Chapter 0019
The respect I had long been denied finally started flowing my way, and I absorbed Elijah’s lesson deeply. The whispers of doubt, the cruel judgments, all the rumors that had once circled around me–now, they were crumbling, like ash blown away by the
wind.
People who had barely acknowledged my existence in Silvermoon’s central building, people who had sneered at me or whispered. behind my back, suddenly found it necessary to offer their apologies. I saw some of them approach me, their heads slightly lowered, bearing small gifts as tokens of their regret. It was almost comical, how swiftly their attitudes changed once the truth
came out
A week ago, I was nothing more than a rumor to be entertained or dismissed, but now I was the Luna’s mate, the one they had underestimated.
Perhaps most satisfying of all was Ava’s absence. I’d heard she had taken a leave of absence. Maybe it was the weight of her own guilt, or maybe she feared the consequences of her lies catching up to her. Either way, her venomous presence had dissipated, and I couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Elijah stepped out of his office that morning, his sharp eyes scanning the hallway before landing on me. His usual composed demeanor softened for a moment as he approached me.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice steady but carrying a note of genuine curiosity.
I smiled, my heart lighter than it had been in years.
“I’ve never felt this good,” I admitted, the words coming out more easily than I expected
For five long years, I had been living under a cloud of shame, carrying the weight of false accusations, betrayal, and rejection. But
now, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I could breathe. The chains of the past no longer held me down.
My soul felt lighter, unburdened. This was happiness–a real, tangible joy that filled my chest with warmth.
Later that day, we went to pick up Thea from school. I could tell something was weighing on her mind. She looked downcast as
she climbed into the car, her little fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of her shirt.
“Mommy, will you come to Family Running with me?” she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I glanced at Elijah, who nodded slightly.
“Of course, sweetheart,” I said, squeezing her hand gently. “We’ll both be there.”
Thea bit her lip, her eyes filling with a familiar uncertainty.
“Everyone’s saying Olivia will come,” she muttered, her voice tinged with sadness
Family Running. I had heard about the event–a parent–child activity organized by Thea’s werewolf preschool. It was a special weekend camping trip where parents and their pups would participate in different activities, one of which involved shifting into
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wolf form and carrying their pups through a forest race. It was supposed to strengthen bonds between parents and children, something Olivia had excelled at in the eyes of the pack.
I knelt beside Thea, brushing her hair out of her face.
“Don’t worry about Olivia,” I said softly. “Your father and I will be there for you. We’ll do this together as a family.”
Her eyes brightened, and she threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly.
“Thank you, Mommy.”
Elijah threw an appreciative glance my way at the sight, and my heart warmed.
On the day of the event, excitement buzzed through the air. Families were gathered at the school, and a special bus was arranged to take us all to the forest campsite. The bus was no ordinary school transport–it was luxurious, with plush seating arranged in
groups of four around small tables.
It felt more like a high–end train than a bus for a preschool event.
Thea and I made our way toward the back, holding hands as we navigated through the sea of parents and children, all of them
buzzing with anticipation. As we approached the last row, something–or rather someone–caught my eye
James Blake, my father, was sitting in one of the seats near the front. Beside him sat Clara, my stepmother, with a small boy who
looked about four years old. My stomach turned at the sight of them.
It had been five years since I’d seen my father, five years since I’d severed all ties with my family after he tried to force me
terminate my pregnancy. I’d defied him and kept Thea, and in doing so, I had become the disgrace of the Blake family.
James had wanted a male heir more than anything, and Clara had given him that. I could still remember how he had doted on her,
treating her like the prize of the family while I was nothing but an embarrassment.
The urge to flee hit me hard, but I couldn’t. Not here. Not now.
I tightened my grip on Thea’s hand and kept walking, my eyes trained forward, ignoring the presence of my father and
stepmother entirely. We reached our seats in the back, and I sat down, willing myself to stay calm
But Clara had never been one to let things go.
Her voice drifted over, sickeningly sweet but laced with venom.
“Are you the new nanny? Where’s Luna Olivia? You shouldn’t be sitting in the owner’s seat–you should be standing. I’m shocked you even got a nanny job. I wouldn’t dare to let you near any of my children.”
The words stung, not because they carried any truth, but because Clara still wielded that familiar, cruel power over me. Before I could respond, Elijah entered the bus compartment, his presence like a force of nature, and the air shifted instantly.
He stood tall, his voice cutting through the tension with a quiet authority that silenced the entire bus.
“Olivia is no longer the Luna of Silvermoon,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as they landed on Clara. “Mind your words. And
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Choplar Do
you will show respect to my mate.”
Il show respect to m
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Clara visibly paled, her smug expression faltering as she realized her mistake. But Elijah wasn’t done. His gaze sharpened, his voice dropping to a command that brooked no argument.
“Apologize.”
Clara’s lips trembled as she tried to regain her composure.
“I didn’t mean to offend-” she began, but her voice lacked its usual bite.
“I said apologize,” Elijah repeated, and this time, there was no mistaking the finality in his tone.
Clara’s eyes flicked nervously toward James, who sat rigid beside her, his face a mask of cold indifference.
Finally, she muttered, “I’m sorry.”
The apology hung in the air, insincere and hollow, but it didn’t matter. Elijah had made his point, and Clara knew better than to challenge him further.
I sat there, silent but filled with a quiet satisfaction. For years, I had been beaten down by my father’s disdain, by the weight of being “lesser.” But now, I had power.
Not because of Elijah, though his presence certainly commanded respect. No, it was because I had earned my place. I had fought
for it, and I would continue to fight for it.
Clara could sneer all she wanted, but I wasn’t that same broken girl she had known five years ago. I was stronger now.
And I wasn’t alone.
