<h4>Chapter 22: Chapter 22 I Was Done Being Silent.</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    The murmurs rippled through the grand ballroom the second I set foot inside, every eye snapping to me like sharks scenting blood in the water.


    "She’s got some nerve showing her face here..."


    "Does she actually think she’s still Xavier’s girlfriend? That’s hrious."


    "Didn’t both packs already announce the engagement? This is social suicide."


    "Honestly, she’s not the viin. Xavier cheated—everyone knows it. How’s that her fault?"


    The gossip rippled through the crowd like waves. I felt their eyes on me—predatory, eager for drama. Most were here to witness my downfall, to see me humiliated. Only a rare few spoke up in my defense, and even they were quickly shut down.


    Head high, spine straight, I let the rhythm of my Louboutins on the marble drown out the noise. Each step was measured, perfectly controlled—like the mask I wore for these people.


    When Cici spotted me approaching, her face went ghost-white as though she’d seen a literal ghost. Her porcinplexion turned ashen, those perfectly painted lips parting in shock. This wasn’t part of her script—I was supposed to bepletely destroyed by now, drugged and vited in some dingy hotel room, not walking confidently into the charity g she’d orchestrated with my mother-inw.


    Dora looked equally freaked out, her eyes darting between me and the exit as if nning her escape.


    But no one looked more stunned than Xavier. He took a step toward me, only to be stopped when Cici wrapped herself around his arm like a desperate vine, holding onto her prize.


    "Don’t go," she whined, pulling him back. Losing her cool, she shouted across the room at me, "I’m going to be Xavier’s Luna! We’re going to be mates soon! Stop hanging on to him..."


    Xavier looked like he was about to lose it. Even surrounded by the pack elite, he couldn’t hide his frustration. He lowered his voice, telling Cici to shut up as he pried her fingers from his arm.


    Cici’s eyes welled with tears, her lower lip trembling like a spoiled child.


    When Xavier tried to move again, Gavin and Gray White—Cici’s brothers—stepped in to block him.


    "Xavier, snap out of it!" Gavin hissed. "Are you really going to embarrass my sister in public for that woman?"


    "Back. Off." Xavier’s voice was deadly.


    The crowd’s excitement escted, their whispers growing louder, more eager. Everyone loves a scandal, especially when it involves the aristocracy of two powerful packs.


    I continued my path through the ballroom, my pace unhurried. As I passed a table of champagne flutes, I casually picked one up, took a delicate sip, and kept walking. The cool liquid gave me strength, washing away the lingering taste of fear fromst night.


    "What do you think you’re doing?! Get out right now!" Dora rushed over from the stage, intercepting me with her arms spread wide as if to physically block my path.


    Xavier finally broke free from the White brothers and strode toward me, his handsome features hardened into an icy mask. "Don’t cause a scene," he said quietly. "Let’s go home, and I’ll exin—"


    "Xavier," I said, my voice cutting clean through the ballroom chatter. Cool. Steady. Laced with acid-sweet venom.


    "Are you nning to announce your new girlfriend?"


    The music died. The air went dead.


    Xavier’s jaw tightened, eyes darkening as if I’d just pped him in front of the entire pack.


    "New girlfriend?" The word hit like a bomb on Cici’s family.


    Gasps rippled through the room.


    Cici’sposure cracked like cheap ss. Her voice screeched above the silence.


    "You shameless bitch!" she screamed. "I’m Xavier’s fiancée! I’m the Luna—the rightful one!"


    "Shut your mouth," Xavier barked, his voice low and sharp like a warning growl. His hand twitched at his side.


    Dora rushed forward, grabbing Cici’s wrist. "Sweetheart, please," she whispered urgently, trying to control the damage. "Don’t sink to her level."


    I smiled, slow and deliberate. "No, don’t stop her," I said sweetly. "Let her speak. The truth always makes a better scene when it’s messy."


    Dora’s eyes snapped to mine. Pure panic. "Cecilia Moore," she hissed under her breath, "if you say one more word, you won’t see a dime of the settlement."


    Ah. There it was.


    Xavier’s head turned slowly toward her, eyes narrowing. "What settlement?"


    Dora went pale.


    "...So much for true love," someone muttered.


    "She took money and still crashed the engagement party?"


    "Pathetic and bitter," another voice whispered. "Probably pissed her sugar daddy finally left her."


