Chapter 47: What Do You Mean by That?

Hayley’s POV:

“I knew it. There’s no way Ms. Kilmer, a Beta, could have been bullied by Ms. Carson, an Omega. She was clearly lying.”

“Exactly. Madeline’s been spinning lies this whole time. And that excuse about her wolf being in a dormant state? The way she moved in the footage was perfectly normal for a Beta. If her wolf really was asleep, she couldn’t have reacted that quickly.”

People around me began to gossip, jumping on the bandwagon now that the truth was out. Christopher, too, looked at Madeline with nothing but disappointment. He was utterly speechless.

“No, it’s not like that, Christopher! You have to believe me,” Madeline pleaded, grabbing his arm, but he shook her off angrily. “So, everything you said and did tonight was a lie?” he asked, his voice full of disgust.

Madeline’s tears kept falling, but I stood silently, watching their little drama unfold. Christopher looked at her with clear contempt. “Do you know what this means? You’ve completely destroyed everything I thought I knew about you. I trusted you—completely.”

Madeline tried to protest. “Please, let me explain. It’s not what you think.”

“The truth is clear now,” George said, his tone serious, completely different from the kind demeanor he usually had toward her. “Ms. Kilmer, I believe you owe Hayz an apology.”

People around us murmured and exchanged glances, their eyes now filled with disappointment and judgment as they looked at Madeline. Her father stood in the crowd, his face dark and flushed with embarrassment. He looked furious, like he couldn’t believe what his daughter had done. When Madeline saw him, she reached out desperately, as if grasping for her last hope. “Dad, please… help me. Please!” she begged.

But her father, face still red with shame, pushed her away. He turned to George instead, saying, “Old Mr. Southwell, I sincerely apologize. Madeline just returned from abroad and isn’t yet familiar with the rules. I’m sorry that she made such a fool of herself in front of you and everyone else.”

Madeline’s actions were disgraceful enough that, according to pack rules, she could be expelled right here and now by the Alpha. But her father was trying to brush it off, downplaying what she’d done.

I was holding back my anger, while inside, Hera was practically humming with satisfaction at the turn of events. Then Benjamin stepped forward, slowly walking over to my side. His voice was calm, almost emotionless, but the words he spoke made Madeline’s face turn even paler. “Mr. Kilmer, do you really think a simple ‘she doesn’t know the rules’ can erase what she’s done?”

“Alpha, I—” Madeline hurriedly tried to defend herself. But Benjamin didn’t even acknowledge her, speaking directly to her father instead. “Mr. Kilmer, even if Hayley is just an Omega, she is a guest of the Southwells and a member of the Shadow Pack’s ruling family. Have you considered what this could mean for the alliance between Midnight Pack and Shadow Pack?”

Benjamin’s commanding Alpha presence filled the room, forcing everyone into silence. After bowing respectfully, the guests waited quietly for him to continue. Madeline’s father bowed respectfully to him, then quickly pulled her forward, pushing her to face me. “Apologize to Ms. Carson, now!”

Madeline, probably thinking their childhood bond gave her some leeway, clearly didn’t take Benjamin’s words seriously. She even shot me a defiant glare before turning to her father with frustration. “Dad, what are you doing?!” she protested.

“Apologize, and do it now. If Ms. Carson is gracious enough to forgive you, we’ll call it settled. But if she doesn’t, you’re not coming home tonight,” her father warned, his tone firm. He might’ve once been George’s Beta, but he was much more calculating and smooth than his daughter.

At first glance, his words seemed reasonable. But when you thought about it, the implication was clear: if I didn’t magnanimously forgive Madeline, I’d be the one to blame for her being left homeless. Like father, like daughter. They were both shameless.

My hands clenched into fists as I fought the urge to let Hera take over and rip them apart. Finally realizing what her father meant, Madeline grudgingly muttered, “I’m sorry, Ms. Carson. I was wrong.”

George narrowed his eyes but remained silent, while everyone else waited for my response. I knew that while George was protective of me, he wouldn’t easily sever ties with the Kilmers. He wouldn’t actually let Benjamin kick Madeline out of the pack. Madeline’s father had been his Beta for years, helping him manage Midnight Pack’s affairs. Their long-standing relationship wasn’t something to be easily discarded.

But I couldn’t just let this go either. I was an Alpha, even if I was hiding my identity. Madeline had repeatedly disrespected me—a wolf of lower rank daring to offend me time and again. The fact that I hadn’t torn her throat out already was more mercy than she deserved.

With an idea forming in my mind, I gave her a sidelong glance and said, “Ms. Kilmer, there’s really no need for you to apologize to me.”

Madeline looked confused and blinked at me. “What do you mean by that?”