Who The Hell Are You?

Natalia's Pov 

“That’s fine.” I gave a small nod. “When the day comes, the priest will announce my chosen husband. Everyone will know who I choose.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Samantha’s grip tighten around her fork, her anger barely hidden.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I turned to her.

“You’ll be there at the choosing… won’t you?”

Her head snapped toward me, her face flushing red, and without a word, she pushed her chair back and stormed out.

The tension lingered before the doors opened again and Alpha Dominic Romano walked in.

He was one of the strongest Alpha warriors of our pack and a year older than Beta Caius, technically making him Shane’s uncle.

His Alpha presence alone shifted the atmosphere as his gaze swept across the dining hall before landing on me.

For a brief second, our eyes met. A knowing smirk touched his lips, and my stomach tightened.

He looked away and walked over to my father, leaned in, and said something quietly before straightening.

He didn’t look at me again as he left, and strangely… that bothered me.

In my past life, I hated him because he was always watching whenever I snuck out at night with the other she-wolves outside our territory. Not only that, he had always scared off potential Alphas who showed interest in me and acted like he had the right to control my life, always saying I was the Alpha’s daughter, and I shouldn't choose less. I had always thought he was too nosy.

But why then did it feel different when he looked at me? 

After breakfast, I stood up and excused myself. My father nodded, and I left the dining hall shortly after, with Shantel trailing quietly behind me.

The hallway was quiet, unnaturally quiet. And just as I reached a corner toward my chamber, someone stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

“And what right do you think you have to cancel our wedding?”

My steps halted. Slowly, I lifted my gaze and met Shane's furious eyes. 

He stood in front of me like he owned everything. Like he hadn’t once driven a knife into my stomach.

“Move.”

His jaw tightened instantly. “Excuse me?”

“I said, move.” 

For a second, he just stared at me.

Then he let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

“Is this how you act now? After humiliating me in front of your father? Rejecting our bond like it’s nothing?”

“Our bond.”

I almost laughed, but instead, I just looked at him.

His expression darkened. “What the hell is wrong with you, Natalia?”

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I rolled my eyes, looking anywhere but him. “Now move.”

Footsteps echoed down the hallway as people began to gather.

Shane took a step closer, his wolf aura radiating off him as his voice lowered into something dangerous.

“You think you can just walk away from me, after one year of bonding with you?”

Just as I opened my mouth to respond, a familiar scent hit me.

“Lady Natalia!”

I turned to see Samantha rushing toward us, breathless, her eyes wide, like she’d been running for her life.

She slipped between us, looking from me to Shane.

“What’s going on here?” she asked softly, her voice trembling.

I didn’t miss the way she leaned closer to Shane.

Of course. Always closer to him.

“Stay out of this,” I said flatly, my fingers pointing directly at her.

But she shook her head quickly and stepped toward me instead, reaching for my arm.

“Lady Natalia, please don’t do this. You and Shane are meant to be together. Don’t throw everything away like this.”

Meant to be.

The irony almost made me laugh out loud.

I glanced down at her filthy hand gripping my arm… then back at her face.

Before I could speak—She gasped dramatically and suddenly collapsed to the floor.

“Ahh—!”

Her cry echoed down the hallway as she clutched her ankle. Wolves nearby stopped instantly, their attention drawn to the scene.

“Samantha!” Shane dropped to his knees beside her, his hands gripping her shoulders. “What happened?”

Her eyes were already filled with tears.

“I… I don’t know…” she whispered weakly. “My ankle… it hurts…”

His head snapped toward me, fury blazing his eyes.

“How could you do that?” 

“I didn’t touch her.”

“Don’t lie! Apologize. Now.”

Apologize?

To her?

A quiet laugh slipped out before I could stop it.

In my past life, I would have panicked. Fallen to my knees with worry. Begged.

Not this time.

Samantha suddenly grabbed the hem of my dress. Looking up at me with tear-filled eyes, she whispered, “Lady Natalia… if I’ve ever offended you, please forgive me. You didn’t have to go this far and be cruel.”

Just as the words left her lips, I overheard the crowd murmuring.

“Did she really push her?”

“That’s cruel…”

In the heat of the moment, an elder stepped forward, his brows drawn together.

“Lady Natalia, did you push her intentionally?”

