SONIA.

Maria was a damn bitch.

The thought burned through my mind, sharp and relentless, as I replayed everything I had just witnessed. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it—two grown men, Alphas no less, setting aside their pride, their anger, their differences...all for her.

For Maria.

How?

How exactly did she manage to bewitch them to that extent?

I had seen it with my own eyes. The tension, the confrontation, the way things could have easily spiraled out of control, and yet, somehow, it didn’t. Instead, they chose to protect her. To shield her. To make it seem like nothing had happened at all.

It irritated me more than I cared to admit.

That moment had been perfect. Absolutely perfect.

A chance to ruin her reputation in front of everyone... to expose her... to make Noah see...how unfit she was to be his. I had been so sure that everything would fall apart right there, that he would have no choice but to end that ridiculous engagement.

But no.

Everything had slipped right through my fingers.

My jaw tightened as frustration coiled tightly within me.

The wedding could still happen...yes.

But not with her.

With me.

It had always been meant to be me.

I clenched my fists tightly at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to steady myself. For a brief moment, I considered reaching out to my father—telling him everything, asking for his intervention.

But no.

That would be unnecessary.

Disturbing him over something like this...it felt absurd. I wasn’t weak. I didn’t need anyone to fight my battles for me.

Besides...The engagement document still stood valid and unshaken. A binding agreement that no one could simply brush aside.

And I wasn’t about to sit back and watch someone else take what was rightfully mine.

With that resolve hardening inside me, I turned and made my way straight toward Maria’s room, taking the shorter route without hesitation. My steps were quick, purposeful, each one driven by a growing determination.

But when I got there...She wasn’t inside.

I frowned slightly, my gaze sweeping across the empty space as irritation flickered through me again.

Where could she have gone?

For a brief second, I considered leaving, my patience already wearing thin. But just as I turned to walk away...

There she was, walking straight toward me.

My lips curved slowly, almost instinctively.

How convenient.

If I couldn’t hurt her as an obvious enemy...then perhaps it was time to try something else, something more subtle and definitely something she wouldn’t see coming.

I clicked my tongue softly in irritation before smoothing my expression, forcing a bright, almost flawless smile onto my face.

"Maria!" I called out, stepping forward as if I had been waiting for her all along. "Where did you go?" I asked, carefully lacing my tone with sweetness.

Fake.

But convincing enough.

She immediately took a step back.

Of course she did.

Suspicion was written all over her face, clear as day. Her guard was up, her eyes sharp as they watched me, trying to read through whatever act I was putting on.

But that didn’t bother me.

Not in the slightest.

"What exactly do you want?" she asked, rolling her eyes as she deliberately looked away from me, her attention drifting elsewhere like I wasn’t even worth it.

For a split second, something dark flickered in my chest but I swallowed it down. I kept the smile on my face...steady...patient...waiting.

"Relax, Maria," I said, softening my tone as much as I could, forcing my expression into one of concern. "With everything that happened in the council room, you must be hurt." I let my brows crease slightly, adding just the right amount of pity to my face. "I’m a lady too, and I thought...maybe I could help."

The words felt foreign on my tongue, but I delivered them anyway, watching her carefully for any sign of weakness.

But Maria didn’t soften.

If anything, her expression grew even colder.

"And why exactly would you do that?" she asked, raising her brows at me, her voice filled with nothing but suspicion.

For a split second, I hesitated, then I exhaled slowly, as if gathering courage.

"I know you might still be wary of me," I began, keeping my voice calm, measured. "But I’ve come to terms with the fact that Noah likes you." I paused briefly before continuing, "And since I don’t like him anyway, there’s really no need for us to fight."

The moment the words left my mouth, Maria scoffed.

A sharp, dismissive sound.

"Do you expect me to believe the lies you just spouted?" she asked, her tone dripping with disbelief.

My fingers curled slightly at my sides, but I kept my composure.

"Come on," I said, letting out a small breath as though I was being misunderstood. "I was only trying to protect my pride." I shook my head lightly. "We were already bound to each other, and then he suddenly backs out..." I paused, letting the weight of it linger before finishing, "...if it were you, wouldn’t you try to save face?"

For a moment, there was silence, but Maria didn’t look convinced, not even close.

Her eyes remained sharp, studying me, as if she could see right through every word I was saying.

Then, after a brief pause, she spoke again.

"Speak, Sonia," she said, her tone firm and direct. "What exactly do you want?"

That was it. I couldn’t believe she would ask straight to the point.

No patience for pretenses. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I felt irritation rise within me, hot and immediate, but I swallowed it down forcefully. This girl...she was far more difficult than I anticipated.

No wonder Anabel left her for me to handle.

I inhaled deeply, steadying myself before blurting out....

"To be your friend!"

The words came out faster than I intended, sounding almost ridiculous even to my own ears. But I pressed on, refusing to falter.

"As Noah’s Luna-to-be," I continued quickly, trying to sound reasonable now, "it’s only natural that we maintain a good relationship...for the sake of both packs."

For a moment, Maria just stared at me.

"Thank you," she said flatly. "But I’m not interested."

No hesitation.

No second thought.

And before I could say another word, she turned away from me, walked into her room, and shut the door right in my face.

The sound echoed sharply in the hallway.

My jaw tightened instantly.

How dare she?

I stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, my hands curling into fists at my sides as anger simmered beneath my skin.

But even then, I didn’t move because one thing was certain, no matter what happened...I wasn’t giving up especially...Not when the wedding was drawing closer with every passing second.