Kira POV:
Dorian's threat was a shard of ice in my heart. I stood frozen, watching him turn his attention back to Cora.
I took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in my throat, and forced myself to speak.
"Dorian, it was an accident."
He didn't even look back. He just let out a cold, mocking laugh that was more insulting than any curse.
Cora nestled against him, looking at me with the triumphant gaze of a victor. Her eyes screamed, See? He chose me.
I clenched my fists, the pain of my nails digging into my palms keeping me grounded. "Regardless, I am your Luna. In public, you should-"
"You should be quiet."
Dorian cut me off. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the undeniable weight of his Alpha's Command.
My body flinched against my will. The power in his voice forced me into silence. Around us, the nurses quickly looked down, refusing to witness my public humiliation.
Cora began to recount the "accident" to Dorian, her words laced with implications, painting me as a jealous, vicious woman who had intentionally hurt her.
"...I saw her car coming, I thought she would stop, but she didn't... Dorian, I don't want to accuse her, but the look in her eyes was terrifying..." Cora sobbed, burying her face in his chest.
I tried to scream at him through our Mind-Link. "She's lying! Dorian, can't you see it?"
"Be quiet." His voice in my head was even colder than it had been out loud, a wall of iron that slammed my mental projection back at me.
My inner wolf let out a painful howl, mourning the state of our broken bond.
Dorian patted Cora's back soothingly. Then he finally looked at me, his eyes like those of a stranger observing a nuisance.
"I don't want to see you here," he said, each word a stone dropped onto my heart.
"I am..." I wanted to say, I am your mate. I am the mistress of this Pack.
"You are nothing," he interrupted again, his tone final. "Now, leave."
It wasn't a request. It was an order. As the Alpha King, his words held a binding force for every member of the Pack, including me.
My legs felt like they were filled with lead, but I couldn't resist the command. I felt my dignity being stripped away, piece by piece, leaving me exposed under everyone's gaze.
I saw Cora lift her head from Dorian's embrace. She gave me a tiny, almost imperceptible smile of victory.
That smile shattered my last defense. I turned, each step an agonizing effort.
I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on my back—pity, scorn, amusement.
I didn't look back. I was afraid they would see the tears in my eyes. I couldn't cry in front of my rival.
The cold night air hit my face like a slap as I walked out of the hospital doors. I didn't feel it. My heart was already frozen.
I walked aimlessly down the empty street, the city's neon lights blurring into a smear of colors.
Where was I supposed to go? To the house that was nominally our "home"? I didn't want to go back there.
Moon Goddess, why did you give me a Fated Mate like this? If this is destiny, I would rather have never had it.
As I was lost in my despair, the sound of several cars braking suddenly came from behind.
I looked up sharply, it was his familiar black Bentley. The window rolled down slowly, revealing Dorian's cold, sharp profile.
"Get in," he commanded, his voice flat and empty of emotion.
