MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA

Vivian's face flushed with rage. "What's the difference?! The Southern Islands are under the Dark Snow Pack's control. That monster, Alpha Snow, will relish tearing our merchants apart and cooking them! Haven't you heard the rumors?! Why would you condemn my brother to such a fate?! This is unconscionable, Reana!"

Hearing his name being mentioned in the same breath as cannibalism, Ryder's gaze transformed, his eyes blazing with intensity as he shot a death glare at her. His jaw clenched, a subtle warning that he wouldn't tolerate such slander.

Vivian shivered, her hair stood on end as she sensed a withering glare that froze her heart, emanating from the servant's end of the table. Her eyes darted nervously to Ryder, expecting him to be the source of her discomfort, but to her surprise, he wasn't even looking at her. Instead, he continued to serve Reana with an air of quiet dedication, his expression serene.

Reana, however, seemed unfazed by their complaints, her expression serene as she continued to savor her meal.

Seeing that Reana wasn't moved, Katherine continued her emotional drama. "Reana, you may have experience in managing the pack, but you're still a she-wolf, a woman. You'll eventually need your brothers' support. Karl and Kael are your only remaining male relatives, your protectors when the world turns against you. Who knows if Ryan will betray you in the future? You'll always have Karl and Kael to defend you. How could you treat them so callously?"

Reana's brow arched. She hadn't missed the familiarity with which Katherine spoke Beta Ryan's name. Her gaze drifted to Vivian, who was now lowering her head, a sly smile dancing on her lips.

A chuckle threatened to escape Reana's throat, but she chunked it down with the water Ryder handed her. This was why she entertained these encounters with her stepmother and stepsister – the drama was tantalizingly entertaining. They thought she didn't know the deal they made with Ryan.

Reana shook her head, this play was too comical. Lowering her head to her food, Reana's gaze turned distant, her mind retracing a memory from three years ago. It was the day Hale introduced her to Ryan as his childhood friend.

When she held Ryan's hand, she was flooded with visions of his future. She saw his encounter with Kael, their alliance, and also, Ryan's rise to Alpha.

But the visions didn't end there. It also revealed Ryan's infidelity with Lillian and Vivian, betraying Reana, imprisoning her, claiming Vivian as his new mate and Luna, and ultimately, Reana saw Ryan meeting his demise at Kael's hands, sparked by his continued affair with Lillian.

When Reana's reverie ended, she lifted her head, her expression transformed to one of innocence. "You two," she began, sipping water before continuing, "what are you dissatisfied about?"

"You–" her stepmother was lost for words. Wasn't she listening? "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Reana shook her head lightly, "Your son volunteered to help the pack with his talented tongue. Should I have said no? Wouldn't you call me a fatuous ruler if I did?"

Vivian's face reddened. "That's a lie! My brother would never say such a thing!"

Reana's gaze turned to Vivian, her tone laced with amusement. "Oh? Why don't you ask your brother, then?...Ah, but he's already departed."

Katherine's eyes widened in outrage. "What?! You...you, Reana!"

Reana ignored their outbursts, focusing on her meal.

Vivian attempted to calm her mother, who was on the verge of having an attack. "Don't listen to her, Mother. I'm sure Reana's just trying to provoke you. Don't let her get to you."

Reana's smile remained calm, but her eyes flashed with icy warning. "Are you calling me a liar now, Vivian?"

"Aren't you?" Vivian glared at her defiantly. That smile on Reana's face always made her lose her mind. It felt like Reana was taunting her, reminding her that she would always be a mere subject - always below her.

"Is that so?" Reana's brow arched, her smile widening, but her eyes remained glacial.

Vivian's fury erupted, and she screamed, "You're a lying, manipulative bitch! You should have died along with your brothers!!"

In a flash, Vivian's hand closed around a delicate porcelain jar on the table, and she hurled it at Reana with a fierce cry. But the moment the jar left her hand, Vivian's eyes widened in shock, as if startled by her own actions.

"Impudence!" Kira thundered from the entrance, her voice echoing through the hall. With a swift motion, she launched a dagger at the flying porcelain jar.

However, Ryder was quicker. His fist shot out, colliding with the jar in mid-air. The porcelain shattered into a thousand pieces, sending shards flying in all directions. The sound of shattering ceramic filled the air, punctuated by the heavy silence that followed.

One shard hurtled towards Reana, but with lightning-quick reflexes, she deflected it with a piece of cutlery, sending it flying towards Vivian instead.

Vivian, still reeling from her outburst, was caught off guard. The shard sliced into the side of her neck, leaving a deep gash that narrowly missed a vital artery. Her eyes widened in horror as she recoiled with a blood-curdling scream, her hand instinctively clutching at the wound.

"Ahhh!!" Blood seeped through her fingers, staining her clothes and dripping onto the floor.

"Vivian!" her mother shrieked, rushing to her daughter's side. Though the wound looked gruesome, werewolves possessed remarkable healing abilities, rendering the injury less severe than her mother's frantic reaction suggested.

Gamma Kira stormed into the hall, her voice thundering through the space. "Your audacity to attack the Luna is unacceptable!" She spun on her heel, her eyes blazing with command. "Someone!"

However, Reana raised a hand, her expression serene. "Kira, don't you have siblings?" Reana asked, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Kira's glare faltered. She had a little sister, whom she cherished more than life itself.

Reana's smile widened, but without amusement. "This is how some siblings show love. Don't take it too seriously."

Gamma Kira was stunned. And even Ryder couldn't help shaking his head while suppressing a smile. As if Reana knew what that was...