Chapter 6 - My Fiance

~SERAPHINA'S POV~

"What?" I asked, thunderstruck by Julian's words.

"We're finally getting married. You've been pushing for us to tie the knot since you turned eighteen, and now we're really going to perform the mating ceremony," he said, grabbing my hand and linking his fingers with mine.

"Wow, that is amazing news," Cynthia chimed in.

No, it was not. It was far from amazing news.

It was true that I had been pestering Julian to start wedding preparations since I turned eighteen, but he had always found one reason or another to postpone it. What suddenly changed?

"I'm so happy for you guys," Cynthia added with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her happy expression faltered for a moment as she shot a quick, sad glance at Julian before covering it with her smile again.

Now, I was sure they had already started sleeping together. If that was the case, why was Julian suddenly eager to get married to me then? Didn't he say she was his mate before he left me to die? This didn't happen in my past two lives; did my encounter with Reed somehow change things?

I knew I wouldn't marry Julian, but a petty part of me wanted Cynthia to get a taste of the kind of hurt she caused me, so I leaped into Julian's arms.

"I can't believe it! We're finally going to become mates officially. I can't wait to lead the pack by your side and give you strong pups." The words coming out of my mouth made me cringe, but when I saw the crestfallen look on Cynthia's face, it made the cringiness worth it.

"I'm tired, and it's really late, so I should get some rest. Congratulations once again, you guys. Have a good night," Cynthia piped up once more, waving before she started heading in the direction of the building where her room was located. She looked like she was close to tears, and I momentarily felt bad despite knowing I had no reason to.

I expected Julian to stare after her retreating figure the way he had stared passionately at her the night he betrayed my trust, but his sole attention was on me.

"How about we start trying for those strong pups tonight?" he teased with a wink, pulling me close to his body by tightening his hands around my waist.

I would rather chew broken glass.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. How could someone who had so much evil in his heart currently look at me like he worshipped the ground I walked on?

"As tempting as that sounds, I'm exhausted tonight. Besides, since we're getting married soon, we should hold off until then. It'll make the night of the mating ceremony more special," I responded, placing my palms on his chest as if to caress it, but I only used them to gently push him away.

"I'll see you tomorrow then, my love." Julian tried to kiss me again, but there was only so much I could take, so I turned my head and let it land on my cheek.

I broke out of his hold and started to head in the direction of my room when I heard him call out to me.

"Sera?"

I turned around, wondering what he forgot to say.

"I love you." He announced, and my heart spontaneously skipped a beat.

My brain had already gotten the memo that he was a traitor, but it seemed my heart hadn't. I didn't blame it. I had always envisioned my life with Julian and had loved him wholeheartedly. It was hard not to when he used to bring me flowers every day when we were teenagers, take my side all the time, tell me all the sweet words I needed to hear, and was just overall everything I had wanted.

Unexpectedly, I felt a pang in my chest at the loss of the future we could have had.

Tomorrow, I would tell everyone I was getting married to Reed. I needed to do it in a way that would still give me access to Julian so I could discover the rest of the pack traitors.

When I got to my room, I looked around the medium-sized space and sighed. It was my room, but it felt unfamiliar since I used to spend most of my nights in Julian's quarters. As I settled into bed, the image of Reed's dark eyes flashed in my mind, and I found myself grabbing my phone and searching online for his pictures for some reason.

He really was a beautiful man.

I tried to ignore the part of me that remembered how his touch felt on my skin earlier. How, back then, I craved his touch, his attention, his...

I must be absolutely out of my mind. Lusting after the worst human in the world was the last thing I should be doing. Especially when that human had the fate of my pack in his hands.

I needed to get my head on straight. Reed was my prey, and he had been arrogant enough to invite his predator into his life himself. I should be strategizing on how to change the pack's fate, not ogling his pictures.

Julian wanting to get married was a curveball I didn't see coming. That could mean that other things had started to change in this timeline too. I needed to keep a close eye on every single person responsible for the tragedy that occurred in the past and anticipate new changes.

With that thought in mind, I drifted off to sleep.

The next two days passed without event. I still hadn't found the courage to tell my father about Reed or tell Julian that I was breaking off our engagement, but I had returned to teaching in the pack school. I hadn't heard anything from Reed either, even though he had promised to be in contact.

After the long school day, I decided today would be the day I would finally come clean to my father, so I headed to the pack clinic.

In his ward, I found Julian and two other pack executives, Ian and Randall, talking to my father.

"Sera, Ian and Randall were just leaving. We can use this opportunity to smooth over the details of the mating ceremony with Beta Gabriel," Julian stated as Ian and Randall stood up and gave me a small bow before heading out.

This was it. I should just get my revelation over with.

"It's good you're here, Julian. I actually have something to tell my father and you about the ceremony. I'm not going to..." I started to say, but I was cut off by the sound of commotion from outside.

What on earth was going on?

I didn't have to wonder for long because the door to the ward soon swung open to reveal...

Reed?

The faces of my father and Julian darkened at the sight of him.

Reed had never personally stepped into our settlement; he had always sent his representatives over with new offers.

"How dare you show your face on this land after all you've done to our kind?" my father growled, and I started to panic internally because I knew exactly why he was here. This wasn't how I wanted the discussion to go.

A wicked smirk appeared on Reed's face as he said, "I'm here to talk to my fiancée."