Craig’s surprise was evident, his eyebrows rising in shock at my bold refusal. In the past, when he held nothing but disdain for me, I treaded carefully around him, desperate to earn even the smallest shred of his approval. Despite the depth of my feelings for him, it never seemed to be enough, especially with Sonya always in the picture.
Looking back, Sonya’s hatred for me had been clear from early on. Since childhood, she resented me for being better, more capable—a bitterness that only grew stronger when I was entrusted with the Moonstone, an heirloom she had coveted for years.
When she found out about my feelings for Alpha Craig, she deliberately started vying for his attention, pretending affection. But I never expected her to come back to Moonridge after her fated mate’s death and cause even more chaos in my life.
Craig’s moment of surprise lasted only a few seconds before he settled back onto the couch, still cradling my sister protectively. His voice cut through the thick silence, sharp and commanding. “Kristen, don’t push me.”
Suddenly, the wolf guards—summoned by Craig’s mental command—appeared and stopped me from leaving. Their presence was stern, cold, and authoritative as they escorted me back to face both Craig and Sonya.
Craig reclined on the couch with a casual ease, but the tension in the room was suffocating. He looked at me with a detached, almost bored expression. “Apologize to Sonya.”
Sonya’s grin was a mix of smug satisfaction and silent challenge. She turned to my mate, speaking softly and sweetly. “It’s fine, Alpha. Kristen didn’t mean what she said.”
Craig’s eyes filled with pity as he looked back at her. “You’re too kind. Even though you’ve always been nice to her, she’s never accepted you as her sister.”
Then his gaze chilled as it locked on me. “Anyone who harms Sonya will pay dearly.”
His meaning was clear—he wanted me to suffer. He motioned to the guards, who stepped forward and forced me down onto my knees. As I bowed my head in submission, Craig’s lips curled into a satisfied, almost cruel smile. One of the guards raised his hand, ready to strike.
But Sonya intervened just then. “Alpha, she’s still my sister. I’m worried the guards might hurt her too badly. If anyone should punish her, it should be me.”