Third Person POV
Niall tried to reason, "Look, Dad, even if things didn’t work out with Christina, we still have Beatrice. The pack alliance with the Crescent can continue. It’s not like we’ve lost everything."
"Are you completely stupid?"An Alpha rejected by his true mate is seen as weak! Unworthy!You think marrying Beatrice makes you look any less pathetic to other Alphas?"
Niall shifted uncomfortably, but his pride wouldn’t let him back down."The pack alliance is what matters, not how we get there."
"WRONG!" Clive roared. "Don’t you get it? Chrissy was your Luna-to-be.Four years of her helping you, doing things for you.Then you suddenly switch her out at the mating ceremony for her own sister. You think people won’t talk? You don’t know what Highrise City’s wolf elite love to gossip about most?"
The older Alpha paced the room, his anger filling the air.
"How do you expect to lead this pack when you’re the biggest joke around?"
Niall felt his wolf bristle. "I can fix this. I’ll—"
"You’ll what?" Clive snarled. "Force her to leave Hudson Laurent? Challenge him for her? He’d destroy you, and you know it. Your wolf isn’t half as strong as his."
The truth hung between them, heavy and ugly.
Niall’s head snapped up."That’s not my fault. I didn’t cancel the mating ceremony. I said I’d marry her. She’s the one who ran off."
Clive swore."Sure. But screwing your ex while engaged to Christina? That wasn’t private. Everyone in Frostpelt pack thinks she left because you cheated."
Niall kept his mouth shut this ti. Damien whined in his head, missing Chrissy.
Maybe he’d moved too fast with Beatrice.
But he figured Chrissy would cry and forgive him like always.
He didn’t think she’d actually leave. She never had before, no matter how bad he treated her.
Clive leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming. "The engagent’s off. Fine. But we’re not taking the bla. Our pack’s reputation is on the line."
Niall looked up hopefully."What does that an?"
"We change the story.Say she cheated first. Say she couldn’t wait, ran off with the first Alpha who looked at her. You’re the loyal one. The victim." Clive’s eyes lit up with that calculating look he got during business deals.
"I...I thought you liked her." Niall’s brow furrowed, rembering how his father had once praised Chrissy’s quiet dedication to their pack.
Clive glared at his son."I did, but I like my reputation intact and my investnts protected more.The Crescent pack alliance ans too much to our standing in the North."
Niall licked his lips nervously. "You do realize the guy she married is a Laurent. If we start spinning this, doesn’t that make him the other man? Hudson’s not exactly going to let that slide. The Sabreridge pack is the strongest in the Northern territory."
"We don’t say who. Just that Christina cheated. Keep the guy out of it." Clive sneered,"Do you honestly think Hudson married her for love? An Alpha of his standing?"
"Of course not," Niall said imdiately, ignoring the twinge of discomfort his wolf sent.
There was no world where soone like Hudson would willingly choose a girl like Christina. She wasn’t remarkable enough, her wolf too submissive, too ek.
Clive gave a thin smile."They got the license quietly.No press,no photos.The Laurents haven’t said a word. That ans Hudson doesn’t want to acknowledge the marriage publicly.He doesn’t want to acknowledge her. If the vultures co for her, he probably won’t lift a finger to protect her."
His tone turned calculating. "As long as we don’t na Hudson, all the dirt will land on her. That’s the only way to clean our pack’s na. You get that, right?"
Niall nodded slowly. "Yeah. I get it."
"Good.anwhile,you stay away from Beatrice.Keep your head down.Look heartbroken. Let people think Christina is the one who wronged you. Play the wounded ex. You can at least manage that, can’t you?"
Niall muttered, "Yeah... sure."
"Let Christina take all the heat. Once things cool down, you can marry Beatrice without any problems."
Niall nodded and left the pack house fuming.
All of this was Chrissy’s fault.
Who the hell gave her permission to dump him first?
If anyone was canceling the mating ceremony, it should’ve been him.
She stole his thunder.
"If you did it to piss off," he muttered to himself, "congrats, babe. Goal achieved."
***
When he got back to his penthouse, Beatrice was on the sofa in his hoodie, scrolling her phone. Her vanilla scent hit his nose, but didn’t calm him like usual.
