But for Lavender, it was a night that would forever be remembered as the night she took her life back.
She stood at the back of the room, her hand resting against the cool stone wall, watching the celebration unfold. Cedar stood in the center, surrounded by his allies, his gaze flickering between Fern and the other alphas. His smile was warm, his presence commanding, but to Lavender, it felt like a mask, hiding the truth she could no longer ignore.
The truth that he had betrayed her. The truth that he had chosen Fern over her. And now he was forcing them both to stand together in front of the pack, asking her to accept Fern as if she were nothing more than a shadow.
A sharp pang of grief twisted in her chest, but she pushed it down. Tonight, the grief would have no place. Tonight, she was done with pain.
Tonight, she was done with Cedar.
Lavender’s hands clenched into fists as she watched Cedar laugh at something Fern said, his arm casually draped over her shoulders. The sight burned through her, but she didn’t let herself look away. She had spent too many nights avoiding this moment, too many nights pretending everything was fine. It was time to face it. To face him.
She couldn’t stay in the background any longer. She couldn’t let him control her.
She was stronger now. She had trained. She had learned. And now, she was going to stand up for herself, even if it meant standing alone.
With one last deep breath, Lavender pushed off the wall and made her way through the crowd. She felt eyes on her as she moved. Curious, judging, wondering what she was going to do. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered anymore.
When she reached the center of the room, where Cedar stood, the noise around her seemed to quiet, as if the air itself held its breath.
Cedar’s eyes met hers. Fern, standing beside him, gave Lavender a sharp, almost triumphant look, as if daring her to make a scene.
Lavender’s heart hammered in her chest, but she didn’t look away. She couldn’t. Not now.
She took a step forward. “Cedar, I stand here tonight to make one thing clear: I reject you.”
The room went silent, every pair of eyes turning to her. She could feel the shock rippling through the air like a wave, and for a moment, she almost doubted herself. Almost. But the fire inside her burned too hot for doubt. She had come this far. She wasn’t turning back.