52

Zach’s POV

The moment Perry’s eyes met mine, I saw something in him, fear. It was raw, unfiltered fear. The kind that begged and the kind that apologized without words.

I could see the remorse in his eyes but at that moment I didn't even want to think about it because I  felt nothing but rage.

I felt betrayed by his action, my Beta bringing my Luna to a place without my consent is something I won't treat with gloves hands.

His actions embarrassed me before alpha, wolves and humans. He will surely pay for it even if it's not now.

A cold, murderous rage that clawed up my spine and settled behind my eyes.

“How dare he?” I murmured to myself.

Perry stood there like a guilty servant awaiting punishment, his lips trembling slightly. But I  didn’t even grant him the dignity of speaking. 

My jaw tightened, my fists curled slowly at my sides. “He brought her here, He brought her here.” It started ringing in my head.

My gaze shifted slowly, dangerously until it landed on her. 

There is Livia standing there like she belonged. Like she hadn’t just shattered every boundary I  had set and like she hadn’t just humiliated me in front of everyone that mattered.

For a split second, something dark whispered in my mind, end this right now but then…

“Zach…” Hayden’s voice broke through the tension like a blade slicing silk.

I turned, and just like that my entire expression changed. The rage vanished, the storm calmed and in its place…

A perfect, practiced smile was on his face. “I’m really sorry,” Hayden said, raising both hands slightly in mock surrender. “If I caused any issues. I didn’t know…”

I chuckled lightly, cutting him off. “No issues at all,” I  said smoothly, my voice calm, controlled and deadly. “You did nothing wrong.” I added.

The reporters nearby leaned in, sensing something, cameras flashed and whispers spread.

I straightened my posture, slipping effortlessly into the role I had mastered. The perfect man, the perfect husband and the perfect liar.

“I actually told her to stay home,” I  continued, my tone carrying just enough amusement to make it believable. “She’s pregnant, after all. I didn’t want her stressing herself with something like this.” I said.

A few reporters nodded, some smiled while others looked hooked.

“But…” I added, letting out a soft sigh, shaking my head like a helpless husband, “as you can all see… she doesn’t exactly listen to me.” A ripple of light laughter passed through the crowd.

My eyes darkened slightly as I looked at her again. “And she enjoys playing Luna far more than she should.” I added with a smile.

There it was, a subtle strike, a public one.

My hand moved, calculated, controlled as I reached out to hold hers. “Come here,” I said under my breath, the smile still glued to my face. 

“Don’t make a scene.” I whispered to Bella but she ignored me completely.

She didn’t even glance at my hand but instead, she turned, calm, composed and walked forward with Perry right in front of everyone.

The silence that followed was loud and deafening as everyone watched in awww.

My hand remained suspended in the air for a second too long before I slowly lowered it. My smile didn’t drop but my eyes? They burned with pain and disappointment.

Hayden let out a loud laugh, breaking the tension like it was nothing more than entertainment.

“Well!” he said dramatically, clapping once. “Looks like someone’s in trouble!” he mocked.

A few people chuckled nervously as Hayden stepped closer to me, throwing an arm casually over my shoulder like we were old friends.

“Man, what did you do?” he teased loudly. “You must have really pissed your wife off. She won’t even hold your hand.” he said with a smirk.

I forced a laugh as I looked at him and everyone.

“I doubt it’s that serious.” I said faintly but with a smile.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Hayden continued, grinning mischievously. “At this rate, you might get kicked out of your own house.”

More laughter erupted among them .

Hayden leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough to sound conspiratorial but still loud enough for others to hear.

“If that happens,” he added, smirking, “my mansion is always open to you.”

I turned my head slowly, meeting Hayden’s eyes as our smiles matched but neither of us were smiling.

“I appreciate that,” I replied smoothly. “But I’m not sure I will want a handsome man like you around my home.” I said with a broad smile and there was a pause.

The air shifted immediately “You are very charming,” I added, my tone light but laced with something sharp beneath. “Might end up stealing more than just my peace.” I said almost like a mockering and there it was.

The real meaning, not subtle, not at all.

Hayden’s eyes flickered for a fraction of a second before his grin widened.

So that’s how you want to play it.

“Is that so?” Hayden said, chuckling. “Now that sounds like a challenge.”

My gaze drifted again, landing on Bella.

She was still walking ahead, still not looking back and still with Perry.

My jaw clenched.

Hayden followed my line of sight… and then smiled slowly and deliberately.

“Oh,” he said, as if just realizing something. “Why don’t we settle this properly?” he asked with a grin on his face but I  didn’t respond because I didn't need to.

I already knew Hayden wasn’t done.

Hayden took a step forward, his voice rising just enough to command attention.

“Hey darling wife!” he called out playfully.

The words sliced through the air and everything became stilled for a second.

“Come here for a second.” Hayden called to Livia who was walking to her chamber.

Livia stopped, not immediately but after a beat. A very deliberate one.

My heart pounded once, very hard against my chest as soon as I set my eyes on Livia, not from love, not from longing but from something far more dangerous, control or the loss of it.

Slowly, she turned and for the first time since she walked away from me, her eyes met mine again and I realized something that made my blood run cold.

She wasn’t angry, she wasn’t hurt and she wasn’t even pretending.

She was done and somehow that was worse than anything I had imagined.