Flashback Within a Flashback Continues

Noelle’s head snapped to the side as searing pain exploded across her cheek. She slowly lifted a trembling hand to her face.

Chuck glared at her with eyes burning with anger and deep regret. “You see?” His voice shook with frustration. “Even Ravyn already likes her.”

Noelle’s chest tightened painfully. She had expected gratitude and excitement. Instead, every passing day only seemed to make her husband hate their decision more and more.

She even found herself thinking the impossible. Maybe she could still switch the babies back somehow. But reality quickly crushed that desperate hope. The two little girls looked nothing alike.

Seraphine’s striking blue eyes stood out immediately, and her dark hair made the difference even more obvious. Noelle’s biological daughter had inherited her own blonde hair. There was no way anyone would ever believe another switch.

The chance had already passed. She was now trapped forever by the very plan she had created.

Two years slipped by in a blur.

Day after day, Chuck’s resentment only grew stronger and colder. His distance became impossible to ignore.

The guilt inside Noelle slowly twisted and transformed into something darker.

Finally, Noelle broke the unbearable quiet. “I have another idea.”

Chuck looked up at her, his face still clouded with deep regret. “What is it?”

She took a slow, steady breath, already completely convinced that this new plan would fix at least one of their massive problems. “Let’s hire Madison to be Seraphine’s nanny.”

Chuck frowned but stayed quiet, letting her explain.

“I’ll arrange for her whole family to move into the packhouse.” A cold, calculating look settled in her eyes. “She’ll stay close to Seraphine every single day.”

Her voice softened just a little. “I don’t think Luna Kylie will object at all. If it’s for Seraphine’s benefit, she’ll probably agree without asking too many questions.”

Chuck thought about it carefully. Unlike the risky baby switch, this plan didn’t feel nearly as reckless. At the very least, he would finally get to see his own biological daughter every day.

After all the guilt and pain they had caused, that small comfort meant way more to him than he wanted to admit.

He gave a faint nod. “I agree with that one.” Relief washed briefly across his face. “I can’t stand the thought of never seeing our real daughter.”

The words slipped out before he could stop them. His eyes widened suddenly as something else hit him hard. He looked sharply at Noelle. “Wait.”

She turned toward him. “What?”

Chuck’s brows knitted together tightly. “The prophecy.” His heartbeat picked up speed. “The old shaman said the gifted wolf and the Fenrir wolf would be born around the same time.”

He stared straight into Noelle’s eyes. “If Seraphine is the gifted wolf…” His voice dropped noticeably lower. “Does that mean our own daughter is the Fenrir wolf?”

The room fell into complete, heavy silence.

All the color drained from Noelle’s face. Her breathing became shaky and uneven. “No…” She shook her head over and over, like denying it could somehow make the truth disappear. “No…” Her voice cracked with emotion. “It can’t be.”

She wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “What did we ever do to deserve something like this?” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Are we cursed?”

Chuck’s expression darkened dangerously. For the first time in their entire marriage, genuine fury flashed across his face when he looked at her. “Cursed?” He let out a bitter, painful laugh. “Maybe we are.”

His eyes burned with raw disappointment. “Or maybe this is all because of your greed.”

Noelle stiffened instantly, Chuck took another step closer. “The Alpha and Luna spent their whole lives protecting this pack.” His voice echoed through the room with intensity. “They were rewarded with the gifted wolf because of the goodness in their hearts.”

His jaw clenched hard. “And if our daughter’s wolf would truly be a Fenrir…” his eyes locked onto Noelle’s without any mercy. “Then maybe it says everything about the evil inside you.”

Every single word hit her harder than the last.

Noelle stood there frozen. She wanted to defend herself. She wanted to argue and fight back. Instead, she stayed completely silent. Deep down, even she couldn’t fully dismiss the truth in what he said.

From that day forward, something between them shattered completely. The warmth that had once filled their marriage slowly died away. Conversations became shorter and colder. Meals were eaten in painful silence.

They slept under the same roof but felt like complete strangers living together.

The guilt Chuck carried only grew heavier and more unbearable with every passing day.

Noelle, however, refused to give up on her ambitions. If anything, she became even more fiercely determined to protect the future she had stolen.

Still, Chuck’s words about the prophecy refused to leave her mind. The gifted wolf. The Fenrir wolf. Two pups born around the same time. The terrifying possibility haunted her every single day.

Eventually, another dark idea began forming inside her head. If she couldn’t escape the prophecy, perhaps she could hide it.

Not long after, she arranged a private meeting with Madison. The omega arrived looking nervous, her clothes neatly washed but clearly worn from years of hard use. She lowered her head respectfully the moment she stepped inside.

“You wanted to see me?”

Noelle offered her a gentle, carefully practiced smile. “I have a job for you.”

Madison looked surprised. “A job?”

“I want you to become my daughter’s nanny.” Her smile stayed warm and inviting. “You, your husband, and your child can all move into the packhouse.”

Madison’s eyes instantly filled with overwhelming gratitude. For an omega, an opportunity like this was almost impossible to come by. Living inside the packhouse meant real security, better food, better medical care, and a brighter future for her family. She couldn’t believe her luck.

“There is only one condition,” Noelle added.

Madison nodded without hesitation. “Please tell me.”

Before Noelle could continue, Madison lowered her eyes sadly. “My daughter has been sick most of the time.” Deep sadness filled her face. “Our savings are almost gone because of her treatments.” She forced a weak smile. “I really need this job.”

Noelle’s heart skipped a painful beat. “Sick?” The word escaped before she could stop it.

Madison nodded. “Yes.” Her shoulders slumped with exhaustion. “The healers still don’t know exactly why. We’ve spent almost everything trying to make her better.”

Noelle’s hands slowly tightened into fists at her sides. A sharp, stabbing pain tore through her chest. All this while, her pup had been sick and Noelle had no idea. What if she had died?

While Seraphine lived comfortably inside the packhouse, sleeping in warm beds, eating the finest meals, and receiving endless love and affection, Noelle’s own biological pup was struggling just to survive.

The unfairness of it all nearly overwhelmed her. Even after everything she had done, seeing her own child suffer hurt more than she had ever expected.

She swallowed the huge lump in her throat and forced herself to stay composed. “It’s alright.” Her voice softened. “I’ll personally pay for every one of her treatments from now on.”

Hope immediately flooded Madison’s eyes.

“But…” Noelle’s tone became firm and serious. “There is something you must do for me.”