Chapter 165
Blood wells, steaming down my hand.
Fine.
If Ellie wants to play bride, I will play helpful. I will smile and offer to plan and organize and fix the things she inevitably fumbles. Because I know she doesn’t love him. It’s just for her mother. It’s a fake.
She hates his world. She always has. The expectations. The eyes. The subtle rules.
I don’t.
I was made for that stage, I will be right there with the perfect answer.
We are sisters, after all.
I stand, smooth my skirt, and step carefully over the broken glass. A thin line of blood trails behind me on the hardwood.
Games like this are never won in one move. They’re won slowly. Publicly. With witnesses.
And I am very, very patient.
Also, I haven’t had tea yet.
And I refuse to spiral before caffeine.
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Ellie POV
I was expecting a pizza delivery.
The Alpha’s maid had prepared this grand meal. And don’t get me wrong. It looked like it was made for the gods.
But I just needed something normal. Greasy and bad for me.
So when I opened the door with cash in my hand, fully prepared to tip a sweaty teenage pizza delivery guy, I did not expect blond curls and a fluffy pink sweater that probably cost more than my monthly rent.
Vivian.
My eyebrows drop instantly. “Yeah. No.”
She smiles like a snake. “You don’t even know why I’m here.”
“I actually, truly, deeply don’t care.” I lean out a little, scanning the driveway. “Did you pass a pizza guy on your way up?”
Before I can shut the door, something thorny is shoved at my chest. I look down.
Roses.
“And those are?” I ask flatly.
“For you.” She rolls her eyes like I’m exhausting. “You’re alive, aren’t you?”
Wow. Sentiment. How touching.
Then I hear footsteps behind me. Heavy. My ‘woof’ approaching.
And I watch it happen.
Vivian’s entire expression shifts in 4k. Like someone flipped a switch. Softer eyes. Brighter smile. Shoulders relaxed just
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enough to look delicate instead of coiled.
“Ellie!” she squeals, and before I can dodge, she launches herself at me.
I stiffen on impact. The roses get crushed between us, petals bending awkwardly as she hugs me like we spent childhood braiding each other’s hair instead of competing for who got acknowledged at dinner.
She smells like expensive vanilla and a dolled up poodle.
“You didn’t tell me!” she gushes, pulling back but keeping her hands on my arms. “Engaged? To Dominic? Oh my gosh.”
Her voice is breathy. Sparkly. So convincingly thrilled I almost applaud.
Behind me, Dominic steps into view.
And suddenly Vivian’s grip tightens just a little.
Right on cue.
“I’ve always wanted to plan a wedding,” Vivian gushes, already stepping inside like she lives here. “Especially an Alpha’s wedding. Do you know what you can do with florals at that level? Structural arrangements. Hanging installations. It’s literally a dream.”
My eye twitches.
“Why,” I ask slowly, “are you here?”
She squeezes my shoulders like I’m fragile, tilting her head with that fake concern she perfected around age six. “You must be overwhelmed. Which makes sense. You chose to focus on the Healing Academy, which is lovely, but pack governance and management is… different.” She smiles, soft and encouraging. “I’d love to help. I could act as your Delta for now. Just until you get comfortable.”
There it is.
Right on schedule.
I remember saying yes to this. Her every step. Every smile. Every “helpful” suggestion that somehow turned into her making every decision while I stood there like a decorative, out of her league prop.
By the time my wedding day came in my last life, it didn’t even feel like mine anymore.
“No.”
The word leaves my mouth before she finishes her sentence.
Vivian pauses. Just for a second. Then she recovers so smoothly I almost respect it.
She pivots, turning her attention past me like I was never the person she needed to convince in the first place.
“Well,” she says sweetly, eyes lifting to Dominic behind me, “what do you think?”
I don’t turn around, just fold my arms, waiting for her little charm to work.
“I just want what’s best for the pack,” she continues softly, lowering her voice like this is suddenly intimate. “Especially right now. With everything going on.” Her lashes dip. “The investigation on my dad has been… stressful. I haven’t exactly felt welcome anywhere.”
I close my eyes briefly.
She’s good. Gods, she’s good.
Dominic has had that Alpha instinct lately. The one that makes him feel personally responsible for everyone within breathing
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distance in his pack. Especially when they look wounded.
Especially when it’s Vivian.
“She can assist with logistics,” he says carefully behind me. Neutral. Measured. “Just support. Nothing more.”
I turn to him slowly, rage filled.
“…What?”
“Yeah,” he nods relaxed. “The wedding is in a few days anyways. We could use the help.”
Both Vivian and I jump, leaning in saying together. “A FEW DAYS?!”
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