Chapter 4

"I’m sorry, Miss Jade. I shouldn't have thrown your gown on the ground."

But Jade had no intention of letting me off that easily. "If you're going to apologize, act like you mean it. Otherwise, I won't accept it."

"And how do I show you I mean it?"

"Tell everyone in there that you're begging to be River’s mistress. Admit that you're just as cheap and shameless as your mother... actually, no. You're worse."

"I don't want to be a mistress. River and I are over."

I reached into my pocket, pulled out the mating ring, and held it out.

"Take it back. We are completely done."

River froze, his eyes locking onto the ring. He didn't reach for it. The ring slipped through my fingers and clattered onto the pavement.

"I say you want to be his mistress, so you do!"

Jade suddenly grabbed a handful of my hair, dragging me violently toward the banquet hall.

"Everyone, look!" Jade screamed. "We have a human here begging to be a mistress!"

Someone in the crowd whispered, "Wait, isn't that River’s fiancée?"

"I’ve rejected her," River announced coldly, his voice echoing in the hall. "A human doesn't deserve to be a Luna. Jade is my fiancée now."

"Ah, that makes sense," the crowd murmured in realization.

One wolf stepped forward, sneering. "I knew it. The daughter of a mistress has cheap blood. It was only a matter of time. To think you actually defended her back then, River."

Jade piped up, "Exactly! She even slapped herself twice just to play the victim and gain sympathy."

"But our River is a man of honor. He would never fall for her cheap tricks."

As she spoke, Jade leaned heavily into River’s chest.

I noticed River’s expression looked incredibly strained, but he still forced a nod. "Jade is right."

Another wave of pain washed over me. Just as I opened my mouth to defend myself, someone splashed a glass of wine directly in my face.

"Lowly human. Always doing disgusting things."

The alcohol burned my eyes and rushed down my throat, making me cough violently. I couldn't squeeze out a single word.

Taking that as a cue, another wolf threw a drink at me.

"Go die, mistress!"

Then came another glass, and another. Some poured it over my chest, others over my head.

One wolf grabbed my jaw, forcing my mouth open, pouring wine down my throat.

I was being publicly humiliated, treated like a piece of trash, while Jade snuggled in River's arms, laughing hysterically.

I couldn't even scream. I was knocked to the floor. Once the drinks ran out, the kicks and stomps began.

It was happening. The nightmare I feared most had arrived.

My mother had gone through the exact same torment before she died.

The reason I had agreed to break up with River so quickly was because I was terrified of this day.

Yet, it still found me. Wrapped in lies and frame-ups.

The darkness that River had once chased away came rushing back, swallowing me whole. But this time, there was no light left for me.

My light was shining on someone else.

Through the gaps in the crowd, I saw River laughing with Jade. He laughed so hard he seemed to have tears in his eyes.

He must be so happy.

*River, why were you the one who rescued me from hell, only to throw me right back into it?*

With every ounce of strength left in my body, I screamed, "I, Rose Miller of the Moonclaw Pack, reject River Johnson of the Sunward Pack as my fated mate!"

Then, like a madwoman, I broke through the crowd and ran toward the rooftop helipad.

Perhaps realizing what my mother had done, River's face drained of color. He chased after me, screaming in terror, "Rose! No! Don't do it!"

But I wasn't going to jump. I wasn't going to die like my mother.

I ran toward the sky, climbing the rope ladder hanging from the hovering helicopter, step by step.