Chapter 51
51
~Lira’s POV
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. The second we stepped outside, I spun on Ronan and slapped him across the face. The sound of it echoed in the empty street for a moment before he grabbed his cheek, eyes wide.
“You I hissed, my voice sharp, shaking with fury. “How dare you! How dare you act that way?! Is that what I asked you to do p>
“You slapped me?!” he shouted, finally raising his voice. “Lira, what is your problem p>
“My problem? My problem is that you’re an idiot! That you I stopped, breathing hard, “That you let that witch, Elara, humiliate me and flirt with Alpha Darlon right in front of me p>
He scoffed, anger flashing in his eyes. “You think it’s her fault alone? Do you know what your words caused? Your demeaning, ugly insults to her? That’s why Alpha Darlon flared! Do you even understand what you did p>
I froze, but the anger didn’t fade. “What are you talking about p>
“You made him angry, Lira. You made him so angry that he fired me. Do you know what that means? I lost my job because of you!” He stepped closer, voice sharp. “And don’t even think I’ll forgive you easily. You promised my life would be safe, and now, what are you going to do about that p>
I hissed through my teeth, grabbing my car keys. “I don’t care what you say, Ronan! I’m done!” I stormed to my car, slamming the door and driving off before he could say another word.
By the time I returned to the Blueberries Pack mansion, my heart was pounding, my hands still shaking from the drive. I slammed the door behind me and was immediately met by the furious stares of my father and mother.
“What on earth did you do, Lira?!” my father roared, his face red with fury. “Do you know what it means that Alpha Darlon wanted to take over the company completely p>
“I… I said something!” I tried to defend myself, my voice small but trembling.
“Something?” he shouted. “Something that made him threaten our entire company? Something that could have ruined us p>
“Your Majesty, please,” my mother said softly, trying to calm him. “You should calm down…she’s your daughter. It’s not worth p>
“Not worth?” I flared up, cutting her off. “Not worth? Are you serious? Are you really just going to let them take everything? Do you know what I’m trying to do? I was only trying to get my man back! That’s all I wanted p>
My father’s face darkened. “And this is how you try? By making threats against another Alpha’s decisions? Not just any Alpha p>
I felt my stomach twist, my hands trembling at my sides. I shook my head, trying to steady my voice, though it came out shaky. “I was only… trying to get what’s mine! You made her Elara marry Alpha Darlon instead of me! Why did you make that decision p>
The words escaped before I could stop them, sharp and raw. His eyes narrowed, and the veins in his forehead throbbed with anger. He slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing through the room, and stormed toward the door. “I will not tolerate this kind of behavior from my daughter!” he bellowed as he left, the door slamming behind him with a force that rattled the windows.
I spun toward my mother, chest heaving, eyes blazing. “And you?” I demanded, voice rising. “Are you just going to let them take my man? You’re supposed to help me, not defend them p>
Her face softened, but her tone was calm, almost too calm. “My dear,” she said softly, almost pityingly, “the deed is done. There’s nothing we can do. You can find another Alpha, someone else p>
I felt like the words hit me like ice. “Another Alpha? Are you insane? Alpha Darlon is the most powerful, the richest, the hottest, the most handsome man alive! It is him that I want! No one else! No one will do p>
I could feel the heat in my cheeks, my hands clenching into fists until my nails dug into my palms. Every thought of him, the way he carried himself, the way he made decisions that affected everyone, the way he looked at me, even if I wasn’t his yet, made my chest tighten with longing and frustration.
I stormed to my room, slamming the door behind me, the sound loud enough to rattle the frame. My chest heaved, breath coming in short, sharp bursts. The anger rolling through me felt like fire, and I couldn’t stop it. I kicked my chair, sending it crashing into the wall. Papers were scattered across the floor. My lamp tipped over with a sharp clatter, the bulb bouncing and rolling across the carpet. Books fell from the shelf like dominoes, pages fluttering open and slamming closed.
After a while, exhausted and trembling, I collapsed onto my bed. My hands were shaking, my chest heaving as I tried to calm my racing thoughts. I felt raw, like someone had stripped every bit of patience and composure from me. My mind kept replaying everything that had happened. It all felt heavy, suffocating, and I just needed a distraction, something to pull me out of the chaos inside me.
I reached for my laptop and opened it, scrolling almost aimlessly through the internet. Ads, news, meaningless posts, it was all white noise. And then I saw it. Pictures. Photos of Alpha Darlon and Elara at the masked club. They were laughing, close, comfortable, shining in a way that made people stop and stare. Comments poured in beneath the pictures, people wondering who the mysterious woman was, speculating, praising her beauty, talking about her confidence. My chest tightened, and for a moment, a bitter flame of jealousy flared.
But then, slowly, defiance sparked inside me. Why should I just sit and watch? I took a deep breath and reached for my jewelry box. Fingers trembling, I pulled out one of my diamond rings, the one that looked like a wedding ring. Its weight in my hand felt like a challenge. I slipped it onto my finger, and the sight of it made me smile, despite the anger simmering under my skin.
I grabbed my phone, snapped a picture of my hand with the ring, and posted it online. The caption came almost automatically, a statement of my claim, my pride: “I got the best man on earth. Alpha Darlon p>
Almost immediately, my notifications started flooding in. Likes, comments, shares, they all came at once.
People were congratulating me, admiring the ring, commenting on how stunning and powerful we looked together. Some called us a perfect pair, others complimented the boldness of the post. The screen buzzed with energy, excitement, and validation, and for the first time in hours, I felt a spark of triumph.
I couldn’t help it. I laughed softly, a little manic maybe, but it was happiness too. For once, for just a moment, I felt in control, victorious, and alive.
And as I sat there, smiling at the screen, reading the endless praise and excitement from everyone, I allowed myself to feel… satisfaction. A tiny, wicked victory that, at least on social media, everyone knew exactly what I thought, and exactly who I wanted.