chapter 13

Rebecca's POV

I froze, my stomach twisting into a knot as William's familiar scent reached me before I even turned around. Taking a shaky breath, I pivoted slowly to face him. He was striding toward us with purposeful steps, jaw clenched tight, eyes burning with barely contained rage. The sight made my heart hammer against my ribs.

"Keep walking," Sofia whispered urgently, her fingers digging into my arm. "Just ignore him."

But it was too late. William closed the distance between us in seconds, his hand shooting out to grip my upper arm. His fingers dug into my flesh as he yanked me around to face him. I could smell the expensive perfume he always wore, now mingled with anger and something wilder beneath.

"Running away again?" he snarled, his face inches from mine. "That seems to be your specialty lately."

"Let go of me," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady while adrenaline coursed through my veins. My skin crawled where he touched me.

"Not until we talk about what you've done," William said, his voice dropping to that dangerous whisper I'd learned to fear. "You've ruined everything. Because of you, I'll never become a true Delta now."

I jerked my arm free, anger flaring hot in my chest, drowning out the fear. "Go to hell."

The slap came before I could react, his palm connecting with my cheek with a crack that seemed to echo through the parking lot. My head snapped sideways, skin burning from the impact. I staggered back, more shocked that he'd actually hit me than hurt by the blow itself.

"You owe me," he growled, advancing toward me again. His eyes flickered between normal and something more feral. "For everything I've done for you, for the wedding I paid for that you ruined."

Sofia stepped between us, her small frame somehow looking fearless. "Back off, William. There are security cameras everywhere."

William's gaze shifted to her, his lips curling. "You're next, bitch. Don't think I've forgotten your role in all this."

"My role?" Sofia stood her ground despite being considerably shorter than William. "You mean supporting my friend after you betrayed her?"

William grabbed my arm again, his fingers bruising as he yanked me toward him. My shoulder wrenched painfully. "I betrayed her? She's the one who spread her legs for another wolf while we were still mated!"

The crude accusation made my face burn with humiliation and rage. "I did that after I discovered you've been lying to my face for years," I shot back, my voice cracking. "I just chose not to look at your lying, cheating face anymore."

"You're no better than me," William hissed, his breath hot against my face. "I felt your betrayal through our mate bond when you fucked him." His grip tightened until I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out. "You owe me for every penny I lost on that canceled wedding."

"But you cheated on me," I said, tears pricking behind my eyes. "You have a son."

Something dangerous flashed in William's eyes as they shifted, amber darkening to a more feral gold, pupils elongating slightly—not fully wolf, but no longer entirely human.

"You stupid, ungrateful bitch," he snarled, twisting my wrist until pain shot up my arm.

In one brutal movement, he shoved me backward. I stumbled, my spine slamming against a concrete pillar. Pain exploded across my shoulder blades, knocking the breath from my lungs. I slid down, legs buckling beneath me.

Sofia rushed forward. "Stop it, William! Have you lost your mind?"

William backhanded her with such force that she spun before catching herself against a parked car. Three bloody scratches appeared on her cheekbone where his nails—now slightly longer, sharper—had connected.

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"Enough!"

The command cut through the parking lot like thunder. Deep, resonant, filled with primal authority that made something inside me instantly respond.