Chapter 45 Confrontation
My heart slammed against my ribs. The bathroom suddenly felt smaller. Airless.
Sarah locked the door behind her. The click echoed off the tiles.
“You,” I said. Voice steadier than my hands. “You’ve been sending the messages.”
“A few others and I who understand what’s at stake.” She moved closer. Heels clicking on marble. “You really thought Marcus was working alone? That Sterling was the only one who wanted you gone?”
“Who else?” I backed up. Hit the sink. Nowhere to go.
“Does it matter? There are enough of us. Wolves who remember the old ways. Who won’t let a human destroy centuries of tradition?” Her smile was vicious. “You should have quit when you had the chance.”
Through the bond, I reached for Lycian. Sent panic. Fear. Bathroom. Sarah. Help.
His response was immediate. Fury and movement. He was coming.
“Elena’s right outside,” I said. Buying time. “She knows I’m in here.”
“Elena is currently handling a wine spill at table six. Such a shame someone knocked over an entire bottle.” Sarah’s eyes glinted. “You’re alone. With me. Just like I planned.”
“What are you going to do? Attack me in the middle of my trial? In front of everyone?”
“Nothing so obvious. I’m just delivering a message.” She pulled something from her clutch. A syringe. Clear liquid inside. “This is wolfsbane extract. Concentrated. One dose won’t kill you. But it’ll make you very, very sick. Sick enough that you can’t finish hosting tonight. Sick enough you fail the trial.”
My blood went cold. “You’re insane.”
“I’m practical. Marcus is banned. Sterling is disgraced. But the cause remains. Pure bloodlines. Strong wolves. Not humans playing dress-up as Luna.” She moved closer. “Hold still. This will hurt less if you don’t fight.”
The bathroom door handle rattled. Someone is trying to get in.
“Elowen?” Elena’s voice. Worried. “Why is the door locked?”
Sarah lunged.
I dodged. Barely. My dress caught on the sink. I heard fabric rip.
She grabbed my arm. Surprisingly strong. The syringe came toward my neck.
I did the only thing I could think of. Screamed. Loud and piercing.
The door exploded inward. Lycian hit it with enough force to splinter wood. He took in the scene instantly. Me. Sarah. The syringe.
His eyes went pure gold. His wolf is rising to the surface.
“Let her go,” he growled. Voice inhuman. Dangerous. “Now.”
Sarah hesitated. Looked between us. For a second, I thought she might actually try to inject me anyway.
Then Cade appeared behind Lycian. Elena is behind him. Security is flooding the hallway.
Sarah dropped the syringe. It shattered on the floor. Wolfsbane is spreading across the white tile. The smell was wrong. Chemical. Poisonous.
“She attacked me,” Sarah said quickly. Changed tactics. “I came in and she was acting strange. Aggressive. I was defending myself.”
“Liar,” I said. Voice shaking. “You locked the door. You had the syringe ready. You’ve been threatening me for weeks.”
“Prove it.” Sarah’s smile was cold. “It’s your word against mine. And I’m a wolf. You’re just human.”
Lycian moved so fast I barely tracked it. Had Sarah against the wall. Hand around her throat. Not squeezing. Just holding. A promise of violence.
“You put your hands on my mate,” he said softly. Deadly. “Tried to poison her. Threatened her. In my father’s house. During a sacred trial.”
“I didn’t. I swear. She’s lying.” Sarah’s voice went high. Panicked.
“You forget.” I pulled out my phone. Hands shaking but functional. “I’ve been recording since the gathering started. Every conversation. Every moment.”
I hit play. Sarah’s voice filled the bathroom.
You should have quit when you had the chance.
This is wolfsbane extract. Concentrated.
One dose won’t kill you. But it’ll make you very, very sick.
Sarah’s face went white. Then red. “That’s illegal. You can’t record without consent.”
“Pack law allows recording during trials,” Thaddeus said. Appearing in the doorway. Expression carved from stone. “For exactly this reason. To catch sabotage.”
He looked at Sarah with disgust. “You’ve confessed to conspiracy. Assault. Attempted poisoning of a trial candidate. All capital offenses.”
“She doesn’t belong here!” Sarah’s composure was shattered. “None of you sees it? She’s human. Weak. Wrong. She’ll destroy everything we’ve built.”
“She’s stronger than you,” Elena said quietly. Fierce. “Braver. Better. Everything you pretend to be.”
Cade stepped forward. “Sarah Brennan, you’re under arrest. Pack security will hold you until the Council can arrange formal charges.”
