6 The Prince Is Here

I roared at Joe, consumed by anger.

 

At this point, I finally understood Mrs. Smith's concerns were not unfounded. I had indeed paid a heavy price for my naivety, an overwhelming price.

 

"Listen to me, Claire..." Joe attempted to justify himself. He probably had never seen me in such a state before, as I had always been the gentle and composed perfect girlfriend in his presence. I coldly stared at his mouth moving, but not a single word registered in my ears.

 

The man I had once loved now made me sick!

 

I heard my wolf wailing and weeping within. Betrayed by the person I loved most, deceived by my own family, and discarded like a disposable child by my own biological father... Three consecutive blows left her in such agony and she felt like she was dying.

 

Tears blurred my vision, and I realized I must look disheveled at this moment. But I no longer cared about any of that.

 

At that very moment, my only thought was revenge.

 

I swore to the moon goddess that I would make them feel this pain too!

 

Grabbing a champagne glass within reach, I splashed it at those despicable individuals.

 

"Rot in hell!" I cursed, "Shameless fraudsters, I'll see you in court!"

 

It felt as if I had been split into two halves. One half of me struggled in agony, while the other half coldly observed my boyfriend—now ex-boyfriend—and his true mate, Cathy, screaming together.

 

"Claire Gambino! You crazy woman!"

 

My sister was drenched in champagne, her carefully done makeup smudged into a mess. Fair enough, I smirked. She destroyed my relationship, and now her proposal ceremony has turned into a disaster.

 

Cathy seemed to have lost her mind to anger. She fiercely called out my name, ignoring Joe's attempts to stop her, charging at me like crazy.

 

What was once a sweet proposal ceremony turned into a battlefield. The surrounding werewolves stared in shock, their eyes wide open. Many of them hadn't even had time to process what was happening before Cathy and I started fighting.

 

She snarled, revealing her sharp fingernails. Amidst the pushing and shoving, many exquisite tableware items shattered on the floor. Shouts echoed throughout the banquet hall. Suddenly, I heard the sound of fabric tearing—

 

My $6,000 gown, ruined by her fingernails!

 

My anger surged once again. Clearly, Cathy had done it intentionally. She still held a grudge over what happened in that upscale shop that day.

 

A pitiful woman who could only survive by comparing herself to others!

 

I stood there with one bare foot on the cold carpet, leaning against the table. I clutched a hand over my chest to keep it from slipping. Even so, my clothes had been torn, my entire back was exposed, and my bra was partially visible. However, I hadn't allowed Cathy to gain any advantage from me. In fact, she looked even more miserable than I did.

 

My dear sister, not only drenched in champagne but with bloody wounds all over her arms, a bruise forming around her left eye. Her entire face was visibly swollen.

 

I didn't need anyone's sympathy as I stood alone, one foot on the floor, next to the dining table. Because I was the victor of this confrontation.

 

Now, this incompetent loser could only cling to Joe, seeking solace and crying to our father.

 

I stood there, holding my head high, looking at them with a contemptuous gaze as they comforted each other.

 

"You truly disappoint me!"

 

At this point, my father couldn't maintain his composure any longer. He clenched his fists, his face turning pale as he walked toward me. "As your father, I must teach you a lesson today..."

 

"Be quiet!"

 

Suddenly, the serious voice of the Beta came from the upper floor, instantly halting my father in his tracks.

 

Everyone then remembered that there were members of the royal family present at tonight's banquet.

 

The once-noisy atmosphere immediately quieted down. The werewolves all lowered their heads in the direction of the second floor, including my arrogant father. His chest heaved heavily, his face filled with remorse and anger.

 

I must say, it suited me just fine.

 

The chaos we caused would surely disturb the VIP box on the second floor, and this was my way of getting back to my father. Since he valued his image in front of the royal family so much, I would spare no expense to show his true colors in front of everyone!

 

Among the crowd of werewolves, I calmly raised my head and looked upward.

 

I had prepared myself for the punishment from the royal family.

 

And so, unexpectedly, I met the pair of eyes of a man.

 

He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He had golden curly hair, a broad chest, and a high nose. He stood above on the staircase, dressed in a black custom-made suit. His large palm casually rested on the handrail of the spiral staircase, with a silver wolf head ring on his pinky finger, symbolizing his royal status.

