Chapter 4

I held my breath as Sharon clutched the crystal plaque, her expression a strange mix of innocence and something sharper, more calculating. Her eyes gleamed, almost pleading, but I knew her well enough to sense the hidden edge beneath the softness.

"Malinda," she said, her voice low, as if she was revealing some sacred truth just for me. "Alpha Nathan asked me to give this to you as a reward. It's precious… you've earned something truly special. You're… amazing."

I kept my face neutral, though I could feel my wolf stirring, sensing Sharon's true intentions before I did. Her words were a smokescreen; I could see the flicker in her gaze, a subtle tell that she was hiding something.

Before I could respond, she took a shaky breath, biting her lip like she was gathering the courage to continue. "I know this award isn't mine," she said, glancing down as if playing up some picture of vulnerability. "But could I… maybe… borrow it? Just for a few days?"

Her request cut through me like ice. My wolf bristled, an instinctive need to protect what was mine rising to the surface. Borrow my reward? The symbol of my blood, sweat, and sacrifice? Something I earned through years of loyalty and hard work? Sharon's request felt like an insult, as if she thought my accomplishments were something to be handed out on a whim.

A dangerous smile crept onto my lips, my wolf pushing forward, all sharp teeth and no kindness. "Wow," I said, my voice like steel. "You really are shameless, aren't you?"

Sharon blinked, caught off guard, but her grip on the plaque only tightened.

"If you're so desperate for a crystal plaque," I continued, "why don't you earn one yourself? Talk to the intelligence division. Maybe after a few years of hard work, you'll get one too."

I reached out, my hand open, expecting her to hand it over with at least some trace of respect. But instead, she clutched it closer to her chest, her face twisting into an expression of shock and hurt, like I'd just wounded her deeply.

"Why are you being so… mean?" she whispered, her voice trembling with what I could only describe as feigned hurt. "I'm not trying to take it from you. I just… wanted it for encouragement, to remind myself of what's possible."

My patience snapped. The anger bubbled up, and I leaned in, voice low and dangerous. "Hand it over, Sharon. Now."

But Sharon didn't budge. Her knuckles turned white as she held onto the plaque, her eyes widening with a defiant glare that only fueled my irritation. Then, without warning, her fingers slipped, and the plaque fell from her hands.

The sound of it hitting the floor was louder than thunder, followed by a sickening crack as the delicate crystal shattered, scattering into a thousand glittering pieces across the hardwood.

A heavy silence descended. The soft glow of the plaque's aura was extinguished, replaced by broken shards mocking me from the floor. My stomach twisted, a hollow ache settling in my chest at the sight of my ruined reward.

Before I could process it, Kayden and Francis appeared in the doorway, their faces shifting from confusion to horror. And then, as if she'd been struck down by some invisible force, Sharon gasped, clutching her leg where a shallow cut from a shard of the plaque was bleeding.

Kayden's face darkened, flicking between Sharon's injury and me, his gaze heavy with judgment. He rushed to her side, inspecting her tiny cut like it was life-threatening. His protective instincts flared, and he shot me a glare that felt like an accusation.

"Are you hurt?" Francis murmured to Sharon, barely sparing me a glance, his focus solely on her, the sympathy on his face twisting the knife in my gut.

Without a word, Kayden scooped Sharon up in his arms, ignoring her weak protests. "I'll take you to the healer," he said, his voice firm with quiet resolve. I could do nothing but watch, burning with fury, as he carried her out of the room.

Francis remained, his expression darkening as he turned to me. "Malinda, how could you?" His voice was sharp, each word slicing into me like a blade. "You have everything, the respect, the title, the power, and yet, you tried to rob Sharon of a small comfort?"

I blinked, genuinely shocked. Rob? Sharon had been the one holding onto what was rightfully mine, refusing to let go until it shattered. The anger surged again, fiercer this time, and I struggled to keep my voice steady.

"This is my reward, Francis," I said, my voice low and taut with barely controlled rage. "A symbol of my sacrifice, my dedication. She held onto it, refused to let go, and broke it. And yet, you think I'm the one at fault?"

I pointed to the shards scattered across the floor, their jagged edges glittering like a thousand tiny knives. "She's the one who refused to let go, Francis. She's the one who destroyed it. If anyone should apologize, it's Sharon."

But Francis's expression only hardened. He lifted his chin, meeting my gaze with a fierce intensity that felt like a punch to the gut. "It's just a reward, Malinda," he shot back, his voice cold. "You hurt her, and instead of showing remorse, you're here demanding an apology?"

With one last, disappointed look, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving me standing alone. My fists clenched, my breath shallow, chest burning with a mix of anger and humiliation. I glanced down at the ruined plaque, its broken pieces a cruel reminder of my failure to keep control.

As I stood there, my gaze fell on my leg, and I realized a shard of the plaque had cut into my calf, deeper than Sharon's shallow scratch. Blood trickled down my leg, pooling around the jagged edges, but I felt no urge to seek help.

I crouched down, collecting the broken shards one by one, feeling the sharp edges dig into my palms as I cleaned up the mess. My hands shook with barely restrained fury, my wolf's quiet anger gnawing at the edges of my mind.

By the time I finished, the night had settled, and just as I wrapped a makeshift bandage around my leg, my phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, I saw my mother's name flash in the dim light. Hesitating, I answered, my voice softening as I spoke.

"Hi, Mom."

Her warm voice filled the space, a comfort I hadn't realized I needed. "Malinda, I've sent over some dress options for the Mateship Ceremony. Let me know which ones you like, darling."

I scrolled through the pictures she'd sent, each gown more beautiful than the last. The thought of the ceremony stirred a mixture of excitement and unease within me. My chest ached, and I had to fight to keep my tears in check.

"Mom…" I started, but my voice faltered. I bit my lip, pushing down the bitterness that had been building. "Everything's fine, Mom. I'm just… tired."

Her tone softened, understanding clear in her voice. "Are you sure, sweetheart?"

"Yeah," I replied, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I'll be ready soon. Just one more week, and everything will be settled."

Her excitement carried through the line. "I can't wait to see you, darling. This is the start of a beautiful new chapter for you."

Before I could respond, I heard footsteps echoing down the hallway. I turned, feeling a wave of dread as Kayden and Francis re-entered, their faces tense as they overheard the end of my conversation.

"Mateship Ceremony?" They asked in unison, their shock evident.