My Sister Stole My Mate, And I Let Her

25: Chapter 25 BROKEN PROMISES 25: Chapter 25 BROKEN PROMISES SERAPHINA’S POV

I stared down at the text I had sent Kieran this afternoon after Miss Brenner’s phone call.

‘Daniel’s PTC at six.’

And his reply: ‘I know.

I’ll be there.’

I’d dreaded seeing him again after the kiss, a knot of unease and discomfort pulling at my stomach.

But all that feeling crystallized into something far more potent—raw, white-hot fury—the moment a pair of ludicrously expensive designer heels clicked into my line of sight.

I looked up, and my blood went cold.

Celeste.

She stood in the center of the classroom beside Daniel’s desk, a vision of polished perfection in the latest season’s couture, as if she’d descended from Mount Olympus.

She lowered her sunglasses, her gaze sweeping the room before landing on me.

“Is this the seat for Daniel’s parents?” she asked, her voice saccharine sweet, pointing to the empty chair beside mine.

“I’m the designated representative for the meeting.”

A collective gasp and a wave of hushed whispers immediately rippled through the room.

I felt every eye darting between us.

My fists clenched.

If Kieran appeared behind her in the next second, I swore I’d punch his head clean off his shoulders, Alpha or not Alpha.

What the hell was he playing at?

Was he so desperate to flaunt his new life with Celeste that he’d do it at our son’s parent-teacher conference?

Miss Brenner, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere, hurried over.

“Can I help you?” she asked Celeste, her professional smile strained.

Celeste glanced at me, a triumphant little smirk playing on her lips.

“I’m Daniel’s… ” I immediately shot her a death glare and she amended, “Aunt, his mother’s sister.

Younger sister.”

My knuckles went white.

If this weren’t Daniel’s classroom, I’d have her by her perfectly styled hair, smashing that smug face into the nearest wall.

She turned an innocent, wide-eyed look on Miss Brenner.

“Is there a problem with me sitting in for my nephew?”

The whispers died down to a suspicious murmur.

Miss Brenner adjusted her glasses, looking helplessly at me.

“Mrs.

Blackthorne… is this…?”

I gritted my teeth, glancing at the clock.

The meeting was about to start.

It was not time to make a scene.

I knew exactly what Celeste wanted.

She wanted me to make a mess.

To prove to everyone that Daniel had a hysterical, ‘bad’ mother.

Just like she’d once ‘accidentally’ revealed to the entire pack that I was my father’s ‘defective’ daughter.

I wouldn’t let her destroy Daniel’s reputation as she’d destroyed mine.

I took a deep, steadying breath and forced a brittle smile for Miss Brenner.

“It’s fine.

She is my… sister.”

“Oh… alright then,” Miss Brenner said, nodding uncertainly before retreating to the front of the class, using her official opening remarks to draw attention away.

Celeste settled into the seat beside me with infuriating grace, a victorious smile plastered on her face.

I leaned in, my voice a low, venomous hiss only she could hear.

“What are you doing here?”

It was a stupid question.

Kieran wasn’t here.

Celeste was.

The answer was glaringly obvious.

“Kieran got tied up with pack business.” She smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Besides, this might be part of my responsibilities someday.

No harm in getting familiar with the process, right?”

My vision tinged red.

In that moment, if I’d had a wolf, Celeste’s throat would have been a bloody ruin.

But I knew this wasn’t the place.

My son’s hard-earned achievements and recognition at this school shouldn’t be overshadowed by the tawdry drama his foolish father had invited.

It was the longest hour of my life.

Every second was an exercise in restraint, fighting the primal urge to grab the nearest sharp object and introduce it to the bitch sitting beside me.

Perhaps disappointed by my lack of an explosive reaction, she’d hoped for, Celeste made a flimsy excuse and slipped out the moment the group session ended.

Typical.

She’d always hated sitting through lectures, even as a child.

The fact that she hadn’t fallen asleep was a minor miracle.

I sat frozen in my seat, unable to move.