 

All the Alphas present bowed their heads in submission to him. But his gaze was ice-cold. In his eyes, the hundreds of guests below seemed like lifeless statues.

 

However, as soon as he noticed me looking at him, his lips curled up into a faint smile. He tilted his head, staring at me with possessive eyes, without blinking.

 

He seemed to hold a strong interest in me.

 

His intense gaze made me uncomfortable. But I knew I couldn't back down.

 

I nervously swallowed and mustered the courage to curtsy to him.

 

"Your Highness, greetings from Claire Gambino," my voice rang out in the silent banquet hall. My father abruptly turned his head towards me, his gaze filled with incredulous anger.

 

I took a deep breath, ignoring him, and continued with courage, "Your Highness, I implore you to make a fair judgment. You must have witnessed what happened just now. My stepsister and my boyfriend, oh, sorry, I mean my ex-boyfriend, conspired to deceive me. As is our pack tradition, I have the first line of succession. Even if I don't have a mate, my rights and opinions should be respected. But now my father, stepmother, stepsister and ex-boyfriend have hatched a conspiracy. I was excluded from the inheritance for no reason. I don't think that's reasonable. So I appealed to the royal family. I want my rights protected."

 

My father widened his eyes, his trembling lips silently roaring at me, "How dare you! How dare you defame your family in front of the royal members!"

 

Family?

 

How funny.

 

A mocking smile curved my lips.

 

Throughout my speech, I maintained a curtsy, keeping my head low, staring at the mess in front of me.

 

I know it's a risk. All I wanted was to embarrass those who betrayed me, even if it meant offending the royal family.

 

I spoke loudly, "I beseech you, Your Highness, to declare their inheritance rights invalid!"

 

In the dreadful silence, I heard the sound of leather shoes hitting the floor.

 

Based on the sound, it seemed like Prince Louis was descending the stairs?

 

Unconsciously, I held my breath, closed my eyes, and waited for the impending judgment. I had prepared for the worst, perhaps Prince Louis would publicly snap my neck because I had offended him in front of so many people...

 

A hand reached out towards me, grasping my vulnerable neck.

 

My eyelashes trembled slightly as I felt the hot palm against the skin at the back of my neck. I trembled uncontrollably. I abruptly opened my eyes, shocked to see Prince Louis standing before me, his gaze burning with fire.

 

I was pulled by the wrist and fell into a hot embrace.

 

The blond man tightly held me, lowering his head and taking a deep breath against the side of my neck. The heat sprayed onto my exposed shoulder. I instinctively flinched.

 

His fingers played with my long hair, the movement gentle. I subconsciously tried to push him away but my wrist was grabbed firmly. His hand was almost twice the size of mine, and he could easily encircle my delicate wrist with just his thumb and index finger.

 

"Don't move," he said to me.

 

His tone was a firm command, but it carried a subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness.

 

The intense scent of his hormones mixed with a faint cologne enveloped me. My heart raced faster and faster, while my body stiffened like a stone.

 

Suddenly, I let out a low scream.

 

Because I felt a moist sensation on the back of my neck, accompanied by a sharp pain—a man, he was actually biting my neck with his teeth!

 

My eyes widened, filled with panic and confusion, but there was nowhere to escape.

 

"You're very clever and brave, Miss Gambino," a voice that only I could hear whispered in my ear. The man nuzzled my cheek affectionately with the tip of his nose and chuckled softly, "You know it's dangerous to plead your case in front of the royal family. Whatever the truth is, you will be punished. However, I have decided to exempt you from punishment."

 

"Why?"

 

Although this was the best outcome I could hope for, I still didn't understand why.

 

I lifted my head in the man's embrace, struggling to ask.

 

"Because..."

 

Prince Louis released his grip and straightened himself. Under my gaze, he leisurely unbuttoned his suit jacket with one hand and draped it over me.

 

"Because I want more." He glanced down at my torn skirt and my bra.

 

The jacket was too large for me, almost reaching my thighs, and it still carried a faint scent of cologne. Instinctively, I pulled the jacket closer, feeling a hint of warmth in my heart.

 

But before I could thank him, Prince Louis forcefully pulled me back into his embrace.

 

He curved his lips and whispered a word that surprised everyone, "My mate."