Chapter 8
Lyra's POV
Mira's voice drifted from the hallway outside the restroom, laced with a coquettish, reproachful tone.
"Why did you have to explain the bracelet thing to her? Don't tell me you've actually developed feelings for that poor little stray?"
My hand froze on the door handle, and I held my breath, uncertain whether I was still waiting for something.
Then I heard Kael's response.
"Everything I do is for you," he said, his tone intimate. "Mira, you know that. Lyra has always been nothing more than a useful tool."
Those words shouldn't have had the power to hurt me anymore—I had known the truth for days now, had even seen the video of them having sex together with my own eyes. But hearing him say it so casually, reducing three years of my devotion to nothing more than a "tool," I still felt a sharp, uncontrollable sting spread through my chest.
Then the direction of their conversation shifted, and their voices merged into sounds I knew all too well.
Gasps, the rustle of clothes being torn open, the wet sounds of lips colliding.
They were right there in the hallway, close enough that I could hear every moan, every whispered murmur.
I waited, numb and hollow, until those sounds reached their peak and gradually faded into satisfied panting.
When I heard their footsteps retreating from the hallway, I finally pushed open the door.
The hallway was empty now, save for the lingering scent of their coupling—thick and unmistakable.
I walked through the corridor with an expressionless face, refusing to let anyone see my humiliation.
Sera found me near the coat room, her face flushed with happiness and the nervous excitement that comes before a ceremony.
"I'm so glad you came," she said, gripping my hands. "It means everything to me that you're here. Promise me you'll come to the actual wedding too? I need you there."
I looked at her, at the genuine warmth in her eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I had already planned to leave Red Fang's territory forever before her wedding date arrived.
"Of course," I said instead. "I wouldn't miss it."
That night, driving home, an idea began to take shape in my mind.
If I was going to stay long enough to attend Sera's wedding, I needed to show up looking presentable—not shabby and cowering as I had been.
More importantly, I couldn't keep pretending anymore.
For three years, I had made myself small and submissive to suit Kael's preferences, and what had that earned me?
Betrayal, poisoning, and watching my child lose their life while I could do nothing about it.
I was done hiding who I really was.
The next morning, I drove to the boutique, intending first to buy a wedding gift for Sera, and then to rebuild the wardrobe I had abandoned when I fled Silver Moon.
This boutique was the very place I had avoided for three years—modern and fashionable in design, with price tags that made ordinary people flinch.
When I walked in wearing my usual plain clothes and a somewhat outdated coat, the sales assistant looked me up and down with barely concealed contempt.
"Can I help you find something?" she asked in a tone that really meant, You probably can't afford anything here.
"I'm looking for a gift," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "And a few things for myself."
She made a show of glancing at her tablet, not quite hiding her skepticism.
"These styles are all quite expensive. Perhaps I could recommend something more within your budget?"
Her dismissive tone brought back memories of everything I had endured these past few years.
Instinctively, I wanted to explain myself, to make myself smaller and more humble so she would feel more comfortable.
Then I remembered what Kael had said in the hallway: "She's always been nothing more than a useful tool."
Something inside me snapped.
I had spent three years making myself humble and meek, grateful for the scraps of affection thrown my way, stripping away every bright, bold, and confident part of myself in an attempt to become the kind of woman Kael wanted.
But that ended now.
"Actually," I said, pulling out the black card my mother had given me on my fifteenth birthday—one with enough credit to buy the entire store if I wanted to.
"I'll take the Valentino in the window, the navy Chanel suit, and I need a gift box for a friend. Show me your best jewelry."
The sales assistant stared at the card, and her face went through several interesting transformations.
When she recognized what it was, her eyes widened, and her attitude shifted from contempt to fawning so quickly it was almost comical.
"Of course, ma'am. Right away. Perhaps you'd like to sit while I bring over some selections?"
I didn't sit. I stood at the jewelry counter, looking down at the pieces glittering under the lights, thinking about which one Sera might like.
Suddenly, I heard familiar voices at the boutique entrance—three Red Fang women I vaguely remembered, one of whom had made no secret of her interest in Kael at pack gatherings.
They saw me through the glass window, saw the luxury brands being wrapped in layers of tissue paper.
Their expressions shifted from surprise to malicious satisfaction.
"Well, well," one of them said, her voice just loud enough to carry. "Look who's playing dress-up. I guess even a stray can pretend to be somebody when she's spending an Alpha's money."
"That's not even her own money," another added with a laugh. "Everyone knows she uses her body to keep Kael around—it's not like she can do anything else. Being able to swipe someone else's credit card is pretty good, I suppose."
And the woman who wanted Kael spoke up with a contemptuous smile.
"At least she's somewhat useful, right? Even if she can't actually satisfy him."
Three years ago, even three days ago, I would have blushed with shame, mumbled something about the clothes being on sale, and left without buying anything to avoid giving them more ammunition.
But now, with all the evidence safely stored in encrypted files, I felt no fear or timidity whatsoever.
I picked up my shopping bags and walked straight toward that woman, reached out my hand, and patted her cheek with just enough force to make it clear this was not a friendly gesture.
She jerked backward, apparently not expecting the usually meek me to actually fight back against their words.
"You're right," I said, meeting their shocked gazes, my voice low but loud enough for everyone to hear. "At least this body of mine can still catch Kael's interest. As for you—"
My gaze settled on her face, and I smiled faintly. "I don't think you have what it takes. But please, feel free to try. I'd love to see how quickly he rejects you."
Before any of them could respond, I walked past them and back into the boutique, not bothering to look at their reactions.
Let them gossip all they wanted. In a few days, I would be leaving Red Fang's territory forever.
Their opinions meant nothing to me.
The sales assistant handed me my packages with a smile that was finally genuine, probably calculating her commission.
I drove home and hung the new clothes in my closet, right next to the old ones—the contrast was almost painful.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
Tomorrow I would wear one of these new outfits, would do my makeup and hair the way I used to—before I convinced myself that beauty was some kind of vanity or mistake.