Then Lisa Morrison started laughing.
“Well, that was fucking spectacular.” She raised her drink in a mock toast. “Our Alpha finally stopped pretending.”
“Poor Sable.” Ryan’s voice dripped false sympathy. “Getting abandoned at her own boyfriend’s reunion party.”
“Technically it’s Emily’s party,” I corrected.
“Doesn’t matter whose party it is.” Jennifer leaned forward with vicious glee. “What matters is who Darrell chose to disappear with.”
“And it sure as shit wasn’t his live-in girlfriend,” Tommy added.
The pack members erupted in cruel laughter. I sipped my wine and let them have their fun.
“This is better than reality TV,” Lisa continued. “Watching the fake Luna get replaced in real time.”
“Replaced implies she ever had the position to begin with,” Marcus said. “She was always just the placeholder.”
“The practice girlfriend,” Ryan agreed. “Keeping the bed warm until the real woman came home.”
Jennifer’s eyes sparkled with malice. “I bet she thought she actually mattered. Three years of playing house and she probably believed her own fantasy.”
“The delusion is strong with this one,” Tommy gestured in my direction. “Still sitting here like she belongs.”
I finally stood up and walked out.
The bathroom door closed behind me with a soft click. I made it to the nearest stall and locked the door before the first tear fell.
I sat on the closed toilet seat and buried my face in my hands. The perfect makeup, expensive dress, thirty-thousand-dollar shoes – none of it mattered. I looked successful on the outside, but inside I was crumbling.
My chest felt crushed, like someone had reached inside and squeezed until everything important stopped working.
Three fucking years of believing I meant something.
I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to stop the tears. That’s when I heard the bathroom door open and voices filter in.
Jennifer’s voice rang out clearly. “Oh my god, did you see her face when Darrell chose Camila?”
“Priceless,” another voice agreed. “I thought she might actually cry.”
“Too bad she didn’t. Would’ve been the perfect ending to this shitshow.”
I froze.
“Three years of pretending to be Luna material,” Jennifer continued. “Finally getting the reality check she deserved.”
“Darrell didn’t even try to hide it,” the second voice laughed. “Just grabbed Camila and walked away like Sable was furniture.”
“Because that’s all she ever was. Expensive furniture that happened to have tits.”
Their laughter echoed off the bathroom tiles.
“I give it a week before he kicks her out completely,” Jennifer said. “Why keep the knockoff when you’ve got the original back?”
“Poor little orphan girl. Nowhere to go, no family to run home to.”
“Maybe she can find another Alpha to leech off. Though after tonight, good luck with that. Everyone knows she’s just a used-up placeholder now.”
My hands shook as I pressed them against my mouth to keep from making any sound. They had no idea I was here.
Let me out, Esme snarled in my mind. Let me tear their fucking throats out.
No.
They’re insulting us! Our honor! Fight back!
What’s the point? I closed my eyes against the rage burning in my chest. They’re not wrong.
They ARE wrong! Esme’s fury blazed hotter. We are strong! We are worthy! Show them what happens when they disrespect us!
And prove what exactly? I pressed harder against my mouth as another wave of cruel laughter echoed outside. That I’m the unstable, emotional mess they think I am?
Better than being their victim.
Eve been their victim for three years, Esme. I just didn’t realize it.
My wolf’s anger faltered, replaced by something like grief. Then let’s leave. Tonight. Right now.
It’s not that I don’t love him anymore. I swallowed hard. I refuse to love a man who never truly saw me as his real mate.
Esme rumbled low in agreement. Then reject him. Officially. Sever the bond before he destroys what’s left of us.
Soon.
The conversation continued.
“You think they’re fucking right now?”
‘Obviously. You saw how desperate he looked when she almost kissed Marcus.”
‘Camila played that perfectly. Making him jealous enough to claim her publicly.”
‘Smart woman. Unlike our resident fake Luna who just sat there taking it.’
“What did you expect? She’s got no backbone. No breeding. No fight.”
“That’s what happens when you try to punch above your weight class. Reality always wins.”
They finally left, their cruel laughter fading down the hallway.
I waited several minutes before emerging from the stall. My legs felt unsteady as I approached the mirror. The woman staring back looked hollow, despite the perfect makeup.
I splashed cold water on my face and tried to pull myself together.
When I stepped back into the hallway, Emily was waiting by the wall, her face creased with worry.
“Sable? I saw you head this way and…” She studied my expression. “Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” She moved closer, lowering her voice. “What happened in there was completely wrong. Darrell humiliated you in front of everyone.”
I forced a smile. It was just a game. I should head out. Congratulations again on your new life.”
“Are you sure? You could stay…”
“No. I’ve seen enough for one night.”
She hugged me tightly. “If you need anything – anything at all – call me. Okay?”
‘I will.”
The lie came easily. We both knew I wouldn’t call. Our paths were diverging, and there was no point pretending otherwise.
I walked toward the exit.
From somewhere above, I heard Camila’s distinctive laugh. Light and musical and completely satisfied.
I didn’t look back.
I went back to the house at 2 AM. I walked straight to the bedroom and pulled my suitcase from the closet. The zipper sounded too loud in the quiet room. My hands shook as I started folding clothes, placing them carefully inside.
Esme paced restlessly in my mind. “We’re finally leaving this hell.”
I should have listened to you sooner.
‘You were blinded by hope. But we’re awake now.”
I moved to the dresser and opened the top drawer for my underwear. That’s when I saw it – a small wooden box tucked behind my bras, pushed all the way to the back.
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