I expected to see happiness on Selene''s face, but I was wrong. Her once calm eyes turned cold.


    Her breath hitched as she took a deep inhale, as if trying to steady herself, I had no idea what had triggered her sudden anger.


    "Kane Thorne, are you nning to humiliate me again?"


    Her sharp words made my brows lift in surprise. "Why would you think that?"


    She scoffed, shaking her head. "A man like you can''t be trusted. I know you''re up to something."


    I stared at her, silent. Did she really distrust me this much?


    “I don''t want to attend the party,” she continued. “If you want to surprise them,


    send them to my house. I''ll spend time with them there. But I don''t trust their father. I refuse to walk into another trap just to be insulted. You''ve done enough to my family-no more."


    Before I could tell her I wasn''t nning anything, she ended the call.


    The screen went ck for a second before switching to the wallpaper.


    I studied the image carefully.


    A young woman holding two children. The three of them looked genuinely happy together.


    A tightness formed in my chest as I clenched my fists and locked the tablet.


    I had apologized, hadn''t I? So why was she still so damn stubborn?


    Exhaling sharply, I stood from the chair. Before heading back into my children''s room, I flicked the cigarette butt away.


    When I stepped inside, I saw they had already finished their dinner.


    "Dad, we''re done."


    Luna ran up to me. I bent down and scooped her into my arms.


    ncing at Leo, I saw that he was still on the phone.


    I set Luna down on the bed and handed her the tablet.


    "You two should get some sleep now. It''ste."


    Luna nodded obediently, but Leo remained silent, still focused on his screen.


    I didn''t push him and simply walked out of their room, stepping outside the packhouse.


    Finn was standing there, staring intently at a tree.


    I walked up beside him. "Kept you waiting," I muttered.


    He didn''t respond right away, his gaze still locked onto the tree as if deep in thought.


    Shoving my hands into my pockets, I followed his line of sight.


    "Kane, I think I misjudged Ruby," he said after a long pause. "It''s true I never liked her much... but she


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    < Chapter 205


    nearly gave her life for you.


    I let out a slow breath. "Yeah. The broken bones are something I just learned about today."


    Sey


    Finn finally turned to face me. "So, what are you going to do about it? You thought she was simply helping you, but now her injuries are out in the open.*


    I didn''t answer, my gaze fixed on the tree''s leaves rustling in the cold night air.


    After a moment, he continued, as if piecing his thoughts together.


    "You seemed to reconsider your decision to end things when you defended Ruby in front of your parents," he said. "And let''s be honest-most women wouldn''t have had the courage to do what she did for you. She has the makings of a Luna, someone willing to do anything for her Alpha."


    A cold breeze swept through, brushing against my face. There was something in the air tonight.


    A shift. A feeling that everything was about to change.


    "Kane, do you want to cancel the announcement?"


    My eyes snapped open at his question. I turned to look at him.


    "Don''t cancel it,” I said. “Just postpone it."


    Finn looked shocked. Anyone else would have jumped at the chance to marry the woman who had risked her life for them.


    "You shouldn''t be surprised, Beta Finn," I said. "If you react like this, it means you haven''t seen the real Ruby yet. She''s not the person she pretends to be. I need more time to figure things out."


    He nodded slowly, understanding my hesitation. “Alright, Alpha. I''ll make sure the announcement is postponed."


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