The Embrace of the Second Chance Mate

Beneath the Mask

Elaine POV

The moment I left Aeron's room, my emotions overwhelmed me. I needed to be alone, to sort through the chaos in my mind.

My feet carried me automatically to the back of the packhouse, an area often deserted during the busy preparations.

The early morning air was cool against my skin, contrasting with the warmth I felt with Aeron.

As I reached the secluded spot, hidden from the rest of the world, the tears I had been holding back finally fell.

They streamed down my face, hot and unrelenting, as if they carried all the pain I had been trying to bury. I leaned against the rough bark of a tree, the texture grounding me as I let my emotions flow freely.

Aeron. My mate. My second chance.

The Moon Goddess had given me another chance at happiness, another mate who, unlike Darius, actually wanted me.

The thought was almost too much to bear.

I had spent so long believing I wasn't worthy and destined to be alone after Darius rejected me. And now, here was Aeron—an Alpha, strong and commanding, yet gentle and protective toward me.

It was everything I had dreamed of, yet I couldn't shake the fear that it was all too good to be true.

I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand, trying to compose myself.

I had work to do tasks to complete for the ceremony. I couldn't afford to break down, not now.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to regain control. The last thing I needed was to let anyone see me like this, especially with Seraphina and the others so close by.

Pushing myself off the tree, I straightened my dress and ran a hand through my hair, ensuring I looked presentable.

With one last deep breath, I headed back inside the packhouse.

I heard my mother's voice calling me as soon as I entered. "Elaine! Come help Seraphina," she said, her tone brisk and commanding.

I nodded and followed her down the hallway, my heart sinking as I realized I must face Seraphina.

We arrived at a room with more than five people helping Seraphina prepare for the ceremony.

The air was thick with the scent of flowers and perfume, and the chatter of the helpers filled the space. Despite the commotion, an underlying tension in the room made my skin prickle.

I wondered why I was needed when so many others were already assisting Seraphina. Before I could ask, my mother spoke again.

"Seraphina specifically asked for you, Elaine," she said, her eyes flicking toward the bride-to-be with a look of unease.

Seraphina, seated in front of a large vanity mirror, caught my eye and smiled—a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

When she saw me, she waved a hand dismissively, signaling the other helpers, including my mother, to leave the room.

My heart pounded as the door closed behind them, leaving just the two of us in the suddenly suffocating silence.

The air seemed to thicken with each passing second, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen—something that would shatter the fragile peace I had been trying to hold on to.

Seraphina turned in her seat, crossing her legs elegantly as she regarded me with a smug expression. "How does it feel to watch your fated mate with someone else?" she asked, her voice laced with malice.

Her words hit me like a physical blow, leaving me momentarily speechless.

I could only stare at her, my mind reeling.

She knew.

All this time, she knew that Darius had been my mate.

The realization sent a fresh wave of pain through me, a reminder of the rejection that had once nearly destroyed me.

"So you knew?" I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course," Seraphina replied, her tone light as if discussing the weather. "Darius told me right after he rejected you. He didn't want any secrets between us."

The casual way she said it as if my pain was nothing more than a trivial detail, made my blood run cold. "You knew…and still accepted his proposal?" I asked, incredulous.

"Why shouldn't I?" Seraphina said with a small shrug, her eyes gleaming with a predatory satisfaction. "Darius is the future Alpha of this pack, which means I will be the Luna. That's all that matters."

She rose from her seat and walked toward me, her steps deliberate and slow, like a predator stalking its prey.

I stood rooted to the spot, unable to move, as she closed the distance between us.

"Although it is a shame that Darius wasn't my fated mate, that doesn't really matter, does it?" she continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as she leaned close to my ear. "He still belongs to me in the end."

I could feel her breath against my skin, her presence overwhelming and suffocating.

It took everything in me not to flinch or let her see how much her words affected me. I no longer felt for Darius—the bond was gone when he rejected me.

But knowing that Seraphina had known all along and had still chosen to hurt me in this way filled me with a deep, simmering anger.

"How could you do this?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of hurt and fury. "How could you marry him, knowing he rejected his true mate?"

Seraphina pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowing as she regarded me with thinly veiled contempt. "Because, Elaine," she said, her tone cold and condescending, "I don't care about fated mates or the Moon Goddess's plans. I care about power, status, and what I can gain from this union. And Darius…well, he's just a means to an end."

Her words left me feeling hollow as if all the air had been sucked out of the room.

This was the true Seraphina—cruel, calculating, and utterly devoid of compassion.

I had always known something off about her, but I had never imagined her capable of this level of cold-heartedness.

"What happened between you and Darius is in the past," Seraphina continued, her voice taking on a mocking tone. "You should be thankful, really. You wouldn't have found your new mate if he hadn't rejected you. And from what I've heard, Aeron is quite the catch. An Alpha of his stature? You must be thrilled."

Her words dripped with sarcasm, and I could feel my hands clenching into fists at my sides.

I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much her taunts affected me, but keeping my emotions in check was becoming harder and harder.

"I don't need your pity, Seraphina," I said, my voice low and steady. "Aeron is my mate, and nothing you say or do can change that."

Seraphina's smile widened, and there was a flicker of something—perhaps jealousy—in her eyes. "We'll see about that," she said softly, her voice hinting of menace. "Enjoy your little fantasy while it lasts, Elaine. But remember, I'll always be one step ahead."

With that, she turned and returned to the vanity, picking up a brush and resuming her preparations as if nothing had happened.

The conversation was over, dismissed as easily as one might swat away a fly.

I stood there a moment longer, my heart pounding, before turning and leaving the room. As soon as the door closed behind me, I let out a shaky breath, feeling relief and anger coursing through me.

Seraphina had shown her true colors, and I had no doubt that she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

But I wouldn't let her win. I wouldn't let her or anyone else dictate my life.

I had survived Darius's rejection and found a new chance at happiness with Aeron.

I wouldn't let Seraphina's venomous words poison that.

Walking down the hallway, I made a silent vow to myself. I would protect what was mine—my bond with Aeron, my future, and my happiness.

No matter what Seraphina tried to do, I wouldn't let her take that away from me.

I wiped away the last of my tears, straightened my shoulders, and headed back to the preparations for the ceremony. There was still much to do, and I wouldn't let Seraphina or anyone else distract me from what was important.

I was stronger than that. Stronger than Seraphina gave me credit for. And I would prove it, no matter what.