Chapter 65
Scarlett’s POV
I ran.
My lungs burned, the alcohol in my system blurring my vision, but the adrenaline forced me to keep running.
I could hear the heavy thud of footsteps behind me—powerful, rhythmic, and closing in. I knew it was him. Alpha Lennox was a warrior; he could catch me in seconds if he truly wanted to.
But then, the footsteps abruptly stopped.
The silence of the woods swallowed the sound of my own frantic breathing. I didn’t look back. I kept my head down and pushed through the brush until the dark silhouette of the packhouse loomed ahead. I burst through the side entrance, my heart hammering against my ribs.
I forced myself to slow down, smoothing my hair and wiping the sweat from my forehead as I passed a few lingering omegas in the hall. I pretended everything was fine, nodding stiffly as I climbed the stairs. The moment I reached my room, I threw myself inside and bolted the door.
I leaned against the heavy wood of my door, the click of the bolt echoing in the silence of the room. My chest was heaving, my lungs burning as I tried to pull in air. Sweat slicked my skin, making the soft fabric of the nightwear Ethan had bought me cling to my body.
My mind was a chaotic mess of alcohol and adrenaline.
The image of Alpha Lennox in the woods flashed behind my eyes like a lightning strike. He had been so desperate, so lost in that kiss. Who was she?
Since the death of Luna Olivia, the pack had viewed the three Alphas—Levi, Lennox, and Louis—as men carved from stone. They had practically worshipped her. They were the legendary trio who would have laid down their lives for her without a second thought.
I had always wondered how Lennox, in particular, had seemed to move on so “well.” He was the one who threw himself into training the warriors, the one who never spoke her name, the one who seemed to have buried his heart in her grave.
But seeing him tonight… that wasn’t the kiss of a man who was mourning. It was the kiss of a man who was obsessed with whoever he was kissing.
If the pack found out he had a secret lover—especially tonight, of all nights—the scandal would be cataclysmic. But more than that, I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman’s hands. They had been so pale, so delicate. So familiar.
I stumbled toward the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, trying to sober up. My wolf, Zoe, was pacing again, her tail tucked. She wasn’t just tired; she was uneasy.
Something is wrong, Scarlett, she whispered in the back of my mind. The woods… the scent… it wasn’t just Lennox, she urged. Think about the scent.
I closed my eyes, trying to remember. Through the haze of Lennox’s powerful Alpha aroma, there had been something else. Something faint. Something that seemed familiar.
Before I could process the familiar scent from the woods, a sharp, demanding knock landed against my door.
My heart leaped into my throat. I froze, my hand still wet from the bathroom sink. Was it Sir Lennox? Had he followed me? Had he seen my face before I turned to run? I stayed silent, hoping whoever it was would think I was passed out from the party.
But the knocking didn’t stop. It became louder, more insistent.
With shaky legs, I crept toward the door. My breath was hitching in my chest as I reached for the handle, but I stopped, leaning forward to peer through the tiny peephole instead.
I frowned, my confusion momentarily replacing my fear. It wasn’t Lennox. It wasn’t even the triplets.
Standing in the hallway were the three Silver Lake sisters: Camila, Bianca, and Talia.
They were still in their elaborate engagement gowns. Their faces weren’t filled with the joy of newly betrothed Lunas; they looked like they were hunting.
I composed myself, drawing in a deep breath, and turned the bolt. The moment the latch clicked, they didn’t wait for an invitation. They surged forward as a unit, shoving their way into my room and slamming the door shut behind them.
“What is the meaning of this?” I snapped, trying to find the “guest” persona Ethan had told me to use.
Camila, the one with black hair, stepped into my space first. The cloying scent of heavy floral perfume rolled off her, making my alcohol-sensitive stomach churn. She looked around my room with pure disdain, her eyes landing on the discarded red dress on the floor.
“We aren’t here for small talk, maid,” Camila hissed, her voice vibrating with a suppressed growl.
“We saw the way they looked at you,” Bianca, the blonde, added, stepping up to my bedside and trailing a finger over the pillows. “Liam, Leo, and Leon. They didn’t even look at us during the ceremony. Their eyes were glued to the front row. To you p>
Talia, the one with chocolate brown hair like mine, leaned against the door, crossing her arms. “And then, the moment you left with Alpha Ethan, they disappeared. One by one. We’ve been looking for our fiancés for the last hour p>
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she scanned my face. “You smell like them, Scarlett. Not just one of them. All of them p>
My blood ran cold. My wolf, Zoe, paced restlessly in my mind, baring her teeth.
“I’m a guest of Alpha Ethan,” I said, my voice cold and steady despite the thudding of my heart. “If your fiancés are missing, go find them. My room is not a kennel for stray Alphas p>
Slap.
The sound echoed through the room. My head snapped to the side, the sting of Camila’s palm burning against my cheek—her ring catching my skin and tearing it slightly as it struck.
“Don’t you dare use that tone with us,” Camila whispered, her face inches from mine. “We know what you are. You’re the daughter of the people who betrayed this pack. You’re a stain on this territory. If you think for one second that we will let a little ’distraction’ like you ruin our alliance, you’re dead wrong p>
She grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing me to look at her. “Stay away from them. If I find you near the triplets again—if I even hear your name come out of their mouths—I won’t wait for a trial. I’ll tear your throat out myself and claim it was an accident p>
“Do you understand?” Bianca stepped in, her eyes glowing a faint, predatory yellow.
I stared back at them, My cheek throbbed. I could taste blood.
I didn’t nod. I didn’t blink. I just watched them, my mind already drafting what I would do to them. I thought of attacking, but they were three, and it was just me.
“Get out,” I spat through my teeth.
Camila released my hair with a sneer. “Enjoy your night, Scarlett. It’s likely one of the last ones you’ll have in this house p>