AITHNE'S POV 
 "What?!" Father uttered, his blue eyes wide open as he stared at the physician in disbelief. "Reynold, what did you just say?" He thundered.
 Tears rolled down my cheeks as I listened to physician Reynold repeat the same words he had told me only moments ago, to my father.
 "I'm sorry, My Alpha." Reynold bowed. "The lady has lost her chance to walk again because of the multiple damages in either of her calf bones. It would have been corrected if she had been rescued earlier. Now it's impossible to treat as it's too late for a surgery correction. Also, if she tries to shift in the future, it would cause her death." He carefully repeated, his head still bowed.
 I watched Father turned to look at me and I saw the faintest hint of tears gathering in his usually sparkly blue eyes.
 We were in the private room in the clinic and Jeyre -- my personal maid and closest companion was with me. I was seated on a wheelchair --damn, how I hate that fact-- and her hands were gently caressing my shoulder blades as I sobbed.
 My father paced about the room, trying to control himself and possibly hide the pain in his eyes from me. 
 Of course, Varda was present with her son, Morwen. She had arrived with the Alpha a few minutes after the physicians were done checking and administering treatments to my injuries.
 And as expected of her, she pretended to be concerned as she walked up to my father and touched his arm lightly, in a reassuring manner. 
The nerve of the damned woman!
 Here was a perfect opportunity to expose her. And I would do so in the...
 "Seraphina," I was brought back to the present by my father, who was standing before me now. 
 "Father," I sobbed. 
 "I am so sorry, about Odin, about everything," he began sadly, crouching down so he could be on same height as me but still taller even in his position. "What you did was really brave, rescuing Morwen from that treacherous bastard -- good thing you had killed him--"
 "Father I..." I tried to talk but he interrupted.
 "It is okay, my dear. The Luna already told me everything." 
What?! 
 My eyes travelled from his face to Varda's _ who was standing and watching us close by. She gave me a triumphant and daring smirk and I was stunned speechless as I returned my gaze to my father.
 He smiled and caressed my dark curls gently. "You're my very brave girl and I would do everything in my power to make sure you're on your feet again, I promise."
 "No. I have to..." I tried again,
 "No?" My father arched a confused brow at me.
 "I mean, thanks father. But there's something I have to tell..."
 "Sorry to interrupt, My Dear," Varda's unpleasant high pitched voice interrupted, causing father to glance sideways in her direction. "You must hurry as we need to visit the Beta and pay our condolences." She hurriedly said. "We can't delay I suppose, as the weather doesn't look favorable currently." She continued sweetly. It was obvious she did this to ruin my moment of spilling the truth. 
I would never forgive her for all she has done to me and I would make sure she pays dearly for it!
 My right hand clenching at the armrest of my wheelchair suddenly stilled and I reluctantly removed my eyes --filled with fury-- from Varda's and glanced down at my hand. My father had placed his big, warm hand on mine in a comforting and reassuring gesture.
 "I'm sorry, dearest. But I have to go now." He said and my heart sank. "Alpha duty calls, you know," he joked, throwing me a familiar teasing wink and I managed to smile. "Be a good girl, okay? I'd be back as soon as I'm done. And you can tell me what you wanted to say, okay?" He said and I nodded.
 "Good," he wiped my tears and placed a kiss on my right cheek before standing up. "See you," he nodded at the physician and turned to leave.
 "Stay safe," I called out. 
 "Love you too," he said, making me smile broadly, almost forgetting my problems as he exited the room, his escorts right behind him.
 "Luna?" He called at Varda, right before the door closed behind them. 
 "Right after you, Alpha." She returned, motioning to Morwen to go after him as well. Morwen nodded positively and also exited the room, leaving us with only the physician and Jeyre who was now seated on a couch close to me.
 Goddess knows I love my father so much but this pretentious sly he had fallen in love with some few years ago, is set to ruin us all. And I can't just sit still and watch her do so. 
 "I require some moments of privacy with my stepdaughter." Varda announced and Jeyre glanced hesitantly between us.
 "It's fine, Jeyre." I nodded at her and she stood up, though slowly. Obviously to irritate Varda whom she's never liked as well. 
 "If you need me, don't hesitate to call. I'd be close by," she whispered and I smiled slightly, then watch her leave with the physician before bothering to return my attention to my stepmother.
 Jeyre is Eris's younger sister. She's my age mate and my dearest companion ever since I was a kid. Her Omega family have been of service to the Alpha's family from the time my mother was alive. 
 Our mothers, though both late now, were considerable good friends. And their friendship had extended to us, their children.
 Eris was like a big brother to me and he treated me with much care and respect not just because of my bloodline but because of the closeness our families shared.
