Chapter 2

Ah. Derek's spoiled little sister, Lydia Blackwood.

She had worn gold to the wedding on purpose, to outshine me.

But after a whole night of carrying on, her foundation had started to break up, flaking off in dry little pieces every time she spoke.

"You were never good enough for my brother!"

She pointed at me and shrieked, "He had just taken you as his mate when his plane went down. You must have cursed him, and now you have the nerve to seduce his brother on your wedding night?"

I watched her makeup crack with every word and fought a laugh.

Hester sobbed theatrically, "Lydia, don't. Selena will run to the Alpha King and have our pack punished. We can't afford to offend her."

"So what?"

She looked at me with contempt. "Every wolf alive knows the Luna Queen is the one Alpha King Leon Windsor trusts most. What does Selena have besides a few drops of Windsor blood? Without her brother, she couldn't even get through the gates of Moonfall Bridge!"

The amusement went out of Kane's eyes.

"Mind your tone."

His voice wasn't loud, but the force of his Alpha dominance filled the room in an instant.

Only then did I notice it. Kane carried an Alpha's scent too?

Kane was supposedly just an illegitimate son, yet his dominance was even stronger than Derek's.

Sure enough, Lydia went pale, and a whimper forced its way out of her throat.

Lydia recovered quickly. Humiliated and furious but too frightened to challenge Kane, she trembled as she spat, "Who do you think you are... you dare... you dare warn me?"

Kane remained against my headboard. He did nothing more than narrow his eyes.

Even so, the killing intent was unmistakable.

One more step and he might really tear out her throat.

And still she screamed, "Mom, do something about Kane! A pup who crawled out of a garbage heap is walking all over me!"

So loud.

I crooked a finger at her. "Lydia. Come here."

Before her mind could react, her body stiffened and moved toward me on its own.

"What? He's nothing but an unwanted—"

Smack!

I slapped her.

She slammed into the vanity, and two bloody teeth rolled onto the carpet.

The room went quiet.

She was stunned.

I shook out my hand. What a sin.

"Sorry. I thought the Blackwoods were made of sturdier stuff."

She probably wouldn't be eating the leftover wedding steak tonight.

"Selena!"

Hester screamed, rushed over, and pulled her daughter into her arms.

"You killed my son, and now you have hurt my daughter! Will nothing satisfy you but destroying this whole family?"

She sobbed hysterically, shouting that she would summon the pack elders and bring charges against me.

The corridor filled up fast with pack members drawn by the noise.

Every one of them pointed at me.

"Fine! Then let's bring formal charges."

I pulled the door open and ordered the royal guards, "Contact my brother immediately. Have Derek's crash site searched again."

Hester's crying cut off.

I turned to look at her.

"If they find remains, send every fragment for identification."

I let the final demand land hard. "If he's dead, I want the body!"

"No!"

Hester answered too quickly, and every head turned toward her.

The color drained out of her face.

"I mean... there's no need to trouble the Alpha King," she said, licking her lips nervously.

"Weren't you just screaming that I cursed him to death?"

"I..."

Of course she had no answer.

Because Derek was never on that plane.

If the royal investigators actually dug in, his fake death would be exposed tonight.

Lydia panicked too. She grabbed Hester's arm and lowered her voice. "Derek's plan comes first. We'll kill this bitch when we get another chance."

...?

Any chance I'm not deaf?

Planning my murder from ten feet away was no different from whispering it in my ear.

Hester rose, forcing herself back into the role of dignified matriarch. "Never mind! For Derek's sake, I'll let it go tonight. The pack has business to handle. We're leaving."

Hester and Lydia rushed out.

They moved as if Derek might rise from the dead if they waited another second.

Once the door shut, I turned to evict Kane from my bed.

"The show's over, handsome. Go find yourself a guest room."

Kane paused, then cocked his head with a scoff.

His torn shirt hung loose from his shoulders, framing a face that was as handsome as it was dangerous.

"Use me and toss me aside?"

His smile should have put me at ease.

Instead, the fur along my nape suddenly stood on end.

Why did his commanding tone sound so familiar...