The False Accusation
Elena POV:
The silence was sudden.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Eve's voice rang out. She stood on stage, trembling like a fragile flower. "I... I have a confession. I am worried about my sister."
My father frowned. Damien emerged from the back room.
"Elena has been... unwell," Eve sobbed. "Since her accident. She has been making videos. Disturbing videos."
"Turn it off!" I shouted, limping forward.
"I think you need to see who she really is," Eve said.
The massive projection screen flickered to life.
It was a Deepfake—my face on a woman doing unspeakable things with Rogue wolves.
The crowd gasped. My father dropped his glass.
"No!" I screamed. "That's not me!"
"She's sick!" Eve cried, burying her face in Damien's chest as he rushed to the stage.
Damien looked at the screen, then at me with mock pity. "Elena... we can get you help."
He was in on it.
I stood alone in the center of the room. The whispers were like needles. Disgrace. Broken.
I closed my eyes.
BOOM.
The double doors exploded inward.
Splinters flew. The music died.
A figure stood in the doorway. Massive. Wearing a black trench coat.
The scent hit me. Storm clouds. Ozone. Burnt cedar.
MATE!
Midnight threw her head back and screamed it. MATE! HE IS HERE!
The man stalked into the room. Every step released a pulse of Alpha Aura so potent that lower wolves dropped to their knees.
He walked straight to me. Eyes of molten gold.
"Turn that filth off," he commanded. His voice was thunder.
The tech guy scrambled, shaking.
The stranger didn't wait. He picked up a heavy silver candelabra and hurled it like a javelin. It smashed into the projector lens.
The screen went black.
The stranger stopped in front of me.
"Who... who are you?" I whispered.
He reached out. His fingers brushed my cheek.
ZAP.
Lightning shot through my skin. My knees gave out, but he caught me, pulling me against his chest.
"Mine," he growled.
He turned to face the room, keeping me tucked under his arm.
"I am Hunter Beach," he announced, the Alpha King's voice echoing. "And you are boring my Mate."