Chapter 19: Sever the Bond
(Scarlets POV)
Victona followed me onto the terrace. I could feel the force of her presence before she spoke a charged energy in the air. She wasn’t just angry. She was desperate. It was rare to see her lose composure, but today her calm demeanor cracked.
“Scarlett,” she called out, her voice smooth but strained.
I turned slowly crossing
ng my arms in front of me as I leaned against the marble railing. She approached her strides long and calculated as always But her eyes gave her away. They weren’t cool and composed. Not this time
“You need to reconsider this decision” she said firmly. Her words camed authority, but there was a tremor beneath them. She was grasping for
control.
I raised an eyebrow. “Reconsider what, Victoria?”
She stopped a few feet away, her sharp gaze fixed on me. “Breaking the bond. You know what this means. You won’t just be hurting Alexander. You’ll be destabilizing everything we’ve worked for. The alliances, the peace among the packs everything hangs by a thread”
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head before meeting her gaze. “Everything you’ve worked for, you mean. Not me. Did you expect me to sacrifice my dignity for your son? After everything he’s done?”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “This is bigger than Alexander’s mistakes. Without him–without this alliance–youll be alone, Scarlett. Her voice softened, taking a motherly tone. “The Winters Pack clearly favors Grace. They’re isolating you. You’ll have no power to stand against them.”
I straightened, my emerald eyes locking onto hers. My voice was steady when I spoke. 1 don’t need Alexander’s protection. Or yours. The only thin I’ve needed is respect, and your son certainly hasn’t given me that.”
Victoria’s composure sipped further. “You don’t understand. You think this is about pride? Scarlett, you and Alexander together–the symbolism
alone-”
Pride?” I cut her off, my voice sharp. This isn’t pride, Victoria This is about loyalty Respect. Things your son doesn’t even know the meaning of Maybe I was naive to think he could grow into the role of a mate, but I won’t make the mistake of waiting for him to prove me right”
Victoria’s jaw tightened. Her hands, usually so steady, trembled slightly as she clasped them in front of her. “You keep holding Grace against him–the
situation was complicated-
“Complicated?” I laughed bitterly. “Oh, no, it’s simple. Your son has spent months running to Grace Publicly Over and over again. Every time he stood by her, he betrayed me. And you expect me to ignore all of that? To pretend he’s still worthy of being my mate?
“You don’t understand the pressure Alexander is under!” Victoria shot back, her tone rising. Her composure was gone now. Do you think this is easy
for him? The Council, the pack=”
“Do not ask me to pity him,” I snapped, my emerald eyes blazing. 1 have stood in the face of your pack’s whispers. I endured their mocking stares while your son cowered behind Grace. So, no. I will not pity Alexander Amber”
Victoria took a step closer, her tone softening again. She was trying another tactic now can see that you’re angry. And you have every night to be Scarlett, you’re not wrong about Alexander. He’s made mistakes–I won’t make excuses for them. But this isn’t just about him it’s about what you’ll lose if
you give up this bond”
but y
“And what am I supposed to gain by keeping it?” I said coldly.
Influence. Power. Protection, she replied smoothly. Her voice lowered, almost pleading. “You may think you’re strong enough to fight alone, Scarlett t you’re not. The Winters Pack is making it clear–Grace is their priority Without Alexander’s alliance, without my support, you will be an outsider
Alone.”
Something flickered in my chest, but it wasn’t doubt it was rage. I stepped closer, my voice calm but dripping with venom. “You think I’m afraid of standing alone? That I can’t survive without Alexander?” My lips curled into a humorless smile. “Let me make this cleat Victoria, I would rather stand completely alone than stay tethered to a man who has proved time and again that I do not matter to him.”
For a moment, she said nothing. A terse silence settled between us. Then, she took a deep breath and folded her hands in front of her. Her
steadiness returned, but I could see the cracks beneath her calm.
but I co
while he tried again carehilly Team has be
dhered my head wasowing aw eyes.
“Yes“Victoria wald quickly sensing an opportually “I can send her away–even to Europe hell will receive treatment, but she won’t be a problem ace anymore wont have to see h
“top” cat
“My word thevagh hers like a blade “Vouhe asking me to trust that you’ll make her disappear? When Alexander will always hold that bond
manter where she goes? No? I shook my head fonly The second to her. Not now. Not ever
Victonas mask of composure broke completely this time Her shouhlern tensed, and she looked away briefly as if trying to regain content of her notions When she tuned back to me, het voter was sharp again. “Yude making a mistake, ficarlett. Your pride is clouding your judgment.
Isaid nothing instead, I reached for the ceremonial chokes mound my neck–the one shell gleefully fastened earlier. The siber felt cool in my hands.
Victos eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
Wabout a word, I placed the choker in her hands. Its moonstone centerpiece gleamed in the sunlight, a glaring reminder of everything she demanded
“This” I said, gesturing to the choker, is a symbol of loyalty. Of faith. But it means nothing to me now. Take it back.”
Scarlett, you don’t understand
understand perfectly” My voler was steady, yielding. “I understand that your non has no loyalty to me. That I was only ever a pawn in this game Well fed yourself another pawn Victoria. Because I am done.”
I turned on ing heel and walked away. Behind me, I heard her sharp take of breath and the faint clink of the choker as she gripped it tightly
But i didn’t stop.
As i descended the mansion steps. I heard her voice rise behind me, sharp and commanding, “investigate Grace’s condition fully, she barked to her
Dela. 1 want every detail. No more excuses.”
I smirked. It seemed even Victoria was starting to question the truth behind Grace’s so–called illness.
The courtyard was expansive, in perfect stone pathways and manicured gardens stretching toward the shadowed borders ahead. I reached the middle of it when I felt the heavy weight of another presence.
His voice echoed across the courtyard before I sow him.
Alexander stepped from the shadows, his amber eyes glowing faintly. His imposing frame blocked my path, everything about him radiating dominance except to me. His woll Mason’s energy pushed against the space between us, but Cora stood strong within me, refusing to back down,
“You’re still here?” I drawled, eg an eyebrow
“You can’t just walk away from this,” he said, his voice tiglit with frustration,
Itilted my head. “Watch me”
For a moment, he didn’t say anything. His gaze searched mine as though he thought he could intimidate me into breaking
But I didn’t flinch
Finally, he straightened his posture, his tone alifting into something colder. “Jason will escort you back to your home,” he ordered.
I snorted, shaking my head. “Escort me? Are you serious right now?”
“You will not wander territories alone,” he said firmly, his Alpha authority creeping into his voice
I laughed butterly, the sound cutting through the tension. “You think you can command me? That’s rich”
“You’re my intended mate,” he snapped, he amber eyes glowing brighter with frustration. “You’re my responsibility”
ou left me alone to face your pack’s
I cut him off, my voice rising with a anger, “Responsibility? When has protecting me ever been your priority? When you
whispering wolves? Or perhaps when you abandoned me to stand at Graces bedside instead}”
His entire frame stiffened. For a moment, his gaze softened like he might argue, but I didn’t let him.
Chapter 19 Sever the Bond
“1 don’t need your Beta. I don’t need you or your ridiculous notions of duty.” My voice was firm, finall
1 said–Jason will take yo
you home” His tone deepened, suggesting this was an order, not a request.
“And I I said no, I growled back, my emerald eyes gleaming as Cora’s power rose to meet Mason’s challenge.
