Chapter 3

Anabella finally moved and she pulled her off like she was removing something stuck to her coat.

The motion wasn’t rough or even forceful but Vivienne stumbled back instantly, her balance failing in a way that felt too practiced, her body tipping dangerously close to the edge of the wide fountain behind them before a male wolf rushed forward and caught her.

“Careful,” he said, steadying her.

Vivienne clutched his arm like she needed it, her face already shifting, eyes glassy and lips trembling, the whole act settling into place so smoothly it was almost impressive.

“Bella… why would you do that?” her voice came out soft and shaking, just loud enough for everyone to hear. “I know you’re upset that I’m back, I understand that, but I’m not your enemy. I never was.”

She took a shaky breath, leaning slightly into the man holding her, her fingers gripping him tighter as if she needed support.

“My health… it’s not good,” she continued, her voice breaking

“The doctors already said I don’t have much time, I just wanted to stay close to our parents while I still can. I thought… I thought you’d understand.”

Her gaze lifted, watery and pleading.

“Why can’t you just accept me? What more do you want from me, Bella? I’ve already given you everything…”

The crowd shifted and murmurs started.

Judgment settled fast.

Anabella watched her in silence for a second, then rolled her eyes, slow and obvious.

“Seriously?”

That was all it took and the crowd snapped.

“What kind of person does that?”

“She’s sick!”

“That’s your sister!”

The man holding Vivienne stiffened, his grip tightening protectively as he glared at Anabella.

“You’ve gone too far,” he snapped. “What kind of wild, wicked behavior is that? If you were mine, I’d have you flogged with silver until...”

He didn’t finish, Anabella just took one step.

That was all.

She grabbed his collar and dragged him forward before his brain could catch up, her fist driving straight into his stomach with clean precision.

The impact knocked the air out of him instantly, his body folding as a raw sound tore from his throat, and before he could recover, her hand came up and slapped him hard across the face.

He staggered.

“Get out,” she said, her voice calm and bored. “Before I rip your tongue out and feed it back to you.”

The man stared in horror before he bolted and the crowd went dead quiet, no one daring to breathe.

Vivienne stared at her, shock breaking through her act for a second before it twisted into fear, her body stepping back on instinct, but Anabella didn’t give her space.

She reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her forward again.

Vivienne opened her mouth... but the first slap landed before a word came out.

Then the second followed quickly and precisely with no hesitation.

Vivienne’s head snapped to the side, her body swaying, and before she could recover, the air changed.

Anabella let it go.

Her Alpha aura surged and it wasn’t controlled this time.

It pressed outward, heavy and suffocating, forcing the crowd down before they even realized what was happening. One by one, bodies dropped, knees hitting the ground as instinct overrode pride, the pressure too much to stand against.

Vivienne’s wolf reacted worse.

It folded, struggled and barely holding.

Anabella’s gaze locked on her and a wicked grin formed on her face as she let her go and command her,

“Jump into that fountain, Now.”

The command hit clean.

Vivienne’s eyes widened, her body shaking as she tried to resist, but it didn’t matter. Her wolf couldn’t fight it

Her control snapped, and before anyone could process it, she turned and jumped straight into the fountain.

The water swallowed her and the splash echoed.

It was deeper than it looked.

She struggled immediately, arms flailing, body sinking and rising as panic took over, and Anabella watched, still and calm, her expression unchanged and eyes sharp with something colder than anger.

Finally, Nyx murmured, satisfied. "Now this is interesting."

Anabella didn’t answer and she just watched in cold satisfaction

Then,

“Anabella!”

The voice cut through everything but she didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Alex rushed in, already moving, diving straight into the fountain without hesitation, water crashing around him as he grabbed Vivienne and pulled her up, holding her tightly against him while she clung to him like she couldn’t survive without it.

Nyx scoffed.

"Look at him, hero of the year. More like heroic idiot. Can’t even save his own pride."

Anabella chuckled under her breath.

Last week, she had fallen into a pool because Vivienne tripped her.

He didn’t move then or even try to help her, he'd just stood there and said it wasn’t deep.

Someone else had pulled her out and now... now he was in the water and holding her like she mattered.

“Perfect couple,” Anabella muttered. “Really perfect.”

Alex climbed out with Vivienne in his arms, water dripping from both of them, his expression dark the moment his eyes found Anabella.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded. “How dare you..”

She tilted her head slightly, cutting him off without raising her voice.

“What didn’t I dare do?”

His jaw tightened.

“You’re completely out of control. Wild. Untamed. You think this is acceptable?”

She smiled slowly

“Untamed?” she echoed. “You’ve been using the word like it offends me.”

She took a step closer.

“Let me give you something better to complain about.”

Nyx surged forward, eager, and Anabella didn’t hold her back this time. The pressure in the air shifted again, sharper and more heavier, the kind that made even breathing feel wrong.

She looked straight at him.

“Jump into the fountain with your lover, Alex.”

Alex froze.

“No...”

His wolf folded and his body moved.

He turned and stepped back into the fountain, still holding Vivienne, the water closing around them again as the command forced him down before he could fight it.

The silence that followed was absolute and Anabella let out a light soft and almost amused chuckle

“Stay there,” she said. “You both look right where you belong. Don't forget to let the world know there will be no wedding again.”

She heard gasps and then turned without another glance and walked to her car, calm, steady and untouched, while behind her the water splashed and Alex’s voice rose, sharp, calling for help like it would change anything.