My hands itched to call Kieran, to demand what the hell he meant by orchestrating this.

Was he so desperate to prove to the love of his life?

He was the one who’d shown up at my door.

He was the one who’d kissed me.

What right did he have to send his lover to humiliate me at our son’s school?

“Mrs.

Blackthorne?” Miss Brenner’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

She’d had her one-on-one with all the other parents and students in Daniel’s class, and now it was just me and her in the classroom.

I gave her an apologetic smile.

“I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting, but it turns out that my—” I caught myself.

“Daniel’s father won’t be able to make it.”

“Oh.

I hope there’s no problem?”

There was—named Celeste.

I shook my head.

“Oh, no.

He just got too caught up with work.”

“Right.” She nodded.

If she could sense my sour mood, she made no indication.

“Well, shall we begin?”

“Yes.” I took a deep breath.

“Let’s.”

“How is Daniel, by the way?” she asked.

“The whole class misses him.”

“He’s doing well, thank you.

He has a tutor who comes in every day, so he’s up to date with his school work.”

She nodded.

“Good.

I have no doubt that he’ll do well and will be up to speed by the time he returns.

Do you have any idea when that might be?”

I pursed my lips.

“No.

Soon, hopefully.”

“Okay, then.

Well, let’s dive deeper, shall we?” She looked through a file in her hand.

“Academically, Daniel is excelling.

He’s reading above grade level, his math skills are strong, and his writing shows real thought and creativity.”

My next smile was genuine.

“He’s really a brilliant boy.

He always pushes himself.”

She smiled.

“It shows.

He’s also extremely kind and demonstrates a great deal of emotional intelligence for his age.

He always raises his hand, helps his classmates, and volunteers to lead group projects.

He’s respectful, empathetic, and very self-motivated.”

Pride swelled in my chest like a balloon—

“One thing, though,” Miss Brenner added.

“Has Daniel been going through any…

changes lately?”

I stiffened slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, for the past few days before he left school, he seemed more…

withdrawn.

Children are sensitive and are very attuned to their environment, and changes within that environment can affect them.”

Once again, I asked myself if getting divorced was the right thing to do, especially for Daniel.

The thought of my baby being affected by Kieran’s and my separation made my heart ache.

But especially today, seeing Celeste waltz into Daniel’s parent-teacher conference as if she owned the place… I didn’t dare imagine the hurt Daniel would have felt if he were here.

Kieran had better not have the gall to let my son know about this!

My patience had its limits.

“I’ll pay more attention to his well-being,” I said thickly.

“Thanks for pointing it out.”

Miss Brenner smiled kindly.

“Of course.

As you know, we usually have a segment where our students share their thoughts about the academic experience, and since Daniel’s not physically here, could we video call him?”

My heart lit up with the usual happiness when I was about to see Daniel.

“Yes, of course.”

I pulled out the encrypted phone and video-called Daniel.

I set up the phone between us, and my heart skipped a beat when the screen lit up with his bright, expectant face.

“Mom!”

I beamed.

“Hi, baby.”

His gaze shifted, and he waved, his smile widening.

“Hi, Miss Brenner.”

“Hello, dear.

It’s good to see you.

Everyone misses you in class.”

“I miss them—” His gaze shifted to the space beside me, and his smile froze.

“Dad’s not here again?”

My heart cracked at the disappointment in his voice.

“Sweetie, he had to work.

He’s really sorry he missed this.”

The words tasted bitter in my mouth.

I didn’t want to have to cover for Kieran like this.

He should have shown up for his son.

But my anger wasn’t important right now.

What was important was the way Daniel’s face crumpled with confusion and hurt.

“He promised,” he whispered, his voice shaking with too much bitterness for a nine-year-old.

“But when has he ever kept one?”

I reached for words, anything to patch the wounds I could already see forming.

“He didn’t mean to break his promise.

He just—”

“Stop making excuses for him, Mom,” he snapped, cutting me off.

“I’m tired of hearing them.” His chin trembled slightly before he looked away.

“He’s a liar,” he muttered, angrily swiping at his cheek.

