Chapter 3

I heard from Donovan that Falcon's father had paid a hefty price just for him to agree to my and Falcon's arrangement. If he ever found out that his son had ruined the contract, the consequences ought to be show-worthy.

At that thought, I felt much more consoled and didn't bother to engage with any of these fools around me. I turned on my heel, ready to leave, but Julia just wouldn't leave me alone.

Encouraged by Falcon's unconditional protection, she grabbed my arm hard and barked, "Don't even think about escaping, you thief! You took my crown and even shoved me. I'm not done with you!"

I turned around, gaze as calm as a still lake. "What do you want, then?"

She assumed I felt threatened and seized the moment to claw at my face. "I'm going to ruin your face, bitch! Let's see if any men will want to look at you again!"

I grasped her wrist with ease, then delivered a heavy punch against her chest, sending her one step back. Baffled, she gritted her teeth and screamed, "Bitch, how dare you—"

With her wrist still in my grip, I shoved her again and asked coolly, "Happy now?"

Julia stumbled a few steps back, her eyes brimming with pitiful tears as she hid behind Falcon. "Alpha Falcon, you must defend me!"

Falcon wrapped his possessive arms around her. His voice was cold as he shot me a warning. "Anyone who lays a hand on my people won't live to see tomorrow."

He gestured to the Gamma warriors behind him to seize me. I acted first, kicking one of them down, but I was sadly outnumbered. Soon, they overpowered me, pinning me to the ground with me kneeling beneath his boots.

He smiled at Julia. "Do whatever you want, Julia. No matter what happens, I'm on your side."

Those words instantly gave her a confidence boost. She arrived before me and slapped my face twice. A searing sensation soon bloomed across my cheeks.

"Bitch, weren't you so cocky earlier?" she snarled. "Where has that bravery gone?"

As if that wasn't enough, she planted her sharp heel into my belly. I covered my aching stomach, lifted my head, and glared at the two of them. "Mark my words—I'm not letting you two get away with this!"

Julia's laugh only became crueler and more triumphant. "This is Alpha Falcon's turf, while you're just a Rogue from out of town. What can you possibly do to me? I'll show you just what happens to anyone who crosses me."

She grabbed a pair of scissors from the counter and fiddled with them before me, the blade catching the light and glaring bright. Then, she yanked my hair and pulled me backward so hard that I could almost catch the scent of blood.

"You love that crown, don't you?" she hissed. "Let's see how that crown looks on you when you have no hair left, baldie!"

The crowd gasped. For a female werewolf, having her long hair chopped off was a huge humiliation.

Julia tightened her grip on the scissors. Soon, a few strands of hair fell to the floor.

Panic rose in my chest like bile, and I knew I had to beg. "I was wrong. Take the crown—I shouldn't have fought you for it. Please, don't do this!"

It was better to swallow my pride, as saving my hair was the most important thing right then.

However, she ignored my pleading. She swung the scissors again and cut off a thick chunk of my hair. She crowed, "Now, you know better? Too late! I won't rest until I shave you bald!"

Humiliation and terror prompted me to scream. Falcon stood beside her, arms folded as he watched all of it with cold indifference.

I gritted my teeth and warned him, "You don't know who I am, Falcon! You'll regret letting her do this to me!"

He simply shrugged, nonchalant as he replied, "And who might you be? You're nothing more than a tool sacrificed by your pack for a mating contract."

Sadism flashed across Julia's eyes. "All the more reasons I should cut off all your hair. Let's see if you still dare to dream of being a Luna!"

"No—"

Just then, my phone started ringing. I fumbled for it, but Julia snatched it and picked up.

Donovan's voice came through the line. "Hey, Sloane. Have you picked out the crown?"

I quickly yelped for help. "Don, save me! I'm being attacked! She's going to cut off all my hair!"

His voice visibly tensed. "What… Who's doing that to you?"

Smug and unafraid, Julia spoke into the phone. "Your sister's a savage. Don't thank me, I'm just teaching her a lesson for you."

Donovan's voice boiled over with rage. "I don't care who you think you are—let my sister go right now! If you make me go there, I'll make you all pay!"

"Come and try," she mocked. "Who knows—maybe I'll give you a free haircut as well!"

She guffawed, then tossed the phone to the floor and continued beating me.

Every breath stabbed with pain. I curled into myself, trying to make it hurt less. For once, time dragged on like a century.

Ten minutes later, a convoy of ten luxury cars blocked the street, nearly a hundred warriors standing in formation.

Donovan stepped down from the lead armored vehicle, his Alpha aura so powerful that it made everyone tremble.

"Now, where's the idiot who laid hands on my sister?"