Chapter 471

471
471
Third Person’s POV
Adelaide released her grip on Gloria’s arm.
Gloria stumbled back and fell into the chair, burying her face in her hands as she wailed.
She asked, “Not you? Then who? Who would wanna hurt me? If not you, then who?”
Adelaide felt a mix of speechlessness and helplessness.
Gloria’s outburst didn’t even rile her up–she wasn’t worth the anger.
It was clear Gloria had been sheltered by the Ironclaw Pack and the Hutchinson family, leaving her embarrassingly lacking in basic reasoning.
In short, she was selfish and stupid.
Adelaide sat down, took a deep breath, and said, “Look, I gotta ask: what grudge do you have against me?”
Gloria, tears streaming down her puffy red eyes, said, “No grudge? You were Ulrik’s ex – mate. Our mating ceremonies were on the same day. You outshone me, made me look bad. Now everyone in the Bloodmoon Pack looks down on me.”
Adelaide clenched the armrests of her chair, took another deep breath.
Gloria was such a headache.
She said, “Outshine you? When did I ever try to one–up you? You were the one trying to compete with me and come out on top. You failed, so you’re mad at me. Why should I be mad at you?”
She snorted, “Why would I go out of my way to hurt you? Think about it.”
“But
you
and Melvin…” Gloria started.
Adelaide cut her off, “I went to the Digby Medical Center to pick up meds for Melinda. She’s about to give birth. Melvin works there, guards the med stash. Digby wasn’t around, so I had to get the meds from him.”
“As for you two looking shady that day, I didn’t think anything of it. I just figured it was awkward for you ‘cause Melvin’s Eugene’s cousin.”
Gloria wiped her runny nose, tears still falling like rain.
She looked a mess–red eyes, red nose–but stubborn as ever. “I don’t believe you. Who else would wanna hurt me? ”
Adelaide’s temper flared. She slammed the table and said, “Give me one reason I’d wanna hurt you .”
The slam shocked Gloria into silence.
She stared at Adelaide, then blurted out, “Because I’m mated to Ulrik.”
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Adelaide snapped, “He’s not worth my time. I don’t care who he mates with.”
Gloria shook her head. “You’re lying. You never got over him.”
“I saved him ‘cause I’m the Capital’s Deputy Commander. I got intel about assassins in the Capital . I followed the lead. I didn’t just stand by while Bloodmoon wolves were in danger. That’s it.
“I don’t believe you. After what Ulrik and Velda did to you, you’d still help them? You’re too good?” Gloria said.
Adelaide saw the madness in Gloria’s eyes fade, replaced by stubbornness. She gave up trying to reason .
No use. Talking to a brick wall. Better wait for someone from the Bloodmoon or Ironclaw Pack to come take her away.
“Here’s the deal. Vent all your hate here and now. No more coming back to badmouth me. I’ll let this slide once. Next time, I’ll hand you over to the law.”
Adelaide’s pheromones were icy sharp, her aura so cold it frosted the air. Her pupils narrowed to sharp lines in the sunlight.
Gloria looked at Adelaide’s cold, almost disdainful face. Her scent glands tightened, shame washing over her like a tidal wave.
But when she tried to think of real grievances against Adelaide, there was nothing.
Her lily of the valley pheromones grew murky with hesitation, her wolf ears drooping in embarrassment.
After a long pause, she started whimpering, then sobbing, finally crying full–out with her hands over her face, shoulders shaking.
Adelaide massaged her temple. Her pheromones were calm at first but soon rippled with impatience.
Finally, she snapped, her aura bursting like thunder, “Shut it! Go cry in your Bloodmoon Pack. Don’t let me see you cry here. Pathetic.”
“You just look down on me,” Gloria cried, her voice a howling mix of grievance and accusation. “All ‘cause you’re Alpha Lance’s mate, high and mighty.”
– Adelaide sneered, her contempt plain to see. “I do look down on you. What you’ve done, none of it’s
respectable. Felt inferior in the Bloodmoon Pack? Tried to climb back up by attaching yourself to Eugene, the Golden Gamma. And you’re pregnant with Ulrik’s kid. Who’d respect someone like you?”
Gloria glared, her pupils dilating with rage, lily of the valley pheromones blazing.
Adelaide stared coldly back, pheromones forming a solid barrier.
No plans to be friends. Since Gloria came here to make a scene, might as well burn al dges.
Their pheromones clashed violently in the air, sparking tiny energy bursts.
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