Chapter 4

Three days later, Liam and I held our Mate Ceremony as planned.

Predictably, Ethan crashed it.

He didn't just bring Sophie and his pack cronies—

he invited delegates and gossiping wolves from neighboring packs to spectate.

Liam and I had planned an intimate ceremony, but Ethan's rowdy entourage flooded the entire hall.

Before Ethan even spoke, wolves from the other packs crowded around me:

"Ms. Clark, are you seriously picking a wolf-less invalid just to spite your intended mate? Have you considered the shame this brings upon him?"

Standing behind them, Ethan put on a pitiful, heartbroken display, his voice cracking:

"Emma, I know you're still mad at me, but how could you punish me like this? How am I supposed to hold my head high?"

Even though I had prepared myself,

the sheer weight of their mocking stares made hot fury surge through my veins.

Seeing my tense posture, Ethan smirked with triumph.

He parted the crowd and stepped up to me, his tone dripping with condescension:

"Emma, you went through all this trouble just to get my attention, didn't you?"

"I won't be too hard on you. Kneel down right here, apologize sincerely, and beg for my forgiveness in front of everyone. Maybe then, I'll take you back..."

He tilted his chin up, arrogant satisfaction written all over his face,

certain I would take the lifeline he was throwing me.

I clenched my fists, rage boiling in my chest.

But just as I opened my mouth to tear him apart,

a cold, commanding voice boomed from the entrance, cutting through the chatter like thunder:

"Emma and I are already bound by ceremony. She is officially my mate."

"What's the matter, Ethan? Are you here to steal my bride?"

Everyone snapped their heads toward the door.

Liam stood there in a tailored suit.

His posture was straight as an arrow, chin held high, his eyes blazing like twin daggers.

His gaze swept across the room before he strode toward me with lethal grace.

The overwhelming Alpha aura radiating from him was completely unrecognizable from the timid fool we had all known.

Every breath hitched. The entire hall fell dead silent.

"What nonsense are you spewing, you freak? Emma was my intended mate! You really think she'd settle for trash like you?"

Livid and humiliated, Ethan raised his fist to strike Liam across the face.

But in the next split second, Liam clamped his fingers around Ethan's wrist like an iron vise.

His gaze was icy as he flung Ethan's arm back with terrifying force.

The sheer power sent Ethan stumbling backward, nearly crashing to the floor.

Shock twisted Ethan's features.

"You bastard! You dare lay a hand on me?!"

Ethan shrieked.

For years, Liam had been nothing more than Ethan's personal punching bag.

Whenever Ethan was in a bad mood, he beat and berated him at will.

And Liam had always cowered, trembling in silence, too scared to even cry aloud.

A servant's brain-damaged brat dare strike back?

But dread soon crawled up Ethan's spine.

The man standing before him was sharp, dominant, and dangerous.

Where was the cowardly idiot he used to abuse?

Ethan's voice wavered, a tremor of panic creeping in.

"Liam... what the hell is this?"

Liam didn't answer him right away.

Instead, he turned to me, his dark eyes brimming with complex emotion—

concern, tenderness, and profound apology.

"Emma, I'm sorry. I lied to you."

"Don't worry. Once I settle this, I'll explain everything."

Turning back to Ethan, his eyes frosted over with bone-chilling hatred.

"You want answers, Ethan? Fine. I'll tell you everything today."