Cassia was always desperate to one-up me.
Therefore, she never missed a chance to show off. "I heard that Mr. Rodriguez once spent a fortune at an auction just to make his mate smile."
“It was the ‘Eternal Moonlight’ necklace, a symbol of eternal love and devotion. Worth ten million dollars. That gift made his mate the object of insane jealousy among the she-wolves of every pack.”
She stopped mid-sentence. Then her voice suddenly shot up as she pointed at my neck. "Wait. That's it!"
Everyone fell silent. They held their breath, staring intently at me.
Alaric suddenly grabbed my hand, looking me over roughly. He sneered, "Not a bad imitation. Which poor bastard trying to act rich gave it to you?"
I pulled my hand back, smiling as I caressed the necklace. It was a gift from Kieran on our first bonding anniversary; while it wasn't the most valuable piece in the collection he'd given me, it was incredibly meaningful.
To me, it meant love.
However, in their eyes, I was completely unworthy of owning the real thing.
Seeing my complete lack of panic, Alaric's pupils constricted. Without warning, he lunged, his hand clamping around my throat as he violently ripped the necklace free.
The metal chain dug deep into my skin, leaving a searing red mark.
Cassia stepped forward, took the necklace from Alaric's hand, and turned it over in her fingers. "It's definitely more exquisite than the fakes I've bought online."
“But I have some self-respect. I wouldn't dare parade around in a knockoff and let people laugh at me.”
“Or... Isadora, are you trying to say that you're the VIP? The legendary mate of the Alpha Supreme?”
Instantly, the others erupted in even louder laughter. To them, it was too absurd.
Kieran was a legend. A cold, ruthless leader.
And I was the pathetic ex-girlfriend Alaric had dumped five years ago—the fool who had once begged for scraps of affection.
In their minds, there was no world in which I could possibly be worthy of Kieran.
Cassia twirled the necklace on her finger, smiling smugly. "You know, Isadora, I actually quite like this. Sell it to me. I'll give you double whatever you paid for it."
I rushed forward, worried she would break it.
"Give it back. That necklace was a gift from Kieran..."
Before I could finish, Alaric slapped me hard across the face. My head snapped to the side, and the taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.
“Shut up!” he glared at me, his eyes full of disgust. “Isadora, who do you think you are? How dare you speak Mr. Rodriguez's name? Are you trying to spread rumors about a connection to him and get us all killed?”
His sycophants echoed his anger, their eyes burning with hostility.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Isadora?”
“This is our only chance to make a good impression on Mrs. Rodriguez! Are you trying to ruin the alliance between our pack and the Council?”
“Alaric worked so hard to get into our Alpha’s inner circle. You’re just a broke, dumped nobody. Do you think you can just waltz in here and pretend to be Kieran’s mate?”
