Chapter 55

Emily’s POV

The courtyard was packed. The visiting Alphas hadn’t left our territory yet – they wanted answers. They stood in a tight, tense circle near the main administrative building, right in front of the central steps.

And in the dead center of it all stood Nathan and Stella.

My steps slowed. My inner wolf, Nyx, let out a low, uneasy whine. Something was … off. Nathan stood perfectly straight, his shoulders squared, his expression calm.

Stella stood right beside him. Not behind him like a pack member, or to the side like a guest. Beside him. Like she already owned the space. Her hand rested lightly on his forearm. It looked casual, but I saw the way her fingers

curled. It was possessive.

“ The situation is under control, ” Nathan announced. His voice was strong and steady, like the voice of a future Alpha King. “ My borders are safe. ”

“ Is that so? ” Alpha Thorne, a gray – haired man with scars on his face, stepped forward. “ Did you find the person

who attacked from the inside? Are they still here? ”

A murmur broke out among the Alphas. I could hear their doubt, a low growl of uncertainty.

“ Security has been reinforced, ” Nathan looked at the crowd, but his eyes were empty. “ No one leaves without my

permission. We are checking everyone. Everything is under control. ”

He said the word control again, like he was trying to force it to be true.

“ And what about your sudden change in taste, Nathan? ” Alpha Thorne pushed, his eyes narrowing. “ Yesterday, you stood before us with a different girl. Today, you’ve swapped her for another. How can we trust a leader if you

can’t even stay consistent with your women? ”

My heart stopped.

Stella let out a soft, mean laugh. She leaned into Nathan. It was a tiny movement, but I saw it. Her lips brushed

r gainst his ear as she whispered to him.

Nathan paused. His mask slipped. Then he spoke.

“ You shouldn’t talk about being consistent, Thorne, ” Nathan said coldly. “ Before you mated yesterday, you were

een with many … unimportant girls. You have to forgive me for having a weakness for a pretty face, too. But Stella s my true mate. Everything else was just noise. ”

“ You shouldn’t believe rumors, Alpha Thorne, ” Stella added. Her voice was loud so everyone could hear.

She looked at me in the shadows with a mean smile and victory.

“ Every Alpha has a moment where he shows a little charity, ” she continued, her smirk widening. “ He found a stray dog and let it into the palace for a night. That’s all it was. A temporary act of kindness. ”

11 JU

9:45 am

NW

WW

bracelets made a loud clinking sound. They sparkled under the lights, right in front of his face.

It was a clear message to everyone: He belongs to me

Then, she pulled him down and kissed him hard on the mouth in front of all the Alphas. It wasn’t a sweet kiss. It elt like she was marking him as her property once and for all.

Nathan didn’t move. He didn’t stop her. He just let her do it.

Stella broke the kiss and looked back at me. Her eyes were dark and triumphant. She didn’t have to say anything. I

could see it in her smile.

He was hers. And I was officially nothing.

The blood drained from my face. She was calling me ‘ a stray dog ‘, ‘ a piece of trash ‘ in front of everyone.

I looked at Nathan, praying for him to say something. Anything.

Nathan didn’t even look at me. But his fingers tightened just slightly.

“ The girl was a temporary mistake, ” Nathan said. His voice boomed through the courtyard. It felt like a punch to

ny chest. “ My Luna stands beside me. The ceremony will go on, and Stella will take her place. ”

The Alphas nodded, satisfied. They liked his coldness. They thought it made him look strong.

Jessie stepped closer to me. “ Do you see that? ” he whispered.

My jaw tightened.so hard I thought it might snap. “ I do. p>

“ He is throwing you away, ” Poppy whispered beside me. “ Like you’re garbage. ”

I didn’t cry. My tears had dried up and turned into something hot and dangerous.

A white – hot rage was burning in my veins.

Owen stepped in front of me, blocking the courtyard from my view. His eyes were burning. “ He let her bury you

live in front of everyone, Emily. He let her destroy your name. ”

I looked back at Nathan one last time. He was leaning down, listening to Stella whisper something in his ear. They vere both smiling. It was a picture of a perfect couple, and I was no longer in the frame.

“ He didn’t just throw me, ” I said, my voice suddenly very calm. “ He just set me free. ”

I turned to Owen. “ Can I talk to you for a minute? ”

“ Yes, of course, ” he answered immediately.

“ I need to clear my head, ” I muttered.

I told the girls that I needed to talk to Owen and that they shouldn’t wait for me. Then, I walked away, getting as ‘ ar from the courtyard as possible. Owen followed me silently until we reached a small park behind the houses.

9:45 am WWW

He slowed down, his eyes narrowing as he watched me. He noticed it. He felt the change in me.

-For a long beat, neither of us spoke. His gaze dropped – quick, sharp – checking me. He scanned my face, as if he were looking for cracks in a porcelain doll

“ Are you okay? ” he asked.

I let out a quiet, jagged breath. “ I’ve been better. ”

He glanced past me, toward the dark silhouette of the pack house. Then back.

“ He’s a f * cking piece of shit, ” Owen roard.

“ Yeah, ” I said quietly. “ If only you knew how much I just want to be as far away from here as possible. ”

He took another step closer. Now, the space between us was gone. I could smell the scent of wind and leather on his jacket. I should have stepped back. I didn’t.

“ Just say the word, ” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

My breath caught. “ What word? ”

His eyes locked onto mine. “ And we leave. Right now p>

The world stilled. Even Nyx went completely silent in my head, listening with her ears pinned back. I swallowed

hard.

“ You don’t even know what you’re agreeing to, Owen. You don’t know what I am. ”

“ I don’t need to, ” he said. No hesitation. No doubt.

“ I can protect you from everything, ” he countered.

My heart picked up speed. Looking at him, seeing how sure he was that he could keep me safe – I didn’t know what to say. Nathan had never fought for me like this.

r

“ You’re hurt, ” Owen continued, his gaze never leaving mine. “ You’re pissed. And you’re about to do something

eckless. ”

I lifted my chin, defying him. “ And? ”

“ And I’m not letting you do it alone. ”

The words landed deep in my soul. They were dangerous and beautiful. I had to look away because I couldn’t

handle the look in his eyes.

“ I’m offering you a clean slate, ” Owen said. His voice was low and serious. “ A new life. We will run away to anywhere you want. ”

“ Hawaii, ” I said. I didn’t even have to think about it.

9:45

He smiled and nodded. “ Then, Hawaii it is. ”

It’s settled, ” he continued. “ We leave the pack in two days. ”

“ Why two days? ” I asked. I felt a flash of fear. “ Why can’t we go right now? ”

“ Because right now, the guards are everywhere, ” he explained quietly. “ They are searching for the wolf that attacked the dungeon. If we try to leave now they will catch us. In two days, things will be quiet. Marcus wants to

eave soon anyway, and I need time to organize everything. ”

I looked back at the packs ‘ house. Two days. Two more days of pretending.

“ Okay, ” I whispered. “ Two days. ”

Next Chapter

Chapter 56

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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.