Janette POV:
The 'Pack Unity' party was just an excuse to parade Keyla around.
I was in a grey maid's uniform, holding a tray of champagne.
"Oops!"
Tiffany, Keyla's lackey, stuck her foot out.
I crashed. Glass shattered. Laughter erupted.
"Clumsy," Tiffany sneered.
Keyla saw her moment. She dropped her plate and stumbled back, clutching her stomach.
"Ah! She pushed me! Janette pushed me!" Keyla sobbed, collapsing into Garrison's arms. "I... I think I'm pregnant! She tried to hurt the baby!"
The crowd gasped. Pregnant? The betrayal twisted like a knife. But I smelled the lie. No second heartbeat. Just the scent of deceit.
"I didn't touch her," I said, blood dripping from my palms.
"Liar!" Tiffany shouted.
Garrison turned to me, eyes flashing red. "You dare?"
He hauled me up and shoved me back. I crashed into a table, smashing an antique vase.
"That was my mother's!" Garrison roared. "You destroy everything!"
"Smell her, Garrison! She's lying!"
"Silence!"
The Command clamped my jaw shut. I tasted copper.
"You are a danger to my heir. To the isolation room."
He dragged me to the basement. Not a cell. The silver room.
The air shimmered with silver filings.
He threw me in. "Maybe a night in the silver will purify that rot in your soul."
The door slammed.
I fell, coughing. The dust settled on my skin like fire ants. Every breath was razor blades.
I curled up, covering my face. My wolf howled in agony.
Hours later, the door opened.
Garrison stood there, fresh suit, looking annoyed.
"Get up. Tonight is the memorial fundraiser for your mother."
I froze.
"The Dixon family is sponsoring it," he said. Keyla's family. "You will attend. And you will publicly thank Keyla for her generosity."
He wanted me to thank my mother's murderer.
"Why?" I croaked.
"Unity," he said. "And because if you don't... you stay in here forever."
I pulled myself up.
My hatred solidified into something cold and hard.
"I'll go," I whispered.
"Good. Clean yourself up. You look like a mess."
As I limped to the showers, I made a promise: That was the last order he would ever give me.
