Winter’s POV

I pressed my lips together, pausing before I spoke. “Lily.”

“Yes,” she sneered, her eyes glistening with restrained fury. “The mother of the innocent man you murdered with your adulterous behavior.”

“Lily, look,” I tried to steady my voice. “I don’t know why you think that of me, but I’m not the monster you believe I am.”

“Oh really?” She took a sharp step forward, her perfume and grief stinging the air. Then she shoved me. “Then why are you here? Why are you here!” she shouted, her voice breaking.

“Hey!” James and Theo moved instantly, but I raised a trembling hand to stop them. I understood Lily. She was grieving.

“I know there’s nothing I can say to make you believe me,” I said softly, exhaling. “But just know, I’m here against my will.”

A low voice came from behind her. “So it’s true then.”

I turned to see a tall woman stepping out from the doorway’s shadow. Her jewelry caught the fading sunlight, each gem glinting like fire. Even Lily fell silent.

“Um,” I began, but she cut me off.

“So it’s true,” she said again, her tone dripping with disdain. “You’re the little beast who’s been disrespecting our alpha just because you’re a she-alpha?” Her voice was deep and sharp, oddly commanding for a woman whose every curve spoke otherwise.

She turned to the other women and laughed mockingly. “This is the bitch Fadel left me for?” The bitterness in her voice was unmistakable. Her gaze swept over me, from head to toe, before she gave me a rough shove. “What’s so special about you?”

Theo and James stepped forward again, protective, but I raised my hand once more. “I came for the alpha of this pack,” I said evenly. “Where is he?”

The woman threw her head back and laughed. The others joined in, their laughter like a chorus of hyenas. “Who do you think you are to demand the presence of our alpha, huh?” she mocked, shoving me again. Her aura crackled with dominance, definitely an alpha.

“That’s enough, Arianna. She’s the guest of the alpha,” a deep male voice interrupted.

The crowd parted immediately. A man stepped forward, tall and battle-worn, a scar cutting across his cheek. His tone carried quiet authority, and even Arianna rolled her eyes but backed away, finally silent.

The man, dressed in black military camouflage, bowed slightly. “Welcome to Ashborne Pack, Luna Winter,” he said, his voice softening.

“Luna?” several women gasped, exchanging stunned looks.

“The alpha will be with you shortly,” the man continued. “I’ll take you to your room so you can rest before your welcome party.”

“Okay,” I murmured, avoiding his gaze.

Theo and James followed close behind as he led us into the mansion. He introduced himself as Dale, the Gamma of the pack. The halls gleamed under soft gold light, every inch of marble and crystal designed to impress. It was beautiful, eerily so, like a fairytale wrapped in darkness, tailored perfectly to Fadel’s taste.

“You two will wait here,” Dale said, stopping my guards before a long hallway. “No one except Ashborne guards is allowed past this point.”

“But,” Theo began, tense.

“It’s fine,” I assured them with a faint smile. “I’ll be fine.”

Reluctantly, they obeyed. Dale opened the door for me, revealing a room that looked more like a museum than a guest suite. It was luxurious, pristine, and utterly suffocating. I couldn’t relax. My palms were damp, my heart still unsteady. I was offered dresses and evening wear, but I refused them all.

When the time finally came, my chest tightened. I was about to face him again.

At the far end of the grand hall, seated on a raised throne, was the crownless king of Ashborne. Fadel. His chest was bare beneath a heavy brown fur coat, black leather pants hugging his legs, a glass of red wine dangling carelessly from his hand. He looked completely at ease, yet the sharp, unblinking focus of his gaze pinned me where I stood.

The room that had been buzzing moments ago fell into a chilling silence. The air reeked of alcohol and blood. Every man and woman here looked refined, dressed in elegant attire, but beneath the surface was something that smelled evil. All the luxury in the world couldn’t hide the truth. These people had already moved on from Mason’s death. Traitors, every one of them.

“Come here,” Fadel’s voice cut through the silence.

My fingers dug into the velvet of my dress as I forced myself forward. But before I could get close, he lifted a hand, stopping me. Then, with unhurried grace, he rose from his throne and stepped down the short marble stairs, closing the distance just enough to tower over me.

“Kneel.”

“What?” The word slipped out before I could stop it, ringing in my ears like a bad echo.

He chuckled, finishing his wine before tossing the glass aside. It shattered into a thousand glittering shards. “You heard me, She-Alpha Winter Veynar. Kneel before your alpha and beg for my forgiveness.”

My throat went dry. I could feel every pair of eyes in the room drilling into me. Even if I was only pretending, I still carried the title of Alpha in the eyes of others. Kneeling before another Alpha, especially him, was the ultimate humiliation.

“What’s wrong, little bunny?” His lips curved into a smirk. “Can’t bend the knee for the man who’s about to destroy your pack?”

My pack. Of course, he had to say that. The one thing that shattered my resolve every time.

With a shaky breath, I sank to my knees. The cold marble bit into my skin as I bowed my head, tears burning behind my eyes. I couldn’t speak. Not a single word.

“Crawl to your alpha.”

Just when I thought the humiliation couldn’t get any worse, it did. The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled as I dragged myself forward across the floor. The hem of my dress tangled around me, making each movement heavy and suffocating.

When I finally reached him, Fadel lowered himself just enough to reach me. His hand caught my chin, tilting my face up. “How was my punishment, little bunny?”

My lips parted, but no words came. Only the soft, broken sound of my breathing.

He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. “I hate it when you cry.”

And then, before I could even process it, he did something that left the entire room frozen. Fadel, Alpha of Ashborne, the monster everyone feared, lowered himself to his knees and wiped my tears away with his thumb. Then, without a word, he pulled me into his arms.