<b>Reba’s </b>POV


    Confusion hit me like a physical blow. “What? I came to tell you about Dn, about the truth-”


    “The truth? Sophia interrupted, her voice rising slightly. Several heads turned our way. She let out a bitterugh. that was so unlike her it made my chest ache. “You mean the truth about how you’ve been secretly hitting on my boyfriend behind my back?”


    I stumbled back a step, feeling as though she’d physically struck me. Heat rushed to my face, my heart hammering painfully against my ribs. “What? No! I’ve never shown any interest in Dn! Ever!” My voice shook with intensity.


    Sophia pulled out her phone, her movements sharp with anger. She swiped to unlock it before shoving it toward me. On the screen was a screenshot of a contact in Dn’s phone. My name and number, with the contact name “Heartthrob R” and a heart emoji.


    I looked up at Dn<b>, </b>fury building in my chest until I could barely breathe. He met my gaze steadily, challenge in his eyes, enjoying my distress.


    “What the hell is this?” I hissed, my hands beginning to shake. “I never gave you my number!”


    Dn’s expression shifted to one of practiced innocence as he turned to Sophia. He ced his hand over hers on the table, his thumb stroking her skin. “Babe, I told you she’d deny it.” He looked at me with false concern, but his eyes gleamed with triumph. “Reba, don’t make this worse. You know what happened after I drove you home yesterday. You asked if I was really satisfied with Sophia, then gave me your number.”


    He pulled out his own phone, showing it to Sophia. “She was pretty forward in the car, asking if I wanted something more… exciting.”


    The usation was so outrageous, sopletely twisted, that I couldn’t contain my reaction. I let out a shockedugh that bordered on hysterical, drawing more stares from nearby tables.


    “You maniptive liar!” My voice trembled with rage. “I don’t know how you got my number, but I never, ever said anything like that!”


    I turned to Sophia<b>, </b>leaning forward, my eyes burning with unshed tears of frustration. “Sophia, we’ve been friends for seven years.” My voice dropped, bing urgent, pleading. “Look at me. Really look at me. Do you honestly believe I would do something like this to you<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Something flickered in Sophia’s eyes–doubt, perhaps. The rigid line of her shoulders softened almost imperceptibly. She shook her head slightly, uncertainty creeping into her expression. “No, but Dn said-


    “He’s a werewolf, Sophia,” I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “And yesterday he tried to take me somewhere against my will. Dominic had to intervene.”


    The café continued its normal bustle around us, but at our table, time seemed to stop. Sophia’s eyes widened<b>, </b>her lips parting in shock.


    As I spoke, Dn’s expression darkened. The pleasant fa?ade crumbled entirely, revealing the predator beneath. His <b>eyes </b>narrowed, jaw tightening as he watched me systematically destroy his ns.


    “You should have minded your own business, Reba,” he said<b>, </b>his voice dropping to a dangerous register that raised goosebumps on my arms. “Some things aren’t meant for you to interfere with.”


    Sophia turned to him, her confusion visibly turning to anger. She pulled her hand away from his, her breathing quickening. “So you pursued my best friend, then tried to frame her when she rejected you?”


    Dn scrambled to recover, his hand reaching for Sophia’s arm. She jerked away from his touch. “Baby, don’t listen to her!” His voice took on a desperate edge. “She came onto me! I swear I’m serious about you!”


    Sophia stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. She grabbed her purse, her movements jerky with emotion. “We’re done, Dn. Nobody treats my friend like that.”


    Just as the confrontation reached its peak, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see an email notification from Dominic. The subject line made my heart skip: [Investigation Results on Dn Hurst – URGENT.]


    I quickly opened it, scanning the contents. My stomach lurched as the full extent of Dn’s deception became clear. Dominic had been busy–very busy.


    “Sophia, you need to see this,” <b>I </b>said, my voice barely audible as I handed her my phone.


    I scrolled through the attachments, my stomach turning as the full extent of Dn’s predatory behavior became clear. There were screenshots of text conversations with at least six different women–all during the time he’d been dating Sophia:


    [Text thread with “Kara M.“]


    Dn: The private shoot went great. You have real potential.


    Kara: Thanks! When can I see the photos?


    Dn: Soon. Though there are some… more artistic ones I’m not sure about sharing.


    Kara: What do you mean?


    Dn: Remember those champagne shots where your top got wet? Very revealing. Wouldn’t want your boss at thew firm seeing those<b>. </b>


    Kara: You said those were <b>just </b>for the artistic portfolio! Delete them now!


    12:12 <b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    Dn: I could. Or <b>you </b>coulde over tonight and we could discuss an arrangement. Your choice.


    <b>[</b>Text thread with Jen B.“]


    Jen: I’ve told you no three times now. I’m not interested.


    Dn: That’s fine. I’m sure your fiancé will love seeing the boudoir shots you were nning as his “surprise.<b>” </b>


    Jen: You PROMISED those were private and would be deleted if I didn’t like them!


    Dn: I still have them. I’ll be home all evening if you change your mind.


    There were more conversations, each following a simr pattern. The email also included a folder of thumbnail images–not showing the explicit content butbeled clearly enough to understand what they contained: “Kara_shower.jpg,” “Jen_lingerie_set,” “Ashley_hotel_room.”


    Most disturbing was a document titled “Target Notes” with detailed information about each woman–their insecurities, vulnerabilities, and specific pressure points Dn had identified to manipte them. Sophia’s name appeared on this list, with notes about her “desire for stability” and “professional ambitions” that could be leveraged.


    “Sophia, you need to see this,” I said, my voice barely audible as I handed her my phone.


    She took it, her hands unsteady. I watched her face as she read, saw the color drain from her cheeks, her eyes widening in horror.


    “Are these<b>… </b>real?” Sophia whispered, her voice breaking. Tears gathered in her eyes as she continued scrolling, each swipe of her finger revealing more betrayal.


    Dn lunged for the phone, his movements suddenly less human, more predatory. His face contorted with rage, a glimpse of the beast beneath the man. “Who gave you the right to go through my personal information? That’s illegal! Those files are private!”


    I straightened my <b>spine</b><b>, </b>meeting his re without flinching. The fear was still there, but knowing what I knew about Dominic, about myself, I found courage I didn’t know I had. “And what you’ve been doing to these women, <b>is </b>that legal<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Sophia mmed the phone down on the table, the sound like a gunshot in the busy café. Several people nearby jumped, conversations halting.


    “Enough!<b>” </b>Her <b>voice </b>cut through the space between us, raw with emotion. “Get out, Dn. Now. Or I’m calling the police!”


    <b>Chapter </b><b>84 </b>


    Reba’s POV