His tone softened, and he added seriously, “You’re my brightest student. I have to ask you to think this through carefully.”
I stood outside a bridal boutique, watching Alanna twirl in the wedding dress I had spent months designing and commissioning.
She stood next to Alpha Waldo, their faces pressed close as they posed for photos. He mimicked the veil-lifting kiss—a trend he must’ve seen online.
A sharp pang struck my chest, but it faded quickly, leaving only an emptiness in its wake.
“I’m sure, supervisor,” I replied, my voice steady. “I’m an orphan with no family or ties. It’s an honor to serve The Shadowcrown Pack. What more could I want?”
Then, as if to twist the knife deeper in my heart, Waldo’s smug grin as he slipped my engagement ring onto Alanna’s finger nearly sent my wolf into a frenzy.
She whimpered softly, but I soothed her. “Not now, girl,” I murmured. “We’ll get our revenge by living our best lives—far away from him.”
My supervisor exhaled with relief. “I’ll arrange everything on my end. It’s urgent, so they’ll pick you up in a week. Use this time to settle your affairs. Don’t leave anything unresolved.”
I ended the call just in time to hear Alanna squeal, “Waldo, you’re amazing! I love this dress so much!”
The nerve. She spun around in my ten-million-dollar custom gown, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece I’d designed myself. Waldo stroked her hair as if she were a prize-winning pup, not the scheming she-wolf she truly was.
“It’s just a dress,” he said gently. “As long as you’re happy.”
“What if Valerie sees?” Alanna asked coyly, glancing at the entrance.