Chapter 151
Chapter 151:
“If you’re so secure in your position, Katherine, why are you following me?” I pulled my arm free from Chelsi’s grip and dusted off my sleeve. “Braydon is yours. Keep him. I don’t want him p>
That was the wrong thing to say. Katherine’s face twisted, her composure shattering.
“You don’t want him?” she shrieked, her voice cracking, drawing the attention of nearby shoppers. “He screams your name in his sleep! Last night, while I lay beside him, he called for you — for a useless, broken thing p>
The humiliation radiating off her was palpable. She was a Luna-to-be, yet she was second best to a wolfless girl in her own fiancé’s dreams.
Before I could react, her hand lashed out.
Crack.
The sound was sickeningly loud. Her palm connected with my left cheek with the force of a whip. My head snapped to the side and the world spun. A sharp sting bloomed across my face, hot and throbbing, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth where my teeth had caught my inner cheek.
“Next time,” Katherine hissed, leaning close to my ear, “it won’t be just a slap p>
“Adella?” Victoria’s voice floated down the path, sounding more annoyed than concerned. “Where is that water p>
Panic flashed across Chelsi’s face. “It’s the Luna. Let’s go p>
T𝗿𝘦𝘯din 𝗼𝗻 ѕ.с𝗼𝗺
Katherine gave me one last look of pure loathing before they turned and vanished into the crowd, dissolving seamlessly among the other elites. I stood there trembling — not with fear, but with a cold, quiet fury. I touched my cheek. It was tender, pulsing with heat.
Breeder. Braydon’s accusation echoed in my mind. He only wants the White Wolf.
If I called Dallas now, he would handle it. He would fix it. But I didn’t want a fixer. I wanted the truth.
I bought the water, my hands steady, and walked back to the bench.
Victoria looked up, her eyes narrowing the moment they landed on my face. The red imprint of Katherine’s hand was unmistakable against my pale skin, the scratch from her engagement ring already beginning to swell.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice losing its frail edge entirely.
I handed her the water bottle. “I slipped near the fountain. Hit my face on the stone rim p>
Victoria uncapped the bottle, her gaze traveling from the angry mark on my cheek to the smooth, rounded marble of the fountain twenty feet away. It was a terrible lie. We both knew it.
She took a slow sip, her eyes cold and calculating. She knew exactly who had done this — only a high-ranking female would dare touch me in her territory — but she said nothing. She simply held out her silk handkerchief.
“Be more careful, Adella,” she said dryly. “You wouldn’t want to ruin your pretty face before the Gala tonight p>
I took the handkerchief and pressed the cool silk against my burning skin.
I wouldn’t ruin it. I would display it.