Adalynn POV:
Minutes bled into an hour. The feeling in my knees faded from sharp pain to a dull, throbbing numbness. I kept my spine perfectly straight.
My inner wolf paced restlessly inside me, snarling at the indignity. I forced her down. Not yet.
The heavy door creaked open a few inches. Mrs. Gable, the elderly head housekeeper, peered in, her face etched with worry.
"Luna..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Let me get you a blanket. The floor is so cold."
I shook my head, mouthing the words, "Don't. She'll make trouble for you."
Her eyes welled with tears, but she was too afraid to defy Belle's authority. The door clicked shut.
More time passed. Then, the doors opened again. It was Belle. She held up her phone, the screen displaying a picture of my mother, Eulalia.
Belle's smile was poison. "Luna, it seems your repentance isn't sincere enough. I hear your mother is staying in the Pack's medical center? That rare lycanthropic condition of hers... the monthly medication must be incredibly expensive."
My vision narrowed. My mother was my only weakness.
Belle savored my reaction. "If the Alpha knew you were being disobedient," she said slowly, "he might decide that's an expense the Pack can no longer afford. Resources should be spent on useful members, after all."
The threat was clear. A tremor of pure rage shot through me. I bit the inside of my lip, the coppery taste of blood flooding my mouth.
I lifted my head, my eyes locking onto hers. "You dare touch her," I said, each word a frozen shard, "and see what happens."
My voice was low, but the killing intent within it made Belle flinch and take an involuntary half-step back.
At that exact moment, the hall doors were thrown open with a resounding bang.
Garrison stood there, a thundercloud on his face. He had just returned from his meeting.
His gaze swept the scene: me, kneeling on the floor, and Belle, holding her phone with a triumphant sneer. His brow furrowed.
Belle's face instantly shifted to a mask of professional concern. "Alpha. The Luna is reflecting on her dereliction of duty."
Garrison's eyes flickered to my pale face, then back to Belle. An unreadable anger simmered in their depths. He hated losing control of a situation.
He didn't move toward me. Instead, he spoke to Belle, his voice dangerously cold. "I told you to remind her of her duties. Who gave you the authority to make her kneel?"
Belle's face went white. "Alpha, I was only trying to uphold your authority..."
"My authority needs to be upheld with cheap theatrics?" Garrison's voice dropped lower, colder. "And who authorized you to threaten her mother?"
Mrs. Gable must have mind-linked him.
Belle was panicking now. "I... I was just..."
"You're fired," Garrison cut her off. "Pack your things and leave the estate. Immediately."
Belle stared, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her gaze darted to me, filled with pure, unadulterated hatred, before Garrison's guards stepped forward to escort her out.
The hall was silent again. Just the two of us.
He walked toward me and held out a hand. "Get up."
I didn't move. I didn't even look at him.
His patience snapped. He grabbed my arm, yanking me to my feet.
My legs, numb and stiff, buckled beneath me. I stumbled, a gasp escaping my lips as I pitched forward, right into his chest.
His arms came around me, steadying me. The familiar scent of cedar filled my senses, but it was tainted. Underneath it was the sweet, cloying perfume of his mistress. It made my stomach roil.
I shoved him away with all my strength, using a nearby pillar to hold myself up. My eyes were cold, vacant, as if looking at a complete stranger.
Garrison stared at his empty arms, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "I fired her for you. What more do you want?" he asked, his tone that of a man bestowing a great favor.
My voice was a raw rasp. "Thank you, Alpha," I said. "But without your silent permission, she would never have had the courage."
I didn't wait for his reply. I turned and, dragging my numb legs, walked out of the Ceremony Hall without a backward glance.
Garrison stood frozen, watching my retreating back. And for the first time, he seemed to realize that something in the Omega he thought he owned had irrevocably broken.
