Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Frame Me? Get Slapped!

Christina’s POV

"Ysolde," I said, noticing how she suddenly found the marble floor absolutely fascinating. Her heels. A smudge on the carpet. Anything but meeting my gaze.

"Ysolde," I repeated, my voice sharper this time."You know all the gossip in the pack territories. Spill."

She winced."I didn’t want to tell you, Christina. Thought it might... I don’t know. Upset you."

"Trust me," I said, taking another sip of my champagne, feeling the alcohol dull the constant ache in my chest where my mate bond had been severed. "The only thing that could upset me right now is running out of alcohol."

Ysolde gave a guilty little shrug. "Fine. Yeah. They’re working together. Beatrice is his secretary now."

For a second, Akira and I both froze in disbelief. "Secretary? Like... scheduling and stuff?"

"Yeah."

I burst out laughing, way too loud for such an upscale party. A few people turned to look. I didn’t care.

Back when Niall and I were mates-to-be, I needed to book an appointment just to swing by his office with a sandwich. Four years of engagement, and my own supposed mate treated me like an afterthought.

Now Beatrice, my sister whose only organizational skill was getting thrown out of the club in under ten minutes, got an all-access pass to my ex-mate?

"Of course she is," I said, grabbing another drink off the tray of a passing server. "Of bloody course."

Ysolde quickly changed the subject, sensing my rising anger."Why don’t we go say hi to the Van Astors? Their son runs a boutique fashion label. Might be a chance for you to collab on some designs for Nyx Collective."

I nodded and followed her across the room.Business before drama. Always. The mate rejection had been painful, but my career at least was thriving.

But apparently, Beatrice didn’t share that philosophy.

I had just sealed a handshake deal with Whitman Van Astor to look at my new jewelry designs. My line might even end up in his next spring launch. That’s when she came back, dragging Serenna behind her.

I’d clocked Serenna the second she slithered in. Looked like Beatrice had pulled some strings to get her an invite.

Goddess knew when those two got so chummy, though. Last I checked, Serenna was still slagging off Beatrice’s taste in shoes.

Serenna flashed a smug little grin at me. "Bet you didn’t expect to see me at the Sabreridge pack’s territory, huh?"

I gave her a once-over. Designer dress, borrowed confidence, and a face that said ’please validate me.’ Akira scoffed internally.

I turned to Beatrice. "You might wanna be careful. Our dear cousin’s been obsessed with Niall since the academy. You sure you wanna parade him around with her sniffing after him?"

Beatrice’s face stiffened. She snapped her head towards Serenna, gaze sharp enough to shave an eyebrow clean off.

Serenna went the color of a bad spray tan. "Don’t listen to her! She thinks every woman on the continent is gagging for Niall."

"And you’re one of them," I said, all helpful-like, a satisfaction rumbling through me.

"No I’m not! Not anymore!"

"Huh." I raised an eyebrow. "You’ve got a new target then? Who is it? Another Alpha’s son?"

Serenna flailed for a second, then swung towards Beatrice. "Bea, I swear by the Goddess, I don’t have a thing for Niall. I know you two are meant to be."

Beatrice wavered, chewing over whether to trust Serenna or not, before she gave a stiff little nod. "I believe you."

Then she turned to me, her fake smile not reaching her eyes. "This is an important gathering for Niall. I hope you won’t ruin it."

I crossed my arms."Trust me, Beatrice, I’ve got nothing more to do with him. Whether this is the best night of his life or he trips over a napkin and dies of embarrassment, I couldn’t care less."

Her smile wobbled but she pressed on. "I know you’re bitter about the rejection, but please, be reasonable. There are a lot of pack Alphas and business elites here tonight. Niall is trying to secure an alliance with the Sabreridge pack through Hudson Laurent. Please don’t let your personal feelings ruin this chance for him."

"My personal feelings?" Akira was practically snarling now. "You mean you don’t want me to broadcast the fact that I accepted Niall’s rejection because he’s a violent little SOB who hasn’t got the spine to tell his mother he’s in love with someone else? Instead, he just rolls over and accepts a mate he never wanted, because having an actual conversation about fated mates might be too scary for him? Yeah, I can see how that wouldn’t really help his alliance pitch."

Serenna glanced between us, eyes wide, clearly realizing there was a lot more dirt under this particular rug than anyone had warned her about.

Beatrice had the grace to blush, but not the good sense to back off. "Whatever happened," she said, voice tight,"you and I are still sisters. And Niall will be your brother-in-law too. So please, don’t do anything you’ll regret."

I rolled my eyes. Brother-in-law my ass—he was supposed to be my mate. It was a miracle I could still see straight.

There was no point trying to explain it to her. In Beatrice’s mind, I was still the pathetic little girl who used to trail after Niall like a lost pup. Nothing I said would change that.

So I turned to leave, eager to escape this toxic meeting.

I barely made it two steps before I caught a shift in the air behind me, then that overpowering floral cloud Beatrice called perfume hit my sensitive nose.

A split second later, her heel clipped the back of my ankle.

I stumbled forward, barely managing to catch myself before we both went down.

Before I could turn around, she yanked the long white tablecloth with both hands. Drinks, cakes, fancy canapé towers—all of it crashed to the floor in one glorious, sticky mess.

The entire ballroom snapped to attention. Enhanced senses meant every wolf in the room instantly turned toward the commotion, heads whipping around so fast, I swear I heard a few necks crack.

And right on cue, Serenna threw herself into the spotlight like she’d rehearsed for it. "Oh no! Christina just trashed the Alpha’s party! She’s ruining everything!"

The words had barely left her mouth before there was a loud smack.

I shook out my stinging hand."You tore the tablecloth off and tried to pin it on me. You think my eyes blind?"

Beatrice clutched her cheek. "It wasn’t me! It was you! You pulled it by accident... I swear..."

Ysolde snapped out of her shock, this one right across Serenna’s pretty little face. "You really thought that stupid stunt would work? You think everyone here is as thick as you?"

Serenna screeched."How dare you hit me! I saw it with my own eyes—Christina ruined the Alpha’s party on purpose!"

She grabbed a random glass of wine off the wreckage and aimed it at Ysolde’s face.

I lunged to block it, but the wine still splashed down Ysolde’s shoulder, soaking half her dress. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

I had been holding back all night. My wolf had been restrained. I really had tried.

But that was it.

I grabbed Serenna by the hair and yanked."Go on. Try throwing another drink. See what happens."

Serenna howled, scrabbling at my hands.

Beatrice tried to rush over to help her, but Ysolde blocked her with a shove.

"You want a scene?" Ysolde said, wild-eyed and grinning."Fine. Let’s give ’em a bloody show."