Selene'S POV
My fist clenched instinctively as Amelia clutched my arms tightly, digging her nails harshly into my skin.
I hadn't forgiven her for everything she had done to me; I had only opted to come because of my sanity. Leo's persistence was sickening and I feared what he might do if I refused.
A faint chuckle escaped Amelia's lips as she leaned in close. Her venomous whispers were meant only for my ears as she said, "Look who finally learned to grovel."
Grovel? Who does this wench think she is?
Before I could respond, her next words caused rage to fill me. "Does your face still hurt? Neil's kick was brutal, wasn't it? Too bad it didn't land on your stomach, your little bastard could've been sent straight to where it came from."
That was it!
Amelia had crossed the line this time, and I wouldn't stand by and let her mock my pup.
Without thinking, I raised my arms and swiftly struck her face.
The slap reverberated through the air like a gunshot, and I heard Leo gasp in shock.
Amelia clutched her burning cheek, wincing. I sensed the fear in her voice as she said, "Why did you… You slapped me?"
This wasn't an act, I could tell she was genuinely terrified.
Oh, was she thinking I was the same old Selene, who was always a pushover, someone she could boss around without a second thought?
Still not satisfied, I instinctively moved toward the table, located the vase that had been there for years, grabbed it, and threw it at Amelia. Her loud shriek confirmed that it shattered upon impact.
She screamed in pain, and I made my way toward her voice, raising my cane to hit her again when I felt a grip on my wrist.
It was Leo.
Leo had prevented me from causing his lover more harm. Oh well, I had expected his reaction, right?
Suddenly, Leo slammed his palm against my cheek hard, and I staggered backward, twitching my lips in annoyance.
"I told you to apologize to Amelia! Is this how you do it?" he growled in anger as he spat.
Smack!
Without hesitation, I landed a resounding slap on his cheek, and before he could react, I followed up with another slap to the other side.
I had just slapped Leo ! Twice!
A feeling of satisfaction overwhelmed me and I smirked viciously.
"Did you just hit…"
"Yes, I did. And that's for what you did to me yesterday," I responded harshly, interrupting him, my voice stern and cold.
I had paid him back twofold, the slap yesterday and the one today. Fair game, right?
Were they thinking my blindness made me gullible or vulnerable? Had they forgotten I still had the instincts of a wolf? I would do it again if he laid his hands on me.
I didn't care if he was an Alpha or not.
"Selene, you…"
Leo's words were interrupted by a whimpering groan from Amelia. "Leo… it hurts."
I could smell fresh blood, and I didn't need anyone to tell me, Amelia's head was dripping due to the impact of the vase.
"Amelia," Leo mumbled. "Damn, you're bleeding badly."
His voice was laced with worry and panic, and in one swift movement, he scooped her up and began walking toward the door.
As he passed me, Leo froze, his eyes narrowing coldly as he said the words I had not expected. "Call the Gammas and have her arrested."
I dug my nails deep into my palms and gritted my teeth. He had truly exceeded my expectations.
******
Half an hour later, I was pushed into the interrogation room, where a chief gamma asked, "Where are you from?"
Furrowing my brows quizzically, I kept quiet. That was the most outrageous question I had ever heard. I was the Luna of the pack, and whoever this was shouldn't be asking me such questions.
"I asked a question, young lady."
Sighing heavily, I decided to play along, as it seemed the gamma might be new.
"Selene…"
"Age?"
Oh, come on. What happened to not asking a woman's age? But I answered anyway.
"I've seen 25 Luna moons," I replied gruffly, and the man chuckled as he flipped through the files in his hands.
"You dropped out of college just to be mated?" he questioned, and I sank back in my seat as a cloudy memory played in my mind.
The year of the accident, I had been a junior with a bright future, until a car crash stole my sight, leaving me blind.
I still remember how less than a month later, my competition painting had disappeared and Amelia won first prize with it.
Later, I found out that Amelia had stolen my work and entered it herself. When I confronted her, Mrs. Casper lost it. "You stole eighteen years of Amelia's life! What's a painting compared to that? Besides, you're blind now, you'll never paint again. Using your work was mercy. Don't be ungrateful."
The next day, Mrs. Casper pulled me out of Harbor Art Academy, and my sadness began to grow.
Just one year left, only one damn year to graduate and she ruined my career.
Taking a shaky breath, I bit my lips until it bled, tasting the blood, my whole body trembled and my hands fidgeted.
The officer's voice hardened, "Answer the question, Selene."
Gulping nothing down my throat, I lifted my face. "I won't answer until my lawyer is here."
"Lawyer?" The Gamma officer questioned and scoffed.
"Isn't it in the law? I have the right to a lawyer, remember?" I said, letting out a smirk, and he groaned before storming out of the room.
Two hours later, I wriggled my arms in freedom as I sighed in relief. I had been released.
Standing near the door to the Gamma's office, I overheard Chris Carter, chatting politely with the officer. After a few words, they said their goodbyes and he came to meet me.
We got outside the station, and Chris suddenly snapped at me, "What was that for?"
Turning to face him, I bowed my head low and kept quiet.
"If you hadn't been arrested today, how long were you gonna keep this from me?" He questioned furiously.
"I wasn't hiding it." I tried to defend, but my voice came out weak.
"Yeah, right!" Chris scoffed. "You told Serena everything but left me in the dark. Admit it, you never saw me as a friend."
Not now Chris.
We all grew up together. While Serena was a top researcher in a foreign pack, Chris was a hotshot lawyer in Crimson's pack and all over other packs, his fees charged by the second.
Whereas, I was the only one dragging behind.
Flashing a wry smile, I mumbled, "Like I'd let go of this golden ticket. Lawyer Carter, you can't shake me off."
Silence reigned between us for a few seconds before he pulled me into a tight hug. His voice softened. "You're off the hook this time. And quit faking smiles when you're hurting, it's scary as hell."
That warmth was a rare comfort.
"Let it out," he whispered. "I won't judge."
And that was all it took,
The dam broke… my tears flowed freely for the first time since the truth hit me, I let down all the pain I had kept inside, and cried uncontrollably in his embrace.
Minutes after crying my eyes out, I sank into the car seat, Chris passed me a tissue and I blew the snort from my nose hard before sniffing.
"Thanks," I mumbled weakly.
" So," Chris began, gaining my attention. "What's the plan for that cheating bastard and his sidepiece?"
Blowing out my nose again, I replied, "Amelia set up the crash. I've hired people to find witnesses. Leo and the pack clinic physician teamed up to steal my corneas. There'll be trails, they'll pay."
"And the baby… Are you keeping it?" Chris asked and I froze, rummaging through my mind on how to tell him I had terminated it.