Chapter 3 3: New Concubine

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Hampton," the palace maid said as Freya's parents stepped inside.

Her voice was steady, but her eyes flicked between them, sensing the tension they carried.

She led them through the hallway to the living room. The couple sat with their backs straight, and their hands tight on their laps. No one spoke, making the silence settled heavily around them.

"I'll inform Alpha Modrich and Luna Freya that you've arrived," the maid said. She bowed quickly, almost nervously, then hurried out, leaving the Hamptons alone in the living room.

A few minutes later, Veriel walked in with Alpha Modrich beside her. She spotted her parents and hurried forward.

"Mother, Father... you're here," she said, her voice soft, sounding almost careful.

Mr. and Mrs. Hampton rose immediately. Even though they were older, they still bowed their heads out of respect. Alpha Modrich acknowledged them with a brief nod, his expression unreadable.

"Alpha," Mr. Hampton greeted, keeping his tone steady.

"You may sit, Mr. and Mrs. Hampton," Modrich said, and they lowered themselves onto the couch. Before anyone could speak further, Veriel hurried forward and dropped to her knees.

"Father... Mother... forgive me," she cried. "I brought shame to our family. I slept with my sister's husband. I don't know what came over me."

Her voice shook, but her tears felt almost too quick, like it was prepared.

"It's not entirely Veriel's fault," Alpha Modrich added, stepping slightly in front of her. "I don't want you viewing this as something she alone caused."

Mr. and Mrs. Hampton exchanged a tense, confused look.

"It's all her fault to begin with," Freya's voice cut in. Everyone turned to the door, and Freya stepped into the living room with calm, steady steps.

They all sat there, staring at Veriel as she lowered her head again, slipping into another round of practiced innocence.

"Don't say that about your sister, Freya. She's naïve," Mrs. Hampton said quickly.

Freya looked at her mother, disbelief flickering across her face. The room fell quiet for a moment.

"Naïve, you say, Mother?" Freya asked, trying to keep het voice steady. "How naïve can Veriel be when she knows the exact drug used to weaken a man, then waits until he's helpless before climbing into his bed?"

Mrs. Hampton's eyes widened, but Freya didn't look away.

She was the one who had called their parents to the palace. She needed them to hear the truth, not the softened version Veriel would feed them. She wanted their scolding, their judgment, their fairness. She wanted them to understand the weight of what her sister had done, not hide behind excuses or pity.

But instead, they picked a side... just as they always had, which was Veriel's side. Calling her naïve, fragile, confused. Freya felt the familiar sting settle in her chest.

Could she have expected this reaction? Yes. But not now, and not in something this serious.

"Freya," Mr. Hampton said, shaking his head as if she were the unreasonable one. "You need to learn forgiveness. I've told you this many times, but you never want to forgive your own sister."

Freya stared at him, her expression flat. Forgive? For this? They still didn't see her, only her sister up to this point.

"This is exactly what I told Freya yesterday," Alpha Modrich said. "She forgives everyone in the pack when they do wrong, yet she can't forgive her own sister?"

Freya let out a quiet breath, her eyes fixed on Veriel. "You want me to forgive my sister for sleeping with my husband?" she asked calmly.

"Maybe... maybe... if she asked for forgiveness and meant it, I might consider it."

Veriel lifted her face slightly, but Freya's gaze didn't soften. "But she hasn't asked sincerely. All she's done is cry and hide behind excuses."

"But I went down on my knees yesterday and begged you to forgive me," Veriel said quickly, wiping her cheeks. "And instead... you called me a whore."

Mr. Hampton's head snapped toward Freya. "You called your sister a whore, Freya?" he gasped, as if the word itself was the greatest sin in the room.

Mrs. Hampton shook her head in disbelief. "What kind of elder sister does that? How could you speak to her that way?"

Freya stared at them, stunned. Veriel's lies had slid so easily into their ears, and just like always... they believed her without a single question.

Even though Veriel had knelt yesterday, Freya knew it was all an act. The tears, the pleading, it wasn't sincere. And no, she had never called Veriel a whore. She had only stated the truth, which was Veriel had slept with other men before Modrich, contradicting her claim of virginity.

Freya watched closely, seeing the tiny shifts in Veriel's posture, the calculated pauses in her speech. She understood perfectly what was happening... Veriel was trying to twist the story, as she always did, a skilled manipulator. Freya's jaw tightened.

"I never knew you could be so cold-hearted," Alpha Modrich said, with his voice sharp.

"Veriel is young, naïve... and as her elder sister, you're supposed to guide her, care for her, and forgive her mistakes."

Freya's eyes narrowed to Alpha Modrich, her jaw tightening, but her voice remained calm.

"Maybe you should apologize first," she said quietly, hiding the storm of emotions inside.

"For going ahead and having sex with my sister... repeatedly... without any remorse. You claim guidance, yet you've encouraged her to betray me. You've all played your parts, but I see the truth."

Modrich's gaze faltered, just for a moment.

"I do not want you and my sister together," Freya said firmly. "She will leave the palace and follow our parents back to the house."

She knew Alpha Modrich could take as many concubines as he wished, but not her sister. Allowing this would be a direct insult to her as Luna, and she would not allow it.

"Have as many concubines as you want," she continued, her eyes locked on him, "but leave my sister out of this. She does not belong here."

"And what if I want to take Veriel as my concubine?" Alpha Modrich asked, his voice cold and deliberate.

Freya met his gaze without flinching. "You won't dare."

A faint, mocking smile touched his lips. "Then hear me well," he said.

"From this moment onward, I, Alpha Modrich, will take Veriel as my concubine. This is my decision."

"Prepare for the celebration," Modrich added, as if announcing a victory.