Chapter 4

Vivian's hair lay in heaps on the ground.

She touched her bare scalp in disbelief, then bolted out to find a mirror.

A familiar voice came from the doorway.

Silas's shoes clicked on the floor as he pushed the door open, a large bouquet of lavender in his arms.

"You said last time that the lavender from the south slope smells better than the north. I picked these for you."

I froze. I'd said that in passing three months ago.

I saw my own reflection in his eyes, and then I noticed the red mark on his neck. It was impossible to miss.

When an Alpha bit an Omega who wasn't his fated mate, the bite mark turned an irregular, angry red.

Nausea churned in my stomach. I threw the lavender to the floor.

Vivian burst in and stumbled to the floor, exposing her shaved head.

"Silas, help me."

She sobbed pitifully.

"If Sophia wants me gone, I'll go. There was no need to humiliate me like this."

Silas was visibly moved.

His brow furrowed. "Sophia, how could you be so cruel?

"She still has to meet with important guests. You've ruined her.

"How can you be this vicious?"

I stared at the face that had once looked at me with such tenderness.

I thought of the promises he'd once made me and swallowed the tremor in my voice before I spoke.

"Did you ever think about me?

"Did you ever think I'd cry over losing my hair? That people would laugh at me?"

Silas faltered. Guilt flickered across his face, but in the very next second, Vivian clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

"Silas, I'm carrying your child."

My blood ran cold, and the wolf in my mind reminded me, its voice perfectly calm.

"Sophia, he's already betrayed you."

My nails gouged into my palms until they bled, but I couldn't feel the pain.

Silas was overcome with joy. He scooped Vivian up carefully, then turned to glare at me.

"Sophia, you've gone too far!

"Listen to me. That baby is my flesh and blood. I have a responsibility and an obligation to keep Vivian safe.

"Sign this blood oath. Swear in blood that you will never harm her again!"

A pack member stepped forward, holding a piece of parchment.

I glanced at the blood oath and refused.

"If anyone here needs to sign something, it isn't me."

Silas's voice was ice.

"Sophia, I want you to understand that you're not the only woman who could be my wife.

"I want a Luna with real grace, not a jealous she-wolf.

"If you insist on this, I'll have no choice but to banish you for good!"

He raised his hand and ordered his men to surround me. They grabbed my shoulders and tried to drag me out.

Vivian curled up in Silas's arms, looking down at me as if I were a stray pulled from the gutter.

"Sophia, stop struggling.

"Without Silas protecting you, you're nothing!"

I looked at the two of them and suddenly smiled.

"Is that so? Silas, I hope you can handle the consequences of banishing me."

The very next second, the front gates of the villa crashed open, and dozens of luxury cars bearing the Lycaon crest pulled up in formation.