Liana entered the dimly lit room, her fists clenched at her sides. The moment she saw Gareth, her emotions boiled over. Without thinking, she slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the small space, and Gareth’s head snapped to the side. Slowly, he turned back to her, his smirk never faltering.
“You fool,” Liana spat, her voice trembling with fury. “You betrayed me!”
Gareth raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Betrayed you? No, Liana. I tested you, and you failed.”
“You killed Father, didn’t you?” Liana demanded, her voice sharp with accusation. Her hands trembled, but her gaze didn’t waver.
Gareth’s expression darkened, his tone dripping with mock offense. “How could you accuse me of such a thing? I would never harm family. Besides,” he added with a sneer, “Father’s death benefits you the most, doesn’t it?”
Liana recoiled at his words, but a flicker of doubt crossed her face. Gareth seized the opportunity, stepping closer, his voice low and persuasive. “Think about it, Liana. With Father gone, you have the chance to step into real power. You’ve always been the strong one, the one destined to lead.”
Liana stared at him, her emotions warring with her ambitions. Deep down, she had always wanted to escape the shadow of being “just” Kaelan’s Luna. Could Gareth’s vision of her as the pack’s leader be the answer she hadn’t realized she sought?
“I don’t trust you,” she said, her voice icy. “Why should I believe a word you say?”
Gareth chuckled, his tone smooth. “Because I’m the only one who sees your true potential. Together, we can rule not just this pack, but many more. But only if you’re willing to make the hard choices.”
Liana hesitated, her mind racing. She hated Gareth for his manipulations, but the lure of power was irresistible. She glanced back toward the door, wondering if Mira had noticed her absence. Her younger sister’s naive faith in Kaelan and the pack seemed foolish now. If Mira wasn’t willing to take control, Liana would.
“Are you with me, Liana?” Gareth pressed, his voice a mix of charm and menace. “Or are you going to let this opportunity slip through your fingers?”
Liana met his gaze, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nodded, her decision made. “For now,” she said, her voice steely. “But cross me again, Gareth, and you’ll regret it.”
Gareth’s smirk returned as he pulled her into a tight embrace. “That’s my girl,” he whispered.