Chapter 5

I wiped a smudge of dust from my sleeve as I approached Lily.

“It’s kind of you to visit, Lily,” I said, my voice steady. “Though I’m surprised you find the ‘mud’ of this pack house suitable for your designer heels. I’d hate for you to ruin your outfit—or your reputation—by staying too long.”

Lily’s smile faltered. Matthew shifted beside her, his grip on her hand tightening just enough to remind her how to behave.

After spending a whole life with him, I better understand his way of threatening. But Lily seemed so occupied in showing off that she ignored him completely and began.

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Lily sneered, her voice dropping the sugary facade. “I just wanted to see if the rumors were true. Won’t Gabriel even sleep in the same room as you? How embarrassing. It’s only a matter of time before you’re cast out, just like the rest of the failures.”

[Look at her,] Lily’s mind screamed. [Still acting like she’s better than me while she sleeps on a cold floor. I want to see her crawl.]

I tilted my head. “Failure is a strong word coming from someone who thinks being marked by your mate is the biggest achievement for an omega. If Gabriel is busy, it’s because he has a pack to lead. And as his mate, I should help him by managing his pack’s affairs instead of being just a bed warmer like you.”

The jab hit home. Lily’s face contorted, the refined lady vanishing to reveal the feral rogue beneath. With a shrill cry of rage, she lunged. She didn't shift, but her nails grew into claws as she swung wildly at my face.

“You pathetic little bitch!” Lily screamed.

I braced for the impact, but it never came.

A blur of dark movement intercepted Lily mid-air. A powerful hand clamped around Lily’s throat, slamming her back against the rough-hewn stone wall of the hallway with a sickening thud.

Gabriel stood there. His presence was suffocating, his aura radiating a cold, lethal fury that silenced every whispering mind in the building.

He didn't look indifferent anymore; he looked like a predator protecting his territory.

“You come into my house,” Gabriel’s voice was a low, vibrating growl, “and you lay a hand on what is mine?”

Lily gasped for air, her eyes darting frantically to Matthew. “Matthew! Help me! Do something!”

Matthew didn't move. In fact, he took a deliberate step back, smoothing his jacket. He looked at Lily not with love, but with the clinical detachment of someone watching a broken tool.

[Stupid girl,] Matthew’s thoughts were cold and precise. [I'm not picking a fight with Gabriel for your ego.]

I doubt Lily's memory. She kinda forgot, though Gabriel’s pack was considered shabby and uncultured, but was one of the largest packs in the kingdom, and no Alpha dared offend him. It was because the rogue wolves didn't abide by the laws the other packs followed. They only listen to one man, their Alpha, Gabriel.

“She acted on her own, Alpha Gabriel,” Matthew said smoothly, his voice devoid of any warmth. “If she has offended your mate, she must face the consequences of her lack of discipline.”

Lily’s eyes widened in horror as she realized her ‘protector’ had completely abandoned her.

Gabriel turned his gaze back to Lily, his grip tightening just enough to terrify her. “You want to see what happens to those who rot in the mud? Since you love your designer clothes so much, you can spend the next week scrubbing the pack’s communal stables. By hand. If I see you near Vanessa again, I won't just take your dignity—I’ll take your tongue.”

He dropped her like a sack of unwanted grain. Lily collapsed to the floor, sobbing and clutching her throat, while Matthew simply looked away, already calculating how to distance himself from her public disgrace.

After they were gone, Gabriel walked up to me. He held my hands and asked, “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m not!” I said, “You came just at the time.”

Gabriel’s eyes, which seemed concerned earlier, now relaxed. There was a moment of brief silence between us before I spoke, “Alpha Gabriel, if you have any work for me, please don't hesitate.”

“At least this way I would be busy and not focus on people talking bad about me,” I replied. He frowned and asked instantly, “Who is talking badly about you? Just name him, and I’ll punish them.”

I chuckled. “I didn't mean that… it's just-”

I hesitated to tell him what they talked about me. “It's just you haven't marked me yet. So, they think you will eventually kick me out.”

“What rubbish!” He spat before his hands moved around my waist as he pulled me closer, “You know exactly why I haven't marked you yet. Don't you?”

“Why?” I asked, puzzled.

“Isn't it because you want me to throw a lavish banquet before? You talked about some culture?” he said, his eyes fixed on me.

But what surprised me the most was the words that sounded without moving his lips.

I heard his thoughts. Finally!

[If not for arranging that banquet for you… stupid girl, do you know how difficult it is to sleep alone ever since I have seen you?]

[You keep running around me like it's nothing. Only I know how I suppress my wolf in shackles who could jump on you any second, and you dare speak nonsense before me?]