    The White family was visibly ufortable now. Their gazes darted between Dora, Xavier, and me. I saw the shift happen—the moment they realized this wasn’t a jealous ex making a scene.


    This was something far worse.


    Gavin White stepped forward, puffing out his chest like a territorial Alpha. "Miss Moore, I think it’s time you left," he said coldly. "Unless you’d like to be thrown out."


    I tilted my head, smiling just enough to give him chills.


    He thought he could intimidate me?


    "Thrown out?" I repeated, voice velvet-smooth. "By who? You?"


    I took a step forward, the sharp click of my stiletto echoing across the marble like a warning shot.


    "ording to old pack tradition," I said evenly, "when a Luna took her ce, she acknowledged the mate who came before. She’d bow her head. Show respect. Submit."


    My voice wasn’t loud—but the silence made sure it hit like a p.


    Gavin blinked, clearly thrown.


    "You’re out of your mind," he snapped. "Completely delusional."


    Cici let out augh that sounded unhinged. "Me? Bow to you?" she spat. "You’re nobody! I’d rather bow at your grave!"


    I met her gaze. Calm. Unflinching.


    "You don’t buy it?"


    I set my ss down, reached into my clutch, and pulled out the document. I held it up, the gold seal gleaming under the chandeliers.


    "I’m sure you’re all eager for a new Luna, but perhaps you should check who’s legally the wife here. Respect is earned, Cici—but sometimes, it’s just written in ck and white."


    "Tell me, Cici," I said softly. "Do I have the right to demand respect now?"


    She stared at the marriage certificate.


    Her knees didn’t buckle—but her expression did.


    The ballroom went dead silent.


    Xavier and I were already married. The crowd was stunned.


    The whispers returned—louder now, uglier.


    "She’s his wife."


    "Cici’s the other woman?"


    "Holy shit, this is a betrayal."


    I turned slowly, letting my gaze sweep across the room.


    "One woman seduces a married Alpha. And yet they have the nerve to throw an engagement party?" I said, voice ringing out like a judge’s gavel.


    My eyesnded on the White family.


    "Bigamy is a crime," I added. "In case you forgot."


    Mrs. White looked like she might pass out.


    The crowd was turning. Fast.


    "You hid this from us, Dora?" someone snapped.


    "You let our daughter mess around with a married Alpha?"


    "And still announced the engagement?"


    The White family turned on her like a pack that had just scented blood.


    Dora stumbled, flustered and sweating, herposure falling apart by the second. Her rehearsed elegance was gone, reced by frantic muttering and weak excuses.


    Xavier stood frozen, one hand pressed to his temple like he could physically hold the chaos at bay. He looked like a man watching his empire burn.


    But I didn’t wait.


    I picked up a full ss of red wine, walked calmly across the marble floor, and stopped in front of the Alpha who had once meant everything to me.


    He met my eyes—hesitant, uncertain.


    I raised the ss.


    Then poured it—slowly—over his head.


    Gasps erupted around us as the crimson liquid ran down his face, soaking into his sharp white cor like blood on snow.


    His hand shot out, gripping my wrist—too hard, too fast.


    "Is this what you wanted?" he growled, voice raw with humiliation and fury. "Does this make you feel better?"


    His grip tightened, right over the bandage hidden beneath my sleeve.


    Pain shot through me.


    I felt the torn skin give way. Warm blood seeped through the fabric—again.


    I didn’t flinch.


    I stared straight into his eyes, voice cold as iron.


    "We’re done."


    He froze.


    I yanked my arm free and hurled the empty ss at Cici’s feet. It shattered like a gunshot.


    "Go ahead and chain yourself to this monster," I spat. "He’s all yours."


    Xavier’s mouth opened—but no words came.


    Then he saw it.


    The blood.


    His palm was stained red.


    His gaze snapped to my wrist, where the silk ribbon I’d tied to hide the wound was soaked through. Blood dripped steadily, trailing down my fingers, sttering onto the perfect cream carpet.


    The room wentpletely silent.


    The White family had been packing up, ready to leave in disgrace.


    Then Cicipletely lost it.


    She lunged at me like a wild animal, eyes crazy.


    "You worthless whore!" she shrieked. "Why didn’t they finish you offst night?! You should be dead!"


    The room exploded into chaos.


    But I didn’t flinch.


    I stood tall—bleeding, broken, but unbowed.


    Because now... the whole damn world knew the truth.


    And I?


    I was done being silent.