Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Lucas’s POV:
24%
Dare to touch my fated mate.
I felt Duke surge within me, a primal wave of rage threatening to break through my carefully constructed control.
I scanned the room, noting how the crowd had parted before me, their faces a mixture of surprise, fear, and calculation.
“Alpha Grayson, Alexander Price stepped forward, his voice carefully modulated to show deference without appearing weak. “We’re honored by your presence p>
I ignored him, my gaze fixed on Tori’s reddened cheek.
The mark was already darkening, a violent contrast against her pale skin.
“I’ve always heard that the Price family understands protocol and etiquette” I said, my voice turning ice cold as I gestured toward the scene before me. “Is this the upbringing and manners the Price family is so proud of p>
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
I saw Hannah Sullivan stiffen, her hand-the one that had struck Tori-dropping quickly to her side.
Alexander Price paled visibly. “Alpha Grayson, please allow me to explain-
“Explain?” I interrupted, my tone conversational but laced with steel.
“What is there to explain, Price? Creating such a scene at an event meant o honor our families’ alliance.” My voice cut through the silence like
a blade of ice. “Are you dissatisfied with this mating ceremony? Or perhaps you find Ethan unsuitable p>
Hannah’s face drained of color. “No! That’s not-
I shifted my gaze to Hannah, my eyes turning more glacial as I studied her
“Perhaps that’s something you should reflect on, Mrs. Sullivan. It makes me question what other… values your family holds p>
Hannah’s mouth opened and closed, no sound emerging as she withered under my stare.
Fiona stepped forward, her rehearsed expression of innocence firmly in place.
Alpha Grayson, there’s been a misunderstanding. Tori was upset about-
The look I gave her silenced her instantly. I didn’t need to summon my Algha aura; the cold in my eyes was enough to make her mouth snap shut with an audible click.
I shifted my attention to Ethan, who stood nearby looking distracted and comfortable.
His gaze kept darting toward Tori, lingering on the angry red mark bloom across her cheek.
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Chapter 17
“And you,” I said, my voice dropping even lower, “you can’t even maintain control at your own mating ceremony p>
24%
My eyes narrowed dangerously. “If you can’t handle a simple social event, than, how do you expect to handle anything of importance in the future?
Ethan’s gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders slumping as he accepted the public rebuke.
The sight of his defeated posture only fueled my irritation.
“Take your mate somewhere to change,” I ordered, gesturing dismissively Fiona’s champagne-soaked dress. “Haven’t you both made enough of a spectacle tonight p>
Ethan nodded stiffly, moving to Fiona’s side without meeting her eyes. “Yes, Uncle. Right away p>
As the pair disappeared through the doorway, Alexander immediately launched into profuse apologies, with Hannah quickly joining in, both of them promising that such an incident wouldn’t happen again.
Throughout their stammering explanations, I kept my peripheral vision on Tori. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken.
The red mark on her cheek seemed to pulse in time with my heartbeat, each throb feeding the rage Duke continued to growl deep within my chest.
Patience, I reminded myself. She’s not ready.
As much as every fiber of my being wanted to cross the room and claim her, to announce to everyone present that she was mine-my Luna, my mate-1 knew better.
Making such a declaration now would only place an even larger target on Her back.
As the event gradually regained its rhythm, with Alexander deftly steering conversations away from the incident, I scanned the room once
more.
My brow furrowed when I realized Tori was nowhere to be seen.
A jolt of concern shot through me as I considered her state of mind after such public humiliation.
Worse, Hannah’s public display had marked Tori as an acceptable target. Ion’t know if she will run into any more trouble.
I moved toward a quiet corner, pulling out my phone and sending a quick message to Morgan:
Come to the ceremony. Find Tort Make sure she’s okay.
I tucked my phone away, but my thoughts remained with Tori, wondering where she had gone and if she was safe.
When Morgan & reply finally came-a simple ‘On it-I allowed myself a small measure of relief.
At least Tori wouldnt be alone for long.
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Chapter 17
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Claimed by the Alpha’s Love
Chapter 18
Tori’s POV:
公会 24%血
I slipped away while Lucas was still interrogating the Price family, my check stinging from Hannah’s slap.
The bathroom seemed like the only sanctuary in the crowded venue, somewhere I could escape the prying eyes and whispers that followed me like shadows.
Locking the door behind me, I leaned against the cool marble counter and stared at my reflection.
The angry red mark on my cheek stood out starkly against my pale skin.
I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face, hoping to reduce the burning sensation, but the heat persisted-a physical reminder of my humiliation.
“Some things never change,” I whispered to my reflection.
Tracy stirred within me, her anger still simmering beneath the surface. We should never have come here.
I couldn’t disagree. Being here was a mistake, but one carefully orchestrated by Fiona.
As I dried my face with a paper towel, the pieces finally clicked together in my mind.
Fiona had made sure Hannah forced me to attend tonight. Not just to witness her triumph with Ethan, but to publicly humiliate me.
The decorations around the venue-silver moonflowers with blue winter frost lilies, arranged in crystal vases tied with silver ribbons-were exactly what Ethan and I had once planned for our own ceremony.
I had shared those details with only two people: Ethan and, foolishly, Fiona during our so-called friendship.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “She really went all out, didn’t she?” I murmured to myself.
The entire setup was designed to remind me of what I’d lost, to flaunt her victory in the most painful way possible. And she’d almost succeeded perfectly.
The only variable she couldn’t have accounted for was Lucas Grayson’s unexpected intervention.
Fiona would be too preoccupied with damage control to notice my absence now. I didn’t need to stay for the rest of the ceremony either.
I straightened my dress, took a deep breath, and headed for the door.
When I turned the handle, it didn’t budge.
“What the I tried again, jiggling the handle with increasing force. Nothing
My heartbeat quickened. ‘Hello?” I called out, rapping my knuckles agains the door. ‘Is anyone there? The door seems to be stuck!
“Oh, it’s not stuck,” came a sickeningly sweet voice from the other side locked p>
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