Elodie’s POV
“It’s nothing,” I said, shaking my head and forcing a smile.
By the ti I looked back, Sienna had already returned to where Dante stood, and they’d all turned their attention away from .
Like I’d never existed in the first place.
I went back to talking with Professor Nolan, throwing myself into the conversation about algorithms and system architecture because it was easier than thinking about anything else.
But eventually, he had to leave, soone else needed his attention and I was left standing there with Johnny, sipping my wine and trying to look like I belonged.
That’s when I caught Levi staring at .
He had this strange smile on his face. Knowing. Almost mocking.
Dante had his back to , engaged in conversation with soone I didn’t recognize.
When Levi saw looking, he raised his eyebrows and lifted his wine glass in my direction. Like a toast. Or a threat.
I frowned, confused.
Then he smirked, this cold, dismissive expression and turned away.
It hit then.
He thought Johnny and I had ganged up on Sienna. Thought we’d bullied her or humiliated her on purpose. And that little gesture? That was Levi’s way of telling this wasn’t over. That there would be consequences.
My stomach twisted.
Of course they’d take her side. Of course they’d see as the villain.
I’d always been the villain in their story.
About thirty minutes later, the host of the banquet finally made his way back to us. He’d been working the room all night, but now he looked relaxed, a little tipsy.
After so small talk, he leaned toward Johnny with a curious expression. “So, do you know Ms. Brown? The one who was just here?”
Johnny’s smile was polite but guarded. “Sowhat. Why do you ask?”
“Well, I was talking to so people earlier and found out she’s not from around here, originally from a smaller Pack territory. Her family’s doing well there, fairly established, but here in the capital?” He shrugged. “They’re small fish. Nothing compared to the Bellini Pack, the Crane Pack, or the Shaw Pack.”
Johnny raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“And families like that usually can’t break into our circles. The big Pack families wouldn’t even look at them twice.” The host took a sip of his drink, his eyes gleaming with interest. “But Ms. Brown? She’s sohow gotten right into the inner circle. Beca close with them. That’s impressive.”
My hands tightened around my glass.
“I was actually surprised when Alpha Bellini showed up tonight,” the host continued. “He almost never cos to these things. But then I realized, he ca to introduce Ms. Brown around. To help her build connections.”
He gestured across the room toward where Dante and his group had been standing earlier.
“When an Alpha personally paves the way for soone like that, brings his closest allies along to support her, it ans sothing. It ans she’s not just so passing fling. If she were just a mistress or a temporary thing, he wouldn’t go this far.”
Each word felt like a knife sliding between my ribs.
“With Alpha Bellini backing her, the Brown family is about to skyrocket. Their business, their status, everything.” The host laughed, shaking his head in admiration. “To have a daughter like that? The Browns hit the lottery. Truly enviable.”
I felt Johnny stiffen beside .
I couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t look at anyone.
The host kept talking, oblivious to the way his words were tearing apart. “It’s rare to see that kind of loyalty from soone like Alpha Bellini. She must be really special.”
Special.
Yes. She was special.
And I was... nothing.
The wife he kept hidden. The Luna no one knew about. The woman he’d never once introduced to his friends or brought to events like this.
Seven years of marriage, and he’d never done for what he was doing for her in a matter of months.
I glanced automatically toward where Dante and his group had been standing.
They were gone. The spot was empty.
They’d left. Probably took Sienna sowhere nicer. Sowhere more exclusive. Another event where Dante could parade her around and make sure everyone knew she belonged with him.
Even though I’d been standing right there in that ballroom, Dante never looked at once.
Not once.
Johnny and I left about thirty minutes after they did. The drive back to my apartnt was quiet. Johnny kept glancing at like he wanted to say sothing but didn’t know what.
I was grateful for the silence.
When he dropped off, I thanked him and headed upstairs, my whole body feeling heavy. Exhausted in a way that had nothing to do with being tired.
I’d just kicked off my heels when my phone rang.
Awfully it was Dante.
My heart stuttered, and for a second I just stared at his na on the screen.
Was this it? Was he calling to yell at for what happened with Sienna? Had Levi already told him that Johnny and I had “bullied” her?
I took a breath and answered. “Hello.”
“Co back.” His voice was cold. Flat.
I hesitated. “If there’s sothing you need to say, just say it.”
“Liora has a fever. She’s asking for you.”
Then he hung up.
Just like that.
I stood there for a second, phone still pressed to my ear, and then I was moving. Grabbing my keys, shoving my feet back into my shoes, racing out the door.
Liora was sick.
Nothing else mattered.
-----
When I got to the estate, I didn’t see Dante anywhere. Didn’t care. I went straight upstairs to Liora’s room.
She was lying in bed with an IV drip in her hand, her face flushed with fever, her little body looking so small and fragile under the blankets.
The second she saw , her face crumpled. “Mommy...”
She reached for with her free hand, and I was there imdiately, carefully gathering her into my arms while making sure not to disturb the IV.
“I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
She buried her face in my neck, and I could feel how hot she was. Too hot.
Sabina, who’d been sitting nearby, stood up quickly. “Luna, she ate a little earlier but threw it all up.”
My chest tightened. “How long has she been like this?”
“A few hours. The doctor’s been here, started the IV about forty minutes ago.”
I looked at the doctor standing quietly by the door. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Just a fever, Luna. Probably viral. The IV is fluids and fever reducer. She should start feeling better soon.”
I nodded, then turned my attention back to Liora. She was still clinging to , her little fingers gripping my dress.
“Are you hungry, sweetheart?” I asked gently, brushing her damp hair back from her forehead. “Once your IV is done, Mommy will make you so porridge. The kind you like.”
She nodded weakly against my shoulder. “’Kay.”
Whenever she was sick, I was always the one who took care of her. Always. She’d only eat the porridge I made, no one else’s tasted right to her.
It was one of the few things that made feel like I was still needed.
She pulled back slightly, her feverish eyes searching mine. “Where’s Daddy? Is he not ho yet?”
The question hit like a punch to the gut.
I didn’t know.
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