Bad Husband 111


    Avan Poy


    1 stepped down from the bating tform and smarked right into someone. Sophia was still fossing with her dress hem when we both locked up.


    "Watch where you''re going, traitor''s brat, a mice like winter freat cut thenugh the shop


    stuck to her shoe. Her perfect mikrop couldn''t


    I found myself face to face with Amber Collins-Make''ste wife s sister looking at me like I was something stu hide the absolute loathing in her re


    We''d crossed paths before at ckwood, when the nd diggers at me while Risk and I discussed Lucas training. But today? The glenes were off


    "Hey, Ms. Collins," I said, my body automatically shifting into fight ready mode, Give me fangs and ss any day dealing with rich wolfdies with territory issues was way worse.


    Her eyes crawled over my silver dess, taking in how it hugged my warrior hame while still looking feminine. Her lip curled up like the tasted mething


    Your


    That dress is wasted on you," she purred with veinm beneath the sweetness. She snapped her fingers at the shopkeeper like summoning a dog. ''III take it."


    The shopkeeper hustled over, her customer-service smile straining at the corners while her eyes bounced between as the


    "How can I help, Ms. Collins?" she asked, voice tight


    "This dress." Amber jabbed a manicured finger toward me. "Find something more fitting for our Shadow Creek visitor" She spat my pack''s name like tasted bad.


    Sophia went rigid beside me. I could practically feel het hackles rising


    The shopkeeper tugged at her cor. "I''m sorry, but this is ourst piece, and Miss Rivers has already imed it."


    Amber''s face hardened. "Do you know who I am" She tossed her hair back. "Im Amber Collins, Morgan family, I don''t hear no very


    I nted my feet. "Well,


    1, hear it now. I''m wearing it. I''m buying in


    Her nostrils red as she circled me. "Who do you think you are? Some nobody warrior from that joke of a pack,peting with me? Her voice dropped to a stage whisper. "Your bloodline''s so watered down you probably can''t even shift properly anymore.


    My stomach dropped. Blood purity insults-the nuclear option in wolf society.


    "Can you even fully shift, Rivers? Or do you just sprout some pathetic half-fur like those metts Shadow Creek''s been letting in?" Her smile tumed nasty. "Maybe daddy betrayed your pack because you aren''t real wolves anymore,


    My wolf wed inside me, begging to rip her smug face off I dug my nails into only prove her right.


    my palms, forcing myself to breathe. Stuning shit in neutral territory would


    1 don''t need to prove my bloodline to you," I said, voice steady despite the rage bubbling underneath.


    "Amber Collins!" Sophia''s voice cracked like a whip, her father''s authority shing in her eyes. "Back eff. Now.


    Amber nked like she''d just noticed Sophia, her face instantly rearranging into fake sweetness. "Oh, Sophia honey, just having friend"


    chat with your


    "Chat?" Sophia''s voice went sub-zero. "You''re questioning her blood purity in public. Even i know that''s crossing the line here."


    in was actually defreding me. Around us, customers were turning to watch the drama, some with curious eyes


    Amber''s mask slipped when she realized Suphia was drinking in every detail.


    "Don''t you


    find it weird, Amber pressed, "how your father suddenly fixated on this traitor''s daughter?" She looked me up and down Training Luce, Marin


    her Into Blickweed, bringing hai in the Mam Festival." She fled her head. "Lakes you wonder what there wally offelna hlings


    Something snapped inside me. Involt me all day, but suggesting Bakre tippe?t wat herkute eft... that? My hands del inti Beri


    "I train Lucas because I can kick ass better than most,'' I gomiled. "I live at filschonend in die aty jobs. And as for the Monn festival - I bet my finger,


    realising Til nearly walked inin het trap.


    Her eyes lit up "67 Has ke asked you to be bispanion?


    progressive. The Alpha King with trash from


    "Tet mal." Sophia rolled her eyes. "Bad haan 1 asked anyone.


    "Then why the remonial dress?" Aimbes niched an eyelnos, "Going stag? Or


    perhaps metrone else has ns for her?


    Not your business, Nont Amber"


    * Sophia''s volge was sweet polson.


    Amber''s face cycled through shock, anger, and calction before settling onke civility. “Just looking out for the family name, sweetie. We wouldn''t want certain... clements at the Moon Festival"


    "Nobody appointed you gatekeeper. Sophia''s words could''ve frozen fire.


    Amber looked between us, huffed dramatically, and flicked her wrist dismissively. "That dress is practically off-the rack anyway. Beneath


    She stalked off, heels stabbing the floor like she


    trying to kill it.


    I let out a breath I didn''t know I was holding. Fighting actual monsters took less out of me than these society showdowns


    "God, what a nightmare, Sophia muttered, watching Amber leave. "She''s been trying to w her way into Dad''s bed since Mom died."


    Thanks for the backup," I said, genuinely touched. "I didn''t expect that." "Please." Sophia bumped my shoulder with hers. That''s what friends do. Plus, watching her perfect Botox face crack? Priceless.”


    1ughed, feeling the tension leak away. "Park politics follows you everywhite, huh? Can''t even try on a dress in peace."


    "Tell me about it." She nudged me toward the changing room. "Hurry up and change. We''ve got ces to be, and Lucas a waiting for his ass-kickingter."


    Back in the changing room, I peeled off the dress and palled on myly training clothes. The dress was gorgeous, but damn, my worn-in gear felt like home. Fancy clothes or not, I was still e-Shadow Creek born and alsed, no matter what Silverpeak snobs thought.


    When we got to the counter, the shopkeeper had our things wrapped in tissue paper


    "Your totales to... She named a figure that made my eyes bug out.


    Holy shit. That was almost half a year''s sry for me. My hand instinctively patted my empty pocket.


    Sophia caught my expression and squeezed my arm. "Tyler''s covering it. Dad''s orders."


    "But that''s way too much, I whispered, feeling my face heat up


    "Oh stop." Sophia grinned. The look on Amber''s your A-game."


    I''d almost forgotten. "About that- I started.


    face was worth it. Besides," the added with a wink, "if you''re hitting the Moon Festival, you need to bring


    She put a finger to her lips and nced meaningfully around. "Save it for lunch. Tou masy ears here."