“What’s happening here?” Xavier’s voice thundered as he pushed through the crowd.
He went straight to Victoria, wrapping an arm protectively around her shoulders. Instantly, tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.
“She slapped me, Xavier!” she cried, her voice trembling. “I was just trying to speak with her peacefully!”
I shook my head, stepping back. “She’s lying! Tell them what you told me!”
But Xavier didn’t even spare me a glance. His eyes burned with anger. “Brielle,” he said tightly, “have you completely lost control of yourself?”
“She provoked me!” I protested desperately. “Ask her what she said—”
“Enough!” His Alpha voice cracked across the hall, heavy with authority. My wolf whimpered instantly, forced into submission by his dominance.
Before I could react, two guards approached and grabbed my arms roughly.
“Xavier, what are you doing?” I cried, panic rising in my chest.
He faced the crowd, his expression calm but cold. “For striking a guest and causing a scene during a celebration,” he announced, “Brielle will kneel and reflect on her actions.”
“Reflect?” Victoria whispered, wiping fake tears. “Please, Xavier… don’t punish her too harshly. I forgive her.”
He shot me a hard look. “Kneel on salt until the celebration ends. Perhaps you’ll finally learn humility.”
My breath caught. “No—please—”
But the guards forced me down.
My knees hit the rough grains of salt scattered across the marble floor. Pain shot through my legs instantly, sharp and burning, but the humiliation hurt far more.
Dozens of people watched as I knelt there. Some looked away awkwardly, others stared openly. I heard hushed murmurs, and somewhere, a phone camera clicked. Tears slid down my cheeks, falling onto the salt that soon turned red as my skin scraped open.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to shift and tear everything apart. But my wolf remained weak, crushed beneath Xavier’s Alpha aura.
Then—
“May I have everyone’s attention!” the announcer’s voice rang out. “It’s time for a special message from Miss Victoria Blackwell on behalf of her son, Liam!”
All eyes shifted to the stage. Victoria walked up gracefully, dabbing at her fake tears. I remained kneeling, trembling, blood slowly staining the salt beneath me.
She smiled into the microphone. “Thank you all for being here,” she began warmly. “I prepared a small presentation for my son.”
The lights dimmed.
The screen flickered on.