Page 78 of Fated to the Warrior Wolf

I was sure he had a pretty explanation. The kind he’d expect me to trip over myself to accept, because he was annoyingly gorgeous and rich as fuck. But you know what?

I might have been dead broke, alone, and pregnant, but I had my pride.

And I wasn’t going to trample it for a man, not ever again.

Even if it felt like I was dying.

Even if he was my fated mate.

The rending sensation struck my chest again, and I felt Brielle’s blessedly cool hands on my shoulders as she stopped my stumbling flight.

“Leigh… Goddess! She’s ice cold.” My bestie checked me over quickly—Oli too, I realized as she pressed a hand to my forehead and frowned—but when that was done, she passed me to Shay’s waiting arms, and I clung to her shamelessly. But I couldn’t help myself, I watched as I clung to her, watched as Brielle stormed across the fancy marble hall like she owned the place—because she fuckingdid—and stepped up toe to toe with Gael.

“Brielle, I know how this looks. I just need five minutes with Leigh?—”

Brielle held up one hand, and Gael fell silent, wearing a stony expression as he tightly clenched his jaw. The kind of expression he used to wear when we were barely a notch above enemies to each other.

“Leigh can speak for herself, and I don’t think she wants to speak with you right now. What you can do is get this woman out of here before I throw her out myself, and you with her.” Brielle snarled, a crackling dominance to her tone that wasnothers.

Shit, that’s a power pull. She’s about to lose it.

The other woman—no, that was me. Hisfiancée—laughed coldly, stepping toward Brielle and Gael, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t physically hurt me when she wrapped her baby-pink nails around his biceps, leaning into his shoulder as if they were a happy couple.

He gritted his teeth—but didn’t push her away, theratbastard—before giving Brielle a formal half bow I’d never seen before. “I apologize, Brielle, and I’ll see her off the grounds immediately.”

Brielle nodded and spun away from them, her eyes locking with mine.

“Are you going to let this weak bitch speak to me that way, baby?” she simpered up at him before shooting a haughty smirk down her nose at Brielle’s back.

Brielle froze at Celeste’s words. And a split second later, when her eyes began to glow that ice-ringed brown that was uniquely Brielle, all the hair on my arms lifted at once, as if someone had electrified the air.

“Holy shit,” Shay whispered, hugging me just a little tighter as we watched, mesmerized and a little terrified as our bestie’s power swelled around us all to oxygen-stealing levels.

“How is she doing that?” Olivia asked in a hushed whisper, stepping closer to my side.

“Long story, but we’ll fill you in later,” Shay murmured, taking a step back and bringing the two of us with her.

“You should be careful how you speak to the high alpha mate, Celeste,” Gael snarled, starting to drag her away toward the front door, but Brielle spun back toward them, a snarl on her lips that stopped them in their tracks, as pure alpha dominance lashed out and struck Gael’s fiancée.

Kane and Dirge were at Brielle’s sides in an instant, and I choked down a sob as I watched the scene unfold, shame and humiliation holding me in a death grip.

Celeste staggered back, losing her grip on Gael’s arm as she grasped at her throat and her eyes blew wide with terror.

“You will not come into our pack home and insultmy family,” Brielle snarled, stalking toward the other woman, who was sinking to her knees, still clawing at her neck as if an invisible hand was choking her. “And that’s exactly what you’ve done.”

“What pack is dishonored to have thisfemalewho you’re engaged to?” she asked, pinning Gael with her furious gaze.

The woman’s face was turning purple, her claw-tipped fingers snagging on a double-length pearl necklace and sending the pearls rolling across the floor.

“Pack Belém, Alpha Mate,” Gael said, keeping his head slightly bowed and his eyes averted from hers. His shoulders were tight, but still he stood at Celeste’s side, and it was eating me up, second by second, corrosive acid bleeding through my veins as I watched him claim someone else.

Kane finally spoke, gently touching Bri’s shoulder. “Alpha Salvador is set to arrive this evening, and we’ll speak to him about the insult from his daughter. But you have to ease up or she’s going to suffocate, and I know you don’t want that, not deep down.”

Brielle waved a hand to release Celeste, and she sucked down air with a whistle as the pressure suddenly vanished. “She is not to step foot back on pack grounds. I don’t give a rat’s ass who she’s engaged to, and if that’s a problem, her fiancé can leave with her,” Brielle said, meeting Kane’s stare and holding it, daring him to contradict her.

There was no wolf on the planet aside from Brielle who could do that and live. I shuddered, and Shay gripped me tighter. This had spiraled to a dangerous degree, and I felt like I was sinking through quicksand as I watched everything get further and further out of control.

If quicksand were made of broken glass.

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