Suddenly, that fateful scene flashed before my eyes.
Alice glared at me, her eyes ablaze with disdain.
"You? Think you can be our sister - in - law? If it weren't for Frank's stupid sense of duty to our fake sibling bond, you'd be nothing here." I shot back,"You're just jealous, Alice. Jealous that Frank cares about me." She laughed, a cold, mocking sound."Cares? You're delusional. He's just using you." Without thinking, I dialed my parents from the Riverside Pack.
"Mom, Dad," I sobbed as soon as my mom answered."I was wrong. I'm coming home." My mom's voice softened."Oh, honey. We knew this wasn't right for you. Come back, where you belong." I hung up, wiping my tears. How could I have been so blind?
Because of Frank's empty words about missing me, I'd ignored my parents' pleas to return and take over their business. Now, I saw the truth. He'd used me, and I was done.
Back at the apartment, I waited in the cold, empty silence.
Then, the doorbell rang. I opened it to find Frank.
"Alice is throwing a ball," he said flatly."She wants you there. It's full of important werewolves. You're coming." I stared at him."Why should I? So you and Alice can humiliate me more?" Frank's eyes hardened."Don't be difficult. Just come. It's important for our pack." I clenched my fists. Little did he know, I was done being his pawn.
This ball might be a trap, but I was ready to face the werewolf elite and show them the real me.
"I saw the videos online. You... don't worry too much. I believe you, okay?" Frank said, his voice attempting to sound soothing.
As he spoke, he rummaged through a chest filled with ancient - looking items.
From it, he pulled out a bewitched pendant, its dark gemstone glinting ominously in the dim light of the room.
"Here, put this on. It's a special piece from our pack's collection. Wear it to the ball. We can't keep them waiting." Before I could protest, he reached for the simple amulet I always wore, a gift from my parents in the Riverside Pack, and started to remove it.
I abruptly reached out and grabbed his hand."What exactly do you believe in, Frank? You know what they're saying about me, and yet you still want me to go to this ball wearing that... thing?" Frank opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, his phone buzzed, and an audio message from Alice played automatically.
"Of course, we want everyone, including her, to question her virtue. It's the perfect way to teach her a lesson for daring to cross me." After a moment of hesitation, Frank replied, his voice soft but filled with a sense of resignation."Alright, Alice. It'll be done." In a fit of anger, I snatched the bewitched pendant from his hand and threw it across the room.
"I'm not going to that ball. You and Alice can enjoy your little game without me."
"Ava! Stop being childish!" Frank barked, his voice laced with irritation.
"This gathering Alice organized today is especially for you to unwind. She even wants to sincerely apologize to you during this party. It's her way of showing she cares. Don't be ungrateful!" Despite my protests, Frank all but dragged me out of the door.
As we approached the car, I rummaged through my small bag and pulled out a charmed mask. Just as I was about to put it on, Frank's hand shot out and stopped me.
He leaned in close, his eyes locking onto mine with a false sense of tenderness.
In that moment, he seemed like the hero of some twisted fairytale, but I knew better."You don't need that, Ava. I believe in you, and you should believe in yourself, too. Trust me," .
Before I could react, his long fingers plucked the mask from my grasp and tossed it out of the car window.
Then, with a firm grip on my wrist, he hauled me out of the vehicle.
The sounds of raucous music and laughter from the ball filled the air, and I was thrust, unprotected.
The moment we stepped into the bustling bar, which was filled with werewolves from various packs, all eyes seemed to zero in on me.
Some werewolves' eyes glowed faintly, a sign of their heightened emotions, as they sized me up, no doubt thinking of the scandalous videos that had been circulating.
We stepped into the grand ballroom.
"Look at this slut!" a gruff - voiced werewolf roared, pointing directly at me.
"Those videos prove she's nothing but a cheap thrill." Another snarled,"With a body like that, she was made to spread her legs. No wonder she's the laughingstock of every pack." The mocking laughter was deafening.
I tried to hold my head high, but Frank roughly shoved me forward."Keep moving. Don't make a scene." Inside the private box, the air was thick with malice."I'm sick. I want to leave," I pleaded, my voice breaking.
One of Frank's packmates, his eyes wild with lust, grabbed my wrist.
"Leaving so soon? We're just getting started." He yanked me closer, his breath hot on my neck.
"You're not going anywhere until I'm done with you." Frank just stood there, watching."You brought this on yourself, Ava. Now, face the consequences." I struggled, but the werewolf's grip was like iron.
"Please, let me go!" I begged, but my pleas were met with more laughter.
"Hey, sister - in - law? You gotta have some real fun with us," one of Frank's rowdy packmates jeered.
"We know you're not as innocent as you pretend to be, not after those videos." I gritted my teeth, trying to hold back the bile rising in my throat.
"Leave me alone," He laughed, a cruel, mocking sound.
"Oh, come on. Don't be such a spoilsport. We're just getting started." Just then, Alice popped out from behind the crowd, wearing a sickeningly sweet smile."Oh, you guys, stop it! You're scaring my future sister - in - law!" she exclaimed, her voice falsely cheerful.
But her eyes betrayed her true intentions as she roughly grabbed my arm."Let's go, honey. We'll have a much better time in the middle of the room." I dug my heels in, but her grip was like iron.
She ignored me, dragging me towards the center
"Nonsense. You'll thank me later." The dazzling crystal chandelier above felt like a searing spotlight, exposing me completely, leaving me with nowhere to hide.
In my panic, I looked towards Frank, desperately hoping for some help.
He sat in the corner, casually swirling the wine in his glass.