EMBER'S POV

“I was actually with him moments ago, and I think he’s kind of busy at the moment.”


“Be it as it may. We invited you here. It’s not okay that you should be here on your own. So come on.” She said, tugging on my hand, so that I had no other choice but to give in.

“Fine then. All right.” I said, and let her lead me.

We were out of the VIP lounge when we came face to face with Paris’s mother and I sincerely wanted to groan.


I thought only one of Paris’s family was allowed inside of the same place.

“Ah. If it isn’t the Rejected Luna and her little friend. Lily, isn’t it? Our little witch friend sends word.” Lara said with mockery and I drew my brows together, wondering how she knew about Lily’s altercation with a witch.


“Be careful of what you’re spitting.” Lily said and Luna Lara just laughed.

“I’ll have you know that you aren’t really in the position to be making threats of any kind.”

“That’s the thing though. I’m not threatening you. Perhaps you could consider it as advice.”

“advice?” Luna Lara asked in a high pitched voice and then laughed, “please don’t be ridiculous.”

“I don’t know on what grounds you think it’s okay to talk to my friend in such a manner, but I won’t stand here and let you go on.” I said, truly irritated, that the woman thought it okay to talk to Lily, but she deemed fit.

“And who’s going to stop me?” She asked, a vile spreading across her lips and I balled my hand into fists,

“Are you sure you’re willing to know who?” I asked, my wolf rearing its ugly head. She had been gaining her strength since I wore the moon stone.

“The both of you really are birds of the same feathers, neither of you are unable to have a decent conversation without resulting to violence. Hence why you’re both in the situation you’re in. One, rejected and alone, and the other, unable to change shift without pain that is out of this world. Damned pack of mutts.” She spat.

“That’s it.” Lily spat, and let go of my hand to go after her, but I reached out to hold her and had to put in a lot of effort to keep from attacking Luna Lara.

“You really don’t know when to stop, do you?” I asked.

“Wow, a little pup trying to attack a big wolf. Silly girl, are you even sure you have what it takes to do such a thing. You might end up worsening you condition.”

“Shut the hell up.” I gritted out,

“Oh, her royal defender, and yet , you were unusable to defend yourself all that time you lived under my roof.”

“So you are aware. You’re aware of all the hell you put me true.”

“Hell? I don’t know about hell. I just remember how much of a weakling you’ve always been. It always makes me wonder what Paris ever saw in you.”

“Ember, let go of me. I need to teach this woman that she can’t get away with bullying anybody.”

“I’d rather you didn’t. “ I said weakly and turned to Lara,

“I can only hold her down for so long. It’d be best if you apologized.”

“I’d rather have my throat slit.” Luna Lara spat,

“That can be arranged. And about that apology, I wasn’t asking… ma’am.”

“And if I don't?” She asked, and I let go of Lily’s hand to step toward her,

“Are you sure you actually want to find out… Lara?”

“You dare address me by my name?”

“You should feel lucky I'm even addressing you at all. All you do is keep sidestepping and provoking those who you deem as less. Someone might need to teach you to be better.”

She looked at me in astonishment, while I stared at her down coolly.

One more stupid thing. One more foolish utterance, and I was going to forget how much respect I had given her these past years,

“I can’t believe I ever tolerated you in my home.” She said and I wanted to laugh in astonishment.

“Thinking back on the last few years of my life in that house, I believe it was I who tolerated you. The same I’m tolerating you even now. But you should know, my patience has thinned. Greatly.”

She looked as though she was going to argue with me, but relented, before shaking her head,

She turned to Lily and gave the most grudging apology that I had ever heard,

“I’m sorry that you feel offended by the things I’ve said. You shouldn’t take everything to heart.”

“That’s not an apology. You sound like the Narcissist you are.” I said, looking at her coolly when she looked at me, “Go on. “

She turned to Lily again, “I’m sorry.” She spat and turned to me, “better?”

“Even if I said no, I’m unsure if you can do anything better than that. It’s not just the words. Your attitude is foul.”

"You really can't take a joke," she said, looking from me to Lily, who looked at her with scorn,

"Surely, you don't know the difference between a joke, and a full-blown insult. Don't you ever make that mistake with her again. In fact, the next time you see her on the way, simply keep walking, because if I ever hear a word of a repetition of this moment, I swear it, you'll be sorry."

"There isn't any need to make threats like that," she said, and it was clear to see that she had lost some of initial boldness. If anything, she looked reddened. As though the situation had left her embarrassed and scandalized.

What did she expect? That she would throw such awful words at us and we would cower in a corner?

Damned Luna.

"Ember? Lily?"

We both turned to watch William approaching us, and he looked like he was taking stalk of the situation before him,

"Why are you both here? I've been looking for you guys, and why does Lily look like she wants to punch something?"

"Because I do. This tramp of a woman has done nothing but insult Ember and me."Lily said, gesturing at Luna Lara, who stared at us with a frozen expression.

Shadows fell on William's face, and I had an inkling that he wasn't happy,

"Who told you, it was okay to insult the people I care about?"

"Oh, give me a break," Lara said, rolling her eyes, but took an impulsive step backward, when William got closer.

"And didn't you know that bullying Alpha's sister was out of the question?"

PARIS'S POV

"That girl has a fine way of carrying trouble wherever she goes?" Kate said and snickered, and some of her female friends who were at our table joined her,

"What girl?" I asked, reaching for my glass of water. I decided that if I started the night with excess cups of alcohol, I was going to do something stupid, given the emotional state I was in.

"Ember, of course. She had a run-in with her mother and her new friend. I believe she's the sister of her new Alpha friends. I wonder why people like that want to have anything to do with her. She embarrasses people."

"a run-in with mother?" I asked, craning my neck to get a sight of her, but she was no way in sight. Neither Ember, or even my mother

"she did." Kate sighed,

“I don’t see them.” I said

“It’s probably over by now, I think.” She said, waving it off as nothing.

But it was nothing. Not to me. Not when it came to Ember. But how was I supposed to care for Ember and stay true to the demands of my bond to Kate?

“About what?” I asked.

“Beats me. I’m not sure how that one even ended. I was too far away and thought it best to stay out of it." I paused my search and turned to look at Kate, who looked pleased,

"You seem to be enjoying this a lot," I said and she shrugged,

"I'm just having a good night with you."

"I see," I said and slowly got to my feet.

"where are you going?" She asked hastily,

"The bidding is about to start," I said, without any more information, and left for where a bunch of other Alphas were standing and waiting to auction rare and important items.

I had something of my own, and I had an inkling that I would get my money's worth.

"And what would you like to auction?" The host asked me when it was my turn, and I reached into my pocket for a crystal gem that made a couple of people gasp and sigh.

The guy took it from me reverently and lifted it, so everyone got a look at it,

"Starting with one million dollars for this bad boy."

"two million!" someone shouted.

"three!" Another shouted, and so the bidding went until it ended at five million, and by then, my gem had a buyer.

"I'm bringing that bad boy home!" The buyer called out and people laughed.

I only smiled. I didn't have my gem, but I was a man with a whole lot more wealth.