Chapter 23 The Alpha’s Return
+8 Pearls
A week later, the Frostfang Pack threw an extravagant banquet, inviting members from several major packs to attend.
During the event, Charles and Elizabeth publicly announced that I was the long–lost daughter of the Frostfang Pack and gave me over half the pack’s authority.
“Starting today,” Charles said, his voice brimming with emotion, “Alicia is the next Alpha of the Frostfang Pack. We’ll spend the rest of our lives making it up to her and giving her the best life possible.”
Applause erupted from the crowd. Every eye in the room turned toward me, full of awe and envy,
I stood on stage, staring down at them with a cold expression, unmoved by the spectacle.
Then Alexander stepped forward and handed me a small box containing a key–shaped pendant.
“Alicia, this is a wolf fang necklace I searched far and wide for,” he said with quiet reverence. “It represents my loyalty. You are the Alpha–I’ll be your right hand,”
I glanced at the necklace, then tossed it into my bag without a word.
Next, Lucas stepped onto the stage and dropped to one knee. In his hand was a diamond ring, and his eyes burned with emotion as he looked up at me.
“Alicia.” His voice trembled slightly. “Choose me. I’ll spend my life making it up to you–giving you all the love I have.”
A gasp rippled through the crowd..
I stared down at him, my voice sharp and laced with mockery. “Lucas, weren’t you in love with Evelyn? Weren’t you ready to choose her as your mate? And now you suddenly want me to be your mate?”
Lucas’s face went pale. He stammered, panic in his voice, “Alicia, I… I only clung to her because I thought I’d lost you. She was a substitute. The one I truly love has always been you.
I let out a
out a short, bitter laugh. That kind of love sounds pretty cheap, doesn’t it?”
Silence fell over the banquet hall. Everyone stared, stunned by what had just unfolded.
Lucas–Alpha of the prestigious Obsidian Pack–had just been humiliated in public, yet he showed no anger.
He took a deep breath, his voice low and steady. “Alicia, if mocking me makes you feel better, go ahead. I know you won’t accept my proposal right now. But I’ll wait. I’ll prove to you that I’m serious”
I gave no reply. I turned and walked off the stage.
=
After the banquet, Alexander, Charles, and Elizabeth accompanied me in the car on the way back.
They kept trying to gauge my mood the entire ride, stealing glances and speaking in hushed tones, clearly terrified I might be
upset
1 stayed silent, my face an expressionless mask
Then, suddenly, the car stalled.
“What’s going on? Alexander frowned, clearly irritated.
The driver got out to check and returned a few minutes later. “Sir, the car’s having some trouble. It needs repairs.”
Lucas’s expression darkened. He turned to me and said apologetically, Alicia, why don’t you take another car back first? It’s starting to rain–I don’t want you getting wet.”
I snorted. “What, is running in the rain too humiliating for the noble Obsidian Pack? Must you always ride in style?”
Alexander hadn’t expected me to be so sarcastic. As werewolves, we were born to run wild, to shift and race through the night
+8 Pearls
Chapter 23 The Alpha’s Retum
-but here they were, clinging to human comforts. Still, I didn’t push further, I played along loving family,’ said nothing more, and got into another car with the driver.
Hut not long after we pulled away, a wave of dizziness hit me.
Before I could react, everything went dark.
I was tied to a chair in a dimly lit warehouse when I opened my eyes again.
with their little charade of
My wrists and ankles were bound tightly, and my mouth had been taped shut. I couldn’t move an inch.
“Nova–what the hell is going on?” I immediately tried to contact her through our bond.
But there was no response.
Just then, the warehouse door creaked open.
A familiar figure stepped inside, her face wearing a smug little sinile.
“Alicia,” she purred. Bet you didn’t expect this, did you?”
It was Evelyn.
I stared at her, eyes cold, without a trace of fear.