 "What do you think of my package of good news?" Varda said, the moment the door closed again. "I say, given by the shock you had on your face earlier on, it must have been pretty good." She strolled leisurely to my side and sat down on the couch Jeyre had been sitting on, crossing her legs and facing me squarely.
 "I don't know what makes you think you could get away with what you've done to me, to the Alpha, to the Beta and to the entire Mooncrest Pack. But I vow on my late mother's grave, I swear to make you pay for it." I promised, meaning every word I had uttered. But not surprisingly, the wicked woman laughed out loudly in mockery.
 "Awwn, you think you can? Hahaahaa." She cackled, "It would be much fun to watch you try, especially with your recent..." She gave me a pathetic once-over, from the waist downwards.
 "Don't you dare,"
 But she did dared. "... disability." Varda was mocking me and wasn't even ashamed of it, of what she had done and neither was she regretful or repentant.
How badly I want to kill her and send her to the Abyss, to the very place Dyson's soul must be currently suffering.
 The physician's declaration of me not ever being able to shift again had hit Majesty like the wave of a tornado. It was a shock that came with equal fierceness to her as the loss of our mate had done, jolting through every fragments of our being.
 Majesty was beautiful, the most beautiful female wolf -- as it's rumoured -- ever seen in all of the fifteen werewolf territories that made up the Crystal-Moon Dynasty, which was governed by Elgarion. And as such, she was the envy of many, both males and females. But all that glorious beauty might never be seen again because of the woman sitting adjacent to me.
 Majesty who loved to run through the meadow, the highs and lows within and beyond Mooncrest's territory, had been suddenly confined and locked up forever within me, unable to do anything about it. 
 Her sadness was heavy and depressing, looming over us as a huge dark cloud. It was making me dejected, making my heart break all over again -- if that was even possible, given how shattered emotionally, mentally and physically I already felt.
 It took all the self control I had within me and also because of the constant self reminder of my father, that I was able to stop myself from reaching out to her and stabbing at her evil heart with my long hair pin until she was bleeding to death. 
 It would have been satisfying to watch, but sadly, not now. Not so soon, it seems.
 "I wonder, what thoughts you have going on that's making you glare so much I could feel several spikes heading my way,"
 "Of course you know it," I said through clenched teeth. "I'm wondering what method would best suit in killing a despicable wench as you are." I said and her smirk flattered.
 She leaned upwards and glanced at my legs, which were now completely covered with bandages and plasters. "I don't have much time for chitchats, my darling." She said, "I just want you to know that you stand no chance in trying to expose me. You see, you have many things to lose whereas I don't."
 "Oh please!" I frowned with irritation. "Don't dare to think you could cajole me into stirring off from my determinations to end you. And let me correct you, I have 'nothing at all' to lose. But you, of course, have so much to lose!"
 "Well, you do, darling." Something about the tone of her voice made me pause and stare at her in slight confusion. Why does she keep insisting I do, when it's outrightly clear I don't?
 I narrowed my gaze at her as she continued. "You do, Seraphina." She repeated and I almost cringed with repulsion on hearing her say just my middle name. 
Only my father often called me that, others of closer titles referred me as Aithne and most of the pack members as 'my lady' so why's she addressing me by just that name all so suddenly? If she did so to gain my attention, well she has it now...
 "And why is that?" I queried.
 "Because one; you can't afford to ruin your father's reputation, you love him so much you can't do that to him. Two, no one would believe you, darling."
 I scoffed. "Get off your high horse Varda, I'm the Alpha's most beloved and his heir."
 "Not anymore, darling."
 "What?!" 
 "Don't you know? I thought you're smarter than this, it's a pity." She clicked her tongue with distaste. "You can't be the next Alpha, Aithne. You lost the title the moment you were declared crippled and without your ability to shift." Two streams of tears easily flowed out of my eyes the instant she said the words, and the world I was trying to gather up instantly crumpled beneath me again, my heart and Majesty's pride as Alpha, destroying to tiny bits with it.
 "And in case you don't know," Varda wickedly continued, totally enjoying this, not a bit shaken by my tears. 
She was evil and I had always known it. 
 "It is my word against yours, dear stepdaughter. As you should know, people always believe what they see and in their eyes, I'm incapable of hurting a fly." She smirked, leaning back on the couch. "I mean, who would believe the words of an incapacitated, bereaved and grief-driven depressed female, to the words of Mooncrest's beloved and kind Luna?" She smirked. "And thirdly," she paused, twirling a strand of her hair. "I like this part the most," she grinned, but her grin disappeared as she completed her statement. "...you have no evidence."
 "My darling, you really don't stand a chance against me,"
 Of all Varda said, her third point made so much sense. 
 And in that moment, I wished I hadn't killed Dyson immediately. Because Varda was so sickeningly right...