CHAPTER 45: LIKE MINDS 2

HAZEL

My mother’s expression shifted. The anger faded slightly, replaced by something closer to skepticism. "What?"

"Just watch me," I repeated. "I don’t need Cian Donlon. There are other Alphas. Other opportunities."

But even as I said the words, doubt crept in. My mother’s fear was infectious. Her worry about losing Skollrend, about having made a terrible mistake, it was starting to seep into my own thoughts.

What if she was right? What if Cian really was softening toward Fia? What if the welts and the suffering were temporary and he was already starting to care for her?

No. That was impossible. I’d seen his face when he talked about her. Heard the coldness in his voice. He didn’t want her. He was stuck with her. There was a difference.

My mother was still watching me with that skeptical expression. "Skollrend is the sixth biggest pack in the world," she said slowly. "Sixth in terms of finance and military strength. Do you understand what that means?"

"Of course I do."

"My father’s pack is ranked twenty-eighth and my husband, your father’s pack is ranked a measly ninety ninth." She stepped closer. "What do you have aside from your beauty that would catch an equally powerful Alpha? You won’t be the only one competing for their attention."

The words stung but I kept my expression calm. "I have the popularity that Alpha Cian gave me by being interested in me."

My mother paused. Considered that. "You do have a point," she admitted. "A few Alphas have already approached your father asking about your hand in marriage."

"I don’t want those small fries," I said immediately. Those offers had been from minor Alphas. Pack leaders of territories barely worth mentioning. They saw me as damaged goods now. A rejected bride they could scoop up at a discount.

I was worth more than that.

"Father and you were invited to Alpha Julius Knight’s second wedding, right?" I asked.

My mother nodded slowly. "Yes. Courtesy of our connection to Skollrend."

"Alpha Julius is equally powerful to Cian." I could feel the plan forming in my mind as I spoke. "And men of influence will be there. Important Alphas. Pack leaders with real power and real resources. In preparation for the ball, I’ll make my presence known there first."

I met my mother’s eyes directly.

"You’ll see, Mother. I made no mistake with Cian. This will work out better than we planned."

My mother studied me for a long moment. I could see her weighing my words. Weighing the possibilities.

Finally she nodded. "Alright."

We walked back to the car in silence. The driver opened the door and we climbed inside. The leather seats were cool against my skin. The engine started and we began pulling away from Skollrend’s massive gates.

I looked back at the house through the window. At the sprawling estate that should have been mine. At the wealth and power that had slipped through my fingers because of one unlucky twist of fate.

My mother sat across from me with her hands folded in her lap. She was staring out her own window but I could tell she wasn’t really seeing the landscape. She was lost in thought. Lost in worry.

That worry was contagious.

What if she was right? What if I’d miscalculated? What if Cian really was developing feelings for Fia and I’d missed all the signs because I’d been so focused on my own plans?

No. I’d seen Fia’s face in the garden. I’d seen her break when I told her about Milo and then sent the photo. That wasn’t the face of someone who was happy. Who was thriving. That was the face of someone barely holding on.

Cian might be tending to her at face value but he wasn’t healing her. He was just keeping her alive. There was a difference.

Still.

The doubt lingered. It sat heavy in my chest and made it hard to breathe properly.

I pulled out my phone and opened the notes app. Typed quickly while my mother wasn’t paying attention.

Keep tabs on Fia. Watch her closely. Make sure she stays broken.

I couldn’t let her recover. Couldn’t let her find any kind of happiness or stability at Skollrend. Because if she did, if she somehow won Cian over, then everything I’d worked for would be lost.

I would find another Alpha. Someone better than Cian. Someone who would make my mother see that I hadn’t failed. That I’d actually succeeded by dodging that arranged marriage.

And in the meantime, I’d make sure Fia suffered. Make sure she never forgot what she’ was and would be for the rest of her life.

My cheek still stung from where my mother had struck me. I touched it gently and felt the heat still radiating from my skin.

She’d never hit me before. Not once in all my years. The fact that she’d done it now, that she’d been angry enough to lose control like that, it scared me more than I wanted to admit.

What if I really had made a mistake? What if letting Fia take my place at that altar had been the worst decision of my life?

I looked at my mother again. She was still staring out the window. Still lost in her own thoughts.

"I won’t fail you," I said quietly.

She didn’t respond. Didn’t even acknowledge that she’d heard me.

The doubt grew heavier. Pressed down on my chest until it felt like I couldn’t get enough air.

But I pushed it away. Buried it deep where it couldn’t interfere with my plans.

I would prove my mother wrong. I would show her that I hadn’t thrown away anything valuable. That Cian and Skollrend weren’t worth the trouble.

And I would make Fia regret ever putting that idea in my mother’s mind.

The car turned onto the main road and Skollrend disappeared behind the trees. But I kept staring back. Kept watching until there was nothing left to see.

This wasn’t over. Not even close.