CHAPTER 89

CHAPTER 89
If someone asks me what my new hobby is, I have an answer ready. Annoying Erin. Honestly, it's becoming my favorite part of the day. It doesn't even take much effort anymore. A smile in her direction. A harmless comment. Standing too close to Cassian. Sitting beside one of the triplets. Apparently, my mere existence is enough to ruin her mood!
If Erin insists on making my life miserable, then I'll happily return the favor. Call it revenge. Call it petty. Call it whatever you want. Personally, I call it balance. The funniest part? I barely have to do anything.Erin does all the work herself.
Every glare she throws my way, every jealous outburst, every public tantrum only makes her look more unstable. The harder she tries to paint me as the villain, the more she ends up embarrassing herself. It's almost... entertaining and my wolf certainly thinks so. 
She practically purrs every time Erin loses her composure, and I swear she's starting to look forward to our little daily battles more than I do. Of course, I'm not stupid. Erin isn't just any jealous woman. She's the Alpha's chosen future Luna and I am really having the best time of my life messing with her inner peace…until the night she tries to kill me! 
It's reckless. Stupid, even. But desperation makes people dangerous, and Erin is desperate enough to erase me from this pack once and for all. She sends word through Dara, claiming she wants to clear the air between us. She asks to meet me privately in the greenhouse after dark.
Dara doesn't like it. "I have a bad feeling about this, Vivienne," she says, fidgeting with the hem of her apron. "Please don't go."
That should be my first warning. Instead, curiosity gets the better of me. Besides… I'm bored. By the time I arrive at the greenhouse, I notice the unusual silence. Moreover, Erin isn’t around. Where is she?
The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I scan the area and then I hear a sound. It comes from behind me. I spin around just as the lock slides into place. Well...that's not suspicious at all.
"You've been a thorn in my side, Vivienne." Erin's voice drifts through the rows of orchids.
"And you've been insecure ever since I smiled at your man," I reply casually, crossing my arms.
I expect another argument, another round of insults or even another slap from her.  Instead...she charges straight at me. There's no hesitation and warning from her.  Just pure, animal rage! 
She aims directly for me, trying to drive both of us into one of the greenhouse's jagged glass walls. Holy shit! She really wants me dead. Unfortunately for Erin...she picks the wrong woman. I'm not some fragile servant who has never thrown a punch.
I train to survive, and to kill! At the last second, I sidestep. She barrels past me, loses her footing, and stumbles forward. My eyes immediately land on a broken wooden shovel handle lying beside the potting bench.
Perfect!
I snatch it up and swing low. The wood slams against her shin and Erin cries out as her leg buckles beneath her. She crashes face-first onto the stone floor, sending dirt and broken flowerpots scattering across the greenhouse.
"You crazy bitch!" she screams.
"You locked the door, Erin!" I shout back. "What exactly is your plan? Kill me and tell everyone I ran away?"
She doesn't answer. She simply launches herself at me again and this time, we collide heads-on. Fists fly. Elbows connect. Her nails rake across my arm while I drive my knee into her stomach. She gasps in pain but I just ignore her. 
Then I answer with a sharp headbutt and blood immediately blooms across her split lip. Still, she refuses to stop. But neither do I!
She lunges again, but this time I catch the front of her dress and slam her backward against one of the glass walls. The entire structure rattles and then I lean close enough for her to hear every word.
"You're not afraid because I'm a threat to Cassian," I hiss. "You're afraid because deep down... you know I've already gotten under his skin."
Her mouth gapes open but before she can say anything, the greenhouse doors burst open, and cool night air rushes inside. Then, Cassian storms through the entrance with half a dozen warriors at his back.
Erin lies sprawled across the floor with blood smeared along her cheek and I'm breathing hard, my knuckles scraped raw, still gripping the broken shovel handle like a weapon. Cassian's gaze moves to me. Then to Erin. Then back to me again.
"What the hell happened?" he growls.
"She tries to kill me,” I inform him in a low voice. 
Erin scrambles to her feet, panic flashing across her face. "She's lying!" she cries. "She attacks me! She ambushes me here, baby!"
"She relays a message to Dara that she wants to speak to me…but then she suddenly locks the door as soon as I enter," I say flatly. 
Cassian slowly turns toward Erin and his expression hardens. "Erin." His voice is frighteningly calm. "Is Vivienne telling the truth?”
She looks genuinely shaken. Then she lets out a brittle laugh."Are you serious?" she asks. "You actually think I'm capable of something like this? She's twisting everything!"
"I didn't ask what you think," Cassian says, cutting her off. His eyes never leave hers. "I asked you one question. Did you lock the door?"
Erin opens her mouth but she is hesitant to speak. "You're going to believe her... over me?" she whispers.
Cassian doesn't answer. Instead…he looks at me. "Vivienne…come with me."