Chapter 71 The Unforgivable

Chapter 71 The Unforgivable


Decades Ago

Seraphina had been through so much, and it always broke Morgana's heart.

Her younger sister gentle, kind, filled with a light that seemed impossible in their dark world. While Morgana had chosen the path of power and shadow magic, Seraphina had chosen healing, compassion and hope.

She had done everything right by Morgana. Tried to be her light in the times of darkness, never judging, never turning away even when Morgana's choices led them down dangerous paths.

And when Morgana's son was born, the child of forbidden love Seraphina had helped raise him without any questions.

The boy was beautiful and mischievous, with Aldric's amber eyes and wild spirit. As he grew, Seraphina knew her sister watched her, saw how looking at Kael reminded Morgana of everything she'd lost.

Every smile was Aldric's smile. Every laugh echoed with the memory of stolen moments in moonlit forests. Every gesture a painful reminder of the man who'd walked away.

Seraphina had tried for the longest time to keep Morgana from drowning in that pain. From letting the bitterness consume her completely.

And from the looks of it, she'd done a good job.

Until she failed.

Until Seraphina fell in love with the same people who took her sister's dreams from her. The same bloodline that had destroyed everything Morgana held sacred.

Lucian Varex.

Morgana remembered the first time Seraphina mentioned him the way her sister's eyes had lit up, the flush in her cheeks, the nervous excitement in her voice.

"There's someone I want to tell you about," Seraphina had said.

And Morgana had listened, not knowing yet that her world was about to shatter all over again.

Lucian had been charming. That's what Seraphina said. He had an enticing aura that pulled her in every time she came close, made her feel seen in a way she'd never experienced before.

He'd run into her in the city marketplace where they lived the place where Seraphina sold her wares to make ends meet.

Herbs and spices. Not the bewitching kind that Morgana dealt in. Just simple, honest goods that could help her and her sister survive, that could put food on the table and pay for her nephews education.

A guy like Lucian had no business being in a place like that.

He looked like luxury, like his kind dined with kings and queens, lords and ladies. His clothes were tailored, expensive. His presence commanded attention even when he tried to blend in.

Seraphina said she'd known better than to engage him in conversation. She was a simple herb seller. He was clearly something else entirely something far above her station.

But Lucian didn't take no for an answer.

He kept coming back. Day after day. Buying herbs he probably didn't need, asking questions about her plants, making her laugh with stories that seemed too grand to be true.

And slowly, inevitably, they fell in love.

Morgana had seen the change in her sister. The way Seraphina hummed while working. The way she took extra care with her appearance. The secret smiles when she thought no one was watching.

For a while, Morgana had been happy for her. Seraphina deserved love. Deserved joy after everything she'd sacrificed.

Until Seraphina finally told her his name.

Lucian Varex.

The moment those words left her sister's lips, Morgana's blood had turned to ice.

"Varex?" she'd repeated, her voice dangerously quiet. "Did you say Varex?"

Elspeth had nodded, confusion flickering across her face. "Yes. Why? Do you know the family?"

Know them? Morgana wanted to scream. Aldric was a Varex. The man who'd abandoned her, who'd chosen duty over love, who'd left her pregnant and alone and worst of all he was Lucian's father.

When Morgana found out he was of Varex blood, she knew her sister would never be allowed this happiness. The Varex pack would never accept a witch. History was repeating itself in the cruelest way possible.

She'd gotten angry. She told Seraphina to stay away from him. Begged her to end it before it was too late.

But Seraphina, sweet and stubborn Seraphina, didn't listen.

"I love him, Morgana," she'd said with quiet certainty. "And he loves me. We're going to find a way."

"There is no way!" Morgana had shouted. "The Varex will never allow it. They'll destroy you just like Aldric destroyed me!"

"Lucian isn't his father," Seraphina had insisted. "He's different. He'll stand up for us."

But Morgana had known better.

And she'd been right.



The memory of that night still burned in Morgana's mind with crystal clarity.

The message had come just before dawn. Seraphina had been found near the border between territories the neutral ground where she and Lucian used to meet in secret.

She wasn't breathing or moving. She was dead.

Morgana had run through the forest, her magic tearing through the air around her, until she'd reached the clearing.

And there was her sister. Her beautiful, kind, gentle sister.

She was gone.

Lucian had been there too, standing over her body, covered in blood. His eyes wild. His hands shaking.

"It was an accident," he'd said, his voice broken. "I didn't mean..I just.. I wasn't trying to hurt her I swear"

Morgana hadn't heard the rest.

She'd lunged at him, magic exploding from her hands, ready to tear him apart the way he'd torn her world apart.

But Aldric had appeared. Along with Selene and the rest of the Varex pack.

They'd pulled Lucian away, they shielded him they protected their own.

"It was a tragedy," Aldric had said, not meeting Morgana's eyes. "A terrible accident."

"A mistake," Selene had added, her voice cold. "Not a murder."

Morgana had screamed at them. Begged Aldric to make his son face consequences. To give her justice for Seraphina.

But they all refused.

"He's our son," Selene had said firmly. "We'll handle this internally."

"It was an accident," Aldric had repeated. "A tragic, terrible accident."

Lucian hadn't said anything.

He'd just stood there behind his parents, face pale, eyes hollow. He wasn't saying anything or even doing anything.

He was just hiding.

His parents and his pack shielding him from the consequences of what he'd done.

And Morgana had been left alone.
Once again.

Left to bury her sister. Left to explain to her son why his aunt would never come home. Left to pick up the pieces of a life that kept shattering no matter how hard she tried to hold it together.

She'd stood over Seraphina's grave and made a vow.

This wouldn't end. Not here and not now.

She would make them pay. Every single Varex. Every member of that cursed bloodline that had taken everything from her.

First Aldric had broken her heart.

Now his son had taken her sister's life.

And Morgana would have her revenge.

Even if it took centuries.

Even if it cost her everything.

She would be back.