Chapter 14 Noth #Finished I can hear the whispers from the maids and see the glances from the guards . Heads always turn when she's present , and my mother and younger sister adore her . I do too . It's no secret I cherish Kaela more than life itself . And the life I have .. it's hers I watch her select through the row of dresses I had brought in from the designer . My mother chuckles , pointing out one of them , and they both giggle like girls . Happy Carefree . I wonder what life would have been like if Kaela had been my mate instead . Peaceful , no doubt . Brighter . I turn to stare out the window beside me , eyes fixed on the gate of my pack . I don't care about Zeph . At least , that's what I keep telling myself . Yet here I am , wondering what's keeping her so late . Has she gone to Apex's bed again ? Has she ... Damn . 1 clench my jaw at the thought . I saw the way Apex looked at her . I felt the shift in him . He's not just unsettling , he's powerful in a way that could rival the Moon Goddess herself . His eyes changed color when he looked at her and I have felt my wolf stir , ready to lunge , ready to protect what is ours . But I didn't move . Because Kaela was there . And I've always wanted Kaela . Zeph was just ... a bond . A twist in destiny . Nothing more . Once I sever it , once I reject her , I can finally claim Kaela the way I've always intended . Make her my Luna . I take a breath at that thought , just as the White Pack's carriage stops in the dark lane outside . " Tomorrow morning . Zephyr . Thank you so much for today , " I hear her best friend say . Zeph nods in response , smiling . " Good night . " A few minutes later , after the carriage disappears into the distance , I see the pack gates open and Zeph walks in . She pauses at the entrance , looking up toward me . Our eyes meet just briefly . And for a moment , I can't breathe . She stunned me yesterday . Her skills at the arena and her words .. the way she said she'd slit my throat ... gods , I believed her . I want to dismiss it as a bluff , but I can't . She's not the kind to speak in anger without meaning it . She's calm , quiet . But when she breaks ... it means she's done . She asked for rejection , I've made preparations . I watch her step into the house . The door creaks open , and then I hear it shut behind her . She walks past everyone without a glance and heads straight for her room . Prostitute , Kaela hisses . Zeph ignores her . She disappears into the corridor that leads to the private chambers , and something inside me snaps . I clench my jaw , furious and frustrated and not even sure why , Chapter 14 I storm down the hall and push open her door without knocking . She's standing there , admiring an elegant new dress and a pair of fine shoes , clearly for the coronation tomorrow . Jealousy claws through my chest , and I step closer . " I see you've been shopping with the prince , all in the name of helping your friend , Zeph . " She doesn't respond . That silence , gods , it makes me boil . I snatch the dress from her hands and fling it onto the bed . My glare burns into her . Tell me , Zeph . Did you cheat on me ? Tell me right now if you've ever .. " " Yes , " The word slices through me like a blade . go still . Cold . " What ? " Finished " Apex , " she says , her voice calm , cruelly calm . " He looked at me . And I liked it . Tonight , he stared at me from his tower ... and I nearly lost my mind when he disappeared . If that counts as cheating , then yes , I cheated . But let's not pretend we're saints . You've spent your whole life staring at Kaela . And I lived with it . " She steps closer , her voice harder now . " So tell me , why can't you survive one look from Apex ? " My heart twists in pain I didn't expect . I grit my teeth , unable to speak , the expression on her face digging into something raw inside me . I've lost her and she's slipping away faster than I can catch her . Maybe it's better this way . Maybe it's time . " Are you still a virgin ? The question spills from my lips before I can stop it . I've never touched her . Never kissed her . I never wanted her . " Answer me , Zeph . Has he touched you already ? " She says nothing . The silence makes my stomach churn . I swallow a lump of frustration and rage . " Maybe they're right , " I say bitterly . " Maybe you are nothing but a slut ." Her eyes flash with hurt , but I keep going , " I've spoken to the elders . In three days , under the full moon , we'll say the words . We'll break the bond ." 1 step back and turn for the door , but before leaving , I throw one last dagger . " Kaela's staying in my chamber tonight . But you won't mind now , will you ? We're nothing anymore . " Islam the door shut behind me . In my own chamber , I drop onto the bed and bury my face in my palms . Once I let Zeph go , it's done . No mate will be granted to me again . That's the cost we Hue Pack members pay . I groan softly and push myself upright , moving to the hidden corner of the room . There , behind a loose panel , I retrieve a Cheater 14 Finished small chest . Inside it lies half a hairpin . Karla's . I was sixteen when rogues attacked during a festival . Fire was everywhere . People screamed and fled . I was trapped , bleeding , half - dead in a burning building . A white wolf leaped through the flames and dragged me to safety . She vanished as quickly as she came , but in the rush , her hairpin had fallen off I kept it close . Cherished it . When I woke , Kaela was there beside me . She said she'd saved me . And I believed her . Ive loved her ever since . I close the chest , sealing the memory away . Maybe rejecting Zeph is the right thing after all . She's a rogue . She has no name . Nothing like Kaela . The only good thing that ever came from our bond was the money she gave me to fund the pack . The money I never asked where it came from . But I've tried . Now it's time we go our separate ways . No regrets . Send Gifts 2.2K Title: Crown of Vengeance In "Crown of Vengeance" by CrushReel, delve into a gripping tale of betrayal and redemption. Unravel the intricate web of deceit as a woman's life is shattered by family secrets and a tragic twist of fate. Amid themes of revenge, family dynamics, and dark revelations, this ongoing drama unfolds within the walls of a mysterious mansion where past wrongs resurface to haunt the present. Discover the depths of human emotion as our protagonist navigates a world filled with deception and hidden agendas. What sets "Crown of Vengeance" apart is its nuanced exploration of complex relationships and the quest for justice in the face of overwhelming odds. Available to read at CrushReel, this story promises a riveting journey through the shadows of the past towards a future where truth may ultimately prevail.