Chapter 5 - We're Getting Married

~Seraphina's POV~

"In that case, I agree to your terms, but I swear on my life, I'll make you regret the day you made this proposal," I seethed, and Reed's eyes suddenly grew colder. His eyes were cold before, but now, they sent chills down my spine.

He backed away as if I physically repulsed him. I probably did. What I didn't understand was why he made such a strange proposition to me if he hated werewolves so much. If he thought marrying me would give him access to the pack land, he was in for a rude awakening.

"My lawyers will be in contact," he said tersely before walking out of the room, leaving me to mull over the absurdity of everything that had just happened.

Some moments later, the security guards who had dragged me into this questioning room earlier returned and escorted me out to the van.

"Mr. Knight has ordered us to drive you home," one of them informed me, and I nodded.

The van started, and I stayed quiet as I realized that I had to tell everyone I was getting married to our sworn enemy once I got back home. I had been so caught up in Reed's offer to clear our pack's debts and the opportunity to be in close proximity with him so I could finish what I started that I hadn't thought about how the pack would take the news. How my father would take the news.

The Moon Goddess had given me one last chance after I died a second time. She had given me a stern warning that this was the last time I would be able to come back, and that if I failed again, it would spell doom for the werewolf race. I didn't know why she chose me, but I wouldn't let her down.

The fear of failure had led me to make the rash decision to kill Reed instead of Julian because I didn't know the identities of the other pack members working with him. If Reed were neutralized first, it would give me more time to fish out the other traitors. Obviously, that plan had failed woefully.

"You can drop me off here. I'll walk the rest of the distance," I broke the silence in the van once we started nearing the pack settlement.

The vehicle came to an abrupt stop, and I was let off without a word before they drove away.

During the short walk to the settlement gate, I practiced what I would say and how I would say it, but every word I rehearsed disappeared when the first person I saw after passing the gates was Cynthia. She seemed to have been waiting for me. I thought I'd still have time until tomorrow before I'd have to face anyone since it was almost midnight.

"Sera, there you are. Why did you stay out so late tonight? Honestly, I don't understand why you quit teaching in the pack school just to waitress for humans. I miss working together with you." she chirped as she walked up to me for a hug before linking her arm with mine.

I used to love this girl so much. We had been best friends since we were kids, but the sight of her fucking my fiancé was now burned into my memory, and I couldn't look at her the same anymore. Technically, it hadn't happened yet in this timeline, but it happened in the past two, and I'm sure it would again. That was if it hadn't already started.

"I miss working with you too," I said with a small smile. It was in my best interest to pretend like I didn't know anything for now.

"And just so you know, I quit my waitressing job tonight," I revealed, and she started squealing in excitement.

"Does that mean you're coming back to work in the pack school?" she beamed. It was either she was a great actress or she was genuinely happy to have me back.

"I don't know yet. I'm still weighing all my options."

"Come on, what other options? Humans barely tolerate us, so the chances of you finding another job quickly are slim. Besides, Julian and I would be more than happy to have you around all the time again," she argued as we strolled further into the pack settlement.

"Oh, look, there's Julian. Let's go tell him you quit your job," Cynthia added, and I looked up to see Julian talking to some guards in the distance.

Cynthia began dragging me toward him, and I didn't resist despite wanting to. Since I got my third chance at life three weeks ago, I had been avoiding both of them but mostly Julian. We had barely had any conversation because the wound his betrayal caused in my heart was still fresh. What made the situation worse was that despite everything he did to me, a part of me still loved him.

Once Julian noticed us, he broke away from his conversation and met us halfway.

"Hey, stranger," he teased me with an affectionate look in his eyes.

The popular saying "eyes don't lie" was clearly not true because he looked like he loved me. I had trouble associating this Julian with the one that left me to die in a fire.

"Hey," I responded and reflexively tilted my head up for a quick hello kiss.

"We've all been waiting for you, but Beta Gabriel has already retired to bed when you didn't show up on time," Julian stated, and I became curious.

"Waiting for me? Why? Is something wrong?" I asked, trying not to panic. I hoped it wasn't that my father's condition had worsened, but when I saw the huge smile on Julian's face, I laid that fear to rest. It had to be good news.

"I really should wait till tomorrow so your father can tell you himself, but I'm way too excited," he said, but I was getting impatient, so I pleaded.

"Out with it, Julian. What is it?"

"I finally have your father's blessing to go ahead with preparations. We're getting married next week."