Chapter 341
341
Third Person’s POV
Many people couldn’t help but glance at Gloria and then at Adelaide.
The comparison was stark,
Gloria felt like a fool for even showing up
+5 Free Con
She hadn’t seen what she’d hoped to see and was still reluctant to give up, shamelessly staying to watch for any slip–up from Adelaide during the grand banquet.
The banquet progressed to the toast segment.
It was traditional for guests to offer toasts during the meal. So when the male guests announced, “Let’s go offer our best wishes to Priscilla,” the guests put down their utensils and turned their attention to Priscilla
Led by Alpha Lance, Alpha Howell, Cyrus, and Doug approached first.
They walked straight up to Priscilla, raised their glasses a few feet away, and said . “To Priscilla’s long life, good health, and abundant blessings.”
Originally, Lance had planned to drink the toast on his mother’s behalf. But Priscilla, in high spirits, raised her own glass and smiled, saying. “Here’s to all of us–to long life, good health, and many years of enjoying the company of our children and grandchildren.
Cyrus and Doug, being older, found the toast quite fitting, while Alpha Howell stood awkwardly aside.
Cyrus and Doug downed their drinks in one gulp. Howell quickly followed suit and excused himself
Groups of three male guests continued to approach . After Priscilla had drunk several toasts, Adelaide stood up and said. “On behalf of my mother–in–law, I thank you for taking the time offer your best wishes today. If there were any shortcomings in our hospitality, please kindly ove them.”
The next group included Winslow and two family heads.
Winslow , Wanda’s mate, didn’t so much as glance at her upon entering.
Wanda, furious, thought to herself, “He won’t look at me? I don’t need him to.”
“Luna Adelaide, you’re truly straightforward!” Winslow smiled and raised his glass to Adelaide. “I admire you greatly.”
“I’m flattered,” Adelaide replied with a smile.
The two family heads also drank their toasts and cast admiring glances at Adelaide.
Gloria found the scene highly ironic. The guests had come to offer best wishes to Priscilla. If a replacement drinker was needed, it should have been Alpha Lance, not Adelaide.
She expected Lance to be annoyed. But when she glanced at him, she saw him looking at Adelaide with
O
1/3
341
tender affection.
In that instant, Gloria felt as if struck by lightning–her whole body froze.
She recognized that look; it was one she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Eugene used to look at her that way.
But Ulrik never had. His eyes were always cold.
+5 Free Coins
Memories of Eugene flooded back, and for a moment, Alpha Lance’s figure seemed to overlap with Eugene’s in her mind.
She quickly drained a glass of wine, forcing down the jumble of thoughts–what good were memories when he was gone?
Sabrina cowered in a cold, carved wooden chair, her fingers digging deeply into her palms.
The utter failure of her first attempt coiled around her heart like a cold, venomous snake–the crushing pheromones of Lance, and the undisguised contempt and alienation in Wanda’s eyes.
Wanda didn’t even glance at her again, as if she were a plague..
The obsession with entering the Blackthorn Pack burned more fiercely in her despair.
She stared intently at Alpha Lance, who was as close as the sun yet as unattainable.
She knew this was her last chance. Wanda would never allow her a third approach .
A desperate resolution surged within her.
She abruptly seized the half–full wine glass beside her. The liquid in the glass mirrored the twisted determination in her eyes.
Amid the curious and mocking gazes of the crowd, she rose unsteadily to her feet. A stiff, fragile smile. tinged with the pathos of a desperate gamble, forced its way onto her face as she headed toward Priscilla
“Priscilla, please allow me to… Her voice trembled exaggeratedly, seeking attention.
-Before she could finish, just a few steps away from Lance, she “tripped” and fell toward him at a
meticulously calculated angle–a motion that was both deliberate and forceful.
“ Carefull someone instinctively exclaimed.
This time, a strong arm finally caught her around the waist.
A crazed gleam flickered in Sabrina’s eyes.
Not only did she not rein herself in, but she channeled all her remaining strength and focus into her pheromones.
A thick, viscous mating pheromone, laden with possessiveness and intent to bind, surged like a venomous vine from the point of contact, forcing its way rudely and violently into the person holding her.
2/3
99%
341
But when Sabrina looked up, her face drained of color–the person who caught her was Winslow.
As soon as Sabrina steadied herself, Winslow released her. But the odd looks from the crowd had already landed on her.
Winslow realized the situation and turned pale with embarrassment.
“ You wretched woman!” Wanda roared, slammed her wine glass down, stormed over, grabbed Sabrina’s shoulders, and slapped her hard.
Dazed from the blow, Sabrina fell to the floor.
She cradled her face , tears welling up in her eyes, panic–stricken as she looked around–it was all like a nightmare.
Everyone was staring at her, their eyes filled with mockery.
This time, everyone was certain of her motive— she had been trying to climb the social ladder by ensnaring Alpha Lance.
UZ IZ
342
342