Kieran reached out and grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "Was your mom upset about what happened? I can explain it to her."
His words felt like a slap in the face. I jerked my arm free, my eyes blazing with fury. "Save your excuses, Kieran. I said I’m done with you."
"Baby, you can let her go," Nina said calmly latching onto his arm, "If her mother hadn't pretended to be sick, how could you have been forced to marry her?"
In that moment, something inside me snapped, and my wolf instincts took over. My claws extended from my fingertips and I grasped Nina's shoulders, my fingers digging deep into her skin.
"How dare you?" I hissed, my voice turning animalistic. "My mother is dead!"
"Kieran, do something!" Nina let out a shrill scream, her eyes darting to Kieran for rescue. "She is going to kill me!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Kieran suddenly pulled Nina away from me, shoving me aside. I stumbled, catching myself on the staircase railing just in time to avoid tumbling down.
"Selena, what the hell are you doing?" Kieran roared, his eyes flashing with a warning that sent a shiver down my spine. "Why are you hurting Nina like this?"
I stared at him, stunned, unable to believe how he could defend that spoiled brat over his own mate.
My voice came out smaller than I intended.
"She's the problem in our relationship, and you're defending her?"
I glared at Nina, who was clutching her reddened shoulder with a look of feigned distress. She quickly hid behind Kieran's broad frame.
"Was I wrong?" she whined. "If your mother hadn't pretended to be sick and threatened Kieran, how could he have thought about marrying a common thing like you?"
I turned to Kieran, my heart heavy with pain. "Do you think so too?"
He remained silent, but his gaze spoke volumes. I saw the truth there - he believed my mother had manipulated him into our union.
"Listen here, Selena," he snapped. "She's my woman, and you will respect her. I won't tolerate you harming her, do you understand?"
"Oh she is your woman now?” I shook my head with a pained smile. “What happened to her being just like a sister to you, you douchebag!"
"And did you think we were soulmates?" Kieran snapped, his eyes narrowing. "You were nothing more than a convenient distraction, Selena. A pretty little plaything to keep me entertained while I searched for my true mate."