"Skip work this week," Niall said, dumping his keys on the counter. "Actually, take a trip. Paris, Bali, whatever. Just get out of Highrise for a while."
Beatrice looked up, surprised. "Why? I thought we could finally be together now that my pathetic sister’s gone."
"Because we need to lay low. My parents are pissed. People are watching. The pack elders are asking questions."
Her smile faded. "But I thought you’d talk to your parents, tell them you and Chrissy are done. That you’re with now."
"Just do what I say," he snapped, his eyes flashing amber.
"But I..."
He stared at her, letting his dominance show.
"France sounds great." She backed down fast, her wolf submitting. "How long?"
Niall walked over and pinched her cheek lightly. "That’s what I love about you. You’re gentler and prettier than Chrissy."
She smiled, happy with the praise.
He stood up. "What’s for dinner?"
"What?"She looked confused."I thought you were eating with your parents. I didn’t..."
"Never mind. Just order takeout."He went to shower, letting the hot water calm his restless wolf.
When he ca out, Beatrice said, "Food’ll be here in fifteen minutes."
"That long?" He frowned. "You should’ve ordered from across the street. They know what I like."
"I’ll rember next ti." Her voice was sweet, but he could sense her irritation.
He went to the fridge and grabbed an orange, tossing it to Beatrice. "Peel this."
She did, her nails making quick work of it.
He’d just eaten a few pieces when his stomach cramped hard. Sharp and twisting, like soone had stuck knives in his gut.
"Shit," he muttered, pressing his hand to his stomach.
"Gastritis again?" Beatrice jumped up. "Where’s your dicine?"
He pointed to the bathroom.
She ran in and ca back thirty seconds later. "Here, take these. If it gets worse, we’re going to the hospital."
She plonked the H2 blockers and a glass of water down in front of him.
Niall stared at the pills, thinking of Chrissy taking care of him.
Beatrice sat back down "Must be the stress. Maybe you should co to France with .Clear your head, get away from Chrissy drama. Seriously, I don’t get her ga. Marrying so random Alpha just to piss you off? Pathetic. She was never Luna material anyway."
Niall barely heard her.
He looked at the blister pack and reached for it, but groaned when another wave of pain hit.
Chrissy used to do this differently.
She’d pop the pills out and put them in his mouth, gentle.
Then she’d help him drink water, hand on his back to steady him.
All he had to do was lie there and swallow.
Beatrice didn’t do any of that.
She hadn’t even opened the damn foil.
Niall didn’t say anything. Wouldn’t be fair to get mad over sothing so small.
But it bothered him.
"Niall? Are you listening?"Beatrice waved her hand in front of his face."I was thinking... which part of France? I’m bored of Paris, Cannes was too humid, and Saint-Tropez is full of influencers. Maybe sowhere quiet, like Biarritz?"
"Whatever," he muttered.
"Or should I use your family’s place in Bordeaux again?"
"Go wherever you want," he said. "Just book sothing online."
The second Beatrice got in the shower, Niall grabbed his phone and called Chrissy.
If she answered and apologized, fine.
He could forget the whole quickie marriage thing.
Hudson could be her rebound or whatever.
Once she got over it and filed for divorce, there was still a spot for her.
He was still willing to make her Luna Christina despite all the drama she’d caused.
As long as she didn’t expect love or cuddles, they’d be fine.
Damien growled at that thought.
"Chrissy was supposed to be our mate, but you rejected her!" Then Damien retreated deep into his mind.
Niall didn’t want to deal with his wolf throwing a tantrum. He had enough problems already.
The call went straight to a busy tone.
Niall blinked.
Right. She’d blocked him. Again.
He called Ysolde next.
One ring.
Click. Call ended.
What the hell?
He tried again.
Straight to voicemail this ti.
He was blocked.
"Fuck!" he yelled, throwing his phone across the room.
Next morning, he had soone wait for Chrissy to leave work. Follow her. Get her address.
By evening, he had it.
He drove to her new apartnts, so mid-rise building near the park.
On the way, he called in a favor, got access to the building and elevator pass to her floor.
He got in the elevator, already planning what he’d say to bring her back to reality.
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