Chapter 32 Chapter 32

Chapter 32 Chapter 32
Marcus's POV

I couldn't stop thinking about her, Sophia. Standing in that jewelry store, while she looks at me like I was nothing, like I was beneath her. Like she had moved on and forgotten everything we had together.

The humiliation burned through me like acid.

"Alpha, are you listening?" one of my council members asked.

I blinked, realizing I was in a meeting. The Shadowmoon Pack's financial reports were spread across the table in front of me. These were numbers that showed exactly how badly things were going.

"Yes," I lied. "Continue."

But I wasn't listening. All I could see was Sophia's face, her smile and her rejection. She stood beside Ethan like she belonged to him.

She was mine, she would always be mine and no matter what she said, she remained mine, no one would take her away from me not even Ethan.

The meeting ended eventually, and I dismissed everyone. Alone in my office, I poured myself a drink and stared out the window.

My business was failing, the pack was struggling and Sophia was thriving without me, it wasn't supposed to be like this.

The door opened, and Lila walked in. She wore a tight red dress that hugged every curve, her lips painted dark. She looked beautiful, but when I looked at her, all I saw was Sophia.

"You're still thinking about her," Lila said, it wasn't a question she asked.

"No."

"Don't lie to me, Marcus." She walked over, her hips swaying. "I can see it in your eyes. You're obsessed with her."

"I'm not obsessed. I just want what's mine."

Lila laughed, the sound cold. "She's not yours anymore. She made that very clear yesterday."

Rage flared in my chest. "She doesn't know what she wants. She's confused. Ethan has manipulated her."

"Or maybe," Lila said, leaning against my desk, "she's finally realized you're not worth her time."

I grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. "Watch your mouth."

She didn't flinch. Instead, she smiled. "You want to destroy her, don't you? Her little jewelry business. Her new life. Everything."

I released her, turning away. "What if I do?"

"Then let me help you." Lila moved around me, her hand trailing across my shoulders. "I have a plan. A way to ruin everything she's built."

I turned to face her. "What kind of plan?"

She pulled a small vial from her purse. The liquid inside was dark purple, swirling like smoke. "Mind control potion. Very rare. Very powerful."

"What does it do?"

"It makes people... suggestible. Obedient." Her smile widened. "We use it on Sophia's suppliers. Her craftsmen. Her customers. We turn everyone against her. Make them cancel orders. Spread rumors. Destroy her reputation."

I stared at the vial. "That's dark magic."

"And?" Lila shrugged. "Do you want results or not?"

I thought about Sophia's face yesterday. Her confidence. Her success. Her rejection.

"Do it," I said.



Over the next few hours, Lila worked her magic. Literally. She contacted several of Sophia's suppliers and key craftsmen, slipping drops of the potion into their drinks during "business meetings." I watched from a distance as their eyes glazed over, their wills bending to Lila's commands.

"Cancel your contracts with Sophia's jewelry business," Lila would whisper. "Spread rumors that her designs are stolen. Tell people she's difficult to work with."

And they obeyed.

It was beautiful. Watching Sophia's carefully built empire start to crumble. Knowing that soon, she would have nothing. And when she had nothing, she would come crawling back to me.

"You're enjoying this," Lila observed as we sat in my office later that evening.

"I'm enjoying justice," I corrected. "Sophia needs to learn that she can't just walk away from me. From us."

"From you, you mean." Lila walked over, straddling my lap. Her hands slid up my chest. "You don't care about us, Marcus. You only care about her."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?" She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear. "Even now, you're thinking about her. Wondering what she's doing. Who she's with."

I grabbed her hips, pulling her closer. "Stop talking."

"Make me," she whispered.

I kissed her hard, rough, trying to drown out the thoughts of Sophia. Lila responded eagerly, her body pressing against mine. But even as I touched her, even as she moaned my name, all I could see was Sophia.

Sophia's smile. Sophia's body. Sophia beneath me instead of Lila.

"Say my name," Lila demanded, her nails digging into my shoulders.

"Lila," I growled, but it felt wrong on my tongue.

She kissed me again, desperate, possessive. "Harder, Marcus. Show me you want me."

I flipped her onto the desk, papers scattering. My hands were rough, claiming, but my mind was somewhere else. With someone else.

When it was over, Lila lay across my desk, breathing hard. "Better?"

"Yes," I lied.

She sat up, straightening her dress. "You're a terrible liar."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Nothing." She grabbed her purse, pulling out another vial. "I want you to focus on destroying Sophia's business. That's what matters right now."

I nodded, adjusting my clothes. "What's next?"

"We spread more rumors. Use the mind control potion on a few influential customers. Make them cancel their orders publicly." Lila smiled. "And then, we steal her designs."

"We already have her designs."

"Not all of them. She's been working on new pieces." Lila pulled out her phone, showing me photos. "These ones. I have someone on the inside who can get them for us."

I studied the images. Beautiful jewelry. Intricate designs. Pure Sophia.

"We'll launch our own line using these," Lila continued. "Beat her to market. She'll look like she copied us."

It was perfect. Cruel. Exactly what Sophia deserved for rejecting me.

"Do it," I said.



That night, I stood in my empty bedroom, staring at the bed Sophia and I used to share. Three years of memories. Three years of her beside me, loyal and devoted.

And I'd thrown it all away.

No. She'd thrown it away by not understanding. By not accepting Lila. By being weak.

My phone buzzed, I checked it was a message from Lila.

"It's done, we have the new designs. Marcus, these are going to make us rich."

I smiled in the darkness. Tomorrow, Sophia will wake up to a nightmare. Her suppliers are gone. Her customers are canceling. Her reputation is in ruins.

And when she was broken, when she had nothing left, I would be there. Ready to save her. Ready to take her back.

Because Sophia was mine and she would always be mine, even if I had to destroy her to prove it. I couldn't wait to see her broken and left with no choice but to choose me.