E POV


    “Shut up,” Alexander whispered.


    I halted my steps abruptly, furrowing my brow. “What?”


    Alexander shook his head, almost as if he hadn’t intended to say the words out loud. “Nothing,” he said. Beside him, Gabriel’s face reddened again. Alexander frowned. “Why did you pick that dress? You should change.”


    I bristled involuntarily at his words. Maybe the old version of me would have scurried away and changed into something more suitable-who was I kidding, I would have never worn this to begin with-but not anymore.


    “Oh, don’t be a prude,” I bit out. “I can wear what I want and you have no right to control me.”


    With that, I brushed past him, moving to enter the banquet hall.


    Alexander’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm. He pulled me back before I could reach the grand double doors.


    I whirled on him, prepared to tell him where he could shove hisments about my outfit, but found myself surprised when he simply looped my arm through his elbow.


    “You can’t go alone. We’re supposed to walk in together.”


    Right. We did enter these sorts of events arm-in-arm every time.


    But I knew that the moment we entered the banquet hall, Sophia would show up and cling to Alexander. And I knew he would keep his distance from me for the entire party, just like he always did, leaving me to mingle on my own and be a wallflower while all the other couples danced.


    He wasn’t insisting on going in together because he actually cared about being by my side. This was just for appearances, like it always was, and I would be cast aside the moment I had served my purpose.


    I abruptly pulled my arm away. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Everyone knows you hate me, anyway. What does it matter if we’re holding hands when we enter?”


    Alexander’s green eyes shifted, a look of something that almost looked like pain flickering through them for the briefest of moments. It was gone so quickly I wasn’t sure if I had actually seen it, but it did leave me wondering…


    Could it be that he was actually being insincere earlier and actually preferred when I was being more flirtatious?


    “There will be guests from the Alpha Council Supervisory Board in attendance,” he said firmly, taking my hand and cing it on his arm again. I tried not to think about the sight of his bare muscles from earlier as I felt his bicep shift under my palm. “They’ll be inspecting the pack for at least a month for all Alpha King candidates. We have to give them a good impression.”


    “Unless you’re trying to spread negative rumors about your rtionship,” Gabriel, who had regained some of hisposure, chimed in from behind Alexander. “Trying to ruin your Alpha’s chances at bing the next Alpha King.”


    I snorted, making both Alexander and Gabriel nce at each other in surprise.


    “Of course not,” I said smoothly. “I think Alexander would make an excellent Alpha King if he controls his subjects half as


    well as he controls me.”


    Despite my obvious jab, I did oblige and tighten my grip around Alexander’s arm. Gabriel opened the doors and we strode inside, where the party was already in full swing.


    Well-dressed guests from all over milled around with drinks in hand, some already twirling on the dance floor as a pianist yed a lively tune. Candles flickered on every table, casting the room in a golden glow, and the air smelled like alcohol, cigar smoke, and decadent food.


    The party seemed a bit chaotic without my guidance-I would have put smaller centerpieces on the tables so guests could see each other better during conversation and I would have ced the dance floor closer to the center of the room, facilitating more dancing and socializing, but it was surprisingly nice.


    And at least I didn’t have to deal with Sophia’s nitpicking this time. Gabriel could deal with her instead.


    As Alexander and I began making our way through the sea of guests, I gestured to a nearby waiter, who hurried over. His eyes briefly flicked over my dress, a look of surprise crossing his face, but he bowed and said respectfully, “What can I get for


    you, Luna?”


    Normally, I would have opted for sparkling juice—a drink to hold so as not to make the guests feel ufortable, but nothing alcoholic.


    But tonight, I wanted something stronger.


    “I’d like a dry martini, please.”


    The waiter nodded and left to prepare my drink. When I nced at Alexander, I noticed him looking at me.


    “What?” I asked.


    “Nothing. Just don’t get drunk tonight.”


