In the bedroom, a strange sight greeted me. My eyes narrowed at the panty and bra scattered across the floor, and my wolf immediately growled in disgust.
“Who the hell left this here?” I muttered under my breath, my heart rate picking up as I bent to pick up the garments.
The scent was unfamiliar. My wolf shifted uncomfortably inside me, the hairs on my neck standing on end.
I wanted to storm out and confront Xaden, but I knew he was already under pressure with pack matters. He was probably holed up with Liora right now, making decisions about things that didn’t even concern me. But I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling in my gut.
I picked up the items with a sneer, my mind swirling with memories of Liora wearing something like this when we were at that party.
As I straightened up, I heard a soft chuckle behind me.
“Oops, sorry,” Liora’s voice echoed in the room, and I froze mid-motion, dropping the clothing in shock.
“Liora…” I whispered under my breath, my wolf snapping at the intrusion.
She laughed, looking completely at ease, like nothing was wrong.
“God, I’m such a fool. I left them here?” She giggled, her voice like nails on a chalkboard to my already frayed nerves.
I could barely hold back my disgust as she stooped to pick up the bra and panties, giving me no space to breathe. Why was she so casual? I wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come.
“What? It’s yours…?” I mumbled, barely able to keep the tremor out of my voice.
How could she have left these here? How had she been in my room?
She flashed me a look that could’ve been a smile if it wasn’t so mocking. “The question is not how, but when.” She let out a laugh that made my blood boil. “I’m kidding, I must have been rushing earlier when you weren’t here. You know, Xaden trusts me, and he allowed me to enter your private quarters because I’m your best friend.”
I felt my stomach twist into knots. My wolf growled again, a warning, but I pushed it down, trying to maintain control. Best friend? She didn’t even seem to notice how it sounded—how everything about her behavior was a breach of trust.
“Don’t stress yourself out, Tatiena. The baby…” She trailed off, her voice suddenly too sweet, too full of false comfort. “It’s your chance, you know. Xaden won’t leave you now. You’ve been left by other men before, haven’t you?”
My eyes went wide. “What the hell are you saying?” I gasped, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “And why are you even here? Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting with him?”
Liora’s lips curled into a smirk, as if she knew exactly what she was doing. She was baiting me, trying to get under my skin, and it was working.
“Am I being mean?” She feigned innocence, tilting her head with a little too much sweetness.
“No, I don’t know what’s going on with you,” I shot back, my voice harder now. “You weren’t like this before.”
Her smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered, that damn smirk never leaving her face.
“Are you mad that I left my things here? Oh God, don’t tell me you’re thinking I’m sleeping with him now.” Her voice was like silk, but it cut deeper than anything she could’ve said.
I felt my wolf snap inside me, claws digging in, wanting to tear her apart. “You’re delusional if you think I’m worried about that,” I forced out, my voice barely controlled. “I know Xaden loves me. And we’re having a son.”
At that, I saw her face pale for a moment before her cheeks flushed red. For a brief second, I saw something flicker in her eyes—anger, jealousy, maybe a mix of both. But before I could savor the moment, I heard his voice.
“Liora?” Xaden’s voice was tight, his footsteps heavy. “I thought you were just going to the bathroom? I need you for the meeting now.”
I didn’t even realize how close I was standing to her until I saw her stiffen. She quickly adjusted herself, suddenly much less composed than she’d been before.
“Xaden,” I whispered, feeling my throat tighten.
Xaden stormed into the room, his expression suddenly sharp. “What the fuck have you done?” His voice was full of concern, but his eyes were on Liora now, his hands hovering over her, his worry palpable.
I stood frozen, my heart in my throat, watching as he rushed over to her, holding her up. What was going on? Why was he so concerned about her?
“What did you do to her?!” He yelled at me, his voice more forceful than I’d ever heard it before. “Her anxiety—what the hell did you do to her?”
For the first time, I felt utterly lost.