Two guards moved in. Took Sarah’s arms. She struggled. Screamed. Called me terrible things. They dragged her out anyway.
The hallway emptied. Just me, Lycian, Thaddeus, and Elena remained.
My legs gave out. I slid down the wall. Sat on the bathroom floor in my ripped dress. Shaking.
Lycian crouched beside me. Pulled me into his arms. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”
“She was going to poison me. Make me fail.” My voice broke. “All because I’m human.”
“She’s gone now. Can’t hurt you anymore.”
“But she said there were others. More people who want me gone.” I looked at Thaddeus. “How many? How many wolves hate me just for existing?”
“Fewer than you think,” he said. Sitting on the floor across from me. Ruining his expensive suit. “Sarah and Marcus represent the old guard. Traditionalists who fear change. But they’re a minority. Most of the pack supports you. They proved it tonight.”
“Tonight was a disaster.”
“Tonight was a success,” Elena corrected. Sitting beside me. “You hosted a beautiful gathering. Handled every challenge with grace. And when threatened, you stayed calm. Recorded evidence. Protect yourself.” She squeezed my hand. “That’s Luna's behavior.”
“I’m sitting on a bathroom floor crying.”
“After being attacked. That’s allowed.” Lycian kissed my forehead. “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be you.”
Through the door, I heard voices. The gathering was still happening. Guests are probably wondering where I’d gone.
“I need to go back out there,” I said. Wiping my face. “Finish hosting. Complete the trial.”
“You don’t have to,” Thaddeus said. “Given the circumstances, we can postpone.”
“No. If I stop now, Sarah wins. She gets what she wanted. For me to fail.” I stood. Legs still shaky but holding. “I’m finishing this night. Showing everyone I can handle pressure. Crisis. Everything.”
Lycian stood with me. Steadied me. “Your dress is torn.”
“Then I’ll change. Elena, do you have the backup dress?”
“In the preparation room. I’ll get it.” She hurried out.
I looked in the mirror. Mascara smudged. Hair coming loose. Dress ripped at the hip. I looked like I’d been in a fight.
Because I had been.
I washed my face. Fixed my hair as best I could. Tried to look presentable.
Elena returned with the backup dress. Simple black. Elegant. I changed quickly.
When I emerged, I looked almost normal. Only the slight tremor in my hands gave me away.
“Ready?” Lycian asked. Offering his arm.
“As I’ll ever be.”
We walked back to the hall together. Every eye turned when we entered. The room went quiet.
I took a breath. Lifted my chin. Smiled.
“My apologies for the interruption,” I said. Voice carrying. “There was a small security matter. It’s been handled. Please, continue enjoying the evening.”
Slowly, conversation resumed. Music played. The gathering continued.
But I felt the stares. The whispers. Everyone knew something had happened. They just didn’t know what.
Alpha Reeves approached. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes. Thank you for asking.” I kept my smile in place. “Just some excitement. Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
He studied me. Then nodded. “You’re doing well tonight. My Luna is impressed with your hosting.”
“That means a lot. Thank you.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. More dancing. More conversations. More performing.
By midnight, guests started leaving. Thanking me. Complimenting the event. Some seemed genuine. Others felt forced.
I smiled through all of it. Played the role until the last person left.
When the hall finally emptied, I collapsed into a chair. Exhausted. Emotionally drained.
Thaddeus approached. “The council will deliberate tomorrow. But unofficially? You passed. With distinction.”
“Even with the attack?”
“Especially because of it. You handled a crisis during your trial. Stayed calm. Gathered evidence. Finished hosting despite trauma.” He almost smiled. “That’s exactly what a Luna does.”
Relief flooded through me. So intense I couldn’t speak.
Lycian helped me to the car. Drove us home in silence. His hand on my thigh. Grounding.
At the penthouse, Aunt Clara was waiting. She took one look at me and pulled me into a hug.
“I’m okay,” I whispered. “I promise.”
“I know you are. You’re always okay. That’s what scares me.”
After she went to bed, Lycian ran me a bath. Helped me undress. Washed my hair while I soaked.
“Three trials completed,” he said softly. “You did it.”
“One more to go. The final combined challenge.”
“But you’ve proven yourself. To everyone who matters.” He kissed my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”
I closed my eyes. Let the warm water ease the tension from my muscles. Let his presence calm my racing thoughts.
We were almost there. Almost done.
But my phone buzzed on the bathroom counter.
Unknown number.
One last message.
Sarah failed. But others won’t. Watch your back. The real threat is just beginning.