章節 2: The Life of the Madam
Nestled deep within the hidden embrace of Crimson Valley lies the massive sanctuary of the Bloodmoon pack.
Bloodmoon Pack's residence is famous for attracting international architectural experts worldwide. The houses, the buildings, and even the design of the gardens all harmonized to attack people's liking. Pack members and warriors even follow a strict dress code, which looks very intimidating and expensive in the public's eye.
The residence is enveloped in a veil of secrecy, and its location rests beside the serene Phoenix Lake. The waters within the lake are warm throughout the year, and there were myths about its healing characteristics. But no one dared to try and get a sample because a beast never seen before sleeps at the bottom of it.
The very heart of this dwelling beats with a top-notch security system, ensuring protection and peace for all within its bounds. And warriors roam around the parameters to check for rogues. Within the mansion's walls reside four vigilant warrior butlers, Mina, Edmund, Sike, and Piero, ready to offer their expert services from dawn to nightfall.
These stalwart protectors have ascended to the rank of Warrior V, standing as elite members among their warrior peers. They are joined by a dedicated group of Omega servants and caretakers, all possessing potent werewolf bloodlines that make them first-rate defenders.
The Alpha, the pack's leader, Zephyir Bloodmoon, is a figure of mystique.
His power remains perplexing, a force whose depths stay in secrecy.
Just last week, the original host of the body Seraphyne was occupying, and Bloodmoon's Alpha celebrated their union in a wedding held abroad.
However, something felt amiss.
Seraphyne was clueless about why the original host married the Alpha and how did the Alpha agree to this marriage?
Another issue bothered Seraphyne.
Given that the pack's Alpha has abundant resources, the wedding celebration seemed surprisingly modest. Seraphyne did not even see a wedding photo of the groom and the bride. She could also not find the gifts given after the ceremony, nor an invitation card.
'This must be the most mysterious wedding case I've ever heard of!'
Seraphyne reasoned that perhaps her stepson's father had considered his son's age and rebellious phase, extending care in planning a wedding that would align with his emotions.
The night following the wedding, Alpha Bloodmoon, her newly wedded husband, suddenly embarked on a business trip without informing her in advance that his schedule was tightly packed.
'This man must be a true embodiment of a workaholic persona.'
Days turned into the present moment, yet his return remained elusive.
To other wives, their husbands leaving them after the wedding might be hurtful and disrespectful. They would enter a cycle of overthinking things and start a war over the tiniest of unreasonable reasons.
However, this situation brought a sense of ease to Seraphyne. She thinks it seems relatively normal for a couple without intentions of developing emotionally.
Within the mansion's walls, she had not once crossed paths with the hero, her newfound stepson.
The hero is a high school student with pre-Alpha duties who ventured out early and returned late while she endeavored to acclimate herself to her role. But she has heard a lot of talks from the servants about this heir.
'The waters in the rivers and lakes will never interfere with each other, and so will we.'
Her daily rhythm mirrored that of the young man, their lives falling into synchrony.
In a home absent of its usual occupants, the Alpha and his son, Seraphyne, found herself settling into a serene and almost familial comfort, embracing the dwelling as her own.
She could do whatever she wanted, and no one would bother her.
She could watch movies, read books, and sleep for the whole day.
She doesn't need to do much but eat and make sure she's in good health.
'The life of a salted fish is what I've dreamed of in my previous life! And now, I am very blessed to experience it.'
The ringing of the phone abruptly punctured Seraphyne's thoughts, jolting her back into the reality of her role as a new stepmother.
"Luna, there's an important matter that requires your attention," the voice on the other end belonged to the Alpha's Beta, Lucas, his tone formal and customary.
"The school contacted me this morning. They're requesting the presence of a parent. As you know, Alpha is still away on a business trip and won't be able to return today. There are important matters to tend to in school."
