Chapter 32 Power Without Mercy
Selene’s POV
“You’ve gone too far!”
The sharp cry shattered the silence that had settled after Yunice was thrown back. All eyes snapped toward her as she struggled to her feet from the floor, her movements rushed and uneven. She pushed her hair back into place, straightened her clothes, and lifted her chin as if nothing had happened.
But the slight tremble in her hands betrayed her.
For a brief moment, she looked confused, like she couldn’t fully process how she had ended up on the ground so far away. Then her pride returned, fast and fierce, replacing shock with anger.
I watched her without moving, my gaze steady, my expression calm. Inside, there was only a faint sense of impatience. Scenes like this were a waste of time, yet people like her always insisted on dragging things further.
Yunice was not the kind to let humiliation pass.
Her family held enough influence in Epicmon, and under Winnie’s protection, she had grown bold and reckless. She had always been used to speaking loudly, acting first, thinking later. Being put in her place like this was something she would never accept quietly.
And just as expected, the moment she finished adjusting herself, she turned sharply toward the sales associate, her anger spilling out.
“Why are you standing there?” she snapped, her voice rising in frustration. “Go and call someone! Get the manager here and have that dress taken off her immediately!”
The sales associate flinched, clearly overwhelmed. Her eyes darted between Winnie and me, caught in a situation she could not control.
“Ms. Stone… Ms. Ashford… I’ll call the manager right away,” she said nervously before hurrying off.
Winnie let out a cold, dismissive sound.
“Well? Move faster,” she added sharply, her tone full of authority.
Her confidence did not waver. To her, this outcome was already decided. She believed the moment the manager arrived, everything would fall into place in her favor.
I said nothing.
Instead, I walked to a nearby sofa and sat down, crossing my legs calmly. My posture was relaxed, almost casual, as if none of this concerned me.
That alone was enough to provoke her.
Winnie’s eyes narrowed as she watched me, irritation flashing across her face. She had expected resistance. A fight. At the very least, unease.
Instead, I looked completely unbothered.
As if she didn’t exist.
That silence pressed against her pride more than any words could.
She walked toward me, stopping close enough that I could feel the tension radiating from her.
“I’ll give you one last chance,” she said, her voice low but filled with warning. “Take off that dress and hand it over now. Otherwise, when the manager gets here and throws you out, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Her words were steady, controlled, but the sharp edge beneath them was clear.
I didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, I took out my phone and typed a short message, my fingers moving with quiet precision. Then I sent it.
Only then did I look up.
Winnie caught the movement and let out a mocking laugh.
“Don’t think messaging Lucian will help you,” she sneered. “I won’t let you walk away from this today.”
I slipped my phone back into my bag, a faint smile touching my lips.
“Alright,” I said simply.
There was nothing else to say.
The next few minutes stretched slowly. The air inside the boutique grew heavier with every passing second. The whispers of onlookers softened but never disappeared. Everyone was watching.
Yunice stayed where she was, anger still burning in her eyes, though she no longer dared to approach me again.
Winnie stood tall, her posture rigid, her confidence forced but intact.
Then the manager arrived.
Kale Wellington entered quickly, his expression tense, his steps purposeful.
“Mr. Wellington!” Winnie called immediately, ready to speak.
But he didn’t stop.
He didn’t even acknowledge her.
He walked straight past her.
As if she wasn’t there.
That single action shifted everything.
Winnie froze, her expression changing as confusion replaced certainty.
Kale stopped in front of me, his posture straightening, his tone turning respectful.
“Ms. Nightbane, good afternoon.”
I glanced at Winnie briefly, catching the disbelief spreading across her face, then returned my attention to him.
“Is this how your store handles customers?” I asked calmly.
The question was quiet.
But heavy.
Kale’s face paled slightly. A sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.
“I sincerely apologize, Ms. Nightbane,” he said quickly. “This was our mistake. Please accept my apology on behalf of our staff.”
Winnie stared at him, stunned.
Yunice, however, could not hold herself back.
“Mr. Wellington, what are you doing?” she snapped. “Why are you apologizing to her? That dress belongs to Winnie. Do you know who she is? She’s the granddaughter of the Alpha of the Ware Pack. If you offend her, you offend the entire pack. Can you take responsibility for that?”
Her voice grew louder with every word.
But Kale did not even glance at her.
He wiped his forehead again, his focus remaining on me.
“As an apology, we would like to offer this gown to you free of charge,” he said. “We hope you will not be upset.”
The boutique fell completely silent.
Even the faint whispers disappeared.
Winnie’s eyes widened as she stepped forward, grabbing his arm without thinking.
“This dress costs ten million,” she said sharply. “Why are you giving it to her for free?”
Kale forced a polite smile.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Ashford,” he said carefully, “but this gown will be given to Ms. Nightbane.”
There was no hesitation in his tone.
No room for negotiation.
Winnie’s face darkened instantly.
“I’ll pay triple,” she said.
Still, Kale remained firm.
“Perhaps you would like to consider other pieces,” he replied politely. “We have many exceptional designs available.”
“I want that one!” she snapped, her composure breaking completely. “I’ve never been denied anything I want.”
Her voice echoed through the boutique, sharp and uncontrolled.
I had no interest in continuing this.
I stood up slowly, smoothing the dress.
“There’s no need to gift it,” I said. “I’ll have someone send payment tomorrow.”
Without waiting for anyone to respond, I turned and walked toward the door.
I had already wasted enough time here.
“Selene, stop!”
Winnie’s voice rang out behind me, filled with frustration.
I paused slightly but didn’t turn immediately.
“Did you ask Lucian to do this?” she demanded.
There was almost something pitiful in the question.
She still didn’t understand.
I turned my head just enough to meet her gaze, a faint smile on my lips.
“What do you think?”
Her expression twisted.
“Selene, you’re shameless,” she snapped. “If not for men, what can you even do? Do you think Lucian likes you?”
I looked at her calmly.
Then replied, “If he doesn’t, then does he like you?”
The words landed cleanly.
Her face flushed instantly, anger and humiliation mixing together.
“You lowly Omega!” she shouted, her voice breaking as she lost control.
In the next moment, she raised her hand.
Fast.
Aimed straight at my face.
I saw it clearly.
I was ready to stop it.
But before I could move—
Kale stepped forward, placing himself between us in one swift motion, blocking her completely.