Elana POV:
The ballroom smelled of money, roasted meat, and hypocrisy.
I stood by the champagne tower in the stifling blue dress. Emilio was holding court on the other side of the room, the sun to everyone else's planets. Hayden was there, wearing "power red," laughing too loudly with the board members' wives.
"Look at her," a Gamma whispered. "The Ghost Luna."
"He hasn't touched her in years. Sad."
I took a sip of water, hand trembling. Just get through tonight. Tomorrow, I hand him the 'tax papers,' he signs my freedom, and I vanish.
Something slammed into my legs.
"Move!"
Leo. Miniature tuxedo, maximum entitlement.
"Hello, Leo," I said.
"Mommy says you're a bad wolf," he announced, his voice shrill. "She says you're stealing Papa's house."
Conversations nearby died.
"Go find your mother, Leo."
He grabbed my wrist. His claws were out-no control. "Give me that!"
He yanked at my silver charm bracelet. It was cheap, a gift from Emilio before he became Alpha. The only thing I had left.
"No, Leo."
"Papa says everything is mine!"
He jerked his arm back. The clasp snapped. Charms scattered across the marble like dropped coins.
"No!" I dropped to my knees, scrambling to gather them.
Leo kicked my hand. "Mine!"
"Enough!"
Emilio stormed over, thunder in his eyes. "What is happening?"
"She pushed me!" Leo screamed instantly, fake tears springing up. "She hit me!"
Hayden swooped in. "Oh, my baby! Did she hurt you?"
Emilio turned to me, eyes glowing amber. The heat coming off him was suffocating.
"You touched my heir?"
"He's lying," I said, clutching the broken chain. "He broke my bracelet."
"It's junk!" Emilio shouted. "He is the future! Submit!"
He didn't wait. He threw a wave of Alpha Force at me, intending to force me to my knees.
But I was compromised. My body was diverting everything to the baby.
The force hit me like a physical blow. I flew backward, heels slipping on spilled champagne.
I crashed into the buffet table. The heavy ice sculpture of a wolf toppled.
I hit the floor hard. A sharp, tearing pain ripped through my stomach. It wasn't a cramp. It was a severance.
"Ah!" I curled into a ball, gasping.
Silence.
Emilio stood there, chest heaving, looking momentarily stunned by his own power.
"Emilio..." I reached out a hand. "Help..."
He took a step.
"Don't!" Hayden shrieked. "Leo is traumatized! We need to get him out!"
Emilio hesitated. He looked at me, lying in glass and ice. Then he looked at the crying boy.
"Get the car," he barked at his Beta. He turned his back on me. "Clean this mess up."
He walked away.
Warmth spread between my legs. It soaked the blue velvet, turning it black.
"No," I whimpered. "Please, no."
The scent of iron and copper filled the air.
The tiny spark I had felt earlier flickered once, violently, and then... nothing.
My vision blurred. The chandelier spun above me, a mocking, crystal moon. Darkness swallowed me before the pain could finish the job.
