Chapter 18

　　Ashford 　　The Alpha's face drained of color, rendering him momentarily speechless. He finally surrendered, drawing in a deep breath before uttering, "Are you planning to punish us for what my brother and his family did to her?" 　　I shook my head, reassuring him. "No," I replied, "the Alpha Heir has no intentions of holding the whole pack responsible for one family's scheme." Relief seemed to wash over the Alpha, but it didn't last long. 　　"Unless," I continued, my tone growing somber, "unless the Alpha refuses to help us find the real Serena." 　　He knew exactly what I meant, so he began unraveling Serena's story. He described her life and the hardships she endured, recounting the abuse she suffered at her stepmother Mathilde's, hands. Mathilde couldn't accept that her mate had fathered a child with another woman so she decided to make her life a living hell. 　　Disappointment clouded my expression as I leaned forward. "Why didn't you step in? Knowing what Serena went through, why did