Laura didn’t even blink. “Do not embarrass Lady Celeste with excuses. These guests are to be catered to, without question.”
“But-“
“Are you talking back after all this?” Laura raised her hand, and I stepped forward before she could hit Imani.
“That’s enough.”
Laura turned slowly, and her eyes widened when she registered who I was. Then her expression twisted into something tight and unpleasant.
“Well, well, well,” she scoffed. “I must say, it’s strange seeing you among invited guests, not lurking in the background. That suits you better, so maybe mind your business.”
“I didn’t come here to cause a scene,” I said evenly. “But I won’t stand by and let someone be punished for protecting herself.”
“This isn’t your concern anymore,” she sniffed. “You’re not Luna. You’re not even Alpha
Kieran’s shadow-wife anymore. You have no say in how staff are disciplined.”
“I’m not claiming any title,” I replied. “And I don’t have to be part of the pack to call out abuse of power when I see it.”
“Listen here,” the Gamma stepped forward. I didn’t recognize him from Nighfang. Was he a member of Frostbane? How ironic that I couldn’t recognize members from the pack I grew up in. “This bitch”-he pointed at Imani, and I heard Maya growl at my side-“doesn’t know how to do her job right, so if-“
“She said you cornered her,” Lucian said, stepping forward, subtly putting himself between me and the Gamma.
The Gamma scoffed. “So? You’re going to believe the filthy lies out of a worthless Omega?”
“Okay, I’m snapping necks,” Maya snarled, but I held on to her arm before she could charge.
We had a full audience now, and the music had been lowered, so I only had to raise my voice slightly.
“Were there any witnesses?” I turned to the gawking crowd. “Did anyone see what happened?”
There was a moment of tense silence filled with shuffling feet and whispers.
The Gamma chuckled. “I don’t know what you think you’re-“
“I saw him back her into a corner near the east hallway when I went to the bathroom.” A woman near the drinks table stepped forward. “He was…pressing in.”
The Gamma sputtered. “What? I didn’t-“
“I saw what happened,” another woman from the next table chimed in. “He called her over for a drink and then grabbed her wrist. He was trying to pull her away?”
An older couple nodded solemnly. “We noticed something as well. He seemed aggressive.”
A young waiter nervously stepped forward. “He grabbed her wrist. I saw it, too. She pulled away, and that’s when she dropped the tray.”
The Gamma blustered. “You people don’t know what you’re talking about. She’s lying-“
Lucian stepped forward, calm and cold. “Are you calling multiple guests liars? Because it’s only your story that’s different, and that sounds like grounds for disciplinary action to me.”
The Gamma paled.
Laura’s face tightened, turned to Imani, and said lowly, “Go clean yourself up. We’ll revisit this later.”
“No,” I said firmly. “You’ll apologize to her.”
OPPRESSION
Laura stared at me. “Excuse me?”
“You embarrassed her in front of dozens of guests for doing nothing wrong. You owe her an apology. And you’ll do it the same way you berated her-publicly.”
Laura’s face reddened. “I answer to Lady Celeste, not to you.”
I folded my arms. “And what about Alpha Kieran? Think he’ll be pleased to know this is how you treat his staff?”
One thing I always admired about Kieran was that he never discriminated within his pack and treated everyone equally. I just hoped that wasn’t another part of him that had been swept away under Celeste’s glittery wave.
Laura’s face darkened, but before she could say anything, the Gamma huffed in disbelief and shoved through the crowd, the smugness gone from his features, replaced by fury of embarrassment.
“I’ll be taking this to Lady Celeste,” he growled, eyes flicking spitefully between Laura,
Imani, and me. “We’ll see how long you keep your tongue then.”
He stormed off, pushing past a couple of younger pack members who didn’t bother hiding their disdain.
Imani stood frozen, hands clenched at her sides, gaze dropped in shame.
Laura turned to her with a smirk curling the corners of her lips. “Well then, you heard him.
When Lady Celeste hears of this, there’ll be consequences. You think anyone’s going to back you up then?”
My hands balled into fists.
I took a step forward. “Are you seriously threatening her in front of half the party? After
KIR witnesses have spoken?”
Laura turned to me again, eyes narrowed with open contempt. “You shouldn’t get involved anymore or you’ll face consequences, too.”
This time, Maya moved. “What the fuck did you just say?”
Laura’s eyes flickered uncertainly, like she didn’t know if Maya was someone to be respected or not.
“Lady-“
“I’m not a lady,” Maya snapped.
“And clearly, neither are you,” I added. Laura’s mouth fell open slightly at my tone, but before I could continue, Imani moved forward and caught my wrist.
“Please,” she whispered, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. “Please don’t say more. I can handle it. I don’t want to cause more trouble for you.”
I looked down at her, stunned. She was pleading for me, not herself. She thought defending her would put me in danger.
A knot formed in my throat.
“You shouldn’t have to deal with this,” I said softly, but she only shook her head.
“This is how it is now,” she murmured. “Since we started answering to Lady Celeste. We keep our heads down, do our jobs, and pray we’re invisible. It’s safer that way.”
It hit me like a slap. Imani wasn’t just speaking for herself-she was speaking for every
Omega under Celeste’s thumb.
I glanced around the room. Though the tension was thick, I caught several eyes-familiar
Of Chapter 01 SUGAKUUATED
RESSION ones. A few of the kitchen staff, a seamstress I’d worked with during past ceremonies, a
Beta who had once sought me out for event planning advice. People I used to know. People who remembered how things were.
And people who now looked unsure, uncomfortable, even guilty.
I turned back to Laura. “If this is what the pack looks like under Lady Celeste’s rule, then
Kieran should be ashamed.”
Her eyes flashed. “How dare you? You think you’re still something in this pack?”
“No,” I said calmly. “And I think I’m better off for it.”
I felt Imani’s grip loosen, but I didn’t step back. I stood beside her as the murmurs swelled, until Laura muttered something under her breath and finally turned away after shooting me one last glare.
The moment shattered like a spell lifting. People drifted back into their conversations, though several eyes lingered on me, watchful. Intrigued.
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