Chapter 501
Chapter 501
Chapter 501
3rd Person’s POV
“I don’t understand.” The words left Eldric’s mouth barely above a whisper.
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After delivering the final insult, Lucien had turned away without another glance. He was already speaking with Damon and Zyrelle again, welcomed effortlessly back into their circle as though Eldric had never existed. As though he had never been important enough to remember.
Daia immediately sensed the shift in her mate. The fury she had expected never came. Instead, she felt something far more unsettling. Gently, she guided him away from the crowd toward a secluded corner of the ballroom.
Eldric stared across the room.
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The chandeliers cast golden light across the gathering while powerful wolves laughed, exchanged business proposals, and strengthened alliances.
Everything continued without him.
“My reputation should have been enough p>
His gaze remained fixed on the crowd. “Ironcrest may not possess the wealth of Moonclaw or Blackmaw, but we’ve survived for generations. Our pack is large. Our territory is respected. I was Rowan Blackfang’s father-in-law p>
The title felt hollow now.
“At one point, our family stood among the most influential in Verdanth. Then why p>
The question died in his throat.
Daia’s eyes burned. Tears gathered despite her efforts to stop them.
“Maybe this started long before tonight.” Her voice cracked. “Maybe we should never have destroyed our relationship with Cora. She and Rowan were the only ones willing to stand beside us when everything began falling apart p>
She lowered her gaze. “And now p>
The rest remained unspoken.
Now Cora had been abandoned.
For years Eldric had believed his daughters needed him. He had been the one arranging everything. The one moving the pieces across the board.
Never once had he considered that one day those pieces might become more powerful than the hand controlling them.
“Was it then?” His voice sounded rough.
“When I cast Lylah out? If we had maintained our relationship with her p>
Dala closed her eyes.
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Chapter 501
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Neither of them needed clarification.
The vow that she would never again be welcomed into his family.
“If we hadn’t treated her the way we did… maybe Alpha Ezra will be willing to help us p>
Apainful silence settled between them.
Then hurried footsteps approached.
“Father. Mother.” Orion stopped before them.
His shoulders sagged. The scent of discouragement clung to him. “I tried p>
His eyes lowered.
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“I really tried. But I couldn’t do it.” He looked back toward the crowd. “The nobles here aren’t like the ones back home. I introduce myself. I approached them exactly as Father instructed
His smile faded.
“They barely listened. They told me Ironcrest offers them nothing. They said our family no longer carries any influence worth investing in p>
Pain flashed across Daia’s face.
Orion continued staring at the ballroom. “We don’t belong here p>
Eldric dragged a hand down his face.
Every mistake.
Every broken relationship.
Every bridge burned for ambition.
The consequences were finally standing before him.
Orion inhaled slowly.
“Maybe it’s time we accept reality, Father. We can’t keep blaming others. We need to acknowledge our mistakes and fix them ourselves p>
Then added quietly,
“Because if we continue pretending nothing is wrong… We lose far more than our reputation p>