Mother in-law

Ivy's POV

"Everyone move away, the healer is here," the guards shouted.

I watched Genevieve smile softly before patting Tristan's shoulder, leaning down to say something to him I could not hear from where I stood. Whatever it was, her expression shifted right after, from that soft smile into something that looked almost worried, almost pitying, like she actually cared.

The healer moved in as Genevieve stepped aside. Her eyes found mine across the room, and I stood frozen in the corner, biting my lip, not knowing what to do.

The guards carried Tristan away. Genevieve and I followed behind them. Alpha Thorne stayed back to handle the crowd of guests still whispering and pressing closer to see what had happened.

The second we were far enough from the others, I grabbed Genevieve and slammed her against the wall. My hand wrapped around her throat before I even decided to do it.

"What did you do to Tristan?" I shouted, my eyes burning gold.

She looked at me for a long moment before laughing.

"You've really gone nuts, Ivy? What can I possibly do to him? I only arrived today, so what are you talking about?" she asked, mocking me.

I pressed harder against her throat. "Tell me where's the antidote. You should have it," I snapped.

"How can I have the antidote when Tristan was the one behind the poison? I don't have the antidote," she said, all false innocence.

Everything clicked into place at once.

"You switched his drink with the Alpha's drink? How could you be so wicked, Genevieve?" I snapped.

"Wicked, you say? Wow, I never knew I was the wicked one here, Ivy. He is your husband and the Alpha is my husband, you don't expect me to sit around while you kill my husband. Oh please, snap out of your dreams, that's not making sense," she said.

I opened my mouth to say more, but she cut me off.

"You know what, I'm tired of this discussion, but I wonder what the Alpha would do to you when he finds out that you pinned his bride against the wall trying to kill her," she said.

"Do you really think I can't kill you?" I snapped.

She chuckled. "Kill me? If you could kill me, I don't think you'd be here wasting your breath with me. You can't kill me, Ivy, you don't have the power to do that. Because you won't even walk out of here without the Alpha ripping you apart," she said with a smirk.

"You think you're anything special to the Alpha?" I asked.

"I don't have to think, Ivy, but we can try it. I'll call him here, we'll see what happens," she said, arrogant as ever.

I scoffed and let go of her neck. She ran her hand along her throat where my fingers had been.

"Ivy, I'd suggest you pray this doesn't leave any mark, because I don't plan to protect you," she said.

"Are you threatening me, Genevieve?"

"Just remember that you're the unwanted thing Tristan cast aside, and you had to crawl to his father's bed in order to survive. You're just nothing and will be—"

I never got to hear the rest. Her hand cracked across my cheek before I even saw it coming.

I stared at her in shock, then anger. "How dare you," I snapped.

"Firstly, I'm your mother-in-law now, and you don't have any right to lay your hands on me," she said, slapping me again.

My eyes widened. I could not believe what was happening.

"Secondly, I am the future Luna of this pack, and you, an ordinary person, don't have the right to lay a finger on me."

I held my cheek, too stunned to speak. She stepped closer.

"Ivy, you've always seen the soft side of me, but you never saw the second personality in me. And since you guys killed the calm side you always saw, this version of me won't spare anyone that tries to stand in my way or disrespect me. You're talking about dignity, I don't think that word exists in my world. It doesn't matter how I got to this position, but one thing is certain, I am better than you in everything. I still got the Luna title you struggled so hard to get, but too bad you couldn't get it."

I glared at her. "Genevieve, you'll pay for this, I'll make sure of—"

Another slap cut me off.

"You shouldn't threaten your future Luna, Ivy. I've stated the rules, I'm in charge now, and you have no right to claim power," she said.

"You should cover up that handprint with makeup. And instead of wasting your time talking to me, you should go look for the antidote, because Tristan has only one hour left to live, and thirty minutes is already gone. His life is in your hands," she said, before walking away.

I glared after her, but there was nothing I could do. "I have to get the antidote now," I muttered, and rushed to Tristan's room.

I tore the room apart looking for it, searching drawers, cabinets, every place I could think of, but found nothing. Where could Tristan possibly keep an antidote he never expected to need himself, I thought, running my hands through my hair.

"Oh, I forgot to mention something," Genevieve's voice came from outside the door.

I looked up.

"I already have the antidote with me," she said, holding up the bottle and smiling. "Now, how does my beloved stepson survive this when I already have the antidote?”