Chapter 74: Something vicious

MINUTES EARLIER

Alyssa frowned at how absurd the question sounded.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, don’t play dumb," Genevieve scoffed, taking a slow step forward. "You don’t really expect me to believe the Alpha King of Wintercrest fell for someone like you."

Despite the tense situation, Alyssa laughed, a soft chuckle slipping past her lips as she shook her head. "Are you delusional, Genevieve? Honestly, I expected more from you. I don’t know if you’re a century old like the other Lycans, but I was actually eager to respect you."

"I don’t need your respect," Genevieve shot back. "You might have everyone else here fooled with your soft smiles and charm, but not me. I see you for what you are."

Alyssa paused, tilting her head to the side with a faint smile. "And what am I?"

"Something vicious," Genevieve spat, her brown eyes glittering with venom. "You’re not like the rest of us, not with that strange hair. It’s only a matter of time before everyone realizes it."

Alyssa blinked, stunned into silence for a second before laughing again. "Something vicious? That’s new. I’ve been called worse, but vicious is on a whole different level."

She stepped forward, smiling warmly at Genevieve. "I know you don’t like me, and I don’t like you either. But we don’t have to be enemies. Dorian didn’t buy me from an auction, nor did he pay me to marry him."

"Tell that to a fool," Genevieve muttered.

"It might be hard for you to believe, and that’s fine." Alyssa beamed, surprised by her own sudden confidence. "Usually, when my marriage to Dorian is questioned, it comes from scorned she-wolves who once hoped to be with him. But you..."

Genevieve narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a tight line.

"You are married, Genevieve," Alyssa continued. "Whether your bond with your husband is fated or chosen, the fact remains. Were you once in love with Dorian? Is that why you’re so pained and frustrated seeing me with him?"

Two hot spots of color stained Genevieve’s cheeks as she recoiled in shock. Having Alyssa so effortlessly unearth the root of her bitter dislike struck a raw nerve.

There had been a time when she was head over heels for Dorian, long before she married Julian. Almost every she-wolf and female Lycan in the realm had fallen for Dorian at one point.

She had prayed to the Moon Goddess that he would glance her way, but he never did. The death of his first mate had broken him, transforming him into a heartless monster–which was why it infuriated her that a common, wolfless girl had managed to steal his heart.

Alyssa caught the flush of embarrassment staining Genevieve’s skin. She smiled knowingly, taking a step back.

"Don’t worry," she said, turning to walk away. "Your secret is safe with me."

Genevieve whirled around, her brown eyes snapping to a fierce amber. She grabbed Alyssa’s wrist, yanked her back, and slammed her hard into the wall.

Alyssa let out a sharp gasp as pain exploded across her back. Suddenly, something hot and dark churned violently in her chest, a surge of raw anger mixed with power.

The mirror beside her head exploded outward, spraying jagged glass shards into the air. A few sliced across Genevieve’s face, and she released Alyssa with a terrified scream.

Alyssa stood frozen in shock, her eyes wide. Genevieve backed against the opposite wall, clutching her bleeding face as her eyes clamped shut.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?" she shrieked.

Before Alyssa could process what just happened, the door was slammed open, hitting the wall with a deafening bang.

Dorian stormed into the bathroom like a tempest, his golden eyes sweeping the chaotic space before locking onto Alyssa.

Behind him, Cole, Penelope, and the others crowded into the doorway, taking in the shattered glass and the sobbing Genevieve on the floor.

Ignoring everyone else, Dorian closed the distance between him and Alyssa in two long strides, and pulled her tightly against his chest.

"What happened? Are you okay?" His voice was calm, taut with concern.

Alyssa nodded numbly against his shoulder, unable to find her voice. Across the room, Julian dropped to his knees beside his wife, frantically trying to inspect her bloodied face.

Cole surveyed the scene, his gaze lingering on the shattered mirror scattered across the floor before shifting from Alyssa to Dorian, a deep frown marring his features.

Dorian bristled at Cole’s calculating look. It was far too convenient for a mirror to shatter right as they were discussing the ancient powers of the Onyx bloodline.

He turned his focus back to Alyssa. "My love, what happened here?"

Alyssa swallowed down the dryness in her throat. In a soft, unsteady voice, she recounted everything from the moment Genevieve followed her into the bathroom. But when she reached the part about the mirror, she twisted the truth, claiming Genevieve had shoved her into it, causing the glass to break and spray into her eyes.

To her surprise, Genevieve didn’t object. She remained curled up beside Julian, paralyzed by Dorian’s deadly presence and the realization that attacking the Luna Queen was treason.

Everyone else bought Alyssa’s story. Dorian examined her back, where a bright red bruise confirmed her story.

His head snapped toward Genevieve, his golden eyes flickering lethally. "You will be punished for this disrespect," he snarled.

Julian shot to his feet, hands clasped desperately. "Alpha Dorian, please, I beg you! My wife acted foolishly..."

"Attacking the Luna Queen is a punishable offense," Dorian cut in, his aura crushing the room. "Don’t beg me, Julian, unless you want my wrath extended to you."

Cole and Penelope stood caught in the middle, deeply unsettled. Cole felt personally responsible for everything; he had invited the other guests after all.

"Alpha Dorian," he began, but Dorian silenced him with an icy glare.

​"Save it, Cole," he growled. "This isn’t what I agreed to when I brought Alyssa here."

He turned back to Genevieve, who was cowering at her husband’s feet. "You will be whipped before the entire pack for daring to lay hands on my Luna."

"Dorian, wait." Alyssa placed a hand on his arm, pulling his gaze down to her. She let out a quiet sigh, looking toward Genevieve. "Don’t punish her."

Dorian’s brows furrowed deeply in great reluctance. "Why?"

"It wasn’t her fault," she said softly. "I provoked her before she snapped."

Penelope stepped forward, reaching out a comforting hand. "Alyssa, you don’t have to shield her for what she did."

"I’m not shielding her," Alyssa said, shaking her head. "I’m just being honest. I deliberately provoked her. It’s not entirely her fault."

She looked back up at Dorian, gently squeezing his hand. "I’m not hurt, Dorian. Please let this go. She’s hurt enough as it is."

Dorian was reluctant to let it go. Shadow clawed at the surface of his mind, demanding blood for the attack against his Luna, but Alyssa’s quiet plea managed to pierce through the red haze.

"Are you sure about this?"

Alyssa nodded. "Yes. I’m sure."

Dorian nodded curtly. He turned his lethal gaze back to Genevieve, his voice laced with venom.

"Apologize!"

Genevieve dragged herself into a kneeling position. She managed to open her eyes; the skin around them was raw and blotchy, with tiny glass shards still stuck in her flesh.

"I am sorry, Luna Alyssa," she whispered. "Forgive me."

Alyssa watched her in silence. "I forgive you," she said softly.

But the real reason she had urged Dorian to let it go was simple: she needed to get out of there immediately. The mirror exploding was no accident. It was the same phenomenon that had happened with the glass of water the night before.

Something was changing deep inside her, something that had been dormant. It was slowly breaking free, and it was dangerous.