Chapter 165
Vivian POV
Blood gathers at my palm.
A thin line slides down my hand.
Fine.
If Ellie wants to play bride, then I’ll play supportive sister.
I’ll smile.
I’ll offer to help.
I’ll organize.
I’ll fix every little thing she inevitably gets wrong.
Because I know the truth.
She doesn’t love him.
Not really.
This is about her mother.
It’s temporary.
Fake.
And Ellie has never wanted this world.
The expectations.
The rules nobody says out loud.
The constant judgment.
The endless eyes are watching every move.
I was built for this.
I understand the stage.
The performance.
The politics.
While Ellie struggles to fit into a world she never wanted, I’ll be right beside her with the perfect answer every single time.
After all…
We’re sisters.
I stand slowly, smoothing out my skirt.
Carefully, I step over the broken glass.
A small trail of blood follows behind me across the hardwood floor.
Games like this are never won in one move.
They’re won slowly.
Quietly.
Publicly.
With witnesses.
And I have always been very patient.
Besides…
I haven’t even had tea yet.
And I refuse to spiral before caffeine.
Ellie POV
I was expecting pizza.
That was it.
A normal meal.
Something greasy.
Something unhealthy.
Something that didn’t come arranged as it belonged at a royal banquet.
The Alpha estate’s chef had prepared another extravagant dinner, and I couldn’t deny it looked incredible.
Beautiful.
Almost too beautiful.
Like something created for gods instead of people.
But I didn’t want perfect.
I wanted normal.
I wanted bad pizza and regret.
So when I opened the front door with cash already in my hand, fully prepared to tip some exhausted teenage delivery driver…
I was not expecting blond curls.
Or a fluffy pink sweater that probably cost more than my monthly rent.
Vivian.
My eyebrows immediately drop.
“Yeah. No.”
She smiles.
Sweetly.
Too sweetly.
“You don’t even know why I’m here.”
“I actually, truly, deeply don’t care.”
I lean slightly out the doorway, looking past her.
“Did you happen to see a pizza guy on your way up?”
Before I can close the door, something is shoved against my chest.
I look down.
Roses.
I look back at her.
“And those are?”
“For you.”
She rolls her eyes like I’m exhausting.
“You’re alive, aren’t you?”
Wow.
How touching.
Such heartfelt emotion.
Before I can respond, I hear footsteps behind me.
Heavy.
Familiar.
My ‘woof’ is approaching.
And then I watch it happen.
Vivian changes instantly.
It’s almost impressive.
Her entire expression transforms.
Softer eyes.
Brighter smile.
Her shoulders relax just enough to appear delicate instead of calculated.
“Ellie!”
The excitement in her voice is almost convincing.
Almost.
Before I can move, she throws her arms around me.
I freeze.
The roses are crushed between us.
Petals bend awkwardly as she hugs me like we spent our childhood braiding each other’s hair instead of competing for every scrap of approval we could get.
She smells like expensive vanilla.
And something annoyingly artificial.
Like a very expensive, very spoiled dog.
“You didn’t tell me!”
She pulls back but keeps both hands on my arms.
“Engaged? To Dominic? Oh my gosh.”
Her voice is breathy.
Sparkling.
So perfectly thrilled that I almost want to applaud.
Almost.
Behind me, Dominic steps into view.
And immediately…
Vivian’s grip tightens.
Just slightly.
Right on cue.
“I’ve always wanted to plan a wedding,” she says, already moving past the doorway as if she belongs here.
“Especially an Alpha wedding.”
Her eyes light up.
“Do you know what you can do with florals at that level? Structural arrangements. Hanging installations. It’s literally a dream.”
My eye twitches.
“Why,” I ask slowly, “are you here?”
She turns back to me with a look of gentle concern.
The exact expression she mastered when we were children.
The one that made everyone think she was kind while somehow making me look unreasonable.
“You must be overwhelmed.”
Her voice softens.
“Which makes sense. You chose to focus on the Healing Academy, which is wonderful, but pack governance and management are…”
She pauses.
“Different.”
The smile she gives me is warm.
Helpful.
Fake.
“I’d love to help you.”
A small tilt of her head.
“I could act as your Delta for now. Just until you feel comfortable.”
There it is.
Exactly where I knew it would be.
I remember this.
Every step.
Every smile.
Every perfectly timed offer of help.
Every suggestion that somehow became a decision.
Until eventually, my own wedding didn’t feel like mine anymore.
I wasn’t a bride.
I was a decoration.
A beautiful accessory stood beside Dominic while Vivian handled everything that mattered.
“No.”
The word leaves my mouth before she even finishes.
Vivian pauses.
Only for a second.
Then she recovers.
Of course she does.
She smoothly shifts her attention past me.
Like I was never the person she needed to convince.
“Well,” she says softly, looking toward Dominic, “what do you think?”
I don’t turn around.
I just fold my arms.
Waiting.
Waiting for the charm.
“I only want what’s best for the pack.”
Her voice lowers.
Suddenly, this is a private conversation.
An emotional one.
“Especially right now. With everything happening.”
Her lashes lower.
“The investigation into my father has been…”
A tiny pause.
“Stressful.”
She exhales.
“I haven’t exactly felt welcome anywhere.”
I close my eyes briefly.
She’s good.
Gods, she’s good.
And Dominic…
Dominic has been different lately.
His Alpha instincts have been stronger.
The need to protect.
To help.
To take responsibility for everyone around him.
Especially when they look hurt.
Especially when it’s Vivian.
“She can assist with logistics.”
His voice comes from behind me.
Calm.
Measured.
“Just support. Nothing more.”
Slowly, I turn toward him.
My expression says everything.
“...What?”
He looks completely relaxed.
“She can help.”
I stare.
“Yeah.”
He nods.
“The wedding is in a few days anyway.”
A few days.
My brain stops.
“We could use the help.”
The room goes silent.
Then—
Both Vivian and I turn toward him at the same time.
“A FEW DAYS?!”