There isn’t a single person who isn’t staring at me when I get back to class. The narrative has been successfully established, and now I am the shameless bitch who couldn’t take a hint. Ivar’s presence is only making things worse because, since we’re always together, it confirms the allegations the media is spitting out.
I’m a bit behind in my lessons, but all of my work is done. I turn in my homework and essays that were due over the past couple of days and take a seat with Ivar. Some of the students move away from us. It doesn’t go unnoticed by my professors, but there isn’t much they can do for a paying student. As long as I don’t start a physical fight on campus, there’s not a lot they can do.
That is how I spend the entire morning. Listening to people call me a slut. By the time it’s time for me to head to work, I get an email from the hospital telling me to go to HR before my shift. There is no doubt in my mind that I am about to be fucking fired from my job, so I don’t bother changing into my scrubs.
“Soph,” Ivar stops me before we enter the building. Neither of us has said a word to one another since we got out of the Mustang and heard the first comment back in the school parking lot.
“I’m about to get fired. I’d like for you not to make things worse for me,” I say, looking up at him. His expression softens, and he nods.
“Miss Helvig,” the head nurse greets me and motions for me to follow.
She looks up at Ivar, who takes the hint and stays back as we walk to the central HR office together. She opens the door and walks me inside. Emelda Cuevas is one of the prettiest Alpha Females I’ve ever met. She was the first to welcome me into this program. She’s about six feet tall, give or take. She looks fantastic in her uniform and has always been straightforward. Her eyes are a pretty hazel that leans more towards honey than green. They’ve always brought me comfort, so what’s about to come out of her mouth is going to hurt.
“I have never had a complaint about you, Sophia,” she begins. “I took a tremendous risk bringing you on, but I did it because you were the Alpha’s mate. However-”
I stand up, cutting her off. I take my badge off and set my permits down in front of her.
“Your new Luna doesn’t think it’s professional of the hospital to have me around,” I nod. “Thank you for everything.”
“Wait,” she stops me before I walk out the door. “I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise.”
“It doesn’t really matter now, does it? You’re still going to try to ruin my reputation and my name here. I know a lot about you and everyone who works here, Mrs. Cuevas. Sure, the discarded mate of an asshole like Santiago might get some fucked up headlines, but what do you think will happen to the hospital when I release the files I have in possession?
“You fuck with me, and I am going to bite down just as hard. I want you to tell that bitch exactly what I said and why you won’t be playing along with her games. I might not be like the rest of you, but I’m not exactly defenseless.”
“You signed an NDA,” she reminds me.
“As a member of this pack. I am no longer a member of this pack, so it no longer applies to me. It never has. I was never a wolf to begin with. Your oath doesn’t mean shit to me. Expect to hear from my lawyers and know that the technicality stands in the Alpha King’s court of law. You know exactly who my mother was and who my grandmother is.”
“Sophia, this hospital has nothing to do-”
“It does now,” I shrug. “The moment you decided to terminate everything I’ve worked for. I did nothing wrong to you or anyone else. I am leaving, but I’m not going to go quietly.”
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1:57 pm PD
Chapter 20
Et 55 vouchers
She lets out a heavy sigh and doesn’t say another word. I open the door hard enough for it to bang against the wall. Ivar follows me as we get back to the car. All I can really do is rub my eyes in frustration. These last two and a half months are going to be a got damned nightmare. Not just for me. For all of us.
“I’m sorry, Soph,” he says quietly.
“It was just a matter of time before she started coming after me like this. It doesn’t matter,” I shrug it off.
“It does matter. She is fucking with-”
“And what do you think I should be doing? She is the Luna of the City, Ivar. No one is going to risk their hard work for some stupid ass omega. That is what I am. That is how my kind is treated. Can we please go home? I still have a lot of homework to do,” I snap.
“Do you need anything before we get there? Food, ice cream?” he offers.
I stare at him for a long time because it’s such a simple question. I want to tell him he’s a fucking idiot for even bringing it up with everything going on, but none of this is his fault, and there is really no reason for me to snap at him again.
“I can go for some ice cream,” I agree.
I don’t deserve the smile he gives me, but there it is. I take my tablet out of my bag and anonymously send some of the files I have on the new Luna to a reporter who has been on my ass since Santiago made our relationship public. The response is immediate.
-Do you have proof?– she asks me. I send her the videos and pictures I have, along with some screenshots Lieza sent me. -Okay, anonymous source, will I be expecting more?–
-Yes. I respond along with the names of the rest of the Romano family.
-Keep the messages short. Never give your name, but if you want this to be kept very under the radar, I will need some dirt on you as well.-
[ forward my termination letter along with some pictures from the party that Mary sent me, including one of Santiago with his hands around my throat. Poppy is standing behind him with a smile on her face.
-Perfect. Let me know what you think tonight.-
‘I bet that felt good,” Ivar says after a while. “We can wait and see the reaction they have to this. If the public takes the bait, we can go harder.”
It feels filthy. After all, for the past few years, I had considered these people my family. I had done everything I could to protect them. My instincts are already wired to care. However, I never expected to be blindsided like this. I thought I knew ny place in their lives and their hearts. I had genuinely believed that they had accepted that I wouldn’t be shifting.
Everything I’ve done until now has been to ensure that no one ever questioned my rank at my mate’s side. I put aside everything to focus on him and his career as the next alpha of the City. My heart aches in knowing that they never respected ne as a person. That I was only ever an object to them and their son.
t’s all very clear now. I am nothing to them. They are now nothing to me. These people deserve the scrutiny they are about o be under because once I get to the former alpha himself, the Alpha King, and his men will come to investigate precisely what he’s done to ensure the success of this City.
Don’t overthink this. They aren’t,” Ivar pulls into one of the best ice cream parlors in the City. “Ice creams on me. Maybe ifter we can take a look at those files in your mom’s home office.”
You read my mind,” I agree. “She has an entire section on the Romanos. No one stressed her out more than the former
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3:57 pm
Chapter 20
55 vouchers
Luna of the City. I’m sure she’s not going to mind me weaponizing her notes. After all, she was the one who taught me how to fight back.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
