chapter 22

I had been avoiding Alaric all day.

After what happened in the jacuzzi, I didn’t know how to look at him. My body had betrayed me, responding to him in a way I couldn’t even begin to understand. But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that I *liked* it.

I groaned in frustration as I paced my bedroom, trying to shake off the memories. The way his hands had felt on my skin. The heat of his breath against my neck. The way my body had melted into him like I had no control over myself.

I shook my head. *No. Stop thinking about it.*

It didn’t matter how good it felt. It didn’t change the fact that I was trapped here. That he was a werewolf. That he was still in love with Emma.

My stomach twisted at the thought. Emma.

I had no idea how she would react if she ever found out what happened. Not that it mattered—Alaric had made it clear that she was his priority. That she was the one he loved.

I scoffed bitterly. *Then why did he touch me like that?*

A knock on my door made me jolt. My heart leapt into my throat, but I quickly steadied myself.

"Come in," I said, forcing my voice to stay even.

The door opened, and Aliah stepped inside with a tray of food. She smiled at me, but something about her demeanor seemed... off.

“The Alpha asked me to bring you this,” she said, setting the tray down on the small table near my bed.

“The Alpha?” I repeated, crossing my arms. “What, he’s too busy playing house with Emma to deliver it himself?”

Aliah flinched slightly, as if she wasn’t sure how to respond. “He—he went to see her earlier, but he came back a while ago. I think he’s in his study now.”

I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. It wasn’t like I *wanted* him to come see me. If anything, it was better this way. The more distance between us, the better.

Aliah hesitated. “Vanessa... I think you should be careful.”

I frowned. “Careful?”

She glanced toward the door, as if making sure no one was listening. Then, she lowered her voice. “Emma. She’s... she’s not happy that you’re here. And I think she’s planning something.”

I stiffened. Of course, she wasn’t happy. Her perfect little world had been thrown off balance the moment I stepped into it.

“What do you mean, ‘planning something’?” I asked cautiously.

Aliah bit her lip. “I don’t know exactly. But she’s been speaking to some of the higher-ranking pack members, whispering about how you’re... dangerous. She’s trying to make you look bad, Vanessa.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “That’s not exactly surprising.”

“She wants you gone,” Aliah pressed. “And she knows Alaric won’t just let you leave. Not now that he’s found you. So she’s going to make him *want* to get rid of you.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t like the sound of that.

Before I could respond, another knock echoed through the room. Aliah jumped, her eyes widening in fear, and quickly scurried away to the corner as the door creaked open.

Emma.

She stepped inside with an easy, almost lazy grace, dressed in a silk robe that clung to her frame as if she had just rolled out of Alaric’s bed. My stomach twisted, but I kept my face blank.

"Vanessa," she said smoothly, closing the door behind her. "We need to talk."

I crossed my arms, lifting a brow. "About what?"

She took a step closer, tilting her head. "You, of course."

I didn’t respond. I just waited.

She sighed, as if this conversation was exhausting for *her*, then took another slow step forward. "Alaric is a good man. He’s loyal. He knows his place. And he knows where *his heart* belongs.”

I clenched my jaw. "Good for him."

Emma smiled sweetly, but there was a sharpness in her eyes. "You see, Vanessa, we’ve been through a lot together. *Years*. Love like that doesn’t just disappear overnight, no matter what *fate* thinks it’s doing.”

Her words were dripping with venom now, but I refused to let her see how much they affected me.

“What do you want, Emma?” I asked coolly.

She took a deep breath, as if composing herself, then smiled again. “I want you to leave. Willingly. Before things get messy.”

I scoffed. “I *can’t* leave. Your *beloved* Alaric made that very clear.”

She shrugged. “I can change that.”

Something in her tone sent a chill through me. She was up to something.

Then, before I could react, she suddenly let out a loud, piercing *scream*.

My blood turned to ice.

The door burst open within seconds.

Alaric.

His dark eyes landed on me first, but before I could even explain, Emma *threw herself* into his arms, shaking, clutching at his shirt like she had just been attacked.

“She tried to hurt me!” Emma sobbed, burying her face into his chest. “She *snapped*! She—she was saying horrible things, and when I told her to calm down, she *lunged* at me—”

My mouth fell open in shock. “Are you *kidding* me?”

Alaric's gaze snapped to me, his expression unreadable. “Vanessa.” His voice was sharp, like a warning.

I took a step forward, shaking my head. “She’s *lying*!”

Emma whimpered, clinging to him tighter. “I just wanted to talk to her. I was trying to be *kind*. But she—she *hates* me, Alaric. She *wants me gone*.”

My hands curled into fists. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

Alaric exhaled sharply, as if trying to control his frustration. He gently pushed Emma back, examining her face. “Did she touch you?”

Emma hesitated. A little too long. But then she nodded, sniffling. “She grabbed me. She—she *shoved* me.”

I nearly *screamed*. “I *never* touched her!”

Alaric’s gaze darkened as he turned to me fully now. “Vanessa, tell me the truth.”

I glared at him. “I *am* telling you the truth!” I gestured to Aliah, who was still standing frozen near the wall. “Ask her! She was here the whole time!”

Alaric’s eyes flickered to Aliah. The poor girl looked terrified. I knew she wanted to tell the truth. But I also knew that if she went against Emma, there would be consequences.

She lowered her head. “I—I didn’t see anything...”

My stomach dropped.

Emma smirked, pressing her face into Alaric’s chest again. “I don’t feel safe around her, Alaric...”

I sucked in a breath, panic creeping in. She was *winning*.

Alaric let out a heavy sigh, rubbing a hand down his face. “I will deal with you later"

I stiffened. “Are you *seriously* going to believe her?”

He didn’t answer.

That told me everything I needed to know.

My chest tightened as he gently led Emma out of the room, his arm still wrapped protectively around her. She looked back at me once before they disappeared, and the victorious glint in her eyes made my blood boil.

I sank onto the bed, gripping the sheets tightly as the door closed behind them.