Everything. All of it.
Cynthia’s voice dropped, venomous. “While you were too busy playing incest Barbie with your big, bad alpha brother, I was filming. Yeah. I taught this. Thought about sending it to your dad. actually, I did. Just a little clip. You know what happened next, right? He landed in the fucking hospital. Imagine if I’d sent the whole thing. Maybe a heart attack wouldn’t have been enough. Maybe the grave would have been quicker.”
Her girls howled with laughter. I stood there, tears brimming, my body shaking.
“But don’t worry,” Cynthia continued, smirking, “I’m still holding onto it. and guess what? If you keep clinging to him like the pathetic side piece you are, I’ll play this little movie on the gala screen tonight. Let’s see how those alphas and betas respect you after they see just what kind of whore you really are.”
I opened my mouth to speak, to defend myself, to scream, but nothing came out.
“I mean seriously, how does it feel, Liana?” she mocked. “Knowing you’ll always be second place? That no matter how hard you try, you’ll never wear that Luna crown? That all you’ve ever been to him is a fuck he regretted the second he zipped his pants?”
“You don’t know him,” I whispered.
Cynthia leaned in close, her breath hot on my face. “No, sweetie. You don’t. You know the fantasy version he sold you. I know the real one. The one who uses women like weapons and throws them away when they’re no longer useful. I’m the one he needs. You’re just a ticking time bomb he’s keeping on the side until the campaign ends.”
One of the girls whispered something behind her hand, and Cynthia laughed again. “Oh, and get this, we warned him. His Beta, his Gamina, even I warned him what keeping you around would do. But he’s stubborn. He’ll learn. And when he does? When he finally comes crawling back? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he never forgets just how far he fell for a broken little bitch like you.”
I turned to run, to get out of there, but one of the girls stepped forward and slammed her heel down on the edge of my gown. I heard the fabric tear. I gasped, clutching at it as it ripped down the side, leaving me exposed.
And still, they laughed.
They laughed so hard I thought I’d vomit.
Tears streamed down my face. My entire body shaked.
I ran.
I didn’t care where. I just had to get out.
I could still hear their laughter behind me like a curse.
But the worst part wasn’t the water, or the insults, or the video, or even the tear in my gown.
The worst part was the tiny, brutal voice in my head asking one question over and over:
What if she’s right?
LIANA’S POV
“Liana.”
I was already halfway down the hallway, trying to breathe and failing miserably, my hands shaking as they attempted to wipe away the tears that just wouldn’t stop falling from my eyes, when I heard someone call out my name, and I froze, not out of recognition, but because I honestly didn’t expect anyone to even notice me in that moment, let alone speak to me.
I turned, slowly, reluctantly, and when I saw the man standing there, a stranger with dark eyes and a firm jaw, dressed like someone who knew money and wore power like a second skin, I had to blink twice to be sure he was talking to me.
He took a careful step closer, his tone calm but unmistakably concerned. “Hey. Are you okay?”
I shook my head without thinking, biting my lip hard to stop the next wave of tears from bursting out.
He sighed. “Didn’t think so. Don’t say you are.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, voice low and cracked. “It’s just… I needed some air.”
He didn’t look convinced. “You’re drenched. And shaking. That’s not just air.”
I looked away. “I’m fine.”
There was a pause before he offered his name. “Darion. Alpha Darion of the GrayMoon Pack.”
That made me glance back at him.
He gave a half-smile. “You’re Liana. The one Killian Wolfe marked. I saw you walk in with him.”
My heart squeezed, hearing that name again.
Darion followed my gaze, and when he saw Cynthia watching us from across the ballroom like a hawk, his jaw tightened little. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”
I hesitated. I didn’t know him. But I didn’t want to stay here either.
“Thank you,” I mumbled.
Without another word, he walked me out, keeping a respectful distance but close enough that I felt oddly safe.
He brought his car around, a sleek, pitch-black beast, and opened the door for me. I got in.
The silence in the car wasn’t awkward. It felt… necessary. Like he understood that sometimes, talking was too much.
After a while, he pulled into a boutique. Very expensive-looking.
“Why are we here?” I asked, confused.
He glanced at me “Your dress is soaked. You look like you need something dry. And something that’ll make you feel human again”
“I don’t want anything expensive,” I said quickly.
“You’re not buying it,” he replied calmly. “Come on.”
Inside, a woman approached immediately. “Alpha Darion, welcome.”
“Give her whatever she wants,” he said simply.I followed the woman but stopped her before she could lead me to anything too sparkly.
“Something simple. Just… jeans or something. I’m not in the mood for glamour.”
She nodded and brought me to a section that felt more like me, comfortable, plain, real.
I changed into jeans and a soft black top. When I stepped out, Darion looked up.
“You look more like yourself now.”
I smiled faintly. “Thanks.”
He paid, and we were back in the car in minutes.
“Where to?” he asked.
I paused. “Anywhere that isn’t back there. I can’t face Killian right now. Or Cynthia.”
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