Freya’s POV
++8 Pearls
I looked at the photos, my jaw tight. They were takenst night on Lana’s terrace, carefully framed to show only Kade and me together, deliberately cutting her out of the frame.
One picture made my stomach tighten–Kade leaning against my shoulder, my arms around his waist. That was the moment <b>I </b>was just trying to steady a drunken Kade and get him inside.
Giselle’s voice pierced the tension, arrogant and venomous. “See? Freya’s cheating with this pretty boy. She’s the one at fault!
My brother’s generous, still giving her some shares, but I say she should walk away empty–handed!”
Lana’s roar cut through the room like a wolf’s warning. “You’re talking bullshit! I was there, and you know it!”
Giselle smirked, mocking. “Oh, so your friend can cover for her with lies now?”
Lana’s eyes zed fire. “This is my home. You want to nder her? At least use your brain. Last night we were all drinking together. Freya was just helping Kade inside. His uncle came for him afterward. End of story!”
Giselle scoffed. “You’re just covering for them. Trying to protect a couple of lovers!”
Kade’s voice rumbled from beside me, low and dangerous, like the growl of a wolf ready to strike. “Pretty boy‘? Hah… that’s a first<b>. </b>Anyone else calling me that better be ready to back it up.” His ck, sharp eyes locked on Giselle, freezing her in ce.
A shiver ran down her spine. Anyone who knew Kade ckridge’s reputation in The Capital–the way he could snap a man’s life in half with a single look–knew she’d just stepped into the wrong den.
<b>“</b>Can you take responsibility for what you’re saying?” Kade asked, voice cold, predatorily calm.
<b>Giselle </b>tried to stand her ground. “Why not? These photos clearly show you and Freya… together<b>!</b>”
“Defamation can carry a sentence of up to three years,” Kade said, his lips curling in a cold, dangerous smile. “Yesterday<b>, </b>the one who picked me up <b>was </b>my uncle–Victor Ashford, top attorney in The Capital. Lana was there too. Do you think even he would lie?”
The name hit <b>her </b>like ice. Victor Ashford—one of the most respectedwyers in The Capital, whose mere reputation could crush a man’s ns before they began. Giselle had known of him during her brief detention, hoping he might help her and Eleanor wriggle <b>free</b>. Too bad he wouldn’t touch this case with <b>a </b>ten–foot pole.
<b>“</b><b>Your </b><b>so</b>–called evidence is iplete, and now you want to nder? Do I look like the mistress <b>here</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Kade <b>stepped </b>forward, each movement deliberate<b>, </b><b>powerful</b><b>, </b>like a wolf circling its prey.
Giselle’s skin <b>crawled </b>The room seemed to shrink around Kade’s presence. Anyone familiar with his reputation could feel the instinctive <b>threat </b>radiating from him. This was no man to mess with.
<b>Caelum </b>opened his mouth<b>, </b>trying to smooth things <b>over</b>, but his words faltered under Kade’s shadow, Even he knew better than <b>to </b>provoke this wolf.
“Master Kade… my <b>sister </b>was only-” Caelum <b>started</b>.
Before he could finish<b>, </b><b>a </b><b>voice </b>cut through<b>, </bmanding, unmistakable. “Who <b>dares </b>smear my niece?”
I spun around, heart thumping<b>, </b>and saw Aldred–my uncle from the Iron Fang <b>Recon </b>Unit–entering the room<b>, </b>with Ss Whitmor at his side, Alpha <b>of </b>the Irond Coalition.
I rushed forward, relief flooding <b>me</b><b>. </b>“Aldred! You came?<b>” </b>
You child<b>,</b>” he scolded gently, eyes softening despite <b>the </b>sternness in his tone. “Such a big <b>event</b>–your divorce and you didn’t <b>tell </b>me?”
His gaze <b>swept </b><b>over </b>the room, taking in the smear campaign being flung at me. My <b>parents </b>weren’t here to <b>protect </b>me, but Aldred’s presence <b>was </b>like a <b>pack’s </b>shield, a sense of home and safety.
+8 Pearls
“You don’t have your parents. I’m your elder. A divorce this big? Ie whether you like it or not,” he said firmly.
I blinked back tears. Aldred, my parents‘ closest friend, the one who had handed me their ashes… he was more family than almost anyone left in my life.
Caelum’s <b>eyes </b>narrowed. “Who is this? I’ve never heard you mention an uncle.”
Aldred didn’t respond with threats. He didn’t need to. He simply looked at Caelum with the quiet authority of a wolf Alpha who had spent decades hunting andmanding his own pack. Even in civilian clothes, the years in the military radiated from him like the scent of blood in the air.
“You are… Freya Thorne’s chosen mate?” His voice was sharp, testing, the weight of his presence pressing down like a predator asserting dominance<b>. </b>
Before Caelum could answer, Eleanor’s voice cut in, shrill and defensive. “Not anymore! My son doesn’t need a woman like Freya!”
I stood taller, feeling the surge of my own pack instincts re. With Aldred here, the predators in the room would have to think twice before daring to attack me further.
Send Gifts
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