Chapter 3 Punishment

Nova was sitting on Rupert's lap, wearing a sexy red miniskirt. One arm was hooked around his neck while her other hand kept running over his firm chest.

Rupert's lips and collar were still smeared with her bright red lipstick.

When Delia pushed open the door and walked in, Rupert's expression froze for a split second, then hardened. "What are you doing here? Ever heard of knocking?"

Nova slowly got up from Rupert's lap and walked over to Delia, a taunting smile on her lips. "You must be Rupert's fiancée. Rupert and I grew up together, so we've always been close. Don't read too much into it."

Delia stared at her coldly. "Close? What I just walked in on was practically the two of you hooking up in his office."

Rupert's brow furrowed, his tone a clear warning. "Delia, Nova is my guest. Watch how you talk."

Delia found the whole thing utterly absurd and fired back on the spot. "You want to talk to me about respect? You two are fooling around in broad daylight in his office. Did you spare me even a shred of respect?"

Nova snuggled back into Rupert's arms, her eyes full of exaggerated sympathy. "Rupert, your fiancée is so petty and mean. I almost feel sorry for you, sweetheart. Five years with a woman like this must have been exhausting."

Rupert said nothing, but his frown deepened.

Nova looked Delia up and down, her eyes full of contempt. "I figured any woman who managed to stay by Rupert's side would be something special, maybe even a little sexy. But you're pretty average. Your eyes and brows look a bit like mine, but that's about it."

Delia pressed her lips together and clenched her fists without thinking.

She was slim and slight, while Nova was curvy and striking. Aside from a slight resemblance around the eyes, the two of them were worlds apart.

Flashes of her intimate moments with Rupert ran through her mind, and she suddenly remembered how he always insisted she get on her knees for him.

She had always thought it was just his personal preference. Now, for the first time, she understood. From that angle, he could see Nova in her face.

She had been Nova's stand-in all along.

A chill settled deep in her chest, and her resolve to leave grew stronger than ever.

She stepped forward and held out a document to Rupert, her expression ice-cold. "This is my resignation letter."

Rupert took it, glanced at it, and his face darkened immediately. "The mating ceremony is coming up. What are you throwing a fit about now?"

Delia hadn't told him about accepting the Levin family's engagement proposal. She knew how Rupert operated. He would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.

If he found out she was planning to marry someone else, he would lock her down and force her to go through with the mating ceremony.

She had no power, no backing, and no ability to shift. Fighting back would only make things worse.

Delia took a slow breath, her voice calm and flat. "I'm not throwing a fit. I'm just tired. I need a break."

Rupert stared at her for a long moment, then reached up and tore the resignation letter to pieces, dropping the scraps at her feet. "I'll give you a few days off. Don't bring up resigning again."

Delia looked at the shredded paper on the floor, her face blank. "I'll get out of your way then."

"Wait!"

Nova suddenly called out and grabbed her wrist, eyes locked on the diamond ring on her finger, shock on her face. "Where did you get that ring?"

Delia pulled her wrist free and said flatly, "None of your business."

Nova immediately pressed herself against Rupert and pouted. "Rupert, I've been trying to get that ring for so long. It's a one-of-a-kind piece. I had someone put in an order for me and never got it."

Delia felt a small jolt of surprise. She hadn't realized the ring she had picked almost at random was that rare. Yet Chris had given it to her without a second thought.

Rupert looked down at Nova in his arms, his eyes soft and indulgent. "You really want it?"

Nova nodded eagerly.

Rupert turned to Delia, every trace of warmth gone from his eyes. "Take it off. Name your price. I'll buy it."

Delia looked at him, disbelief and despair washing over her.

She used to have to beg him repeatedly just to get a simple ring. Now Nova mentioned she liked something in passing, and Rupert was ready to pay whatever it cost.

The gap between being loved and not being loved had never been clearer. She felt like a complete joke.

Nova wrapped her arms around Rupert's neck and kissed him on the cheek, her voice sweet and coy. "You're so good to me, baby."

Then she pointed at Delia, her tone arrogant. "You heard him. Hand it over."

Delia covered the ring with her other hand and stepped back. "Someone gave this to me as a gift. I'm not giving it to you."

"Someone?" Nova let out a cold laugh. "You can't even shift. You're a nobody with nothing going for you. Who would give you something that expensive? I think this ring is stolen. You probably took it, didn't you?"

Delia bit her lower lip and said nothing. She turned to leave.

"Stop right there!"

Nova rushed forward and grabbed her hand, trying to force the ring off her finger.

Without thinking, Delia swung her free hand and slapped Nova across the face.

"Nova!"

Rupert rushed over to steady her. When he saw the red mark rising on her cheek, he turned and glared at Delia, his voice full of rage. "How dare you! Apologize to Nova. Right now."

Delia stood her ground. "She tried to take my things. Why should I apologize?"

Nova slowly raised her hand to her cheek. Her eyes went bloodshot, her pupils contracted sharply, and a series of sharp cracks ran through her bones.

Delia's brow furrowed. She knew what that meant. A werewolf was about to shift.

"You hit me?"

Nova let out a low growl. Her body expanded and transformed rapidly, becoming a massive white wolf that stalked toward Delia one step at a time.

Delia backed away instinctively, but the wall was right behind her. There was nowhere to go.

She couldn't shift. She had none of a werewolf's natural strength. She was no match for the white wolf in front of her. One swipe of those claws could kill her.

Cornered, Delia turned to look at Rupert, clinging to one last shred of hope that he might step in.

But Rupert just watched with cold eyes, hands in his pockets, making no move to intervene.

In that moment, something inside Delia went completely dead.

To him, her life meant nothing.

The white wolf had bared its sharp fangs and was raising a paw to lunge at her.

Delia shut her eyes in despair. All that was left inside her was a hollow grief. Maybe this was the Moon Goddess's punishment.

At that critical moment, a massive black wolf burst out of nowhere and slammed into the white wolf, sending it flying.