Chapter Eight

The Gift That Shattered Masks

"M... Me?"

Natalie’s voice faltered, barely above a whisper. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she looked up at Logan, pretending to be confused. "I didn’t know anything. When she left the Crescent Fur Pack, she disappeared. I had no clue where she went or who she ended up with."

Logan’s expression was unreadable. Cold and direct.

"You said," he recited, voice even and sharp, "that she was a commoner rejected by me and became a rogue’s whore. If you didn’t know where she was, why say that?"

Natalie’s body went rigid. A slow dread curled down her spine. Her lungs stopped working right. Fear gripped her chest like a steel cage.

She thought she had buried that truth forever.

Logan only ordered Rhea’s exile. That was supposed to be the end of it. But Natalie... she couldn’t settle for that. She paid the guards. She paid the jailer. She gave Rhea over to the rogues herself.

She wanted her gone. Not just banished. Totally destroyed. Shamed. Torn apart.

But the girl she left for dead was back.

ALIVE. GLORIOUS. MORE POWERFUL than ever.

And Logan must not find out.

He despised betrayal. If he ever discovered what she did behind his back, he wouldn’t argue. He would kill her.

Natalie forced a breath through her lungs. "It... it was just a guess," she said, trying to sound casual. "There were rogue attacks near the borders that time. I thought maybe... she ran into them."

Logan said nothing. He stared at her for a long moment, then finally loosened his grip on her chin.

She stepped closer to him, lowering her voice. "Think about it. Maybe she learned something dark from them. She has Alpha Xerxes fooled. If we investigate... we might find something that could help us."

Logan pulled away without a glance. "No. That’s not your concern. Stay out of this, Natalie. Do not stir anything up, or I’ll send you back to the pack before nightfall."

Her lips pressed together. Rage boiled under her skin. "Okay."

"The gala is starting. Give her the gift. Now."

He turned and walked away.

Natalie stayed back, her face burning with rage her heart pounding.

Rhea.

That wretched girl had taken everything.

Natalie had built her name through the Griffith family, flaunted her gowns, her class. But standing in this hall tonight, all of it seemed small. Laughable.

Compared to Rhea—the new Ashwood princess of the Golden Claw Pack—Natalie was nothing.

She couldn’t let it go.

Not now. Not ever.

************

By eight o’clock, the hall gleamed with golden light. Massive chandeliers sparkled above the elegantly dressed crowd. Alphas and dignitaries from across the kingdoms had gathered.

Alpha Xerxes gave the welcome. His words were measured, his presence commanding.

Then he turned to Rhea, extended his hand.

She took it, and together they stepped onto the dance floor.

Music swept through the room. Soft. Romantic. Electric.

The guests couldn’t take their eyes off them.

Alpha Xerxes had always been a man of status. But tonight, the spotlight belonged to Rhea.

"That’s her," someone whispered. "Princess Rhea. The Alpha’s sister."

"She’s so beautiful... where has she been all these years?"

"I heard Alpha Xerxes built her a castle. Her closet is full of designer brands. Honestly, I wish he were my brother."

Natalie stood frozen.

Once, people admired her. She wore the finest fabrics. Heads turned when she walked into a room.

But now? They barely looked her way.

She felt invisible. Small.

Again.

She clenched her jaw and leaned toward Logan.

"Strange, isn’t it? How she hasn’t told anyone about your bond? Could it be that she’s ashamed of you?"

Logan didn’t answer. But his jaw tightened.

Natalie smirked inwardly and pressed on.

"She used to cry and scream that she loved you. Remember? She begged you not to reject her. But now, only eight months later, she acts like you never existed. Like she’s above you. How pathetic."

"Enough."

Logan’s voice came out quiet. Sharp as a blade.

"Don’t call her that again. Where’s the gift?"

Natalie looked away, lips trembling. "I have it."

"Then deliver it. And do not make a scene."

The first dance ended. Alpha Xerxes led Rhea back to their seats.

Logan moved toward a group of Alphas across the room.

Natalie saw her chance.

She walked forward, heart hammering in her chest.

As she neared the raised platform, two guards stepped in front of her. Their hands moved to their weapons.

"Restricted area," one warned. "This section is for VIPs only."

Natalie forced a calm smile. "I have something for Princess Rhea. A gift."

The guards didn’t budge.

Then came Rhea’s voice—serene, commanding. "Let her through."

Natalie stepped forward slowly, head bowed. Her palms were slick with sweat.

Rhea leaned lazily on the table. Her eyes locked on Natalie with a distant calm.

" Yes? What do you want?"

Natalie cleared her throat. "I brought a gift. I hoped we could put the past behind us. Maybe start again... as friends."

Rhea chuckled softly. Xerxes rolled his eyes beside her.

"My sister doesn’t need your fake peace offerings," he said flatly.

Natalie’s throat dried up. Her hands trembled.

Rhea tilted her head. "No need to upset her. Alpha Logan might not like that. Let’s see what she brought."

Natalie pulled a long velvet box from her pocket. Her fingers twitched.

She opened it.

Inside sat a brooch. Gold-plated. A dull emerald at the center.

Rhea took one look.

"Pretty."

Her voice was unreadable.

She saw it clearly. Cheap. Insulting. But this wasn’t the time to throw knives.

"Leave it with me. Enjoy your evening."

As Rhea reached for it, Natalie suddenly let go.

The box slipped.

CRACK.

The brooch broke. The emerald chipped.

"Ahhhh......."

A sharp gasp escaped Natalie’s lips. Then she clutched her chest and let out a piercing cry.

"Princess Rhea! Why would you do that?! It was a gift. I meant it with my heart."

She sobbed. Loudly. Drawing every eye in the room.

"I know you have everything now. You’re royalty. Maybe my gift was worthless to you... but I meant no harm. Why humiliate me like this?"

Whispers filled the room. Heads turned. Gasps followed.

All eyes landed on Rhea.

Immediately, her eyes flickered, carrying something between confusion and fury.