Kimberly POV:
The Kramer Hotel ballroom reeked of money and musk.
I stood at the top of the staircase. Below, Graves held court, looking magnificent and stupid. Alex clung to him in a white dress that screamed "virginal bride," playing the doe-eyed victim.
I didn't just walk down the stairs. I unleashed.
I dropped my suppression shields. The aura of the White Wolf—cold, ancient, and terrifying—flooded the room. The music died. Conversations strangled mid-sentence. The air grew heavy with the scent of ozone and snow.
I descended. The red silk flowed like liquid blood. Graves looked up, his drink pausing halfway to his lips. For a second, the fog in his eyes cleared, replaced by raw, confused lust.
Alex grip tightened on his arm, her claws snagging the fabric.
"Kimberly," Graves said, his voice tight. "You're late. And you look... aggressive."
"Happy Birthday, Alex," I projected my voice, ignoring him.
I snapped my fingers. A waiter presented a velvet box.
Alex’s eyes lit up. Greed was her defining trait. "You shouldn't have! Is it the car keys?"
"Open it."
She tore the lid off.
A scream pierced the silence. She scrambled back, dropping the box.
A dead crow rolled out onto the polished floor. Its neck was snapped. In the Old Tongue, it was a declaration: Traitor. Leave or Die.
"What is this?!" Graves roared, shielding Alex. "Are you insane?"
"I didn't pack it, Graves," I said, loudly enough for the Board to hear. "You did. Don't you remember? Last week, you said, 'Give the Rogue exactly what she deserves.'"
"Liar!" Alex shrieked, tears flowing instantly. "He loves me!"
The investors murmured. Graves looked frantic. He felt his control slipping.
"Kneel!" Graves bellowed, invoking the Alpha's Command. "Apologize!"
The waiters dropped to the floor. Weaker wolves whimpered. The psychic weight slammed down.
I stood motionless. I didn't even blink.
"I kneel for the Moon," I said, my golden eyes boring into his. "You’re just a man in a suit."
I turned and walked away. Behind me, glass shattered against the wall.
"Dustin!" Graves screamed at his Beta. "Bankrupt her! Destroy her companies! I want her on the street by morning!"
I smiled into the night air. I’d sold the companies yesterday. By morning, he’d be buying empty shells.
