Marked by the Lycan King

23

Victoria scrutinized Bria with a condescending look, her lips curling in disgust like she’d just stepped in something foul. Bria wasn’t surprised in the slightest. She was already used to Victoria looking at her like she was something scraped off the bottom of a designer shoe.

“Hello, Victoria,” Bria said casually, flashing a bright, unbothered smile. “Came to max out your card too? We could shop together. It might actually be fun for once.”

“Don’t disgust me,” Victoria snapped immediately, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “I cannot lower my status by hanging around a servant’s daughter.”

Bria slowly formed an exaggerated “oh” with her mouth and tilted her head, pretending to ponder the insult deeply. Then she shrugged, completely unfazed.

“Your brother is a Beta and my father is a butler,” she replied sweetly. “Technically, both your family and mine serve the Lycan family. The only difference is that your family has been doing it for generations. Your father served, your grandfather served, your great-grandfather served…” She smiled, all sugar and venom. “So honestly, I think I know my standards pretty well.”

Victoria’s face instantly turned a deep, unflattering shade of red. Her lips parted, desperate to fire back, but the words seemed to choke her. The silence stretched for a satisfying second.

“You sh—”

Her insult died in her throat as the door to the dressing room clicked open.

Myra stepped out slowly, adjusting the sleek black off-shoulder bodycon dress that clung to her like a second skin. The fabric hugged every curve with sinful precision, the hem stopping just above her knees to reveal the smooth, fair length of her legs. Her ginger curls cascaded loosely around her shoulders, catching the soft, golden lighting of the upscale boutique and giving her an almost ethereal glow. She looked elegant, seductive, and dangerously beautiful, like a flame wrapped in midnight silk.

For a heartbeat, even Victoria was stunned into silence.

“Oh my God!” Bria screamed dramatically, clutching her chest as if she’d just witnessed a divine miracle. “You look like an actual s*x goddess. No, seriously, if a man sees you right now, he will definitely get an erection! I need to take some photos right now.”

Myra immediately blushed, a deep pink spreading across her cheeks as she lowered her head in embarrassment. “Bria, stop…”

But Bria was already in full best-friend mode. She whipped out her phone and began snapping pictures with enthusiastic flair, moving around Myra like a professional photographer on a high-fashion shoot. “Perfect. Turn a little, yes! I’m literally the best photographer alive. These are going straight to my private collection.”

Victoria’s eyes darkened with raw jealousy and hatred. Why was this woman still here? Why was Matteo even allowing her to stay around him?

Before Myra could react or retreat back into the dressing room, Victoria marched forward and grabbed her arm with bruising force.

“What are you still doing here?” she hissed, nails digging in. “I gave you enough money already. Why are you still hanging around like a parasite?”

Bria instantly stepped in, yanking Victoria’s hand away from Myra with surprising strength. “Hold on, hold on,” she said sharply, positioning herself protectively between them. “Why do you keep bullying everyone you see? Do you get off on it or something?”

Victoria sneered, her perfectly painted lips twisting. “So now you’ve linked up with another lowlife. I thought you were smarter than this. I didn’t expect you to become friends with a w***e. That’s low, even for you, Bria.”

Bria burst into genuine laughter at the absurdity, folding her arms and shaking her head. “So according to you, I’m too low-class for you, but Myra is also too low-class for me to hang around? Your logic is actually impressive in how stupid it is.” She smirked. “And what’s even funnier is that you keep calling her a w***e like you personally know her. Have you been spying on her or something?”

Victoria gritted her teeth so hard Myra could almost hear them grinding. “Look at her. Staying alone with Matteo in his villa. Obviously she wants to seduce the Lycan king.”

Myra frowned slightly at the accusation, a flicker of irritation crossing her face, but Bria jumped in first, rolling her eyes theatrically.

“Seduce him? Please.” Bria waved a dismissive hand. “Even if she did like His Majesty, what exactly is the problem? The man is single. Very single, actually. Painfully single.” She smirked wider. “And honestly, if he finally chooses a woman, the entire pack would probably throw a week-long celebration.”

Then Bria’s expression brightened with mischievous delight. “Unlike somebody who tried to seduce him and got thrown out half-naked in the middle of the night.”

Victoria froze. Her face burned with humiliation as the memory slammed into her. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of her life, something she’d tried desperately to bury, and Bria had just dragged it into the bright lights of the boutique for everyone to see.

“Watch your back, butler’s daughter,” Victoria hissed, her voice trembling with fury. “I’m coming for you. For both of you.”

She spun on her expensive heels and stormed away, nearly knocking over a mannequin in her rage. The boutique staff pretended not to notice, but the tension lingered in the air like smoke.

Bria watched her disappear through the glass doors before letting out a long, dramatic sigh. “I’m so sorry you had to witness that. She’s always like this, acting like the world owes her a crown and a throne. f*****g delusional.”

Myra snorted softly, still rubbing the spot on her arm where Victoria had grabbed her. “Won’t the Lycan king get angry at her? She seems… close to him.”

“Close?” Bria laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the quiet store. “More like dangerously obsessed. She’s been throwing herself at him for years.” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Our Lycan king stays far away from women. There’s literally no credible rumor about him being involved with anyone, which is exactly why everyone’s losing their minds that you’re staying in his villa.”

Bria’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she studied Myra from head to toe, her sharp mind clearly working overtime. “Wait…” she muttered, piecing things together out loud. “How do you even know His Majesty? Classmates? No. Old friend? Also no. And you smell like a werewolf…”

Bria suddenly gasped, her eyes widening with pure, explosive excitement as if she had just solved the greatest mystery of the century.

“You’re his mate!” she screamed, loud enough that several shoppers turned to stare.