Chapter 4 4

Chapter 4

Even though I'd started the rejection, I was still the pack's Luna.

I was still Rori's mother.

I thought Damien would at least show some restraint for her sake.

But three days later, Damien walked into the manor holding Chloe's hand.

"Surprise!" Chloe shrieked, racing into the living room. "Daddy said I can live here now!"

I stood on the stairs, the world tilting under my feet.

Clara followed behind them. "Seraphina, I'm so sorry. But the healer said Chloe needs a stronger Alpha presence to stabilize her condition..."

"Of course," I said, my smile a brittle mask. "A child's health is what's most important."

Damien's expression softened. "I knew you'd understand."

He looked at me, his tone leaving no room for argument. "She'll stay in Noah's room. It gets the best sun, and it's close to our bedroom, so I can look after her."

That afternoon, the maids cleared out Noah's room.

I stood in the doorway, watching them pack his clothes, his books, his toys into boxes.

With every item they removed, another piece of my soul was torn away.

"Mommy." Rori tugged on my dress. "They're moving Noah's things."

"They're just putting them in storage for now, sweetie," I said, hugging her.

"Would Noah be okay with that?" she whispered.

My throat closed up.

That evening, Damien showed Chloe her new room.

"Wow! It's so pretty!" Chloe twirled on the empty floor.

"Daddy, is this really all mine?" Chloe asked, hugging Damien's leg.

"Of course. You can decorate it however you like," Damien said, stroking her hair.

That look of devotion was a luxury Noah had never known.

In the middle of the night, a crash woke me up.

The sound came from Noah's room.

I pushed the door open and saw a sight that made my heart stop.

Chloe was standing in the middle of the room, holding Noah's favorite model airplane.

It was the only birthday present Damien had ever put any thought into for Noah.

She raised it high above her head and slammed it onto the floor.

CRACK! The model shattered into pieces.

"No!" I rushed into the room. "What are you doing?"

Chloe looked up at me, her eyes empty of guilt, filled only with a triumphant spite.

"I'm playing. It's a crash landing."

"That's not a toy!" I knelt on the floor, my hands shaking as I gathered the pieces.

"But Daddy said everything in this room is mine now," Chloe said. "He said I could play with whatever I want."

"This... this was Noah's..."

"Noah's dead," she said, her voice chillingly clear. "Dead boys don't need toys."

Damien appeared in the doorway. "Seraphina, what are you doing?"

"Damien... Chloe broke Noah's model airplane."

Damien knelt and hugged Chloe. "Why did you throw things, princess?" His voice was gentle, without a hint of blame.

"I was playing a game," Chloe whimpered into his chest. "She stormed in and scared me!"

Damien's gaze shifted to me, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Seraphina, she's just a child."

"But that was Noah's..."

"Noah doesn't need it anymore," Damien cut me off. "And it's just a model. I can buy another one."

Just a model?

"She's sick, Seraphina. Why are you arguing with a child?"

Just then, Rori appeared in the doorway.

She walked slowly into the room, knelt down, and began picking up the broken pieces, one by one, carefully placing them in her pajama pocket.

She stood and looked at Damien. Her eyes were Noah's.

"Daddy, you're making Noah sad."