Chapter 2 The next morning, Alpha Adrian Blackthorn entered the Rivers family's ancestral hall with his hand locked around Selene's waist. His grip looked protective to outsiders, but she felt only the weight of command. Selene's body stiffened when she caught sight of familiar warriors among the gathering-the same ones who had mocked her at the feast. Yet Adrian pressed a kiss to her brow, as though nothing were amiss. "You must win their favor, Selene," he murmured, though his tone was warning, not care. "Do not shame me again." The great doors opened, and Cassandra Rivers stepped forward. She was radiant, clad in a scarlet gown embroidered with wolf sigils, her golden hair crowned with silver leaves blessed by the Moon Priestess. Selene, in her plain dress, shrank in her sister's glow. "Sister!" Cassandra's voice rang clear, trembling with false emotion. She clasped Selene's hands as though they were kin long parted, though her eyes followed Adrian's every movement. "Do you hate me, Selene? We are bound by blood, yet you never once sent word after leaving home. I am sorry for taking our parents' love from you, but affection cannot be forced." Tears gathered in her lashes, practiced and perfect. Then her gaze lingered on Adrian as she added, "Mother is gravely ill. Her heart weakens by the day. Yet you never came to her side. How can I mend our ties if you will not try, sister?" Selene's lips parted, but no words came. Her throat burned. "Selene still struggles to manage bonds," Adrian interjected smoothly, his arm tightening around her waist. "When time allows, I will bring her to your parents and have her beg their forgiveness." Though he knew the coldness Selene had suffered all her life, he spoke as though ashamed of her. Her heart sank further. Needing air, Selene slipped away into the corridor. "Well, if it isn't my poor little sister," Cassandra's mocking voice followed, sharp as the click of her heels. She approached with a chalice of spiced wine, eyes scanning Selene's simple dress with disdain. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were wearing one of grandmother's rags," Cassandra sneered. Selene's fists clenched. That grandmother-her only warmth after being cast out-had raised her before the truth of their bloodline was revealed. "And how does it feel," Cassandra continued, swirling her chalice, "to play the tavern maid in the outer lands after storming from home? Your old granny lies wasting in the healer's hut, doesn't she? She spent everything to raise an ingrate who abandoned her real family." "Shut up!" Selene's voice shook, horrified. The sacrifices she had endured-nights of labor, starving herself to pay healers, carrying water until her hands bled-all were secrets she had whispered only to Adrian. Yet somehow Cassandra wielded them now, sharpened into knives. 2/2 1.3% 9:36 pm PD Her father's scorn, her mother's coldness, her brothers' cruelty-none pierced her as deeply as this moment. "You unlucky wretch," Cassandra hissed, her eyes bright with venom. "Why didn't you die with the rest of your stray pack? Why crawl back to take my place?" "Stop it! You already have everything. Leave me alone!" Selene cried. "Everything? You stole Adrian, and dare claim I took what is yours?" Cassandra's laugh echoed cruelly. "Adrian and I were always fated. You are nothing but a bed-warmer, the sort of she-wolf any Alpha could buy for coin. I will have my mate back soon." "Cassandra!" Selene's tears burned as she tried to stand her ground. "Tonight he comes to me." Cassandra tilted her chalice, spilling crimson wine across the marble. "Tonight he will hold me, kiss me, claim me-as he always has." Selene froze, her heart slamming in her chest. "What, surprised?" Cassandra smirked. "Adrian always disappears on your mating anniversaries, doesn't he? Did you truly believe he was away on patrol?" Selene's stomach turned to stone. "All those nights, all those seasons-he was in the Moon Lodge, not with you but with me," Cassandra whispered, her lips curving. "That satin gown he gifted you last year? He dressed me in it first, before sending it wrapped for you." Bile rose in Selene's throat. Her legs faltered. Cassandra leaned close, her words dripping like poison. "He called you prudish. Plain. Never enough for him. I gave him what you never could." The memory of that cherished gown-the kisses, the whispered lies-twisted into filth. Every vow Adrian had made shattered like broken glass in her ears. 9:36 pm PD & Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!