Chapter 495
The sunlight caught the intricate gold calligraphy and the deep burgundy wax seal of the Decker family. Chelsi froze. Her eyes darted to the envelope, reading the names instantly. It was an invitation to Gamma Vance Decker and Serena’s Marking ceremony and wedding. Stuck to the front was a bright pink sticky note in Azalea’s messy handwriting: Must attend, we’re going to stun everyone!
Chelsi’s face contorted into something genuinely monstrous. The Parrish family had once moved in these circles. Now her sister was in exile, and she was left scrambling for scraps. And here I was—the wolfless girl she had tormented in university—holding an invitation to an event she couldn’t even get past the door of.
“You?” she shrieked, her voice cracking with disbelief and raw jealousy. “A rejected, wolfless stray gets an invitation, and I am ignored?”
I bent down and snatched the envelope from the ground, dusting it off with deliberate slowness. “Maybe they just prefer guests who understand basic social etiquette.”
A low, guttural growl ripped from her throat. Her eyes flashed a dangerous, feral gold. With a sickening snick, her fingernails elongated into lethal, curved claws. She raised her hand, aiming a vicious swipe directly at my face.
I braced for the tearing of flesh—but a blur of dark uniforms intercepted her.
Two massive Hyde Industries Security Warriors materialized from the building’s entrance. They grabbed Chelsi’s arms, twisting them expertly and pinning her in place.
“Stand down,” the larger Warrior barked, his voice laced with an Alpha-command undertone meant to subdue unruly wolves. “No blood on Hyde property.”
Chelsi thrashed against their iron grip, her claws retracting as she realized she was outmatched. She glared at me, chest heaving, her makeup slightly smeared.
“This isn’t over, Adella,” she spat, her voice trembling with venom. “You think you’ve won? My sister couldn’t take you down. But I’m not her. I will find a way back into the circle, and when I do, I will take everything from you. Everything.”
I straightened my blazer, my heart hammering against my ribs, and kept my expression entirely unreadable. “I look forward to it.”
The Warriors released her with a firm shove. Chelsi shot me one last murderous look before turning on her heel and marching back toward her idling Porsche.
I stood alone on the sidewalk, my hands shaking violently as the adrenaline began to crash. I reached into my torn bag, pulled out my phone to call a ride, and woke the screen with my thumb.