The garden air felt thicker after Victoria’s vicious words, as if the jasmine vines and rose bushes themselves were holding their breath. Claire stood frozen on the stone path, her silver wolf pendant suddenly heavy against her chest. The confrontation had already drained her — Victoria’s mask had fully shattered, revealing the jealous, spiteful woman beneath. But Claire could sense there was more. The she-wolf wasn’t done. Not yet.
Victoria turned back slowly, her elegant features twisted into something ugly and raw. The polite smile was gone. Her hazel eyes burned with years of suppressed resentment.
“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” Victoria hissed, stepping closer. Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper, sharp enough to cut. “You think because he chose you in some fleeting moment o
