Chapter 169

Lincy shot me a nervous glare.

“This is none of your business p>

She quickly shoved her phone behind her back, fingers tight around it. She was trying to hide it from me. If Camilla noticed that picture, Lincy would be in serious trouble. I could almost smell the panic rolling off her.

I smiled faintly. Calm. Unbothered.

“I know you saw Julain and Camilla,” I said. “You don’t need to hide it p>

Her eyes widened. “You saw it too p>

“I’m not blind,” I replied. “Are you planning to tell Yenik p>

The moment she realized I understood her intentions, her posture shifted. Guarded. Defensive.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“Have you thought about what will happen if you tell him now?” I asked quietly.

Lincy scoffed, anger flashing across her face.

“Camilla is a lying snake. She’s carrying Julain’s child and still pretending to be innocent p>

Lincy had always been reckless, acting on impulse instead of thought. I kept my voice steady.

“Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why Camilla and Yenik bonded in the first place p>

Her eyes burned. “Because of you p>

I shook my head.

“That bond was never about love. It was a cover. A way to hide their mess and protect their families’ image. If you expose this now, the Hudsons will despise Camilla even more but the invitations are already out p>

I leaned closer.

“If you were part of the Hudson pack, what would you do p>

Lincy went quiet. Her lips parted, then closed again.

“I p>

“Bonding ceremonies aren’t a joke,” I continued. “Especially for powerful families who live by reputation and hierarchy. Canceling it now would humiliate them. Do you really think they’ll allow that p>

She stayed silent.

“More likely,” I said, “the ceremony will still happen. After that, they’ll find a reason to discard Camilla quietly. If you want Yenik, you’ll have to wait p>

Lincy’s expression shifted. Reluctant. Thoughtful. She understood at least a little.

“So what?” she snapped. “I just swallow this? If it weren’t for Camilla, I wouldn’t have nearly ended up behind bars p>

I smiled, slow and deliberate.

“I never said you had to swallow it p>

Her gaze flicked to me.

“I have a solution,” I added. “One that helps both of us. Want to hear it p>

She hesitated, suspicion flickering in her eyes. But curiosity had already hooked her.

“It’s simple,” I said. “You can expose them. Just not now p>

I lowered my voice.

“If you reveal this secret at the right moment during a major gathering, when all the packs are watching do you think the Hudsons and Morrigans can still go through with the ceremony p>

Her breath caught.

“Instead of waiting a year,” I continued, “they could fall apart before the vows are even spoken p>

Lincy’s eyes lit up, sharp and excited.

“That’s… that’s genius. Why didn’t I think of that p>

Then her expression hardened. She studied me carefully.

“Are you really helping me deal with Camilla?” she asked. “RIley… what do you get out of this p>

I met her gaze without blinking.

Lincy wasn’t as clueless as I had first thought.

That surprised me.

I smiled and answered calmly, “Of course I have my reasons. I already know about Camilla and Julain. If she bonds into the Hales, she becomes a threat to me p>

Lincy stiffened, listening closely.

“I was never favored in the Gardner pack,” I continued. “After I bonded with Lewis, his injury weakened his position for a while. He’s only holding authority temporarily. Jeffrey’s first choice was always Julain p>

I stepped a little closer, lowering my voice.

“If you expose this,” I said, “Julain’s reputation collapses. His standing disappears. And you get exactly what you want p>

Her eyes flickered.

“Even if we don’t get along,” I added softly, “we’re still tied by blood and pack history. Our interests overlap here. I can’t move openly, but through you, this can be done p>

I paused to let it sink in.

“You get revenge on Camilla for nearly destroying your life. And after the New Year, you still have a chance to mend things with Yenik. No one loses p>

Lincy swallowed. “You’ll really help me p>

I tilted my head slightly. “Think about it. Which choice benefits me more helping you, or letting you fail p>

She hesitated, so I pressed gently.

“Wouldn’t it be far more satisfying to expose Camilla in front of everyone?” I asked. “To tear off her mask where all the packs can see it? That’s much better than confronting the Hudsons and Morrigans quietly today p>

Lincy’s breathing picked up.

“Okay,” she said quickly. “I promise p>

I didn’t relax.

“Lincy,” I warned, “Camilla isn’t weak. This must stay between us. You can’t trust anyone else. Not even Yenik p>

Her brows knit together.

“His kindness toward Camilla isn’t love,” I said. “It’s strategy. That child ties him to the Hudsons. If your move threatens his position, he won’t protect you. He’ll sacrifice you p>

Her face darkened. “I understand. I won’t tell anyone p>

Then she added, almost proudly, “It’s just a child. If Camilla can have one, so can I p>

I kept my expression smooth.

Foolish girl.

She still thought this was only about bonding with Yenik. She hadn’t considered what would happen once the Gardner backing vanished. Without power behind her, would Yenik even look her way?

When Julain ran from my own bonding ceremony, I never got the chance to reveal the truth.

But Camilla’s ceremony?

That would be different.

I would expose everything. I would show everyone why Julain fled. I would tear apart the lies Camilla had wrapped herself in.

She wouldn’t escape.

And Lincy?

Once she’d served her purpose, I would strip away her title as the Gardner heir. I wanted to see how Yenik treated her then. I wanted to see Grant’s face when he learned the truth.

Just imagining it sent a sharp thrill through me.

This wasn’t just revenge.

This was closure.

I was ending everything my past, RIley’s pain, all the wrongs that had been buried for too long.

And this time, I wouldn’t leave anything unfinished.