in Vengeance 130_A Broken Alpha Heiress' Revenge

Ford’s voice cut through the chaos like a de of ice.

 It wasn’t loud, but the weight behind it silenced the room.

 +8 Pearls

 Displeasureced every syble as he strode further into the grand ballroom. “And here I thought this was supposed to be Matriarch Duskgrave’s birthday celebration. When did it turn into Lady Seraphina’s personal farce?”

 The nobles parted for him instinctively. No one dared block the path of the Stormridge Pack’s Alpha Prince. His towering figure radiated dominance, his piercing gaze sweeping across the crowd before <bnding squarely on the disheveled, bloodied figure of Riley still crouched low in her wolf form, fangs bared, breathing heavily over the nearly unconscious Seraphina.

 A silence thicker than smoke filled the hall.

 Lady Seraphina, however, seemed to have lost all reason. She broke into a shrillugh, voice hoarse but triumphant. “What farce? I merely caught this slut in the act! She seduced my husband–destroyed my family!”

 With one bloodied hand, she pointed directly at Riley. “This is the bitch who’s been climbing into Ford’s bed behind my back!

 The crowd gasped, some eyes darting toward Ford Duskgrave, who stood a few paces away, his expression ashen. He quickly stepped forward and mped a hand over Seraphina’s mouth. “Have you lost your mind?!”

 His voice was low but furious. “Today is my mother’s eightieth birthday. This is a noble event–you’re disgracing the Duskgrave name!”

 Seraphina shoved his hand away, herposure cracking into wild hysteria. “Disgracing it? I’m the Luna of this family! That she–wolf seduced you and ruined our marriage! Why shouldn’t I expose her here, in front of everyone?!”

 Her voice echoed off the ornate walls, bouncing between the crystal chandeliers and long banquet tables.

 Eyes turned once more toward Riley, whose wolf form still trembled with rage. Her snowy fur, streaked with blood and torn silk, was a stark contrast to the velvet and gold décor of the hall. Her ears twitched. Her lip curled.

 The tension was on the brink of exploding–again.

 But then-

 A colder voice slid into the room like poison.

 “When did this celebration be about you, Lady Seraphina?”

 The entire hall seemed to freeze in ce.

 Seraphina’s body stiffened. Her eyes slowly turned–only to find Lucien Duskgrave standing at the edge of the crowd, the ss doors behind him still swaying from his entrance.

 The Northern Prince

 He was dressed in midnight ck, lus long coat soaked from the rain outside, silver embroidery catching the candlelight like steel. His jaw was sharp, expression unreadable, but his eyes–those infamous silver–blue eyes–were glowing with thinly veiled fury

 All the heat dramed from Seraphina’s face in an instant

 Earlier in her blind rage, she hadn’t even considered whether Lucien would appear. She’d been consumed with punishing Kiley, desperate to reim some twisted arme of control

 But now that Lucien was here, she felt as though she’d walked barefoot into a blizzard.

 She stumbled to her feet, trying to smooth her bloodied gown “1–Lord Lucien of course the celebration is for the Matriarch 1-1 was just trying to lighten the mood.!

 +8 Pearls

 Lucien’s expression didn’t change. “By dragging a half–dead she–wolf through the halls and using her of adultery in front of fifty noble witnesses?”

 Seraphina’s mouth opened, then closed. No sound came out.

 Lucien turned slightly, his gaze flicking to Riley. His wolf eyes softened for a fleeting second–just long enough for those who watched closely to catch it.

 “She’s not your threat, Lady Seraphina,” Lucien said, voice barely above a whisper, but with the power of amand. “Your insecurity is

 That struck deeper than any p. Seraphina’s face flushed red, then ghost–white. Ford stepped forward, as if to defend her, but one look from Lucien halted him in his tracks.

 “You’ve humiliated the Duskgrave family,” Lucien continued. “You disgraced my grandmother’s birthday. You led others in attacking an unshifted wolf in the middle of a formal gathering.”

 He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. 

 The crowd had gonepletely silent.

 Lucien’s next worths were cold and final. “From this moment on, you are no longer recognized as the Luna of this Pack.”

 Seraphina staggered back as if struck. “No you can’t..”

 Lucien’s expression was carved in ice. “I already have.”

 Whispers broke out across the room like wildfire.

 Ford looked as though he might protest–but Lucien turned to him too. “If you still wish to stand beside her, so be it. But know this: I will personally ensure she is exiled from Stormridge within the hour.”

 Seraphina copsed to her knees.

 Behind her, Riley finally shifted back. Her human form emerged from the glow of the transformation, skin pale, covered in wounds and bruises. Her dress was in tatters. Her hair was matted with blood.

 And yet she stood taller than any of them.

 –

 Proud. Unbroken.

 Her eyes met Lucien’s. She gave him a single nod–one that said everything and nothing. 

 Lucien crossed the room and draped a cloak over her shoulders, his hand lingering protectively on her back.

 -She under Stormridge protection now,” he said, facing the crowd. “Touch her again, and you answer to me.”

 Silence.

 Kiley Vale, once the forgotten daughter of the Ebonw Pack, now stood surrounded by royalty. Beaten but not bowed.

 And the first crack in the Duskgrave empire had just been made.

17kNovel

in Vengeance 130