<h4>Chapter 109: _ Daughters Of The Most Powerful Man</h4>
Cam was already waiting in the living room when I arrived, dressed as if she were about to step onto a red carpet instead of simply weing the Alpha family.
She looked stunning, of course—she always did. Her gown was deep red, clinging to her curves in a way that demanded attention. Her blonde hair cascaded in perfect waves and her lips were painted a striking shade of red.
She was radiant. Of course, who wouldn’t be with all those glitters and luxurious essories?
Her gaze snapped to me the moment I stepped into the room and I saw it—the quick sh of something in her eyes.
Jealousy.
Just for a moment. Just for a whiff.
One could barely see the jealousy before it morphed into something deadlier...
Rage.
"What," she hissed, rising to her feet, "are you wearing?"
I was about to tell her to leave me when she stormed toward me.
Her hand shot out, fingers tangling painfully in my hair as she yanked my head back. She was tugging at the strands so hard, I could feel my hair uprooting.
"Who," she seethed, "told you to wear a new dress?"
Pain shot through my scalp, but I pressed my lips together, refusing to let out a sound.
She shook me hard once.
"You were supposed to wear rags," she spat. "You were supposed to look pathetic. And yet..." Her eyes swept over me, dark with fury. "You dare try to make yourself look pretty?"
I swallowed, my hands clenching at my sides. "I didn’t..."
p.
Her palm met my cheek so fast I barely felt the sting until it bloomed, hot and humiliating on my entire being.
Cam pressed closer to me, her breath warm against my skin.
"You will not outshine me. Not today. Not ever." She whispered.
The sting of Cam’s p still burned on my cheek, but I refused to touch it. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me in pain.
My scalp throbbed from where she had yanked my hair, but I squared my shoulders, trying to send the pain away. I wouldn’t let her see how much she had gotten to me.
Before I could respond, the sound of approaching heels reverberated through the hallway and into the living room.
It was Rosa. My heart almost jumped into my mouth. The presence of my eldest sister was now synonymous with that of a monster with seven horns in my eyes.
The moment Cam heard the sound of Rosaing in, she released me, instantly changing her demeanor. Gone was the snarling, violent beast. In her ce stood a helpless victim whose lips were trembling and eyes wide with crocodile tears.
She almost flung herself toward Rosa, her gown billowing as she copsed dramatically into our sister’s arms.
"Rosa!" she wailed, clutching at her like a damsel in distress. "You won’t believe what just happened!"
Rosa raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t push her away. "What happened?"
Cam pulled back, eyes glossy with feigned hurt. "María José!" she dered, pointing at me as if I hadmitted a crime. "She dared—<i>dared</i>—to dress up like this. Do you know why? Do you know why, Rosa?"
Rosa sighed. "I’m sure you’re about to tell me."
Cam gritted her teeth. "She did it for the Alpha sons! She wants to seduce them, to steal them for herself!"
I gaped. <i>What?!</i>
Rosa’s lips twitched. "Oh, Cam, calm your nerves," she said, patting our cunning sister’s arm as if soothing a child. "Don’t tell me you’re actually worried about María José?"
Cam stepped back, frowning. "I..."
"Look at her," Rosa continued, waving a hand toward mezily. "Yes, she’s beautiful, but that’s all she has." Her eyes swept over me with an almost bored expression, like she had already decided I wasn’t worth the effort of true scorn. "You, Cam, are radiant. You are attractive in ways that go beyond the surface. You have <i>power</i>."
Cam straightened, drinking in Rosa’s words like they were gospel.
"Beauty is nothing where power is concerned," Rosa went on. "Power is the real beauty. <i>That</i> is what makes people bow. That is what makes you untouchable."
Cam’s wounded pride seemed to heal instantly. Her lips curled into a smirk, and she tossed her golden waves over her shoulder.
"You’re right," she said, her confidence returning with a vengeance. "I have power. I have boldness. I have beauty." She shot me a look of triumph. "And you, María José, have only one of those things."
I said nothing.
Because what was there to say? They were right. I had no power.
Before Cam could gloat any further, the sound of authoritative footsteps came from behind.
Our father.
Don Diego emerged from the hallway like a king, dressed impably in deep navy and gold. He always had a presence thatmanded attention, but today, he looked so grand.
His gaze trailed between us, settling on each of his daughters as if inspecting us for ws. I kept my head dipped low.
"It’s time," he said. His voice was deep and calm, but filled with a warning. "We will receive Tomás’s family now."
Silence settled in the room. Even Cam and Rosa’s smugness dimmed at the mention of them.
Tomás’s family. The Alpha’s family. We all knew what that meant.
For me, it meant Axel wasing.
To the others, it meant forced smiles, false pleasantries, and enduring the overbearing arrogance of the Montenegros.
Our father straightened his cuffs. "You all know how insufferable Tomás and his kin can be. They act as if they are the pinnacle of power as if they are the greatest among us."
His jaw tightened.
"They are not."
I watched as Rosa and Cam nodded in agreement.
"Remember this," our father continued. "We will be the perfect hosts, but we will not grovel. We will not act beneath them. They may be wealthy, but we are not lesser. We are wealthy and powerful. You are the daughters of the most powerful man in the pack. Do not forget that!"
His gaze flicked toward me and his lip curled slightly. I knew what he was thinking.
I was lesser.
And he was praying I wouldn’t embarrass him. I held my breath. I wouldn’t.
I had learned to y my part. All I had to do was keep silent and keep my head low all through the meeting and all would be well and good.