The Alpha's Forbidden Vow novel Chapter 14

POV: Selene

The main course had been cleared, and a decadent chocolate lava cake was served for dessert.

The conversation had turned to the upcoming full moon ceremony, a formal celebration of the alliance between the two packs.

I kept my eyes down, focused on tracing the patterns on my plate with my spoon, wishing I could simply melt into the floor.

I felt Isabella’s eyes on me before she even moved.

It was a cold, calculating gaze, and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

She was saying something to Seraphina, laughing her melodic laugh, when she picked up her glass of deep, red wine.

She gestured with it as she spoke, a fluid, graceful movement.

A movement that was just a little too wide.

The glass tilted.

A stream of crimson liquid arced through the air and landed directly on the front of my dress.

It splashed across my chest and lap, a shocking, cold stain against the pale yellow cotton.

The gasp that escaped my lips was involuntary.

The entire table fell silent.

Every eye was on me.

“Oh, my goodness!” Isabella exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth in a perfect imitation of shock.

Her eyes, however, were dancing with a cold, triumphant light.

It had been no accident.

“Selene, my dear, I am so dreadfully sorry!” she said, her voice dripping with false concern.

She dabbed at her lips with her napkin, not making any move to help.

I was frozen in my chair, the cold wine seeping through the cheap fabric of my dress, chilling my skin.

The dress was one of the few I owned that wasn't a hand-me-down from the staff. I had bought it myself at a thrift store in town.

And now it was ruined.

“I am so clumsy sometimes,” Isabella continued, her gaze sweeping over the dark, spreading stain with feigned horror.

Then she delivered the killing blow.

Her expression shifted to one of pained, patronizing pity.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to run.

But I was trapped, pinned by the pitying and contemptuous stares of the entire family.

My eyes, against my will, darted to Zane.

I was looking for something.

A flicker of anger. A hint of defense. Anything.

He was just watching.

His face was a mask of cold indifference.

He watched Isabella humiliate me, watched the entire table stare at me, and he did nothing.

He said nothing.

His silence was his answer.

And it was more painful than any spilled wine, more humiliating than any condescending words.

His silence told me everything I needed to know.

I didn't matter.