Brielle’s POV
The morning of my birthday arrived wrapped in sunshine that felt almost mocking. The Stormvale mansion glittered with decorations—gold and blue banners draped from balconies, ribbons tied along railings, and servants rushing back and forth carrying cakes, wrapped gifts, and trays of food. Laughter filled the corridors, loud and lively.
But none of it belonged to me.
Not anymore.
Today had also been declared Liam’s birthday—or rather, Alpha Xavier had decided it would be. My special day had been swallowed whole by the child’s celebration, leaving me reduced to nothing more than another face in the crowd on what used to be mine.
When I stepped into the grand hall, conversations faltered. Heads turned. I felt the weight of their stares, heavy and uncomfortable. Some looked at me with sympathy, others with curiosity, and a few with open judgment. Whispers rippled through the room like quiet waves.
Everyone knew.
The rejected bride.
The Luna-to-be who was never claimed.
The daughter of the wealthy Moonveil Pack who had been used, then cast aside when she was no longer useful.
Even so, I straightened my shoulders and walked forward with quiet dignity. My silver gown shimmered softly beneath the chandeliers, catching the light with every step. I carried myself with the pride of my lineage, refusing to let them see the cracks forming beneath my calm expression.
At the center of the hall stood Alpha Xavier, commanding attention as always. His arm rested comfortably around Victoria’s waist. She wore a crimson dress that hugged her figure, her smile bright and triumphant. She looked like she owned everything around her.
And perhaps she did—at least, she owned what used to be mine.
I moved toward the refreshment table, pretending not to notice the lingering gazes. My fingers wrapped around a wine glass, and I poured myself a drink just to keep my hands from shaking. The liquid sloshed slightly as I lifted it.
“Brielle,” a gentle, honey-sweet voice called behind me.
I turned slowly.
Victoria Blackwell approached, her smile polished but hollow. The scent of jasmine clung to her, thick and overwhelming, making my stomach twist.
“Happy birthday,” she said brightly. Then she tilted her head, her lips curling faintly. “Or maybe I should say… happy Liam’s day instead?” She let out a soft laugh that scraped against my nerves.
I said nothing. I simply watched her, waiting for whatever cruelty she had prepared.
She leaned closer, her breath brushing against my ear. “I heard you can’t have children anymore,” she murmured softly, her voice coated with false concern.
My heart stumbled.
“Didn’t Xavier tell you?” she continued, her tone dropping into something colder. “He admitted it to me himself. He poisoned you. He didn’t want you carrying his pup, Brielle. He even said he’d rather never have children at all than have one with you.”
For a moment, everything around me faded.
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. Her words echoed in my mind, shattering something deep inside me. Months earlier, when the pack doctor delivered the devastating news that I couldn’t conceive, I had broken down completely. Xavier had held me that night, whispering comforting words, telling me he didn’t care about children—that I alone was enough.
So it had been him.
He had taken that dream from me himself.
Victoria leaned back slightly, her smile sharpening. “He doesn’t love you, Brielle. What he loves is your family’s wealth. You’re nothing more than a convenient source of money… a walking bank account.”
Something inside me finally snapped.
Before I could stop myself, my hand moved.
Slap!
The sharp sound rang through the hall. Victoria stumbled backward, her hand flying to her cheek, shock flashing across her face. Conversations halted as everyone turned toward us.
“What’s happening here?” Xavier’s voice thundered as he pushed through the crowd.
He went straight to Victoria, wrapping an arm protectively around her shoulders. Instantly, tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.
“She slapped me, Xavier!” she cried, her voice trembling. “I was just trying to speak with her peacefully!”
I shook my head, stepping back. “She’s lying! Tell them what you told me!”
But Xavier didn’t even spare me a glance. His eyes burned with anger. “Brielle,” he said tightly, “have you completely lost control of yourself?”
“She provoked me!” I protested desperately. “Ask her what she said—”
“Enough!” His Alpha voice cracked across the hall, heavy with authority. My wolf whimpered instantly, forced into submission by his dominance.
Before I could react, two guards approached and grabbed my arms roughly.
“Xavier, what are you doing?” I cried, panic rising in my chest.
He faced the crowd, his expression calm but cold. “For striking a guest and causing a scene during a celebration,” he announced, “Brielle will kneel and reflect on her actions.”
“Reflect?” Victoria whispered, wiping fake tears. “Please, Xavier… don’t punish her too harshly. I forgive her.”
He shot me a hard look. “Kneel on salt until the celebration ends. Perhaps you’ll finally learn humility.”
My breath caught. “No—please—”
But the guards forced me down.
My knees hit the rough grains of salt scattered across the marble floor. Pain shot through my legs instantly, sharp and burning, but the humiliation hurt far more.
Dozens of people watched as I knelt there. Some looked away awkwardly, others stared openly. I heard hushed murmurs, and somewhere, a phone camera clicked. Tears slid down my cheeks, falling onto the salt that soon turned red as my skin scraped open.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to shift and tear everything apart. But my wolf remained weak, crushed beneath Xavier’s Alpha aura.
Then—
“May I have everyone’s attention!” the announcer’s voice rang out. “It’s time for a special message from Miss Victoria Blackwell on behalf of her son, Liam!”
All eyes shifted to the stage. Victoria walked up gracefully, dabbing at her fake tears. I remained kneeling, trembling, blood slowly staining the salt beneath me.
She smiled into the microphone. “Thank you all for being here,” she began warmly. “I prepared a small presentation for my son.”
The lights dimmed.
The screen flickered on.
But instead of cheerful birthday images, a sound echoed through the speakers.
Ah… Xavier… don’t stop…
Gasps rippled through the hall. My heart lurched.
The moans were unmistakable—hers and his—playing loudly for everyone to hear.
Then Xavier’s voice followed, clear and undeniable. “I’ll marry you soon, Victoria. I promise. You and our son, Liam, deserve everything. Brielle is only a stepping stone.”
Shock exploded through the room. Whispers erupted, wolves turning to stare at me, horror and pity mixing in their expressions.
Victoria covered her mouth, feigning panic. “Oh no… I don’t know how that played… I’m so sorry—”
But when her eyes met mine, she smirked.
That tiny curl of satisfaction revealed everything. It wasn’t an accident. She planned this. She wanted to humiliate me completely.
I struggled to breathe. My vision spun, voices blending into meaningless noise.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my arm.
Startled, I looked up.
A tall man stood beside me, cloaked and unfamiliar. His scent was powerful, different, foreign.
“Who—” I began.
“Don’t speak,” he murmured quietly. His tone was calm but firm. “Your brother sent me. I’m here to take you away.”
Before I could react, he pulled me upright. The guards moved to stop him, but he moved faster, knocking them aside effortlessly. Chaos erupted as the crowd screamed.
Xavier’s Alpha voice roared, shaking the hall. “Brielle!”
I glanced back once—only once.
He was pushing through the crowd, fury blazing in his eyes, his aura dark and overwhelming. But I didn’t stop.
The stranger wrapped an arm around my waist, and we rushed through the corridors, past open doors, and out into the cold night air. The chill bit into my skin, but I barely felt it.
My body trembled, my heart shattering piece by piece. I leaned against him, too numb to speak.
Behind us, Xavier’s furious voice echoed faintly into the night, filled with anger and desperation.
But I didn’t turn around again.
I was finished with him.
Finished with Stormvale.
Finished with every lie.
