The call ended with a sharp click, leaving a heavy silence in the studio. Serin's hands trembled as she placed her phone down, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. She suddenly turned toward Kairan and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. The dam finally broke, and sobs wracked her frame as she clung to him.
Kairan's arms immediately wrapped around her protectively, his expression cold yet pained. He had seen her strength countless times, but seeing her crumble like this shattered something deep inside him. He stroked her hair gently, his voice low and dangerous. "They will eat their words, Luna. I swear it."
Junghyun and Inseo quickly moved closer, their expressions reflecting a mix of anger and concern. Ii hyeok had already left mid call as to not interupt. Inseo crouched beside her, placing a gentle hand on her back. "Noona, we're here. Don't cry, please" he murmured, his voice soft for once, devoid of its usual playfulness.
Junghyun, less vocal but just as affected, knelt Infront of her. "Serin, you've always been too strong for your own good. Let us be strong for you now."
Serin's sobs quieted as she clutched Kairan's shirt. "I don't understand" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Why would Father act like this? He's not like Mother… he can't be like her."
Junghyun's eyes hardened. "Because you've been too blind to see the truth. Tell me, Noona.....can you remember a single time he called you his daughter?"
Serin froze. Her mind reeled as she tried to recall any memory that contradicted Junghyun's words. Her lips trembled, and she whispered, "That's… that's not true. He must have… he must have at some point."
Inseo's voice grew soft, but there was an undeniable bitterness behind his words. "Noona, think about it. He's never called you that. Not once. To him, you're not a person. You're a symbol....something given to him by the Moon Goddess. He never saw you as his daughter."
Serin shook her head violently, disbelief etched across her features. "No. That can't be true. You're wrong."
Junghyun's voice was heavy with regret as he recounted the past. "Do you remember your fifteenth birthday, Serin? You were so excited because you thought Father would finally celebrate it with you."
Serin's breath caught in her throat as the memory resurfaced. "He… he said he was busy with pack matters."
Junghyun's gaze turned bitter. "He wasn't busy. He was meeting with the elders to discuss you. Not as his daughter, but as 'the alpha's blessing.' He didn't care about your birthday. He cared about how you'd fulfill some divine role he believed in. He was thinking of ways to make you use your powers. He wasn't interested in you as his daughter. You were just something handed to him by fate."
Inseo wiped his eyes, his voice quieter but equally intense. "Do you remember the summer festival three years ago? You'd made all those flower arrangements, and everyone loved them. Even the elders praised you."
Serin furrowed her brow, trying to recall. "He… he said I did well."
Inseo shook his head. "He didn't say 'you did well.' He said, 'The Moon Goddess's blessing brings beauty wherever she goes.' He gave the credit to the Moon Goddess, not to you. He never saw your effort. It was always about what he could boast about. Never once did he acknowledge the person you are. It was always about the 'gift' he thought you were."
Junghyun and Inseo exchanged a glance, and Junghyun spoke again, his tone unwavering. "Do you remember the time you saved the young pups from drowning during the storm? You rushed in to pull them out of the river, even though you were barely able to swim yourself."
Serin's breath caught, her face pale as she recalled the horrifying moment. "I… I had to. They were in danger."
Junghyun's eyes locked with hers, his voice low and resolute. "And what did Father say when you told him what happened?"
Serin paused, the memory slowly becoming clearer. "He… he said… 'You've fulfilled your role as the Moon Goddess's chosen.'"
Inseo clenched his jaw, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "There it is again. He never thanked you for saving those pups. He never even acknowledged what you did as an act of bravery. All he saw was the role you played. You were just a vessel, fulfilling some celestial duty."
Serin's chest tightened as the weight of the past settled heavily on her shoulders. Her breaths were shallow, her chest constricting with the realization of the truth they were showing her.
Junghyun leaned in closer, his voice soft but filled with unmistakable sorrow. "And then, remember the time you spent weeks working on your project to help improve the pack's economy? You were so proud, thinking Father would praise you for your hard work."
Serin bit her lip, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to break free. "Yes… I thought he'd finally see what I could do. I thought he'd be proud."
Inseo nodded, his usual lightness completely absent. "And do you remember what he said when you showed him the results?"
Serin's lip trembled. "He said… 'Well, the Moon Goddess's gift is good for something after all.' He didn't praise you for your work, Noona. He praised your 'gift.' That's all he ever saw you as. Not a daughter. Not a person. Just something that could serve his purposes."
Serin's vision blurred as tears flooded her eyes. She turned to Kairan, her voice barely a whisper. "Tell me it's not true ... It's all a lie please"
Kairan's gaze softened as he tightened his arms around her. He kissed her forehead gently, his lips lingering for a moment. "I wish I could, Luna" he said softly. "But they're right. It's not wrong to accept the truth, even if it's painful. You didn't get the love you deserved from them. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can heal from it."
Serin sobbed quietly against him, her strength crumbling further. "Why? Why wasn't I enough?"
"You were always enough" Kairan whispered, his voice steady and filled with conviction. "It's them who failed you, not the other way around. And you're not alone, Serin. You have me, Junghyun, Taejung, Inseo…"
Inseo, ever the one to lighten the mood, piped up with a mischievous grin. "And Ii Hyeok! Don't forget him. He'd be heartbroken if you did."
The unexpected humor caught Serin off guard, and a small giggle escaped her lips despite the tears still rolling down her cheeks.
Junghyun and Kairan exchanged glances, their expressions softening at the sight of her smile. For the first time that night, the heavy atmosphere lifted slightly.
Junghyun placed a protective hand on Serin's shoulder. "No matter what happens, Noona, you have us. We'll make sure nothing like this ever touches you again."
Inseo nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, no more sadness for you. We'll take care of everything."
Kairan's eyes glinted with resolve as he held her close. "And anyone who dares to hurt you will face me. You're mine now, Serin, and I protect what's mine."