After a while, the ward door swung open.
Ryke stepped inside. The sharp hostility he’d shown before was carefully hidden, replaced with a mask of near-gentleness. Yet the moment he entered, the air seemed to lose all warmth.
“Lavinia,” he said softly, “I know you’re still angry about yesterday. But I truly had no choice. Syrelle was seriously injured, and your own wounds haven’t healed either. Don’t make things harder for me, alright?”
His tone was sweet and coaxing—the kind used to placate someone who was meant to obey.
That softness was something he gave to everyone.
Everyone except me.
I laughed quietly, cold and empty.
“Don’t worry. I won’t interfere with tomorrow’s press assembly.”
The mockery in my voice wiped the gentleness from his face instantly.
“Enough, Lavinia,” he snapped. “Stop acting pupish. This is your fault. If you hadn’t harmed the pup in Syrelle’s womb, I wouldn’t have touched you. Everything you suffered was brought on by yourself.”
He cast every sin onto me as naturally as breathing.
The cruelty of it froze me to the bone.
I opened my mouth, wanting to tell him about the pup I had lost—but I was cut off.
Syrelle rushed in like a startled fawn, throwing herself into his arms.
“Ryke, where did you go?” she cried. “I woke up and you weren’t there—I thought you didn’t want me anymore. I dreamed about yesterday… I dreamed those people came for me again…”
Her body trembled violently, tears pouring down her face.
Ryke bent over her, shielding her as though she were priceless.
When she finally calmed, he turned on me, his gaze sharp and vicious.
“Look at what you’ve done! Syrelle nearly lost her life because of you!”
I laughed again, the sound cutting through the room like a blade.
Seeing my silence, Syrelle suddenly screamed.
“Lavinia, isn’t it enough that I’m leaving? Please don’t hurt me or the pup anymore… I never should’ve angered you…”
She even tried to kneel beside my bed, her pitiful act nearly breaking Ryke’s resolve.
I didn’t react.
I simply watched their performance with cold detachment.
At last, Ryke lost his patience.
“You still won’t admit your wrongs,” he said harshly. “Stay here and reflect. After the press conference, I’ll reconsider this mating bond. My Alpha bloodline has no place for a woman without a heart.”
With that, he guided Syrelle out without looking back.
Just before disappearing, Syrelle glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes gleamed with arrogance and triumph.
This time, I win.
I didn’t spare them another look as I reached out and shut the door.
The next morning, I began executing my plan.
Three hours remained until the Ryke clan’s press conference.
In three hours, their pack dominion would begin to collapse.
Every territory, every share, every alliance I had once handed to Ryke—I would reclaim without mercy.
For every wound they carved into me, I would repay them with what they treasured most.
I blocked both Ryke and Syrelle’s communicators, then boarded the aircraft with Alaric.
I could hardly wait to watch the grand spectacle they’d created turn into the flames that consumed them.
Their downfall had only just begun!