I lifted my gaze to meet his.

“I didn’t touch her,” I answered clearly.

“That’s not an answer,” Shane snapped, rising to his feet. 

His wolf pressed against the surface, threatening to shift.

Hazel, my wolf, stirred too, angry and restless.

“Then let me make it clear,” I said, meeting his gaze. “She fell on her own. Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do?”

His expression hardened.

“Samantha would never lie to frame you. She’s your sister. You should be protecting her, not hurting her.”

Protecting her?

I almost laughed.

“What’s going on here?”

A voice cut through the tension.

The crowd shifted slightly to give way, as everyone’s gaze—including mine—turned toward the source.

Dominic stepped forward, his Alpha presence instantly commanded attention, forcing even dominant wolves to lower their gazes.

His gaze moved once across the scene before settling on Shane.

“What’s the commotion about?”

Shane’s tone suddenly turned aggressive. “Stay out of this, Uncle. This is between my mate and me.”

“And why would I? This is pack territory. As pack commander, I can question anyone disrupting peace—especially a man who raises his voice at a woman after making a fool of himself in public.”

Shane’s eyes darkened.

“This doesn’t concern you, uncle.”

Dominic’s expression didn’t change.

“And that’s where you’re wrong, boy.”

Shane let out a humorless laugh.

“She’s my mate, for fuck sake. Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?”

For a moment, it looked like something might snap.

But Dominic didn’t say a word after that. Not even a little. He simply walked past him, and stopped beside me.

“You don’t need to prove anything to people who are already beneath your level, little wolf.”

I blinked. Did he just say that to me? 

That… was unlikely of him. Not before. Not ever.

In my past life and now, he had never said anything that reasonable, and stood up for me. Not even once.

“If you want this to end now… say the word. I'll call my men to deal with them.” He simply said, his Alpha tone already rising within his voice.

“Uncle Dominic, you are beginning to sound personal. What is it with you?" 

Dominic ignored Shane, while I turned to look at Dominic. He held an unreadable expression, and behind his eyes, I could see him controlling his wolf from shifting.

Was he actually trying to fight for me? No way in goddess name. 

I studied him for a second, then looked away. I wasn’t going to let some big, bad Alpha fight my battles for me. Especially not my childhood bully.

“I don't need your help, Alpha Dominic. This is something I can handle myself,” I said, finally looking away from him.

I saw something flash in his eyes. Concern, or maybe the sting of his ego being bruised. But he simply smirked, touched his lips, and his expression went neutral again.

I stepped away from him and walked straight toward Samantha. She was now leaning against Shane, clinging to his arm.

I stopped right in front of her.

“Did I push you?”

She tried to stand, wobbling slightly like she couldn’t balance.

“Lady Natalia… “you could do many things to me, but you don’t need to lie about me…” she whispered, her voice breaking, as tears began to stream down her face again.

Shane pulled her closer, glaring hard at me dangerously. 

Something in my chest twisted as Hazel stirred beneath my skin, annoyed and done being the victim.

Without hesitation—My hand struck Samantha across the face three times. The sound echoed sharply through the hallway.

“Aah!” she screamed, stumbling away as blood appeared along her cheek.

“Natalia! How could you? She's–”

I moved forward, grabbing Shane by the collar and slapped him twice, shutting the words out completely as he staggered backwards. He didn't see it coming at all. 

Gasps filled the hallway as the onlookers watching the scene covered their mouths from shock. But I didn't care. 

I ignored Shane and I walked toward Samantha as she retreated in fear.

“What do you want from me!” she cried.

But I leaned in slightly, gripping her arm just enough to leave claw marks on her flesh. My expression, unreadable.

“Listen carefully Samantha,” She trembled.

“I am the true Alpha’s daughter of Moonshine Pack. You…you are just a low born wolf. A servant pup. If I choose to punish you, I do not need permission from anyone.”

Her body shook continuously from fear under my grip. When I released her, I shoved her, this time, for real.

She stumbled back, completely unprepared then slammed hard into the cactus behind her.

Sharp thorns dug into her back before she collapsed to the floor.

“Now,” I said calmly, brushing my hands together lightly, “If I had truly pushed her earlier,” I said, as my gaze swept across the crowd before landing on Shane, who stood completely speechless, “you would have known it was intentional.”