Free Web NovelChapter 177: Chapter 177 Unchosen
Sylvia’s POV
The moment I left Frostline Enterprises, a hollow emptiness settled in my chest. Mother’s words still echoed painfully in my mind—harsh, dismissive, cutting through years of desperate attempts to earn her approval.
"What did you expect, Sylvia?" I muttered to myself. "For her to actually see your worth for once?"
Standing on the sidewalk, I stared blankly at the bustling city around me. People hurried past, their lives continuing undisturbed while mine felt like it had just crumbled beneath my feet.
I couldn’t go back to the office. Not after Mother had made it abundantly clear that she considered me inadequate to lead our pack. The humiliation burned like wolfsbane against my skin. My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for my phone, checking it for what must have been the twentieth time in the past hour.
No messages. No missed calls. Nothing.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. What had I expected? That Alpha Astra Frost, the most formidable female Alpha in the Northern territories, would suddenly have a change of heart? That she’d text me begging me to return, acknowledging she’d made a terrible mistake?
My wolf growled in frustration within me. We deserve better. We are worthy.
"I know," I whispered to my wolf. "But she doesn’t see it."
I’d poured every ounce of my being into Frostline, sacrificing personal relationships, sleep, and any semblance of a normal life. All for what? To be told I wasn’t good enough? That I couldn’t handle a simple PR crisis?
True, the social media disaster wasn’t my finest moment. But I’d been working on a solution. I just needed more time, more resources—more faith from my own mother.
A knot formed in my throat as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. The device felt cold, just like the emptiness spreading through my chest.
"What will Caesar think?" The thought struck me suddenly, sending a fresh wave of anxiety crashing through me. Would the great Wolf King, Alpha of all American werewolves, regret choosing me as his mate if he knew how my own mother viewed me? Would he question his decision to entrust his legacy to someone who couldn’t even maintain her family’s approval?
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. The Moon Goddess didn’t make mistakes in pairing mates. Our bond was sacred, predestined.
"I won’t give up," I promised myself firmly. "Not on the pack. Not on Frostline. Not on Caesar." freёwebnoѵel.com
I needed to speak with Mother again—calmly, rationally. I had to make her understand that I was more than capable of leading our pack, that I had vision beyond what she could see. But the thought of facing her dismissal again made my stomach churn. Would she ever truly see me as worthy? Or would I forever be competing with the ghost of the daughter she wished I had been?
Lost in these thoughts, I barely registered the sleek black sports car slowing beside me until a familiar voice cut through my troubled mind.
"Well, well, well. If it isn’t the mighty Sylvia Frost."
My body tensed instantly. Of all the people in this city, the universe had decided to throw Zane Thorne in my path today. Perfect timing, as always.
Zane lounged behind the wheel of his ostentatious car, designer sunglasses perched on his arrogant face, hair slicked back in that way he thought made him look sophisticated. Beside him sat Chloe, her perfectly manicured fingers wrapped possessively around his arm, a saccharine smile plastered on her face.
"Wandering the streets alone?" Zane continued, voice dripping with mockery. "What’s wrong—did mommy finally realize you’re not cut out for the family business?"
I felt my canines lengthen slightly as rage bubbled beneath my carefully maintained facade.
Chloe leaned forward, her voice honey-sweet but eyes sharp as daggers. "Poor Sylvia. I always thought a Frost would at least have a driver. But here you are, trudging along like a common omega." She tilted her head in false sympathy. "Need a ride, sweetie? Zane wouldn’t mind helping an old... friend."
The way she emphasized "friend" made it clear she knew exactly what I had once meant to him—and how thoroughly he had discarded me when she returned.
Something inside me snapped. After months of suppressing my true nature, of playing the perfect, compliant daughter, of swallowing every insult and dismissal—I was done.
My lips curved into a cold smile that made both of them shift uncomfortably.
"Zane Thorne," I said, my voice carrying a deadly calm that seemed to drop the temperature around us. "Still compensating with flashy cars, I see. Tell me, does the Stoneclaw Pack know their Alpha spends more on vehicle leases than on territory improvements?"
Zane’s smirk faltered. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Don’t I?" I stepped closer to the car, noticing how his fingers tightened on the steering wheel. "Last I checked, your pack’s financial reports are public record for allied packs. Interesting reading, especially the part about declining membership rates."
Chloe’s smile disappeared entirely now. "You have no right—"
"And you," I turned my attention to her, feeling a savage pleasure as she shrank back slightly. "The famous True Mate who abandoned her destined partner for years, only to return when he gained power. How convenient for you. Tell me, Chloe, does it bother you knowing you’re wearing jewels bought with Stoneclaw money while their cubs go without proper training facilities?"
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for water. Zane’s face had turned an interesting shade of red.
"You think I’m walking these streets because I’m broken?" I laughed, the sound sharp enough to cut glass. "I walk because I choose to. Because unlike some people, I don’t need to hide behind material possessions to feel worthy."
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. "And just so we’re clear—I may not be sitting in that overpriced car of yours, but I’m mated to someone who could buy and sell your entire pack a hundred times over without noticing the expense."
The shock on their faces was almost worth everything I’d endured today.
"Now, if you’ll excuse me," I straightened, smoothing my already perfect blazer. "Some of us have actual responsibilities beyond playing Alpha and arm candy."
I turned and walked away without a backward glance.