    “We’ll see about that.” I took the drink from the waiter when he returned and immediately took a long sip, never looking away from Alexander. Frustrated, he shook his head and looked away.


    Just then, a familiar form emerged from the crowd-not much taller than me, slender, and sporting an expensive suit that was likely purchased using the money he’d earned from selling me to a man who hated me.


    My father.


    I hadn’t seen him in person for months, but he didn’t hug me or smile like a normal father might do. Rather, he took my wrist and pulled me slightly off to the side. “What are you wearing, E?” he hissed. “This sort of dress is hardly befitting a Luna.”


    When he began to remove his jacket to cover me up, I held my hand up to stop him. “I’m fine. I can wear whatever I want.”


    My father’s blue eyes shed. “What hase over you?” He then gestured to the drink in my hand. “And you should know better than to drink alcohol when you’re actively trying to get pregnant.”


    I almostughed at that. Sure, I used to do everything in my power to make Alexander love me and want to have a family with me, but now I just wanted to live.


    “And such a strong drink, too,” an all-too-familiar voice chimed in. Sophia. She was wearing a feminine white gown that was perfectly tasteful with just a touch of sexiness, her brte hair pulled back into an intricate updo. “Well, I suppose Luna E will finally be joining the adults tonight.”


    I held back the urge to say something nasty in front of my father. But when Gabriel stepped forward and reached for my drink, saying, “The Luna must have made a mistake when she ordered. I’ll go get her something more appropriate,” I snapped.


    I yanked my drink away, a little liquid sloshing out over the rim. “I’m not a child,” I hissed. “And I’m not a broodmare. If I want a drink, then I’ll have a damn drink.”


    My father, Gabriel, and Sophia went silent.


    (+13)


    None of us had expected me to snap like that-not even me. It was so far afield from my usual self that it had felt like someone else was speaking the words. And yet it felt so… Right.


    For so long, I had watched everything that went into my body for the sake of not only having a perfect figure, but also being a perfect incubator for a child that would likely nevere.


    I ate light. I exercised. I avoided alcohol. I had weekly facials, spent thousands on personal trainers, tried every diet n in the book, had even considered surgical options for a better face or body a few times despite never having the guts to go through with it-and for what?


    All I got in return was a death sentence and a husband who didn’t even care when his Beta and childhood friend were infantilizing me in my own home.


    By now, several people had stopped talking and were watching the confrontation with wide eyes. My father’s jaw worked. Gabriel just stared at me. Sophia looked like she had sucked on a lemon.


    For a moment I considered running away and hiding in shame, but I knew if I did that, then I would be doing the opposite of what Lilith told me to do, and I would be no closer to Alexander divorcing me.


    I had to save my wolf. I had to save myself.


    I had to live.


    Calmly, I said, loud enough for the nearby onlookers to hear, “Are you three done tormenting me, or do I need to throw a fit like the child you think I am?”


    My father nced nervously at Alexander and leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Be careful, E.”


    “Or what?” I kept my voice even and clear. I wanted people to hear me. “Alexander will divorce me? Good; I hope he does.”


    Gasps rippled around me. My father looked like he’d been shot in the chest, and physically reached up, sping his hand over his heart. “E, watch what you say in public!”


    I suppressed a little smile of satisfaction. Suddenly, Sophia said, “Alexander, see how she humiliates you? And you really want this woman to be your wife? If she wants you to reject her so badly, then why not do it?”


    Only then did I look at Alexander, and I was surprised by what I found. He looked furious, yes, but there was more to it than


    that.


    There was that look of pain again. As if my words had struck him where it hurt the most.


    I braced myself, waiting for him to finally reject me. I had finally given him a proper reason, what with all these eyes on us- I had publicly humiliated him, aired our dirtyundry for everyone to see. He could easily do it and no one would think worse of him for it.


    Maybe I had seeded. Maybe I would be okay after all.


    But then, to my surprise, Alexander rushed forward and closed the distance between us in two long strides. Before I could


    +13)


    Chapter