Chapter 4

Alpha Fernando’s punch landed hard on my face.

I looked up and met his eyes.

“You hit me.”

He frowned, jaw clenched. “You hurt Bianca. You should apologize.”

“She’s a Beta. I’m just a Gamma,” I said coldly. “You really think I could hurt her?”

Fernando’s face darkened. “Apologize, Thalia. Now.”

I narrowed my eyes. A low laugh escaped me. “Over my dead body.”

I could feel my wolf soul, Leona, roaring beneath my skin. She was clawing at my bones.

Her growl echoed in my mind: “The bond is broken. He no longer deserves you.”

I turned and walked away.

But Bianca wasn’t done. In her sickly-sweet voice, she cried out, “Ow, my head hurts,” and collapsed dramatically into Fernando’s arms.

“She attacked me. Tore my shoulder channel open.” She bit her lip, playing the perfect victim.

Fernando turned his full attention to her. “We’ll go to the healer’s tent. They’ll take care of you.”

I went back to my quarters. Opened the closet. Pulled out my suitcase.

The silver ring Fernando gave me. The moon pendant. That tiny bottle of so-called “Southern incense oil” he claimed he brought back from the borderlands.

I threw them all into the trash.

I remembered that scent. Bianca wore it too.

He returned to find the suitcase open. He paused.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up, gave a stiff, polite smile. “Clearing things. I don’t need them anymore.”

He stepped closer, eyeing the pile of folded clothes. “You’re not going anywhere, are you?”

“They’re just items,” I replied blandly.

Relief flickered in his expression.

“Bianca says she doesn’t want things to stay like this between you two.”

I laughed. Sharp enough to cut. “She’s willing to forgive me?”

He raised his hand, hesitated, then dropped it.

“Don’t talk about her like that.”

I said nothing and kept packing.

“I didn’t mean to hit you. I swear.”

I let out a short breath through my nose.

“Let me make it up to you,” he said. “Dinner at your favorite spot? The lake place with the spicy noodles. Friday night. Like we used to.”

I faked a smile. “Sure. What time?”

“Six?”

“Perfect.”

That evening, I changed into a white dress. Light makeup. My dark hair tied into a loose knot. It was chilly out, so I threw on a grey knit shawl.

We sat at the lakeside trattoria. The wooden deck glowed under soft yellow lights. The spicy noodles still burned the same way.

Fernando ordered me a mocktail. Poured the water. Handed me tissues. Like we were pretending the past hadn’t burned down.

I opened my mouth to speak—then I heard a voice I knew too well.

“Alpha Fernando!” Bianca strutted in, wrapped in a tight red dress. Her heels clicked against the wood. Her gaze slid over me with challenge.

“Bianca? What are you doing here?”

“I got bored alone,” she said, fluttering her lashes. “Thought I’d go for a walk. Didn’t expect to find you two.”

She stumbled—somehow—and the red wine in her hand splashed straight across my chest.

The wine soaked my dress. The stain bloomed, dark and vivid.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry! That was an accident,” she said quickly, eyes gleaming.

Fernando’s face darkened. “Can’t you be careful? You always make a scene.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Did you not see her do that on purpose?”

Bianca’s eyes welled. “Don’t blame her, Alpha. It was my fault.”

Fernando put an arm around her shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get you changed.”

I slammed my hand on the table and stood. “You owe me an explanation!”

“You’re always like this,” he muttered, annoyed. “Dramatic.”

Then he walked out with Bianca, not looking back once.