The mention of a school problem snapped Seraphyne out of her recent trance, one that almost made her forget the hero's domineering personality at school. In the book, the hero usually involves himself in fights for justice. He usually likes to interfere with other people's problems and save the day with physical means.
According to Seraphyne's understanding of the hero's behavior, the teenager might want to catch the attention of the people around him, especially his father. Children doing rebellious things or extremes usually feel a lack of moral support and love from people they recognize as their family.
And sometimes, they will take things they lack into their hands and let others feel it for them.
An unguarded exclamation escaped her lips, "Is it appropriate for me, a recently wedded stepmother, to go?"
She thought roughly that the hero had his own parents, and despite her dedication to her stepmother role, she couldn't simply step in. The Beta, on the other hand, pauses, seemingly taken aback by Seraphyne's lack of awareness and evasiveness of her responsibility.
One must understand that being a stepmother was no small feat, let alone being one to an Alpha's son, with all the pack's responsibilities weighing heavily.
It had been merely a week since Seraphyne's marriage, a week during which she hadn't had much time to adapt. And there's no husband who could help her introduce things.
She can only rely on herself.
'Shouldn't she seize this opportunity to assert her presence, to show Alpha Bloodmoon that she would care for his son as her own?' The Beta commented silently.
Wasn't it a matter of her own discernment?
Seraphyne's unexpected refusal caught the Beta off guard. He collected himself and informed her, "Ms. Lycia Grimthorn is still in the city of Eldoria at the moment and won't be able to make it today."
Her fingers trembled as she realized that both parents of the hero were absent even before he got married in the original text. Now, it seemed her turn had come to step onto the battlefield as a stepmother.
"Well then, I'll handle things," she replied, though her words carried a reluctance that didn't escape the Beta's notice. He was left momentarily speechless.
It appeared that the newly-appointed Luna might harbor a certain timidity towards fulfilling tasks even merely for the sake of appearances or effort. Yet, to his comfort, Seraphyne still managed to find the school's address and her stepson's class.
It indicated that her heart wasn't indifferent to her role and responsibilities, suggesting that she might not be entirely prepared to embrace her stepmother's place with open arms. After all, considering that she had just turned twenty-nine this year, the notion of stepping in as stepmother might understandably feel daunting.
In the grand scheme of things, her hesitation was understandable. Her relatively young age, combined with the whirlwind circumstances that brought her into this new family dynamic, surely contributed to the mix of emotions she was experiencing.
After ending the call, Seraphyne began to prepare. It marked her first time attending school as a parent, a role she was eager to try out. Strangely, she felt neither panicked nor nervous about interacting with the hero. Although he appeared domineering, she was aware that he was also a reasonable child.
In the novel, the stepmother and the hero maintain a harmonious relationship, never at odds with one another.
The residence of the Bloodmoon pack encompassed a main building, an auxiliary one, and individual houses.
The auxiliary building was bustling with housekeepers and servants, while the main building soared to five floors, with the main bedroom on the top floor. Within her expansive closet, a dazzling array of the latest season's attire lay in wait. Bags adorned the walls, each distinct from the other, ensuring no repetition even over the course of a week. Yet, traces of life were conspicuously absent from the main bedroom.
At first, this puzzled Seraphyne. However, upon learning that the Alpha embarked on a business trip the day after their wedding, she realized his hasty departure accounted for the lack of desire to occupy the room.
Under the same roof, where her gaze met his, Seraphyne's yearning to fully embody her role as a mother seemed less significant. The hero was seventeen, a time of rebellion and autonomy. She, as a stepmother, was more like an 'intrusion' in his eyes.
They all had their own mothers, after all. She wouldn't need to step in and impose herself as a friendly presence. Drawing from her college years of blending seamlessly with dormitory mates, she believed that taking on the role of a roommate wouldn't be too challenging.
Perhaps even the Alpha might become part of this future roommate team.
For the occasion, Seraphyne opted for a simple yet elegant ensemble, complementing it with a light touch of makeup. Now, she stood ready to step out into the day ahead.
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