TRADING MY CHEATING HUSBAND FOR THE LYCAN KING novel Chapter 25

CHAPTER 17: WHO’S CELESTE?-2

Knox looks at me like he’s trying to figure out if I’m serious.

I want to die.

“Pizza,” Rayana repeats, still giggling. “I love it. You’re so refreshingly real, Ember. Most omegas at these things are so uptight, but you just-” She makes an explosion gesture with her hands. “You just go for it. I love that.”

Queenie mouths ‘kill me‘ from across the table.

“Well,” I say weakly, “I try.”

“You don’t have to try, sweetie. That’s what makes it so charming.” Rayana leans forward, elbows on the table. “So where are you from? Your family must be so proud that you’re dating the Lycan King.”

“Seattle. And it’s… just me now.”

“Just you?” Rayana’s eyes widen with performative sympathy. “Oh, that’s so brave. A lone wolf in the big city. That must have been so hard.”

“It was fine.”

“You’re being modest. I can tell.” Rayana reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. But you don’t have to be modest with me. We’re going to be such good friends. I can already

tell.”

”

Her hand is ice–cold.

Knox clears his throat. “Rayana, you should probably-”

“Oh, I know, I know. I’m monopolizing the conversation.” Rayana releases my hand and sits back. “I just get so excited meeting new people. Especially when they’re dating someone I care about so deeply.” She looks at Knox with something that’s supposed to be fondness but reads like ownership. “We have such history together. Don’t we, darling?”

And for one horrible second, I picture it–Knox and Rayana together. His hands on her perfect body, his mouth on hers, doing all the filthy things he does to me but with her instead. The image makes me sick. She’s beautiful in a way I’ll never be. Did he love her? Worship and shower with her?

The jealousy claws at something inside me I didn’t know existed until this moment, something possessive and ugly that terrifies me. Sapphire growls in the back of my mind.

“Ancient history,” Knox says.

CHAPTER 17 WHO’S CELESTE?-2

+25 Points

“Anyway,” Rayana says, standing gracefully. “I should let you all enjoy your dinner. But first-” She raises her wine glass. “Can I make a toast?”

“To love,” Rayana begins, voice trembling slightly. “To second chances. To finding joy even when time is running out.” She looks directly at Knox, eyes shimmering. “And to letting go of the people we can’t have, even when it breaks our hearts.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify