Chapter 21
I slipped out of my parents‘ house at six in the morning.
Usually, Dad would be out for his morning jog, Mom bustling in the kitchen.
But after staying up past two a.m., they were still asleep–a rare late night for them.
I left a note on the fridge: Gone to Cassie’s. Back soon. Love you.
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Disguised in a hoodie and sunglasses, I snuck out of the complex and flagged a cab to Cassie’s place.
Cassie opened the door, dark circles under her eyes like bruises.
“Is Alpha Adrian even a wolf? He’s a monster–no, calling him that’s too kind! And Vanessa and Evelyn? Lower than dirt!”
Since my midnight call, spilling the horrors of last night, her blood had been boiling.
She wanted to tear them apart with her bare hands.
Cassie was fuming.
I, oddly, was calm.
Inside, I slipped off my shoes.
“Got anything in the fridge? I’ll make breakfast.”
Cassie stared, incredulous.
“You’re thinking about food now?”
4
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I hung my coat and pushed my steaming friend onto the couch.
“Starving ourselves over trash like them? Not worth it. Gotta eat to have the strength to deal with them.”
As I pulled my hand back, Cassie grabbed it, eyeing the deep, bloody marks on my wrists.
A chill ran through her.
“They tied you up in that situation? They really meant to leave you no way out.”
“Yep,” I said, my smile bleak.
“No way out at all.”
“Vanessa’s vile, but Alpha Adrian…”
Cassie’s voice caught, choked with anger.
“Even if he doesn’t love you, just break the bond. Why go this far? Nine years together–nine! For some fling
he’s known less than six months, he’d stoop this low? I can’t wrap my head around it.”
“To make his new mate happy, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do,” I said.
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“But he was searching for you like he still cared!”
“Cared? Hah…” My eyes darkened.
“You know he’s announcing his bond with Vanessa tonight?”
“What!” Cassie whipped her head around.
“You haven’t even broken the bond yet! Wait…” A grim thought hit her.
“What if he knew about the bond–breaking papers all along?”
My lips tightened. “I’ve considered that.”
Cassie’s mind raced.
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“What if he and Evelyn planned this from the start? She keeps you calm, he pushes you to want out. Once the
papers and settlement are signed, he gets a clean break without paying a cent. If you resist, they use the
video to blackmail you. You’d swallow your pride to keep it quiet, and he and Vanessa walk off into the
sunset, no strings attached.”
“That wolf is terrifying…”
I fell silent, thinking.
Was that it?
Alpha Adrian’s behavior, Vanessa’s words last night–some pieces didn’t add up.
“Cassie, I need you to do a few things for me.”
Cassie’s eyes blazed with righteous fury.
“Name it.”
Peninsula Hotel ballroom.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled, classical music flowed softly, and elites in designer attire mingled, their clinking glasses painting a classic scene of high society.
Evelyn had organized tonight’s charity gala.
Half the sprawling pack’s elite were here, especially the Quinns, who showed up in force.
The cozy vibe between the families screamed an impending alliance.
Vanessa clung to Alpha Adrian’s arm, occasionally checking her phone.
What’s wrong with those wolves? No calls, no video. What gives?
Had they failed?
No way–Vivian was already on the bed.
Unless… they’d killed her and were hiding in fear?
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She pouted.
Boring.
Dead was no fun.
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Vivian suffering, diseased and broken–that’d be better.
Evelyn approached.
“Vanessa, let me introduce you to some folks.”
Smiling, she led Vanessa away, whispering,
“Did it work? Did she sign the settlement?”
Vanessa hesitated, then nodded confidently.
“Of course. I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”
“Wonderful! You’re amazing,” Evelyn beamed.
“No big deal. Just a little trick. Happy to help,” Vanessa said.
“Such a good she–wolf.”
They exchanged smiles.
Vanessa thought, Whatever, she’s dead.
The contract’s useless now.
Alpha Adrian, done schmoozing, stepped onto the balcony for air.
Lighting a cigarette, he called his tail.
“She’s still at her parents‘? Hasn’t left? Got it.”
Frowning, he hung up, finished his smoke, and returned to the ballroom.
“Alpha Adrian, which looks better? Ms. Ashbourne donated this pink diamond set–so gorgeous, such a unique design. But Ms. Langford’s ring’s nice too…”
Vanessa skipped over, flipping through the auction catalog, chattering.
“They’re fine,” Alpha Adrian said, barely glancing at it.
His eyes moved away, then snapped back, darkening.
That pink diamond set…
“Give me the catalog.”
“Sure!”
Vanessa, thinking he’d help her choose, handed it over eagerly.
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He flipped to the diamonds.
His brow furrowed deeper.
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No mistake–this was the custom set he’d ordered from another pack last year for our bonding anniversary. One of a kind.
How was it Ms. Ashbourne’s?
”
His mind flashed to the empty closets at home.
“We’ve got the same taste! I love this set. Ms. Ashbourne’s way too old for it,” Vanessa babbled, oblivious to his stormy expression.
Alpha Adrian couldn’t confront Ms. Ashbourne here. He snapped a photo and sent it to me–only to find I’d blocked him.
He tried calling.
Blocked there too.
Unease spread like wildfire.
“Have fun. I’ve gotta go.”
“What?”
Vanessa grabbed his arm, panicked.
“You can’t leave. Tonight’s huge for us.”
“For what?” Alpha Adrian frowned, confused.
Evelyn took the stage, addressing the crowd.
“Before the auction, I have an announcement.”
She exchanged a look with Vanessa’s mother, Lydia Quinn, then continued, thrilled,
“My son Alpha Adrian will soon form a sacred bond with the Quinn pack’s Vanessa. Tonight, I’ll bid on the
priciest jewel as a gift for my future daughter–in–law.”
Applause erupted, congratulations rolling in waves.
All eyes turned to Alpha Adrian and Vanessa, cheers growing louder.
The Quinns and Blackwoods beamed.
Vanessa’s eyes welled with joy…
Alpha Adrian stood frozen, his mind buzzing.
When had he ever agreed to bond with Vanessa?
This was absurd!
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At the ballroom entrance, I appeared in a deep red, gauzy, trailing gown.
My hair flowed like liquid silk, my makeup stark and striking.
Tall and slender, I moved with hypnotic grace, the gown’s hem and red ribbons on my wrists floating like a blood–red mist.
“Vivian!” someone gasped.
T
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