Chapter 13
418words
The night before Damian's bonding ceremony.
Alan placed a memory crystal—clear as a pigeon blood ruby—into Genevieve's palm.
"This contains all the evidence of how Seraphina ordered your framing," Alan said, his voice calm yet reassuring. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you then. But tomorrow, fear nothing. Say what you want, do what you want. I'll handle the rest."
Genevieve clutched the cool crystal, her throat tight with emotion.
On the ceremony day, the Blackwood Pack's altar stood solemn and imposing. Every notable noble from the capital had gathered to witness the grand union.
The Dracotts beamed with joy as they accepted congratulations, as if their recent confrontation had never occurred. Suddenly, an elder in ancient ceremonial robes bearing the Alan family's "World Tree and Dragon" emblem arrived with fanfare, flanked by shadow guards.
Under the stunned gazes of the assembly, the elder approached the Dracotts and presented them with a thick, magically sealed contract.
"A wedding gift from my master, Duke Alan von Edmonton," the elder announced with solemn authority. "The Duke has acquired controlling interest in all Dracott businesses. From today, all profits transfer automatically to his mate—Miss Genevieve's personal accounts."
Lady Dracott's smile froze. She stared at the contract, her eyes reflecting greed, shock, and dawning horror at the power she had provoked.
Meanwhile, Alan stood in his family's secret alchemy lab. To appear whole at the ceremony and personally protect his Omega, he'd made a momentous decision—to install a legendary alchemical prosthetic powered by the "World Tree Core."
The ceremony began.
Seraphina, in a pristine white ceremonial gown, clutched Damian's arm as they ascended the altar. She appeared noble and pure, like the Lunar Goddess herself.
Before the vows, she suddenly turned, her gaze sweeping the crowd before settling "tenderly" on Genevieve.
"On this special day, I must thank my sister, Genevieve." Her magically amplified voice carried throughout the venue. "Despite our misunderstandings, I hope you'll join me, accept my sincere apologies, and give us your blessing."
A perfect emotional ambush disguised as sisterly love. All eyes turned to Genevieve.
Genevieve rose calmly and walked toward the altar, feeling the weight of countless stares.
"Blessing?" Standing before Seraphina, her quiet voice carried clearly through the magic. "Before that, I'd like to share an 'interesting story' about my sister."
She glanced toward the Alan family Elder and gave a slight nod.
The Elder raised the memory crystal and activated it with his mental power.
