Reaper 19_Burn in the Alpha Princess's Wrath

Chapter 19 Liana Won’t Let Go

 Kirby’s POV (Glory Hall)

 She walked past me.

 Leslie.

 No–this wasn’t the Leslie I knew at all.

 +8 Pearls

 The woman before me was confident, powerful, radiant. That gown flowing like starlight made her look like the goddess of Rogue herself. And the Alpha aura she exuded–pure, potent–was so strong it made even Lance stir with unease inside me.

 An Alpha. She really was an Alpha.

 All the confusion, the doubts, the unease I’d tried so hard to ignore–at that moment, everything made sense. She had been deceiving me. Deceiving all of us.

 Rage churned in my chest like moltenva. Why had she done it? Was it because she looked down on me? On Crimson Moon Pack? Was our entire marriage just part of some scheme?

 Lance howled madly inside me, seething with the humiliation of being tricked and the fury of an Alpha being challenged. Kill her! Kirby! Kill the woman who dared deceive us! 

 But I couldn’t. Not now, at least.

 I forced the rage down and stared down Thorbane with the cold intensity of an Alpha. But my eyes couldn’t leave Leslie. Her calm, her detachment, the quiet disdain she didn’t even bother to hide–it all stabbed at me like knives.

 And then Liana made her pathetic attempt at provocation. I felt a wave of shame. In the presence of a real Alpha, her little tricks looked weak and pitiful.

 Thorbane’s scornful retort only made it worse.

 And Leslie… she didn’t even get angry. Just one cold, lightly spoken sentence–full of pity and mockery–and Liana’s carefully crafted mask crumbled.

 Then she didn’t even nce at me again. She walked past me naturally,fortably, her arm in Thorbane’s, stepping into the spotlight that now belonged to her.

 In that moment, I felt the severed bond between us stab at me again–sharper than before. Not physical pain–something deeper. A hollowness in my soul.

 She really… didn’t want me anymore.

 13:05 Mon, Sep 15

 Chapter 19 Liana Won’t Let Go

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 Lance let out a furious, hopeless roar. She’s ours! She’s our mate! How dare she–how dare she ignore 

 us?! 

 She’s not ours anymore, Lance, I answered wearily in my mind. She gave us up first.

 I stood frozen, watching her silhouette vanish into the crowd. Beside me, Liana looked ghostly pale, barely able to stand. A surge of irritation–and regret? No. Not regret. Anger. Yes, it was anger!

 I clenched my fists. My nails dug into my palms.

 Leslie–Rogue… just you wait! <ol start="2"><li>Leslie’s POV (Glory Hall – Garden Pool) </li></ol>

 That brief, cold encounter with Kirby and Liana didn’t leave much of an impression on me.

 If anything, Thorbane’s teasing look had been the only thing that got under my skin a little. I needed space. Somewhere quiet to gather my thoughts.

 Alone, I slipped into a secluded indoor garden off the side of Glory Hall. In its center was a pool fed by fresh water and ringed with moonlotus blooms. The air was thick with soft floral fragrance and mist, muffling the noise of power games and politics outside. Asphodel stretched within me, enjoying the peace.

 The air here is cleaner than out there, she remarked.

 I had just found a stone bench near the water and sat down, taking in the elegance of the lotuses–when I felt it: a faint but malicious Omega scent drawing closer.

 Liana.

 Asphodel immediately bristled with tension, letting out a low growl. That annoying insect again. Be careful of her tricks, Leslie. 

 I didn’t move. I just watched as Liana approached.

 She’d changed into a different dress–white, more delicate. Her expression was carefully set with just the right amount of sorrow… and a bitterness she couldn’t quite hide.

 “Leslie…” she said softly, like she was the one who’d been hurt earlier, “are you here alone? Kirby’s been looking all over for you…”

 I raised an eyebrow. Internally, I scoffed.

 “Looking for me?” My voice was t. “More likely looking for an alliance partner who benefits. him–not a ‘divorced wife‘ he was eager to get rid of.”

 Chapter 19 Liana Won’t Let Go

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 +8 Pearls

 Her face paled a bit, but she tried to recover, even mustering a look of pity. “Don’t be too sad, Leslie. I know… leaving Kirby was probably devastating for you. Sure, you seem stronger now, but look at you–dressed like this… tsk. You still can’t hide how pathetic and abandoned you are. Not like me. Kirby said he’ll always take care of me…”

 She brought up my strength deliberately, trying to imply it came from something shameful. And she made sure to mention Kirby’s so–called promise to her.

 Asphodel was furious. Pathetic?! She dares call us pathetic?! Leslie, let me put her in her ce!

 Easy, I soothed her. Outwardly, I smiled–slow and meaningful. “Oh? Is that how he takes care of you? Dressing you in clothes that don’t suit you, hiding behind someone else’s name, following around like a shadow?”

 My eyes flicked deliberately to her dress. It was expensive, no doubt—but it shed hard with her Omega scent.

 Her smile froze. She instinctively clutched the hem. “You… you don’t know what you’re talking about! Kirby picked this out for me!”

 “Did he?” I rose and walked slowly to the pool, looking down at my reflection–strong, confident, beautiful. The pride of an Alpha was written all over me. “Liana, lying to yourself doesn’t change reality. You’ll never be me.”

 Maybe my words struck a nerve. Or maybe this had been her n all along. Just as I turned to leave the disgusting little pest behind—

 There was a shriek. Then a ssh.

 “Help! Help! Leslie–why did you push me?!”

 Liana had iled backward–perfectly—andnded right in the pool behind me.

 Ssh!

 She thrashed in the water, calling out in just the right pitch for nearby guests to hear. Not too loud. Just loud enough.

 Gasps and footsteps followed immediately.

 And of course–Kirby came running first. Panic and suspicion twisted his face as he leapt into the pool without hesitation, pulling a soaking, trembling Liana from the water.

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Reaper 19