"This place hasn't changed a bit," Luna Bernice said, her gaze sweeping over the foyer with barely concealed disdain. She shoved her fur coat into my arms. "Mink and fox tail… make sure you hang it better than you've treated these awful drapes."
"Ma'am," Caroline, one of the omegas, rushed over and gently took the coat from me. "I'll take care of that."
"Thank you, Caroline," I said softly, giving her a grateful smile before I turned back to our guests. My voice sharpened. "It seems you've forgotten who I am since we last met?"
"Indeed," Alpha Marvin replied, his cold, wrinkled face twisting into a scowl as he looked me up and down. "For a moment, I thought you were another one of those harlot warriors your pack keeps as pets… I had forgotten that the future Alpha here had the misfortune of being mated to one."
My jaw clenched. I ignored the mocking smirks from the women behind him.
"All things are better with experience," Kevin, the son, added with a smile that dripped malice. His eyes lingered on my neckline far too long. "I'm very much looking forward to the… hospitality of the future Luna of the Fire Moon Pack."
"I'm sure the current Luna's hospitality will suffice," I shot back, my expression perfectly calm.
Caroline pressed her lips together to hide a grin. Kevin noticed. His smile faltered, and with a snap of irritation, he tossed his coat onto the pile in the omega's arms.
"Ah, my friend!" Alpha Carlton's booming voice cut through the tension before I could land another verbal strike. He strolled in with Luna Klarissa at his side, her perfectly practiced smile clinging to her lips like cheap perfume.
"I see you've put on a few pounds," Carlton said with that false camaraderie as he shook Marvin's hand. "But your beautiful Luna looks as radiant as ever." He bent down to kiss Bernice's cheek.
Bernice giggled and batted her fake lashes. Klarissa's smile faltered for a second, but Marvin remained stoic, unbothered. Typical. The entire hierarchy of both packs reeked of hypocrisy and selfishness. I hated that I had once looked up to this life—this family—before I saw it for what it really was.
Then Cameron appeared.
The way he greeted Odette was almost identical to his father's shameless display with Bernice. But Cameron had the audacity to look at me as he kissed Odette's cheek… and again when she "accidentally" planted her lips on the corner of his mouth.
"Whoops," she giggled, her voice dripping honey, while their parents laughed like it was all some private joke.
Cameron didn't laugh. He just stared at me. Waiting. Testing. His smile turned into a sharp glare when I didn't flinch. Cortina whimpered, torn and restless inside me, but I kept my face cold. I was used to this. He flirted… but he never crossed the line far enough to trigger betrayal pains. As long as his wolf stayed loyal and didn't hurt mine, I could tolerate it.
For now.
Dinner was a performance. I sat in silence, nibbling on food I hated. Luna Klarissa, as always, filled the menu with nothing but seafood—her favorite. Caviar on cucumbers.
Scallops. Seared tuna salad. A bisque that reeked of lobster so strong I thought I'd vomit. And the main course? Sea bass and artichokes.
Why couldn't we eat normal food? Meatloaf. Roasted chicken. Hell, even a greasy pizza would do. I bet the other warrior women in the annex were eating something warm and satisfying tonight, while I was stuck pretending to enjoy this pretentious spread.
Odette spent the entire evening draped over Cameron, laughing too loud at his every word, touching him every chance she got.
And Cameron… he let her. He even leaned into her, answering her questions with charm and smiles meant to cut me. Every so often, he'd glance at me, waiting for a reaction.
He wouldn't get one.
Not even when I dropped my napkin and caught sight of Odette's foot sliding along his under the table. He didn't stop her. But he didn't reciprocate either. He just stared at me, his jaw tight, like my indifference bothered him more than any jealous scene ever could.
Cortina growled low in my head, and I swear that bastard smirked like he could hear her.
Kevin tried to pull me into conversation, his words thick with innuendo. I kept my answers short, polite, empty. When his mother made snide comments about my orphan past, I didn't flinch. I didn't agree. I simply smiled, tight and sharp, and kept eating.
But Cameron… Cameron didn't like that. I felt his gaze burning into me. His hand gripped the armrest, his muscles taut beneath his dress shirt. He wanted me to react. When I didn't, he leaned closer to Odette, whispering something that made her giggle and touch his arm like she owned him.
Cortina snarled. I forced her down.
"Excuse me," I said, rising from the table once the plates were cleared. Nobody acknowledged me. Perfect. I needed the distance. I needed to calm Cortina before she did something rash.
"Why is he hurting us?" Cortina's voice trembled. "Rome doesn't hurt us… why does he?"
"Because he's a selfish asshole," I muttered. "Always has been. If he could screw other girls and get away with it, he would. Bond or not."
"But Rome said they wanted us… just us…"
I bit my tongue. I couldn't tell her what I really thought—that Rome was probably just keeping her compliant, keeping her blind.
Cameron had never shown me a single ounce of care. If he ever truly broke Cortina, I'd leave. No hesitation. I'd reject him and run.
"Chloe," his voice cut into my thoughts. It was the first time he'd spoken to me all day—through the mind link, of course. "You were not dismissed from the table."
"I know," I growled back. "I'm just peeing. Try surviving five minutes without your ego being stroked."
He grunted and slammed the link shut.
By the time I headed back, my feet ached in the stilettos Klarissa forced me to wear. My dress was so tight I could barely move. I was debating taking the elevator when I rounded the corner and found Odette waiting at the top of the stairs.
"There you are," she said sweetly, linking her arm with mine before I could pass. "You looked unsettled at dinner. I thought I'd check on you."
"I'm fine," I lied, my voice flat.
"Oh, how could you be?" Her tone shifted, sharp and mocking. "I'd be so disturbed if my mate was that… engrossed with a past fling."
Cortina snarled. I smiled. Cold. Unbothered.
"Considering it's past, not present… I'm not disturbed in the least. If anything, it must be harder for you, realizing he's only using you to provoke me. I'd be humiliated if I were you."
Her fake smile cracked. "How dare you, you lowborn mutt whore! I'm the daughter of an Alpha, not a—"
"We're all tools," I cut her off. "In the game of Alphas, we're all pawns. Don't be so blind. Don't be so… stupid."
She growled, stepping back as I descended the stairs. I didn't care. I was done. Done with all of it.
My thoughts were already on where I'd hide tonight—maybe the library, maybe the billiards hall—when I felt her behind me. Too close.
The push came fast and hard.
The world tilted. The air rushed past me.
I turned my head just in time to see her face twisted into a venomous sneer.
Time slowed.
And then I was falling.
"I hate you," I whispered, the words burning as the marble floor rushed to meet me. "I fucking hate you."
Darkness swallowed me whole.