Chapter 25
Tori's POV:
I watched Morgan's face fall as Mia triumphantly shook the curtain of strings in her hand.
Something inside me snapped.
I was used to being Hannah's punching bag, used to Mia's petty cruelties directed at me. But watching her deliberately crush Morgan's hopes just to spite us—that was something I couldn't stand by and watch.
"Mia," I said, stepping between her and Morgan. "If you have a problem with me, fine. Deal with me directly. But leave my friend out of it."
Morgan's surprised gaze darted to my face, but I kept my eyes locked on Mia.
"This necklace is something she picked out carefully for her mom's birthday. It means something to her. Why not find something else? There's plenty of jewelry here."
I reached for the pendant, trying to take it back, but Mia quickly moved it away.
Mia's perfectly arched eyebrow rose.
"Figured it out, did you?" she said with a smirk. "Yes, I'm taking this specifically so you two can't have it. So what?"
I felt my hands ball into fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. Tracy growled inside my mind.
Mia glanced down at my clenched fists and let out a delighted laugh.
"Oh my, is the little Omega actually getting angry?"
She twirled the necklace carelessly. "I guess the water I dumped on you didn't wash away your pride."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a stage whisper.
"What can you do then? Lock me in a bathroom and throw water on me like I did to you? Oh wait, you don't have the guts, do you?"
Before I could reply, Morgan's head snapped toward me, her eyes widening.
"Wait—you were the one who locked her in the bathroom and dumped water on her?"
Mia shrugged, examining her perfect manicure.
"So what if I did? What are you going to do about it? It's not like either of you can touch me."
Morgan's face flushed dark with anger. "This isn't just about the necklace anymore."
Before I could react, she lunged forward and grabbed a fistful of Mia's perfectly styled hair.
Mia let out a piercing scream.
"Let go of me, you savage! How dare you touch me?" Her eyes found mine, filled with fury. "Tori! Control your friend right now! I said make her stop!"
For a moment, I stood frozen.
Every instinct I'd developed over the years told me to defuse the situation, to pull Morgan back, to apologize and retreat. That's what an Omega was supposed to do.
But something inside me rebelled against those old patterns. I was done with that.
Morgan was fighting for me, and it was time I fought too.
I stepped forward and grabbed Mia's wrist, preventing her from striking back at Morgan.
"This time you picked on the wrong people," I said, my voice steady and clear. "You don't get to hurt my friend."
"You'll regret this!" Mia shrieked, flailing her arms as she tried to break free from Morgan's grip. "Both of you will pay for this!"
"That's for locking Tori in the bathroom!" Morgan yanked again. "And that's for the water!"
The sales associate gasped, backing away from the counter as the commotion grew louder. Other customers were staring now, some with phones raised.
Before things could escalate further, a thunderous voice cut through the chaos.
"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!"
Everyone in the boutique froze.
Hannah Sullivan stood at the entrance, her face contorted with fury. Her expensive perfume couldn't mask the scent of her anger as she marched toward us, the crowd parting before her.
Morgan immediately released Mia's hair, taking a step back as Mia ran crying into Hannah's arms.
"Mom! They attacked me! "
Hannah cradled Mia against her chest, stroking her hair while glaring daggers at me.
"Shh, it's okay, sweetheart. I saw everything."
Her cold gaze shifted between Morgan and me. "What is wrong with you two? Attacking my daughter in public?"
Hannah ignored my status entirely, focusing instead on comforting Mia.
"We weren't—" Morgan began, but Hannah cut her off.
"I don't care who you are or what your explanation is," Hannah snapped at Morgan. "Stay away from Tori if you know what's good for you. Nothing but trouble follows that girl. She's poison."
Her cold gaze fixed on me.
"And you—haven't you caused enough problems? First you ruin Fiona's announcement ceremony, and now you're attacking Mia in public? Is there no end to your shameful behavior?"
Morgan stepped forward, her chin raised defiantly.
"Mrs. Sullivan, with all due respect, Mia grabbed the necklace I was going to buy for my mother's birthday. And did you know that on the day of the ceremony, Mia locked Tori in the bathroom and dumped water all over her?"
Her eyes narrowed as she delivered the final blow.
"It's interesting how you're always protecting someone else's daughter while treating your own flesh and blood like garbage."
A hush fell over the boutique. Several customers gasped quietly, and the sales associate's eyes widened in shock.
Hannah's face went chalk white before flushing crimson.
"How dare you speak to me that way," she hissed, her voice shaking. "You know nothing about our family situation."
"I know enough," Morgan replied, standing her ground.
Hannah turned to Mia, her voice suddenly gentle. "Darling, is what she's saying true? Did you lock Tori in the bathroom and pour water on her?"
Mia's eyes filled with tears on command.
"Of course not, Mom. How could you even ask me that?" Her bottom lip trembled perfectly. "I would never do something so childish and cruel. She's just making up stories. I was just looking at the necklace, and she attacked me out of nowhere."
Hannah nodded, satisfied with this answer, then turned back to us with cold fury in her eyes.
"You two have crossed a line today. Assaulting my daughter, spreading vicious lies..." She straightened her shoulders. "I'm going to invoke pack law for this. The Council will hear about your behavior toward Mia and take action."