Then his hand moved faster than my eyes could follow. The slap landed hard against my cheek. My head snapped to the side, the sting burning through my skin. The force sent me stumbling back until I hit the edge of the cabinet and fell to the floor.
For a moment, the world went silent.
Pain bloomed across my face, hot and humiliating. The taste of blood touched my tongue, sharp and metallic.
I looked up at him, at the man I had once believed was my destiny, and saw nothing but fury in his eyes. No remorse. No love.
Hannah gasped dramatically, rushing toward him. “Alpha, please!” she cried. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have tried to help her. I didn’t mean to upset her!”
I knew her act too well. The trembling lip, the tears, the soft voice, it was all a performance.
And Jeremiah fell for it.
He turned to me, rage flaring again. “Look what you’ve done! You terrified her!”
“I can’t believe you,” I uttered, my voice breaking. “You’re really protecting another she-wolf over the mother of your dead daughter—“
“I said, enough!” he cut me off again. “I’ve had enough of your drama, Zera! You’re losing control, and I won’t let you destroy everything because of your bitterness.”