Chapter 278 The Enemy’s Laughter

    Third Person POV

    AX 55%

    +8 Pearls

    Mariana’s furious curses spilled through the phone, but Aubrey onlyughed softly. She could feel her negative emotions shifting, transforming, rushing toward another extreme.

    And that was fine. For now, it felt good.

    “I bet you’re dying to catch me while I’m away from the Miguel family, while I don’t have Alpha Henry’s protection. Maybe you’re even tracking me right now?”

    On the other end, Mariana’s voice faltered.

    Of course Aubrey was right. As enraged as she was, she hadn’t lost her reason. Aubrey being outside Henry’s protection was a once–in–a–lifetime chance. If she could just find her first…

    So while her voice dripped with fury, her fingers had been typing instructions, telling her people to trace Aubrey’s signal. Yet Aubrey had seen straight through her. They knew each other too well–years of being so–called “friends” had given Aubrey insight into every one of her habits.

    Aubrey chuckled. “Even if you found me, what then? Would you dare make a move?”

    Mariana’s knuckles went white around her phone.

    “Right now, the Yale family can’t withstand a single blow. Even if you knew where I was–you wouldn’t dare touch me, would you?”

    Mariana couldn’t deny it. No matter how much she hated Aubrey, she didn’t dare move against her. Finding her would mean nothing if she couldn’t act.

    The unsent message on her screen mocked her, and in the end, she deleted it. Rage curdled into despair, emotions crashing against each other until she nearly broke. Atst, she shouted into the phone, her voice hoarse.

    “Then why did you call me?! Just to gloat? Fine, you win! I hate you even more now! You ruined everything! If I ever get my hands on you, I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

    “What did I ruin for you?”

    Mariana flinched as if struck. Then her fury exploded, voice rising into a shriek.

    “What did you ruin?! You destroyed my reputation! My status! Without you, I would have married the alpha, I would have been Luna of the Shadowmoon Pack! You destroyed my dream–you destroyed everything I’ve worked for my whole life!”

    “But wasn’t this ending of yours something you brought upon yourself?” Aubrey’s voice was soft, almost bored. “You ruined me first, didn’t you?”

    Mariana froze, her expression twisting.

    Yes. She had schemed first. She had made the first move. But so what? Aubrey was just an omega without a wolf–how could she ever be equal to her? How could she possibly deserve to marry such a powerful alpha?

    But then a new thought crept in. Why had Aubrey called her at all?

    wea, 17 bSept /b

    Chapter 278 The Enemy’s Laughter

    To provoke her into something reckless, then crush her afterward?

    10 Pearle

    No–that wasn’t right. Aubrey knew her too well. She would know Mariana wouldn’t make a rash move, not when her family teetered on the brink of ruin.

    Then why? Just to boast?

    No. Aubrey wasn’t the type to waste time on something so shallow.

    “You… you fell out with the alpha, didn’t you?”

    The sudden probing question caught Aubrey off guard.

    Mariana pounced on it like a predator catching scent of blood. “You quarreled with him, didn’t you? That’s why he’s tearing the pack apart searching, and you’re hiding from him!”

    It wasn’t hard to guess–most already suspected there had been a falling–out. But tied to this phone call, the idea gained new weight.

    Mariana’s tone grew sly, her voice trembling with excitement. “You fought with him, he hurt you, and you had no one to turn to. That’s why you called me.”–

    Her voice rose higher, almost giddy.

    “You couldn’t call your father–he wouldn’t understand. You couldn’t call anyone else—they’d hand you over to the Miguel family in exchange for favors. I’m the only one you could call. Me! Because no matter what I do, the alpha will never forgive me. And because of my grudge, I’ll make sure he never finds you. So only I won’t betray you!”

    And then sheughed–loud, wild, half–crazed.

    “You’re lonely, helpless, with no one to vent to! Ha! You have no friends, so you turned to your enemy, the one person who can’t touch you right now!

    You draw strength by provoking me, by feeding off my anger? How pathetic. No–not pathetic. You’re a failure!”

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