Chapter 28: Chapter 28: You will be left with nothing!

Alina’s POV

"What are you doing here?" My voice came out steadier than I felt as I crossed the room and snatched Leo from her arms. "And why are you holding my baby?"

Emily tilted her head, a sweet smile curling her lips. "What’s the matter, Alina? I’m practically Leo’s second mother. Why shouldn’t I hold him?"

Leo’s tiny face scrunched up. A thin, piercing wail tore from his throat.

"See?" She bounced him gently, eyes gleaming with triumph. "He wants me."

The moment Leo’s teary gaze locked onto mine, the crying stopped. His little hands reached up, fingers tangling desperately in my hair. A soft, involuntary smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

I forced my voice flat. "You should leave. Now."

"Come on, Alina." Emily’s tone dripped with false patience. "Why are you acting like this? We aren’t enemies. I might be marrying your ex-husband, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right?" Her grin widened, sharp as a blade.

I had no time for this.

"Stella!" The name ripped from my throat.

The housekeeper appeared almost instantly, breathless. "Yes, ma’am?"

My jaw tightened. "Why was Leo with her? Why did you hand my son over to just anyone?"

"I—I’m sorry, ma’am, I—"

"What do you mean ’just anyone’?" Emily cut in, irritation flashing across her face. "I am this pack’s Luna. Don’t I deserve some respect?"

I didn’t spare her a glance.

I pressed Leo gently into Stella’s arms. "Take him. Put him to bed."

Stella nodded quickly and hurried away, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hall.

The silence that followed felt suffocating.

I turned back to Emily, my pulse hammering in my ears. "Now what do you want?"

Emily let out a soft, amused scoff and took a slow step closer. "I heard your little bakery was destroyed. Completely." Her voice dripped with mockery. "Such a shame. I really did love those pies... but you know how it is. There can only be one bakery in this pack." She smiled, slow and poisonous. "I’m starting mine soon. It’s going to be the greatest this territory has ever seen. And my soon-to-be husband... he doesn’t like anyone competing with me."

My eyes widened before I could stop them.

"Alpha Aiden destroyed my shop... because you wanted to open the same business?" The words left me calm—too calm—while my stomach twisted into knots.

"Yes. Exactly." Emily’s smirk deepened. "Why else would he do it?" She leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a silky whisper. "He only ever said he loved you because he felt sorry for you, Alina. I feel sorry for you too. Wolfless. Ex-Luna. Orphan. And now... you have nothing of your own." Her gaze raked over me like claws. "If I were you... I’d kill myself."

The air rushed out of my lungs. I swallowed hard, the bitter taste of bile rising in my throat. My fists clenched so tightly that my nails bit into my palms, but I refused to let the tremor show.

Inside, something raw and violent screamed.

"You came here just to tell me this?" I asked, my voice tight.

Emily nodded, that same poisonous smile playing on her lips.

"Message received. Now you can leave."

Instead of moving, her smile widened, slow and satisfied. "Aiden and I will be getting married in a few days."

"Congratulations," I said flatly, no warmth, no emotion, nothing.

"You’re invited. I want you there."

"I’m not interested." The words shot out immediately. "I don’t need to be there." Irritation burned through my tone, sharp and unmistakable.

"You have to be, Alina." Her voice dropped, laced with venom. "That might be the final grand party you’ll ever attend. Because once I become Luna, I’ll make sure I throw you out of this city for good." Her eyes flashed with pure hate. "And Leo... he’ll be mine. I’ll take him and raise him as my own child. You’ll be left with nothing."

A cold sliver of worry sliced through my chest.

"I won’t let that happen," I snapped back at once. "I’m not scared of you, Emily."

"You should be." She stepped closer, her wolf’s beta eyes glowing faintly in the dim light, dangerous and unhinged. "Because not only did Aiden choose you first... you tasted something that was meant for only me. You touched the body that should never have come close to you." Her nostrils flared. "And the fact that I can still smell it on you... it ignites every bit of hatred and anger I have for you."

Fear prickled along my spine, but I refused to let it show. I had seen Emily irritated and angry with me before, but this... this felt different. Darker. Hungrier. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"What the hell are you talking about?" My voice cracked slightly despite myself.

Her face suddenly melted into a smile that never reached her eyes. "I’ll see you later then. Bye."

She turned and walked away without another word. I stood frozen, watching her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight. An icy shiver crawled down my spine. That was really weird. What did she mean she could smell it? Was this some wolf thing I would never understand because I had no wolf?

Before I could even turn to go scold Stella for letting Emily walk in like she owned the place, my phone buzzed with a notification. Aiden. He wanted to see me.

Why should I let him see me after what he did? The shameless bastard actually thought I would answer.

I ignored the message, walked to my room, and forgot all about scolding Stella. I took a quick shower, the hot water doing nothing to wash away the unease clinging to my skin. Thoughts of Lucian slipped in uninvited. A soft smile crept onto my lips... until I caught myself. The smile vanished instantly, replaced by a deep frown.

I dried off, slipped into my nightclothes, and climbed into bed. The moment my head touched the pillow, a soft knock sounded at my room window.

Did Lucian come here again?

Heart thudding, I got up and crossed the room. The space was dimly lit, shadows pooling in every corner, so I couldn’t make out his face clearly as I opened the window.

"Lucian, I told you not to come here," I said, annoyance thick in my voice. "Only when I call you, you come."

"What, Alina?" The voice that answered was low, dangerous, and painfully familiar. "He comes here?"

My eyes widened in shock. I stumbled back a step.

Aiden stepped inside, the dim light finally catching his face. His eyes were darkened, burning with raw anger as he moved closer, towering over me.