Chapter 4

The slap whipped my face to the side, and a metallic taste of blood spread at the corner of my mouth.

My wolf roared inside me, desperate to fight back, but I used every ounce of strength to hold her down. This was the birthday banquet Alpha Amos had prepared for me. If I lost control now, I would ruin everything.

When my cold, unflinching gaze met Glen’s, he froze. A flicker of unease flashed across his face. He almost stepped toward me, but Fawn clung to his arm with all her strength.

“Glen…” She pressed her half-bare chest against him. “This is the dress you gave me. This is my first time wearing it, and it was torn apart by a jealous werewolf…”

Guests around us began whispering, pointing their fingers at me.

“So that’s Iris? To stoop so low as to rip another werewolf’s dress in public… I’d better stay far away from her.”

“She can’t even tolerate a secretary? What a petty heart. And someone like her is blessed by the Moon Goddess? She’s lying, surely.”

The last trace of warmth vanished from Glen’s eyes. He glared at me coldly.

“Apologize. Then, take off your dress and give it to Fawn. You need to take responsibility for what you’ve done.”

His sycophants howled and jeered.

“Great idea, Glen! Teach this vile wolf a lesson she’ll never forget!”

“Did you hear that, Iris? Hurry up and hand your dress over to Fawn!”

I clutched my dress, retreating backward. “Why should I? I never even touched her!”

“If she doesn’t want to undress, help her,” Fawn sneered, malice flashing in her eyes. “Iris, you went too far this time. If no one teaches you a lesson, you’ll keep bullying others. I’ll strip you bare right here and now, so you’ll learn your place!”

She ordered people to pin me down before she lunged at my dress, ripping at it viciously.

“No! Stop!”

My nails dug deep into the fabric as I fought with all my strength, pain shooting through my fingers with every tug. Yet, the fabric still slipped from my grip.

The room seemed to shrink around me, filled with the scornful stares of every guest. Just as despair was about to swallow me whole, an aged voice thundered through the hall.

“Enough! What is all this commotion?”

Glen barked at Fawn to stop and then yanked me to my feet. He brushed the dust from my shoulders, as if nothing had happened.

“Alright, you’ve learned your lesson now, haven’t you? My grandfather’s here. He’s about to announce who the next Alpha will be. Don’t you dare embarrass me again.”

I clutched my tattered dress, trembling, nearly biting through my own lip.

The crowd parted as Alpha Amos walked in, leaning on his staff, with Ryan Wolfe supporting him. Only then did people realize that Ryan, the boy once scorned as useless for never awakening his wolf, had grown tall and commanding, with strikingly handsome features.

The moment Ryan saw my disheveled state, he strode forward, pulled off his coat, and draped it gently over me.

He brushed his hand over my swollen cheek and asked in a low voice, “What happened to you?”

“I–”

I barely got a word out before Glen cut me off. “Grandfather, you’re finally here! I’m ready to bond with Iris as my mate. Hurry and announce me as the new Alpha!”

He puffed out his chest proudly, as if he could already see himself crowned. However, Alpha Amos ignored him. His gaze swept the hall and landed squarely on me.

“What happened here?” he questioned

The crowd rushed to explain, each adding fuel to the fire.

“Iris’s lies were exposed, and Fawn tried to cover for her. But instead of being grateful, she tore Fawn’s dress.”

“When we told her to apologize, she turned it around and blamed Fawn instead!”

“She must be jealous that Glen treats Fawn well, but they’re just coworkers. Iris’s far too petty…”

Alpha Amos listened in silence and then slammed his staff against the floor. The thunderous crack echoed like a storm.

“Nonsense! Iris never even chose Glen as her mate. Why would she be jealous of Fawn?”