Chapter 3

Ariana’s POV

I sat in the President’s office, surrounded by the council of elders. They were all pushing me to announce my position as President, to keep the club from falling into chaos.

“Ariana, you must accept your role,” one of the council members urged. “The club needs a leader, and you are the rightful one.”

I sighed, my mind racing with doubts and fear. “I’m not ready,” I said, voice small. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Ariana, you must," another council member strictly told me. "And when you do, you will need to announce your chosen Vice.”

My heart skipped at the word Vice. I already knew who I wanted standing at my right hand, Liam.

We had been together for three incredible years, and he had proven himself to be a worthy partner in every way. His kind heart, compassionate nature, and chivalrous ways made him the epitome of a perfect mate. And let's not forget his dashing good looks ,his flaxen hair, piercing green eyes, straight nose, and tall, strong build made him a catch any woman would desire. But it was his inner beauty that truly captivated me, and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life by his side.

Finally, after a deep reflection, I made the decision. "Okay, I accept!"

The council elders nodded, satisfied. Smiles cracked across weathered faces. I’d just taken the weight off their shoulders.

A club can’t stay headless for long.

While they started arguing about dates and ceremonies, I slipped out of the office.

I needed to find Liam. Needed to tell him the news, needed to see him smile and say we were gonna do this together.

I searched the whole damn clubhouse,bar, garage, gym, even the roof where we used to sneak cigarettes. Nothing. His scent was faint, like he hadn’t been around in hours.

That was weird. Liam was always easy to track.

I grabbed two prospects in the hallway. “You seen Liam?”

They shook their heads. “Not since this morning, ma’am.”

I kept moving. The longer I looked, the tighter my chest got.

Then I caught it,his scent, sharp and unmistakable. Leather, gun oil, and that stupid pine body-wash he used.

It was coming from Elena’s room.

My stepsister’s room.

My stomach dropped.

What the hell was he doing in Elena’s room?

The closer I got, the louder the sounds became. Moans. Grunts. The rhythmic slap of skin on skin.

I froze outside her door, hand hovering over the knob, praying I was wrong.

I turned it slowly, cracked the door just enough to see.

Liam,my Liam,was on top of Elena, driving into her like a man possessed. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, nails raking down his back, both of them lost in it.

“I bet that spoiled little princess Ariana isn’t half as good as me in bed, is she?” Elena laughed, breathless, stealing a filthy kiss.

Liam growled, hips snapping harder. “You’re a million times better than her, baby. Ariana’s nothing. Cold. Boring. Sucks in the sack.”

Elena smirked mockingly, grinding up against him. “Then why the hell were you ever with her?”

“Title perhaps,” he panted, not even hesitating. “Who wouldn’t want to be President of the Valenti-moon club MC? She was the fastest way to the throne.”

My vision blurred. Blood roared in my ears.

I backed away silently, hand clamped over my mouth so I wouldn’t scream, tears already burning tracks down my cheeks.

I stumbled to my room, slammed the door, and collapsed on the bed.

The sobs came hard and ugly, ripping out of me until my throat was raw. I cried for the love I thought we had, for the trust, I thought we shared, for the future, I thought we would build together.

Was this the man I was about to name Vice? The man I thought loved me?

Dad’s last words echoed in my skull: Trust no one except yourself.

I hadn’t listened. I’d been so blind, so stupid, so naïve.

Liam never loved me. He wanted the patch. The power.

And Elena,my own step sister,had been waiting in the wings the whole damn time.

They broke me.

They shattered every piece of me I had left.

I cried until my eyes swelled shut and my pillow was soaked through.

But somewhere in the dark, between the sobs and the rage, something cold and sharp started to grow.

They thought they could play me?

They thought they could take everything from me and laugh about it while they fucked?

I will make them pay.

I will burn their whole world down and smile while it happens.

Tomorrow I’ll stand in front of the club and announce my Vice.

And when I do, Liam and Elena won’t know what hit them.

They won’t see me coming.

I will publicly disgrace them, for the pain and betrayal they caused me, I will make everyone in the pack know of their shameful and disgusting act. 

Sleep finally dragged me under, black and dreamless.

But even unconscious, one promise repeated like a war drum in my blood:

Revenge.


They’ll never know what’s coming.