Chapter 5

"She snuck in? Gods, this is the joint feast for the territory merger, and someone’s trying to cause trouble?"

"Who brought her? Get her out of here!"

More and more people gathered around, and Faelan hid deeper in my arms in terror.

"Mommy, I’m scared… they’re so mean. Especially that lady, she looks like she wants to eat me!" He pointed a trembling finger at Janine, then quickly retracted it.

A staff member walked up and pointed at me, asking Aiden, "Mr. Monroe, is this your guest?"

Aiden’s face tensed when I refused to even look at him. He gave a cold little smirk and told the staffer, "No. I don’t know her."

Janine’s smugness grew. She lifted her chin high and said to the server, "Throw her out before she disturbs our honored guests."

I stared straight at her, and then, suddenly, I laughed. "You sure you want to throw me out?"

Janine flinched under the force of my voice but only for a second. Her face twisted with rage, and she shoved me hard. "Stop pretending. Who do you think you are? You think I can’t throw you out?"

Caught off guard, I stumbled backward. Faelan clung to me, and I dragged him down with me as we crashed to the floor. Faelan burst into tears, shrieking in panic.

Then, Janine grabbed him, her fingers locking around his collar, and lifted him right off the ground.

Through the pain, I shouted in panic, "Janine! What are you doing? Let go of my son!"

Her grip tightened around Faelan’s throat, and his tiny face turned bright red. Tears spilled from my eyes as I scrambled to my feet and lunged at her.

Before I could even reach my child, Janine slapped me across the face. "That’s for not knowing your place! A filthy woman who couldn’t even lock down a packmate before getting knocked up, and you dare lust after a man as bright as the moon?"

The slap hit hard, spinning my head to the side. I tasted blood in my mouth. I wiped the corner of my lips, turned my head back, and locked eyes with her.

My gaze must have been too terrifying, because she instinctively stepped back. Her fingers slipped.

Faelan dropped to the floor with a loud thud, erupting into coughing fits that echoed through the entire hall.

As I turned toward my son, Janine suddenly grabbed a silver steak knife and drove it straight into my arm. I watched in disbelief as the blade pierced my skin. The searing pain tore through me. My knees gave out, and I collapsed.

"Pick her up. Throw her out!" Janine barked arrogantly, her chin lifted high.

I clutched my bleeding arm and forced myself to raise my head. "You dare? I’m the Luna of Black Rose Pack…"

Janine slapped me again. "You’re still spouting lies? You—Luna of Black Rose? As if!"

"Wren, haven’t you had enough?" Aiden snapped, face dark. He crouched beside me, trying to check my wound. I yanked my arm away from him with a cold glare.

"You brought your son here today on purpose, didn’t you? Just saw how well I’m doing now and thought you could crawl back? Well, guess what? If you want me to beg, dream on." He narrowed his eyes.

I curled my lips into a mocking smile. "Beg? You? You think you deserve that? All of you are about to be ruined."

"You bitch! Still got that mouth, huh?" Janine shrieked. She raised the knife again and turned to Aiden with a twisted grin. "Aiden, this woman needs to be put in her place. Let me handle it. I’ll make sure she’s obedient from now on."

Aiden paused, then slowly nodded. "Don’t go too far. She’s still my kid’s mom."

Then, ignoring Faelan’s crying, he scooped up the child and began walking away.

Janine gripped my jaw, forcing me to look up as she pressed the tip of the knife to my cheek. Leaning close to my ear like a viper, she whispered with venom, "If I slice that pretty little face, let’s see who’ll still want you."

She raised the blade, aiming to strike.

In that instant, a wave of pressure swept through the banquet hall like thunder. A voice roared through the air, electric with fury, "Who dares lay a hand on my mate and my child?!"