Elle’s POV
I watched as the color drained from Calista’s face, her golden eyes flickering between rage and terror. My words about the consequences of incestuous love had clearly struck home, but I could see she was still teetering on the edge of losing complete control.
“You think you’re so clever,” she whispered, her voice shaking with a mixture of fury and fear. Her claws were still extended, though they trembled slightly now. “You think you understand everything.”
“I understand enough, I said carefully, keeping my voice steady despite the terror coursing through my veins. “I understand that you’re torn between your feelings for Peter and the knowledge that those feelings could destroy you both.”
Calista’s face contorted with anguish.
“You don’t know what it’s like,” she snarled, her elongated nails flexing. “Watching him pine for some weak human girl who never deserved him. Watching him waste his love on inferior-”
“Calista, listen to me,” I interrupted, my hand instinctively moving to protect my stomach. “I get it. You feel like Peter’s been wasting his time on people who don’t understand him the way you do. But think about this rationally. Even if you got rid of me, even if you made Peter hate every woman who reminds him of Dakota, that wouldn’t make him love you the way you want.”
Her eyes flashed dangerously, and for a moment I thought she might lunge at me again. But then something shifted in her expression – a flicker of uncertainty that gave me hope.
“I know you think I’m just some pathetic human who stumbled into your world,” I continued, taking a cautious step to the side, trying to position myself closer to the door. “But you’re wrong about one thing. I have no interest in Peter romantically. None. You want to know why?”
Calista’s head tilted slightly, her predatory instincts momentarily overridden by curiosity.
“Because I have Brad,” I said simply. “I have a mate who chose me,
when I know Peter only sees Dakota when he looks at me?”
who loves me, who’s given me his child. Why would I risk that for anyone else, especially
‘But the greenhouse!” she shrieked, her voice barely human now. “You think I don’t know what you did in there? Peter hasn’t let anyone in that greenhouse in years. Not even me! And now you’ve talked him into giving you grandfather’s most precious pieces?”
‘Calista, I swear I had no idea-‘
‘Grandfather’s collection is priceless!‘ Her claws were inches from my face now, her features fully distorted by her partial transformation. “I’ve been begging Peter for one piece, just one, for years. And he gives them all to you after knowing you for what, a few days?”
Terror shot through me as I realized how this looked from her perspective. Peter’s kindness, his attempt to share something beautiful with someone who reminded him of Dakota, had been interpreted as something far more significant.
‘Calista, please, I’ll refuse them,” I said desperately. “I’ll tell Peter I can’t accept them. I’ll-”
But she wasn’t listening anymore. Her eyes had gone completely golden, and when she smiled, it was all fangs.
“Too late for that,” she growled, her voice distorted by her transformation. “The damage is already done. But you know what? There’s still a way to fix this. I just need to make sure that pretty little face of yours never bewitches my brother again.”
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Chapter 231
My blood ran cold as her meaning became crystal clear. She was going to destroy my face. Disfigure me so badly that Peter would never look at me the same
way again.
“Calista, think about what you’re doing,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “Think about the consequences. If you hurt me-
“I don’t care!” she screamed. ‘I don’t care about the consequences! I don’t care about starting a war! I don’t care about anything except making sure Peter never looks at you with that expression again!”
I was truly trapped now.
But then, a knock echoed through the room.
“Calista? Peter’s voice came through the door, muffled but clearly concerned. “Are you alright? I heard shouting.”
Calista’s eyes went wide with panic, and she started to move toward me, probably to silence me. But I was faster.
“Wait, I hissed, holding up my hand. “Think about this. Really think. If Peter finds you with your claws out, threatening his guest, what’s he going to think? What’s he going to assume?”
She froze, her golden eyes flickering between the door and me.
“But if he finds me threatening you,” I continued quickly, my mind working frantically, “if he thinks I’m the aggressive one, that I was bullying you… wouldn’t that achieve the same goal? Wouldn’t that make him hate me just as much?”
Calista stared at me, her partially shifted features making her expression hard to read. But I could see the wheels turning in her head.
“You would do that?” she whispered, her claws retracting slightly. “You’d let me tell him you were threatening me?”
“If it keeps both of us safe, yes,” I said firmly. “If it means my baby stays safe and you don’t get cast out of your family for assault, then yes. We can make Peter think I’m the villain here. But we have to be smart about it.”
The knocking came again, more insistent this time.
“Calista, I’m coming in,” Peter called.
I grabbed the fruit knife from the tray I’d brought up, moving quickly. “Pretend to cry,” I whispered urgently. “Get on the floor. Now!”
For a moment, Calista just stared at me. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, she collapsed to the floor, her claws fully retracting as she began to sob.
I raised the knife, pointing it in her direction, and slapped her hard across the face not hard enough to really hurt her, but hard enough to leave a mark.
“Act!” I hissed.
Then I raised my voice, letting it carry through the door. “You dare challenge me? you think because you’re some Hamilton family mixed–blood, you can go against Brad Rayne’s mate?”
The door burst open, and Peter rushed in, his eyes taking in the scene cheek, and me standing over her with a knife in my hand.
–
on
Calista the floor, tears streaming down her face with a red handprint on her
“What the hell is going on here?” Peter demanded, his voice sharp with shock and anger.
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Chapter 231
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I kept the knife pointed at Calista, putting every ounce of arrogance I could muster into my voice. “Your sister seems to think she can intimidate me. I was
just explaining to her that women who oppose me tend to regret it.”
Calista let out a convincing sob, covering her face with her hands.
Peter’s face went pale with shock and fury, his eyes moving between Calista and me. I could see him struggling to process what he was seeing the evidence
of his eyes against everything he thought he knew about my character.
“Well, I said, letting the knife drop to the floor with a deliberate clatter. ‘I think we understand each other now, don’t we, Calista?
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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.
