Chapter 34

Third Person POV

Nan Lupa…Nan freaking Lupa…Malina could not believe that gold digger’s audacity.

The party had been as expected. Fundraising for some poor peasants that nobody actually cared about. Cold cunning and ruthlessness hidden behind society polite smiles and feigned interest in each other’s hobbies.

Always looking for each other’s soft under bellies to tear into. A competition of blank checks and fast pens. Who could donate more, and who was lacking?

Typical. Just like every other society party. A never-ending game of pretend and potential ruin.

Malina thrived off this game. She and her childhood best friend, Cora, often dominated the game like with casual ease. But not lately.

No, Cora had been exiled from society like some common lineage, no-name loser. All because of that harlot, Nan Lupa. Who did this commoner think she was?

When Maline saw Lupa arrive on Lionel’s arm…as though she had not completely overreached and stepped out of her place after what she did to Cora…Malina was seething.

She spent the next hour watching Lupa. Even from a distance, she could see the little gold digger’s discomfort. Malina felt both satisfied at the sight and angry that she dared to think she could so easily take Cora’s place.

‘Cora will be avenged,’ Malina swore to herself. When Lionel walked away and she saw Lupa leaving the main plaza, Malina discreetly followed.

Once Malina found her, she saw that a blonde man had followed Lupa. She saw the way Lupa tried to escape the man. ‘An ex-lover perhaps,’ Malina thought.

Malina suddenly sensed an opportunity. She smirked. Then she took out her camera phone.

Lupa would find out the hard way just how unwelcome she was. That no one wanted her in their proximity. And just how easy it would be for her life to turn to hell for daring to think otherwise.

Malina was determined to make that lesson stick. So, she waited. Camera ready for the best moment.

And then the moment came. Malina snapped a few shots. Then she moved away from where she had been silently watching as though she had never been there in the first place.

She opened the screen and went to her picture gallery. Swiped her thumb through a few images before finding the perfect one. Then she opened her text messages and sent the picture.

From Malina:

Look what I saw. I don’t think Lionel would be very happy to see this. What do you think?

From Cora:

No, I don’t think he will be. Here’s the number (XXX)-XXX-XXXX.

From Malina:

Let the games begin. Wish you were here to see it.

From Cora:

Tell me all about it. Make sure to get a good view of the bitch’s face when Lionel finds out.

Malina grinned maliciously. She did not need to see Cora’s face to know her best friend was doing the same. She and Cora were best friends for a reason, after all.

It was a fact that all alphas are notoriously possessive. They lash out savagely when wounded. And what wounds more than a betrayal from a lover?

She typed the number into her text messages. She attached the picture to the thread, not needing to add any words. The picture would speak for itself.

And hit send. She slipped her phone back into her purse. Schooled her face into a disinterested mask.

Then she slipped back into the crowd, satisfied with the chaos that would soon erupt for Lupa.

Lionel’s POV

I am so bored.

Society parties had never been fun for me. All mindless sheep that think themselves real wolves because of the pathetic games they play to one up the other. Amusing at first, but tedious over time to deal with.

Most of them flock to me. Hoping I would be impressed by their show of ruthlessness and intelligence. Sadly for them, the majority don’t even register to me.

Very few people had the discipline or aptitude to be alphas. Or more specifically, the alphas in charge. Many had the potential to be alphas, but few would be good alphas.

I only pay attention to the ones that I see have potential to be one of those select few. The conversations are less boring and allow me to get a better understanding of their potential. I like to stay informed about potential allies.

Thompson bowed his head to me. “That’s not a bad idea. I’ll have to have my research team do more practice runs. Thanks for the input, Lionel.”

I say, “No problem. Just keep me informed, I might try it myself if it works.”

He laughs. “You’ll be the first that I inform. You’ve always been a great help to me.”

I shrugged. I trusted his words. He was one of the few people I found tolerable.

“Alright, we’ll leave you too it. You have a lovely date that I have no doubt is waiting for you. Best not to keep a woman waiting.”

Internally I am grateful this informal meeting has reached its end. After being around Nan, these business talks can not compare to a simple conversation with her. I am eager to return to her side.

Leaving Nan to the whims off a prejudiced crowd did not sit well with me. I start to plan how to make this up to her. Tonight had not quite gone as I hoped.

Thompson and the others leave. I go to head back myself when my phone chimes. I pull out my phone to glance at the screen.

It is an anonymous number. No call, just a text. I frown.

This is my personal phone. I do not give my personal phone number to just anyone. No one unknown to me should have this number.

‘That’s not right,’ I think. I can just feel a headache coming on from whatever ridiculousness this might be.

I am very tempted to just delete it. I am in no mood for whatever little game someone is playing. ‘Whoever shared my number with a stranger is going to regret it,’ I growl.

But curiosity gets the best of me. So I click on the thread and open it. There are no words.

Only a picture. At first, I do not know what I am looking at. My brain does not comprehend what I am seeing.

But then the details begin to register. It’s Nan. Nan looking ravishing in the dress I chose for her.

Nan staring very intently at someone. At another man. Away from the main area.

Nan and another man seemingly in a secluded area. Nan looking gorgeous, staring deeply at another man in a secluded area.

Nan…giving the necklace I paid a fortune for so see her smile for her birthday…giving that necklace to another man.

The sound that breaks out of me is a deep, guttural snarl. Similar to a threatened predator. I cannot control the possessive rage that floods my scent, releasing it in dark waves.

I am only just able to not pop out my fangs and claws. A red warning sign of imminent danger to other lesser wolves. The few occupants in the area around scatter.

This loss of control only stokes my burning anger. I stalk away. Ready for a confrontation.

‘Another man? She dares to give away the token of my love to another wolf?’ I rage quietly.

‘I think not,’ My inner beast roars back. I would not stand for this.

The image of Nan…and that man burns me. As I get closer to my destination, I vaguely notice more wolves jumping away. I do not see the wicked interest in their faces.

I do not see a familiar face, one always in the background to Cora. I do not notice the sick cackle from her. I can only see one thing.

I only see Nan. Nan’s head snap toward me. I see the initial warmth on her face as she sees me approach.

As if she was not just along with another man. As if she did not give her necklace to another man. As if she did not betray me.

At that moment, the entire world is bathed in a consuming, green tint of outraged jealousy.