His question made me scowl. Seeing my lack of response, he asked,

“Why did yo—”

“Because you don’t deserve to know,” I cut him off, replying coldly.

He was silent for a moment. Then:

“What happened, Alpha Adrian? Your mouth always runs so fast, but why are you so quiet today? Cat got your tongue?”

I mocked him, mirroring his usual taunts. Looking into his eyes, I saw not the usual hatred, but a stillness.

“Shocked that I’m actually an Alpha’s daughter?” I asked sarcastically.

He nodded, muttering, “Very.”

I snatched my hand away, taking a step back.

“Since you know who I am, I hope you won’t bother me again.”

I turned to leave the party. However, Adrian grabbed my hand again. This time, instead of pulling me closer, he spun me around and pressed me against the wall he’d been leaning against.

“What are you doing, Adrian?”

“Knowing my accusations were false, why did you lie to me? Maybe I wouldn’t have said those things if you’d told me the truth that day.”

I tried to push him away, but his gaze held me captive. Unmoving, he remained as firm as stone. “You’re a scumbag. Leave me.”

“You can call me names—I’ll grant you that right. But you can’t leave without finishing this conversation.”

I stopped struggling, raising my head.

“Tell me how many things you’ve kept hidden from me,” he inquired seriously.

“Even if I hide something, it’s because you don’t have the right to know,” I retorted.

His eyes scanned my face. I averted my gaze; my wolf craved his closeness. He leaned closer, his chiseled nose brushing against mine as I tried to turn away. A flood of memories—yearning for his closeness, the misery he’d caused—washed over me. I closed my eyes.

“A man like you can’t be changed. You never missed a chance to insult me,” I muttered angrily.

He exhaled, his voice low. “I’m sorry.”

I froze, slowly turning to face him. Our faces were inches apart; his breath, the cologne I’d missed so much, filled my nostrils. Yet, nothing could mend my heart. I looked at him indifferently.

“Sorry for what?”

He looked away. “I shouldn’t have accused you like that. But you should have told me the truth.”

I scoffed. “Didn’t I tell you I was being misunderstood?”

He remembered my words, his eyes widening before he quickly masked his expression. For the first time, I saw genuine guilt. I suspected it stemmed from his knowledge of my family status and a desire to avoid conflict.

“You don’t have to worry about my family. I’m a professional woman. I won’t retaliate against your pack.”

He chuckled, surprising me. Looking into my eyes, he asked, “Do you think Alpha Adrian needs to be in anyone’s good graces?”

I smirked. “Didn’t I break your heart saying that? Keep your focus on your work, Alpha. Who knows when I’ll change my mind and shift my target from your company to your pack?”

In recent months, I’d won every deal against him. While I didn’t want war, I wanted to defeat him.

He clenched his jaw. I almost laughed; this man never felt regret. His usual look returned.

“What was your brother saying? That I don’t deserve you? What did he do to you? Does he not know about his sister’s dirty secret?” My smirk faded.

“His sister cheated on her husband and got pregnant with another man’s child. Oh wait, isn’t that man his best friend?”

I clutched my dress, anger rising. “Yes, his best friend. I slept with his best friend when I was still—”

“NATALIA!”

His yell cut me off as he grabbed my neck. His eyes were red, his wolf taking over. My own wolf growled, but I suppressed her, staring into his furious eyes. He’d never shown me his wolf before.

“Since I was a ‘wolfless woman,’ you thought of me as useless. I’ll never forget those days, Adrian.”

His grip loosened, but he didn’t release me. He closed his eyes, struggling to control himself. When he opened them, they were back to black.

“I heard your parents accept Lynda as their future daughter-in-law. Why don’t you marry her and have your own children? Stop bothering me.”

I easily removed his hand from my neck. He stepped aside, allowing me to leave. He seemed lost in thought as I left him alone in the moonlight.

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