Rejected, And Became A Heiress (Cara) novel Chapter 4

Cara.

“BITCH! I will RIP her, I will TEAR her!!”

Lucy’s vicious thoughts pass through my own mind, doing nothing to help me remain calm.

Alaric doesn’t believe me. Alaric doesn’t love me.

Alaric has never loved me.

He loves Lilia. She’s his.

And...he's also hers.

“Treacherous SCUM! Vile, hateful TRASH!!” Lucy’s insults are relentless.

I push the complete and utter despair deep down, way down, just to get through the next few moments without making things worse.

I can do this.

For my baby, I can do this.

Lilia’s still in the Alpha King’s arms, crying about how cruel I’ve been to her. Alaric ordered the secretary away from the room, so it’s just the three of us in the conference room now.

It’s Lilia’s word against mine:“I was doing exactly as you asked, showing her around. I can’t help that others may have made certain comments about the surprise of the choice in the pack’s Luna…”

This is my professional integrity on the line now, and he needs to understand that I’m the same level-headed she-wolf he’s always known.

A fresh sob erupts from Lilia and Alaric holds up a hand.

“Enough!” he orders.

As if on cue, Lilia whimpers pathetically and makes a show of stroking the Alpha King’s thick and muscled shoulder. She bares her neck to him, the ultimate show of submission.

He takes a breath, collecting himself, and continues in a softer tone, “That’s enough now. Once the pack has more time with her, they’ll see as I have already seen that Lilia is a kind, gentle, and loving she-wolf.”

Lilia smiles up at him, her teeth gleaming in the fluorescent light of the conference room.

Before I can help it, my eyes narrow at her, unable to mask my growing disdain.

“Cara,” Alaric speaks again. “Since the reign of my father, your professionalism has been your greatest attribute as a Beta. Or have you forgotten how much he cared for you? Mentored you?”

Alaric’s father was an excellent King, and it was he who first promoted me to Beta, despite all the elders saying I was unworthy due to being low-born. I’d die before I’d insult his memory.

Alaric continued, “I trust that your work ethic and sensibilities have not been compromised here due to your… personal feelings… as an ex-lover.”

He raises an eyebrow to me, daring me to refute him.

“She thinks she can win you back and get me out of the way! That’s what she wants!” Lilia falls into fresh hysterics.

I’m so far beyond offended that I’m not sure there’s a word for it. He’s insulted my character, challenged my integrity. He’s letting Lilia spin this hateful web of lies and is acting like he doesn’t even know me!

After everything I’ve done for him these last three years!

“Apologize.”

The Alpha King isn’t asking. It’s a direct order.

But I can’t apologize for something I didn’t even do! This is all a set up.

I won’t let myself fall victim to it.

“I can forget your last transgression, and we can all move forward together. But you must apologize for Lilia for how despicably you’ve treated her. To disrespect my Luna is to disrespect the pack.” His voice is like ice, brittle and cold.

His Luna.

Before I can respond, Lilia interrupts again, “She’ll never be happy until SHE is Luna. That’s what she said! It’s so sad how much she CRAVES to be anoble! How she would do ANYTHING to get it!”