“Is fake,” I snap. “You think I wouldn’t feel it if it were real?
Raiden goes rigid beside me. His jaw tightens, his entire body wound tight like he’s barely holding himself back. Lila must see it too, because she swallows hard. But instead of backing down, she doubles down.
“You’re just upset because you didn’t see it coming,” she says, forcing a smirk that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Raiden and I
“You’re delusional,” I spit, taking a step closer. Lila freezes. I lower my voice to a deadly whisper. “Say it again, and I’ll rip that lie right off your tongue.”
Silence falls like a heavy weight over the room.
No one moves. No one breathes.
Lila sways slightly, her bravado cracking.
Her eyes flick toward Raiden, as if expecting him to step in. Holding my breath, I’d be lying if I wasn’t waiting too…
Did you do it? Did you mark her?
But he doesn’t. He just watches Lila, avoids my eyes.
Lila must realize she’s miscalculated because the next words that come out of her mouth are quieter, weaker. “You’re overreacting.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. “I should rip you apart for this.”
Raiden’s hand brushes against mine, the briefest touch. Not stopping me–just reminding me he’s here. That I don’t need to prove anything. My wolf exhales, easing some of the pressure in my chest.
Lila looks between us, her expression twisting. “You don’t own him,” she hisses. “You act like you do, but you don’t.”
I arch a brow, letting a slow smirk curve my lips. “Then why are you so scared, Lila?”
Her breath catches.
Raiden steps forward then, placing himself between us–not to protect me, but to end this. He pins Lila with a stare so cold I almost feel sorry for her.
Almost.
“You’re done here,” he says simply.
Lila bristles. “I-”
“Leave.”
His voice is final. No room for argument.
Lila’s face twists in fury, but she knows better than to push further. Not with him. Not with me. She turns sharply on her heel, her retreating form stiff with frustration.
The second she’s gone, the tension in the air eases slightly, but my blood is still humming, my hands still curled into fists at my sides.
Raiden turns to me. “What is the meaning of this Siena? You should know better!” he growls.
019
08:36 Sun, 20 Apr
Chapter 21
I don’t answer right away.
The rage is still simmering, the weight of what just happened settling deep into my bones. But I don’t want him to see that. I don’t want anyone to see that. So instead, 1 exhale slowly, unclenching my fists.
The eyes of the Alphas are following our every move. “Is she…is teh amrk-
“Siena, that is my business. I will attend to it,” he snaps, but the voice is low, like a google of fury I don’t think I’ve ever heard. Raidne cannot lie–not to me anyways. I search his eyes.
“He didn’t do this Siena, he wouldn’t.”
My wolf bristles inside me, suffoctaing with teh want of revenge.
Raiden studies me for a long moment, before he leads me away, but as I follow, I make a silent promise.
Next time, I won’t hold back.
“Where-”
“Do not argue! Know your place!”
I heed his warning, not out of submission, but a genuine need of relief from the spectacle that has taken root.
Stepping onto the back terrace, a traditionally private business spot of the Alphas, the adrenaline lingers, burning through me as we step outside. Finally, I stop walking, pressing my fingers to my temples. “I can’t believe she did that. She really thought she could fool everyone with a fake mark?”
Raiden exhales, running a hand through his hair. “She’s desperate, Siena. And desperate people do stupid things.”
It wasn’tr the response I suspected and not nearly enough to quell teh feeling of beryal. “It’s more than that. She wanted to humiliate me. She wanted to hurt me.”
His jaw tightens. “She didn’t.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Didn’t she?”
Didn’t you?
