“She slapped me, Xavier!” she cried, her voice trembling. “I was just trying to speak with her peacefully!”
I shook my head, stepping back. “She’s lying! Tell them what you told me!”
But Xavier didn’t even spare me a glance. His eyes burned with anger. “Brielle,” he said tightly, “have you completely lost control of yourself?”
“She provoked me!” I protested desperately. “Ask her what she said—”
“Enough!” His Alpha voice cracked across the hall, heavy with authority. My wolf whimpered instantly, forced into submission by his dominance.
Before I could react, two guards approached and grabbed my arms roughly.
“Xavier, what are you doing?” I cried, panic rising in my chest.
He faced the crowd, his expression calm but cold. “For striking a guest and causing a scene during a celebration,” he announced, “Brielle will kneel and reflect on her actions.”
“Reflect?” Victoria whispered, wiping fake tears. “Please, Xavier… don’t punish her too harshly. I forgive her.”
He shot me a hard look. “Kneel on salt until the celebration ends. Perhaps you’ll finally learn humility.”
My breath caught. “No—please—”
But the guards forced me down.