Chapter 5%
I fixed my gaze on Ronan, my emotions a storm of disappointment and fury. The man who had once seemed as flawless as a masterpiece now only filled me with revulsion. Those eyes–once a source of comfort, once softened by affection–were now nothing but cold and unyielding. I had always found warmth in them, but now, they served only as a cruel reminder of the distance between us.
Before I could speak, Adeline’s voice sliced through the tension. “Alpha, my foot hurts, and so does my face. Can you check if it’s swollen? I’m worried it might ruin my appearance for tomorrow’s Alpha gathering.”
Ronan’s attention shifted instantly, his concern for her unmistakable. He cradled her in his arms with the kind of tenderness that once belonged to me. Adeline took full advantage of it, leaning into him like a delicate porcelain doll. My slap had left a red imprint on her pale cheek, and her eyes brimmed with artificial tears.
Watching him wipe them away so gently was a cruel reminder of what we had lost. I could still recall the younger version of him–the boy who had been kind to me, who had helped me up when I fell, who had wiped away my tears with the same gentleness he now reserved for Adeline. The realization that those moments were nothing but distant memories now, replaced by this twisted spectacle, was almost unbearable.
“Anastasia,” Ronan’s voice rang out, devoid of the warmth it once held. “Apologize to your sister.”
Lifting my chin, I straightened my posture, my resolve unshaken. “No.” My voice was firm, defiant. The sheer audacity of my refusal seemed to catch him off guard. For a brief moment, he looked as if he couldn’t quite recognize me–as if the girl who had once loved him so openly was a stranger now.
The irony didn’t escape me. When I had loved him, I had always been so careful–so measured in my actions, so desperate for his approval. I had offered him my heart, hoping that if I gave enough of myself, he would finally see me. But no matter what I did, it was never enough. I could never compare to Adeline in his eyes.
Ronan’s momentary surprise hardened into determination. He leaned back on the couch, Adeline nestled in his arms, his gaze locking onto me with unsettling ease. “Anastasia, don’t test my patience,” he warned.
His wolf guards, who had been silent observers until now, stepped forward. Without a word, they moved to block my path, their presence a clear command. They ushered me back in front of Ronan and Adeline, their movements sharp and authoritative.
Ronan remained at ease, his posture deceptively relaxed. But the air around him was suffocating, charged with unspoken threats. Crossing one leg over the other, he regarded me with an unnerving calm. “Apologize,” he repeated, his voice carrying the weight of an order.2
Adeline, ever the performer, flashed me a smirk before turning to Ronan with feigned sweetness. “It’s okay, Alpha. Anastasia didn’t mean it.“2
Ronan’s gaze softened, filled with what could only be pity and affection. “Adeline, you’re too kind. You treat her like a sister, but she’s never seen you that way.“}
Then, his attention snapped back to me, and any trace of gentleness disappeared. His expression turned to ice, his words sharp as a blade. “Anyone who harms Adeline will pay the price–double.”}]
A memory surfaced in my mind–one from years ago when I had been cornered by young wolves from a rival pack. Ronan had appeared like a guardian angel, fighting them off with unwavering determination. Back then, he had stood by my side, my protector. But now, the same man who had once shielded me was standing against me, his loyalty placed elsewhere.
The realization hit like a punch to the gut. The man who had once meant everything to me was now determined to break me. His expression was merciless, his resolve absolute.
With a silent command, he signaled the guards. They stepped forward, grabbing me roughly, forcing me onto my knees before him and Adeline. My wolf howled within me, her fury and anguish mirroring my own. I felt her fighting to break free, but I held her back, unwilling to lose control.
One of the guards raised his hand, ready to strike me. Just before the blow could land, Adeline’s voice cut through the tension, dripping with artificial concern. “Alpha, she’s still my sister. Men can be too harsh–I wouldn’t want them to hurt her.“>
Ronan turned to her, his expression betraying the slightest hint of approval.
“If she truly needs to be punished,” Adeline continued, her voice sickly sweet, “then let me do it myself.“”
