sanctuary from an abusive mate."
"No." I step forward. "You came here because someone paid you to seduce me and break my bond with Jolie. You told me yourself, few days ago in the garage."
"That's ridiculous." Seraphina looks at Jolie. "You can't possibly believe this."
"Actually, I do." Jolie's light flickers around her. "Because it explains everything. Your convenient timing, your helpfulness, your attempts to make me doubt Ryder."
"I was trying to be your friend." Seraphina's voice rises. "I was trying to help you see that he's not the perfect mate you think he is."
"He's not perfect." Jolie agrees. "But he's mine. And I'm not interested in letting you destroy what we have."
"You're making a mistake." Seraphina's mask finally cracks, showing the calculation beneath. "He's going to hurt you. He hurts everyone he claims to love."
"That's rich coming from you." I can't help the anger in my voice. "You're the one who swore revenge. You're the one who got hired to destroy us."
"Because you destroyed me first." Seraphina's voice turns cold. "You made me love you, made me believe we had something real, and then you threw me away like garbage."
"That's not what happened." I keep my voice steady. "We were toxic together. I left to save both of us."
"You left to save yourself." Seraphina corrects. "You didn't give a damn about me."
"You're right." The admission seems to surprise her. "I was selfish. I chose my own health over your feelings. And I'd do it again, because staying would have destroyed us both."
"So you admit it." Seraphina's smile is bitter. "You used me and discarded me."
"No." Jolie steps forward. "He ended an unhealthy relationship. That's not the same as using someone."
"Stay out of this." Seraphina's attention snaps to Jolie. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"I know more than you think." Jolie's voice is soft but unyielding. "I know what it's like to be discarded. To be thrown away by people who were supposed to care. And I know the difference between someone who genuinely hurt you and someone you're trying to manipulate."
"You're naive." Seraphina sneers. "A child playing at being Luna."
"And you're a professional liar." Jolie doesn't flinch. "Playing at being a victim."
The temperature in the room drops. Seraphina's wolf pushes forward, golden eyes flashing.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with."
"Actually, I do." Jolie's light flares brighter. "You're someone who makes a living destroying other people's happiness. Someone who got hired to break something and you're failing."
"Am I?" Seraphina's smile sharpens. "You spent days doubting him. Sleeping in a different bed. Questioning everything about your relationship. I'd say I'm succeeding."
"You created doubt." Jolie acknowledges. "But you also forced us to have conversations we needed to have. To address problems that were already there. So really, you just made us stronger."
I can feel the pride swelling in my chest. This is my mate. Strong, fierce, unbreakable.
"This isn't over." Seraphina heads toward the door. "You think one conversation fixes everything? He's going to keep secrets. Keep lying. It's who he is."
"Maybe." Jolie doesn't back down. "But that's between me and him. You don't get a vote."
Seraphina pauses at the door. "I'll leave. I can see I'm not wanted here. But mark my words, little Luna. He's going to break your heart. And when he does, don't say I didn't warn you."
She's gone before either of us can respond.
The kitchen is silent. Then Jolie turns to me.
"That went well." Her voice is dry.
"You were amazing." I pull her into my arms. "Fucking incredible."
"I'm still mad at you." She leans against my chest. "For keeping secrets, for trying to control things, for all of it."
"I know." I kiss the top of her head. "And you have every right to be."
"But I love you." She looks up at me. "And I'm choosing to fight for us instead of walking away."
"Thank you." The words feel inadequate. "For giving me another chance."
"Don't waste it." Her smile is small but genuine. "Because I mean what I said. One more lie, one more major secret, and I'm done."
"Understood." I hold her tighter. "No more secrets. I swear it."