I treated myself to a $1000 steak at the most expensive restaurant in our territory.
Without a large family to feed, this she-wolf had money to burn!
I stayed out until the moon was high before returning to the villa.
The villa was dark when I returned. Not one mindlink message, call or text while I was out – they’d all gone to sleep without a care.
I made my way through the darkness to the master bedroom. The moment I entered, my wolf recoiled.
Victoria’s cheap perfume saturated the air. Mixed with something else that made my stomach turn. Alexander’s aroused scent.
My territory. My home. My mate. All tainted.
The moment I sat on our California king bed, a shriek pierced the air.
“Ah!”
I jumped, quickly hitting the light switch. There was Victoria, lying in my spot.
My spot. Where my scent should be strongest. Where my mate bond was anchored.
My blood didn’t just boil – my wolf howled for blood. My therapy training on anger management flew out the window.
Before I could think, my claws were out and I’d struck Victoria across the face.
I didn’t hold back. My claws left deep marks.
Victoria burst into tears, the scratch marks already healing.
Alexander sat up, shielding her. “Why did you attack Victoria? We were just talking late and accidentally fell asleep!”
The mate bond screamed at their intimate position.
“Really? You ‘accidentally’ ended up in our bedroom, in our bed, in each other’s arms?”
“We were waiting for you! You were out so late, Victoria kept me company. We were talking in here and just dozed off – it’s perfectly innocent!”
His voice trembled. The mate bond revealed his lies.
“Then why no calls? No texts? Too busy reminiscing with your childhood sweetheart? If you were waiting for me, why not in the living room? Why in our private bedroom?”
Alexander’s eyes flashed angrily. “Scarlett, you’re being completely unreasonable!”
I could smell their mingled scents on my Egyptian cotton sheets, but thankfully, my mate bond wasn’t screaming in pain. They hadn’t crossed that line – yet.
I turned to Victoria. “I’m back now. Unless you’re planning to share our mate bed?”
Victoria clutched her face. “Alexander, it hurts so much.”
Playing the victim. Classic Victoria.
Alexander nearly whimpered with concern. “Let me get some healing cream.”
The moment they left, I sealed the bedroom with mountain ash and activated the security locks.
$10,000 worth of security features. Money well spent.
I stripped every piece of bedding that carried their scent and threw it in the trash. Then I used scent-blocking herbs and went to sleep.
