Chapter 3
At the restaurant, Dean and Sky ordered dish after dish—twenty in all, every one of Jade’s favorites.
When the food came, Jade beamed and reached to eat. Stella glanced once—out of everything, not a single dish she could have.
She set her chopsticks aside. Jade chirped, “Stella, try this. Dean and Sky love it, you will too.”
Two wolves who couldn’t handle spice swore they could—just for Jade.
Stella’s chest hollowed. She no longer knew what she felt.
Then Jade, with the same hand she’d just claimed was injured, dropped a piece of fiery fish into Stella’s bowl.
“I don’t eat spicy,” Stella replied flatly, pushing it away.
Instantly, Jade’s lips trembled.
“How could anyone not eat spice? Dean, Sky, they all love it. I ordered it for you.”
She turned to Dean, voice breaking, “Dean, even with my hand hurt, I served her food. If she dislikes me so much, I’ll leave—I won’t ruin your dinner.”
“She didn’t mean it.” Dean soothed her, glaring at Stella.
“Jade offers kindness and you show no respect? You injured her and she didn’t complain. Stella, stop being so petty.”
Sky chimed in: “Yeah, Mom. Auntie Jade was just being nice. Eat some.”
Stella looked at the pair—their bias so naked they’d force her to eat peppers.
When she stayed still, Dean stood.
“Not even one bite? Just to give Jade face? Stella!”
Her silence stoked his anger.
“Since you won’t, I’ll help you.”
He summoned guards.
They pinned her arms, tilting the plate, shoving the searing fish into her mouth.
The oil and chilies burned her throat like razors. She choked, gagged, struggling under the guards’ grip.
Scarlet oil ran down her chin, mingling with tears, soaking her clothes.
She twisted, coughed until her chest seized, glimpsing Jade’s hidden smirk as father and son pampered her with more dishes.
Her stomach heaved. Her wolf whimpered weakly, each cough shaking her soul. Old wounds in her palms throbbed anew.
Summoning all her strength, she shoved the guards aside and staggered to the restroom to vomit.
When she emerged, her face pale, several rogues blocked her path.
“You’re Alpha Dean’s Luna, right? Everyone knows Dean and Jade are the Moon Goddess’s destined pair. Hand over the bond—let Jade take your place!”
Her body stiffened. Her heart plunged.
Jade. She had lured Rogues into pack territory!
“That’s right. Only Jade deserves Alpha Dean.”
Stella scanned for escape, but they shoved her back. Her spine slammed the tiles, pain searing.
Collapsed on the ground, blood in her throat, she shielded her head as boots and clubs rained down.
“Wait!” she gasped, bargaining through pain.
“How much is she paying you? I’ll pay double—”
But her words were cut off by Dean’s voice, dripping fury:
“Stella! Flirting with men in a place like this?”
He dragged Jade close, Jade lowering her lashes to hide her smile.
“Dean, don’t be angry,” Jade said sweetly. “Maybe she was only making friends. If I were her, I’d never embarrass myself in front of my child.”
Her false kindness sliced deeper than any blow.
Stella stayed silent. Exhaustion made words useless.
“Come with me,” Dean snarled, hauling her out.
Before leaving, Stella covertly wired money to the Rogues, whispering: Three months. Then send Dean the proof of Jade’s schemes.
At the Alpha’s villa, Dean hurled her onto the stones.
“You’ve grown bold, Stella!”
He towered above her, face carved in fury.
“First you shame Jade at dinner, then let rogues paw you? She pitied you, and you repay her like this? Do you deserve her kindness?”
Stella clutched her aching wrist, her heart squeezed in claws. His cruelty was carved into bone.
Her silence only enraged him more.
“You disgrace the Luna’s honor. Kneel!”
Guards forced her down. Her knees struck stone, lightning split the sky, thunder rolled.
Rain crashed down. Stella knelt, hair plastered, trembling, her wounds reopening under the storm.
Dean wavered. He lifted an umbrella—
But Jade’s delicate voice floated out:
“Dean, the thunder frightens me. Stay with me.”
Dean dropped the umbrella, turned his back, and walked to her.
Stella’s vision blurred. In the house, Dean soothed Jade as Sky laughed.
Their warm tableau twisted her chest. Darkness swallowed her as she collapsed.
