Chapter 20
Reckoning
Despite her expulsion, Qiana, her wolf still clinging to a shred of hope, made one last desperate attempt.
She contacted Benjamin’s mother, her voice trembling with feigned distress.”Aunt, Benjamin… Benjamin’s kicking me out…”
Her voice trailed off, leaving room for manipulation.
Her wolf, despite its defeat, still clawed for survival.
Benjamin’s mother, her wolf instantly alerted to the implied injustice against her son, responded with instant fury.”Qiana, wait there. I’m coming right now!”
Upon her arrival, Benjamin, his warrior wolf seething, confronted Qiana.”What do you think you are?
Slandering me?” His composure shattered, his fingers clamped down on her jaw, bruising her skin.
His wolf’s fury was unrestrained, a direct response to her insidious betrayal.
Yet, she clung to the datapad like a lifeline, her wolf desperately attempting to salvage the situation.
Adam, his shadow wolf ever watchful, placed a calming hand on Benjamin’s shoulder. “It’s alright. Don’t worry about her. She’s insignificant. Aunt won’t be so foolish as to disbelieve her own son.” His voice, though calm, held an underlying threat. His wolf sensed the looming conflict and prepared for action.
As Benjamin’s mother entered, before she could voice her outrage, Benjamin handed her the investigation report.
Her face hardened as she read the evidence, the betrayal of her son and the insult to her family’s honor registering fully.
Her wolf roared silently with fury.
She strode towards Qiana, discarding any pretense of civility, seizing her hair and delivering a sharp slap. Qiana’s cheek instantly swelled.
“Aunt, why… why are you doing this? Benjamin… he’s lying to cover up what happened…” Qiana’s wolf whimpered, desperately trying to justify
her actions.
“Enough!” Mrs. Benjamin cut her off, her voice as cold and hard as Benjamin’s.”Qiana, I know my son best. And as an elder she-wolf, I recognize manipulation when I see it.”
Her wolf’s keen senses had pierced through Qiana’s lies.
“Because of your actions, Lanie chose to forgive you, but the Benjamin and Adam families will not!”
Lanie’s importance to both families was immense; she held a place in their hearts far beyond the political implications of her bloodline. Qiana’s intrusion on the Mid-Autumn Festival had been a profound embarrassment. It wasn’t simply her humble background; both families had envisioned Lanie as their sons’ mates, their future Luna.
Their wolves had been drawn to her unique strength and spirit.
Mrs. Benjamin and Mrs. Adam had eagerly anticipated their sons choosing Lanie, their wolves rejoicing at the prospect of a harmonious union. Qiana’s actions had disrupted their plans, shattering their expectations and humiliating them. They had initially treated Qiana with a mix of compensation and guilt, offering her family heirlooms, attempting to appease their sons’ misguided affection.
Now, the truth revealed, Mrs. Benjamin showed no mercy.
She contacted Mrs. Adam, her call carrying the weight of righteous anger.
Mrs. Adam arrived, equally furious after hearing the story.
A fiery she-wolf known for her sharp tongue and decisive actions, she deemed their initial retaliation far too lenient.
Her wolf snarled, its primal instincts screaming for retribution.
