Chapter 2

The nearby noble werewolves, recogni zing this moment as one that should be celebrated, began politely clapping. Then the applause grows louder, and some even begain to cheer.

Nearby, reporters and photographers hurried closer, the bulbs of their cameras flashing and popping like firecrackers, straight in my eyes.

I stumbled backwards, moving out of my row into the aisle. Lucian didn’t notice, his hand now resting comfortably on Shelia’s lower back. Grinning, she leaned closer to him.

The cameras caught it all. So did I.

Embarrassment flashed through me, bringing heat up in my cheeks. Turning, I continued down the row until it finally blessedly met the wall where I could hide.

I didn’t stay hidden for long.

Sheila, eyes like a beacon, saw my every move. The moment the attention moved back onto the auction, she walked away from Lucian and approached me where I leaned against the wall.

Her smile was bright. “Aria. Why are you hiding here in the corner?” She didn’t wait for me to answer before pressing on. “You look sad. Did you want the necklace? Here. It should be yours anyway.”

Reaching up, Sheila unclasped the necklace from behind her neck, then started to hold it out for me.

As she often stole the spotlight from me, I naturally disliked her. For her to make this gesture toward me, I could see now that I had been unkind in judging her.

Maybe she really was kind.

Yet, just as I reached out to take the necklace, Sheila cried and she threw herself backwards like I had pushed her.

"Aria!" She purposely screamed.

Her heels twisted beneath her and she fell to the ground.

The necklace fell out of her hand. The string caught on something, snapping it, and the pearls spilled out across the auditorium floor.

The entire room immediately silenced, everyone watching us.

“Aria! How could you?!” Sheila said loudly from the ground. “I knew you were jealous of me, but to act like this here, in front of everyone!”

“I didn’t…” I started to say. The eyes of the mob darkened with anger, already against me.

“Why would you push me?”

The kindness was an act. I had been right, initially, when I had doubted her. Now I was paying the price for letting down my guard.

The reporters and photographers rushed close once more. This time, I was included in their flashes and pops. This incident would likely be all over the gossip magazines the following day. In full and vibrant color, no doubt.

And here I was, with no way of proving my innocence. Any attempt to do so would pit my word against Sheila’s, and I’d already lost the battle of public opinion.

Lucian pushed through the gathering crowd, coming closer to us. For a moment, I held his gaze, my hope rising.

Our marriage hadn’t been perfect, but I was still his wife. Surely, of the two of us, he would side with me, not Sheila.

Please believe me, I wordlessly begged with my eyes and my heart. Please, I’m your wife. This is our wedding anniversary. Please.

Lucian’s face remained emotionless as ever, his eyes as cold as they ever were. Yet I still hoped. I still believed in the power of this marriage.

I continued to believe right up to the moment Lucian stopped, kneeled at Sheila’s side, and helped her back up to her feet. With his arm around her, she pressed both hands to his chest. She leaned her face toward his shoulder, hiding her wide smile from the entire room.

No one could see it – except me.

“Aria,” Lucian snapped.

“Yes, husband?” I doubled my efforts to act as his devoted, submissive wife, hoping with my last hope that it might be enough to sway him to my side.

Please, Lucian, Please...!

“Apologize to Sheila, Aria.”

That rising hope that had lifted up inside of my chest crashed straight back down to the pit of my stomach, where it shriveled up once more, returning to despair.

“But! Lucian, I —…”

“—Apologize.”

I knew that hard tone. He wouldn’t ask again.

"Now."

Lucian said coldly, to me.