My heart completely broke at the tears spilling down his cheeks.

“Danny—”

He shook his head obstinately.

“I’ll never forgive him.”

“Honey, please don’t be mad.

Miss Brenner is telling me some amazing things about your school work and—”

“I don’t care,” he said.

“What’s the point of working hard to make Dad proud if he won’t even show up?”

I choked back a rogue sob.

“Oh, baby.

I’m proud.”

He smiled softly, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Thanks, Mom.

Bye, Miss Brenner.”

“Dan—”

The screen went blank.

I sat back in the chair, numb and burning at the same time.

I’d worried about how our divorce affected Daniel, worried I’d inadvertently hurt my son.

But it was Kieran who had initiated the break.

He was the one who broke his promise to our son.

He chose Celeste over Daniel.

***

I didn’t remember driving home from school.

I couldn’t get Daniel’s tear-streaked face out of my mind.

My little pup hadn’t cried like that in ages.

I kept calling Daniel, but he didn’t answer, sending only a single text.

Daniel: Mom, I just want to be alone for a while.

The words were a knife to the heart.

I knew that kind of heartbreak all too well.

I’d had too many moments like it, and I never wanted my son to experience them.

Damn Kieran Blackthorne to hell!

How dare he hurt my baby like this?!

I grabbed my car keys and drove to Nightfang territory on autopilot, demanding their Alpha come out to face me.

Kieran rushed downstairs, looking disheveled—messy hair, wrinkled dress shirt.

What the hell had he been doing?

His eyes widened when he saw me, an apology written all over his face.

“Sera, I’m sorry, I overslept—”

I slapped him without thinking.

Thankfully, we were alone in the reception hall, or his guards would have torn me apart.

But frankly, I didn’t care!

All I wanted right now was justice for my son..

I glared at him, fury rising like wildfire.

“You overslept?

The famously tireless Alpha of Nightfang was too busy to attend his own son’s parent-teacher conference?”

His head was still turned from the slap, his hands clenched into fists.

“I… haven’t been sleeping well.

I had to take a sedative tea, and then—”

I couldn’t help it.

I laughed.

It was either that or start screaming right there.

“And you thought sending your precious girlfriend in your place was the solution?!

Were you that desperate to let all the teachers and parents know Daniel has a broken home?!

Or that he’s about to get a new one?”

“What?!” He snapped his head back to look at me.

“I didn’t—”

“I don’t care what you did or didn’t do,” I snapped.

“All that matters is what happened, and what happened is that you didn’t show up for your son.

You chose not to be there, Kieran.

You chose her.”

Kieran looked like he wanted to argue—like he had a thousand excuses just waiting to pour out.

But I didn’t give a fuck.

“He cried,” I continued, my voice sharper.

“You promised him, and he trusted you; he believed in you.

And now he’s saying he never will again.

Do you know what that means?

What that does to a child?”

Kieran stepped forward, his face set like stone.

“It won’t happen again.”

I stared at him, feeling like I was looking at a stranger.

The Kieran I knew was honorable, a man of his word.

This man, who kissed his ex while prancing around with her sister and then broke promises to his son…

I didn’t know him.

“You say that now.

But who knows what’ll happen next?

What if you and Celeste end up married with kids of your own?”

The words caused an inexplicable ache in my chest, but I shoved that feeling aside and focused on my anger.

“How far will Daniel fall on your list then?”

His jaw clenched.

“Don’t say that.”

“I will.

Because it’s the truth, and someone has to say it.

You already made your choice.

But I swear to you, Kieran—” I stabbed a finger in his chest, and his eyes darkened.

“If you hurt Daniel like this again, I won’t stay still.

I will take him, and we’ll go, and you will never see him again.”

Kieran looked like I’d dropped a flash grenade in front of him, and for once, he was silent—no comeback.

Because he knew I meant it.

Daniel was the one thing in the world I didn’t take lightly, and I would be damned if I let anybody, least of all Kieran and fucking Celeste, break my baby’s heart.