38

Ariana

My victory had left Seraphina bitter and furious, her eyes seething with jealousy and resentment. As I walked through the clan grounds, I could feel her gaze burning into my back.

My father's change in attitude towards me was both surprising and unsettling. Gone were the days of his indifference; now, he treated me with an air of respect and reverence. I couldn't help but feel conflicted, wondering if his newfound support was genuine or merely a result of my recent triumph.

"You think you've won, don't you?" she sneered. "But I know your true intentions. You've conspired with the Blood Moon Clan to steal my birthright!"

"Father, she must be cheating, her wolf is fake, all this is a conspiracy between her and Lucas!"

I met her gaze, my own eyes steady and resolute. "Sister, you know that's not true," I replied, my voice calm. "My only goal was to prove my worth and protect our clan."

She scoffed, her laughter bitter and mocking. "Protect the clan? More like steal the Alpha position through deceit."

Before I could respond, my father's voice cut through the air like a gentle breeze. "Enough," he commanded, his tone firm. He approached us, his expression a mixture of sadness and regret. "This rivalry between you two needs to end."

Seraphina's face twisted with anger, her words dripping with contempt. "So now you're on her side too? You've always favored her!"

My father's eyes softened, his voice tinged with sorrow. "I have made mistakes, but I am trying to mend them now. Arianahas proven herself worthy, and it is time for us to move forward as a united clan."

A brief silence hung between us, the weight of his words settling over the tense atmosphere. Seraphina's fury seemed to waver for a moment, replaced by a mixture of resentment and vulnerability.

As if seeking to soothe her wounded pride, my father extended a hand towards her. "Seraphina," he said gently, "I promise you, you will always have a place within our clan. But it is time to put aside this rivalry and work together for the greater good."

Tears welled up in Seraphina's eyes, her façade of anger crumbling as she hesitated. Eventually, she took his hand, a mixture of emotions playing across her features. "Fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The tension in the air seemed to ease slightly, and my father's attempt at reconciliation left me both hopeful and cautious. It was a fragile step towards healing the divisions that had plagued our clan for too long.

Under the ring, Lucas walked towards me proudly, "Ariana, you did it."

I nodded and hugged him excitedly, "Thank you for your company and encouragement during this time."

Immediately, thunderous cheers erupted around me, and when I raised my head, all the werewolves of the Silvermoon Clan were kneeling on the ground, with a sincere and respectful tone, "Congratulations to Ariana, for becoming our new Alpha!"

At the invitation of my father, Lucas stayed with me in the Silvermoon Clan to participate in tomorrow's Alpha defending ceremony.

At night, Lucas and I snuggled up under the tree, I breathed the fresh air, and murmured, "After tomorrow, the lives of the Blood Moon Clan and the Silver Moon Clan will be peaceful."

"Yes, it's all thanks to you, my Luna."

"All of this was too hard-won. Then, we can take our daughter back to the Silvermoon Clan and meet my mother."

"Of course, it's just your father. It's not easy to deal with." When Lucas mentioned his father, a hint of regret flashed across his tone, "Will I be a little harsh on him that day?"

I chuckled, "Are you just now aware of this problem?"

Lucas sighed and touched his nose, "It's okay, he is your father, as long as he doesn't treat you like before, I will treat him like a father-in-law. Time will heal everything, right ?”

"Yes, I believe."

As long as tomorrow is past, everything will be better, I think.

However, any semblance of peace was shattered the next day when chaos erupted within the clan. The tranquility of the Silvermoon Clan was shattered as wolves began to exhibit erratic behavior, their eyes wild and feral. Panic spread like wildfire, and the clan was thrown into disarray.

I rushed through the chaos, trying to make sense of the madness that had befallen us. It was then that I caught sight of Seraphina, her eyes filled with a sinister gleam. "This is your doing!" I shouted, my voice a mixture of anger and desperation.

She smirked, her expression twisted with malice. "Oh, Ariana. It seems the Moon God's blessing can't protect you from the consequences of your actions."

My heart raced as I realized the severity of the situation. The wolves were under the influence of a potent wolf poison, their minds clouded and their instincts overridden by an uncontrollable rage.

"Seraphina, what are you doing? Are you crazy? you are hurting your compatriots！" the father yelled, his tone incredulous and heartbroken.

"I know exactly what I'm doing, Father. She took my husband and made me a laughingstock for everyone. From the moment you gave the alpha position to that bitch, you are no longer my father, you This stupid guy, under your leadership, the Silver Moon Clan will eventually perish." Seraphina sneered, eyes full of madness.

"Seraphina, listen to me, I still love you, now, hand over the antidote, it's still too late." Father's voice trembles, he can't believe his beloved daughter thinks of him like that and walked towards Seraphina slowly, but she turned into a wolf, jumped On to the roof.

Amidst the turmoil, Lucas and I stood side by side, our eyes locked in a shared determination to quell the chaos that had erupted. Frenzied wolves, once allies, had succumbed to the effects of the poisonous gas, their wild eyes reflecting a madness that sent shivers down my spine.

"We have to stop her," I shouted over the cacophony, my voice barely audible above the savage growls and frenzied howls.

Lucas nodded, his jaw set with grim resolve. Together, we advanced towards Seraphina, our steps purposeful amidst the chaos. But before we could reach her, a figure emerged from the fray—a figure I had never expected to see in the midst of such turmoil.

It was my mother, her eyes filled with heartache and desperation as she pleaded with Seraphina to end the madness. "Please, my child, this isn't the way," she implored, her voice carrying a weight of sorrow.

But Seraphina's eyes were glazed with a fervent determination, her grip on reality slipping further with each passing moment. She recoiled from my mother's touch, her voice laced with venom as she railed against the very family that had raised her.

“It's all because of you, since you have given me the halo and glory for 23 years, you should abide by it to the end, instead of depriving me of everything and giving it to that worthless bitch!”

"Seraphina, you're crazy. You shouldn't be talking to Mom like that!" I said.

"Ha, don't pretend to be a filial daughter, you have left home for five years without looking back, and severed ties with father because of a man. You are fuck not qualified to lecture me! "

As their confrontation escalated, I could feel the tension in the air thicken, the very atmosphere charged with a sense of impending doom. And then, in a tragic twist of fate, it happened—my mother inadvertently inhaled the toxic gas.

Time seemed to slow as I watched the color drain from her face, her body trembling as the poison took hold. "No!" I cried out.

Lucas was at my side in an instant, his arm wrapping around me in a protective embrace as we watched the unthinkable unfold before us. My mother's strength wavered, her body weakening as the poison wreaked havoc on her already fragile constitution.

“Marilyn!”my father yelled anxiously.