Sylvia’s POV
Oh Moon Goddess…
What did I just witness?
I actually saw Ava Crawford, that annoying woman, getting drenched in red wine right in the middle of this high-profile event, with everyone watching.
For a second, the thrill shot straight up my spine.
I swear, it took every bit of self-control I had not to burst out laughing on the spot.
I could only clutch Damon Ashford’s arm tighter, forcing that near-exploding laughter back down my throat.
Did you see that, Ava?
That’s what you get for acting all high and mighty.
You think you’re still some untouchable Luna?
No.
Right now, you’re nothing but someone people can toss aside whenever they feel like it.
But just when I was soaking in that sweet taste of payback, I turned my head…
and froze.
Damon’s eyes were locked on Ava’s soaked, miserable figure.
And that handsome face of his, there was none of the disgust I expected, none of that cold indifference he should’ve had.
Instead…
it was something else.
Something messy.
Complicated.
Was that…
worry?
Hesitation?
And, no, impossible, a hint of pity?
No.
A chill tore through me, like someone had dumped ice water down my back.
Panic clamped hard around my chest.
I always believed Damon’s heart belonged only to me.
That he kept Ava around simply because she was still useful.
All the sweet things he told me, all the promises about our future.
They couldn’t possibly be lies.
But recently…
I can’t shake the feeling that things aren’t adding up.
He dodges my kisses without even realizing it.
He goes blank sometimes when we’re together.
And now…
now he’s looking at Ava with that expression?
Don’t tell me…
he’s actually fallen for her?
No.
Absolutely not.
I won’t let that happen.
When Damon’s body shifted, like he was genuinely about to go over there, I nearly panicked.
I grabbed his arm hard.
“Damon! Don’t.”
He turned to me, confused, his brows slightly knit.
I immediately softened my expression, letting my eyes shimmer as if I were on the verge of tears.
My voice came out calm, almost reasonable.
“Honey, I know you’re softhearted. But this time… Ava brought it on herself. She promised you she’d stay focused on work, yet here she is trying to show off at an event like this. And now she’s upset the Crawford heir. Getting put in her place is something she asked for.”
I watched the hesitation flicker in his eyes and pushed harder.
“If you walk out there now, you won’t be helping her. You’ll just end up standing next to her as the biggest joke on the entire East Coast. Everyone will say the Darkmoon Pack is stupid enough to offend both the Crawford Pack and the Bloodmoon Pack at the same time. For our pack’s dignity, Damon, you can’t make a move right now.”
I knew Damon wasn’t loyal to any woman, but as an Alpha, he was loyal to his pack.
That was the one thing he could never ignore.
Sure enough, the warmth in his eyes slowly iced over.
His steps halted, his face turning dark and unreadable.
I knew I’d won.
But watching his mood sink like that still pricked at me.
So I rose on my toes and brushed a kiss against his lips.
“This is your… good luck kiss,” I murmured softly.
The second my lips touched his, I caught Ava Crawford’s expression from the corner of my eye, her face collapsed into pure heartbreak and helplessness.
A wave of satisfaction rushed straight through me.
Everything she made me swallow down recently, all the frustration, all the humiliation, burst out in this single moment.
See that, Ava?
In the end, he still picks me.
That stupid woman actually dared to provoke the Crawford heir.
She’s done for.
Right then, the lights in the hall dimmed, and a sharp spotlight hit the stage.
The host’s voice boomed with excitement.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Please give your warmest applause to welcome the honorable Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, Mr. Thorne!”
Thorne…
Adrian Thorne?!
Bella’s fiance?!
Oh my god.
The real show was finally about to start.
My heartbeat kicked up, a rush of thrill flooding me.
I could barely wait to see it.
Ava being dragged out of this banquet by Adrian’s order, thrown out like some stray mutt.
Ava, you’re completely done for.