Chapter 77
Summer’s POV
“What about our arrangement?” I demanded, confusion and anger surging through me like wildfire. This wasn’t what Foster had promised.“Alpha Foster agreed to meet me, to discuss Felix’s return. That was
the deal.”
Suzanna’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Plans change, Summer. Did you really think it would be that simple? That you could just demand terms from an Alpha?”
“If you want to see Alpha Foster,” Suzanna continued, her voice honeyed with malice, “you can bow down and kiss my feet first. Then maybe I’ll take you to him.”
“And if I don’t?” I challenged, though I already knew the answer.
Suzanna stepped closer, her perfectly manicured fingernails suddenly digging into my arm. “Then you’ll never see your precious son again. Is that clear enough for you?”
I jerked my arm away from her grasp, fighting the urge to slash at her smug face with my claws, but I
couldn’t risk Felix’s safety.
“Fine, “I growled through my teeth, my knees starting to bend, every muscle in my body screaming in
protest.
Suzanna stood tall before me, arms crossed, her lips curled in triumph. I could feel her victory radiating
off her like heat.
But just before I hit the ground-
“Summer, you’re early. I was expecting you later.”
The commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade. I looked up to see Alpha Foster standing at the top of the stone steps leading to the pack house, his imposing figure backlit by the morning sun. He looked exactly as I remembered–tall, broad–shouldered, devastatingly handsome. But in my eyes, he had lost all his charm–I now saw only the cruelty beneath the attractive facade.
Suzanna’s face instantly paled, her body language shifting from dominant to submissive in a heartbeat. That’s when I realized–this humiliation wasn’t Foster’s order. It was Suzanna’s own power play.
I straightened up and turned to Foster.“This is your idea of welcoming me back? Having me kneel to her?”
Foster’s eyes narrowed as they flicked between us, clearly assessing the situation. “What is this about?”
“Your Omega here,” I said, emphasizing the lower rank with deliberate cruelty, “informed me that our arrangement had changed. That I wouldn’t see Felix unless I submitted to her first–got on my knees and kissed her feet. Is that what you ordered, Alpha?”
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Alpha Foster’s expression darkened dangerously as he turned to Suzanna. “Is this true?”
“Alpha, I was just-” Suzanna stammered, her earlier arrogance evaporating like morning dew, “-trying to test her loyalty. For the pack’s protection.”
“Did I ask you to test her loyalty?” Alpha Foster’s voice was deceptively soft, but I recognized the deadly undercurrent. “Did I authorize you to change the terms of my agreement with the mother of my son?”
Suzanna visibly trembled now. “N–no, Alpha.”
Alpha Foster descended the steps with measured confidence, each footfall like a drumbeat of approaching doom for Suzanna. “You presume to speak for me? To issue commands in my name?”
“I only wanted what was best-”
“Silence!” Alpha Foster’s command reverberated through the courtyard, making even Moore flinch beside his mother. “You’ve overstepped, Suzanna. Badly.”
What happened next brought me a cold, vindictive satisfaction that I wasn’t proud of–but couldn’t deny.
Alpha Foster turned to Suzanna, his voice deadly quiet. “Kneel.”
Her eyes widened in horror. “Alpha Foster, please-”
“I said kneel.” The Alpha command in his voice was unmistakable. “Before Summer. Now.”
Tears welled in Suzanna’s eyes as she slowly, reluctantly sank to her knees before me. The woman who had tormented me,now humiliated where everyone could see.
“Lower,“Alpha Foster commanded mercilessly. “Bow your head to the ground.”
Suzanna complied, her forehead touching the gravel, her perfect blonde hair falling around her in disarray. Her son Moore watched in horrified silence, his young face contorted with helpless rage.
Alpha Foster turned to me. “Is this satisfactory, Summer? Or do you think she deserves something more
severe?”
I looked down at Suzanna’s trembling form. Part of me–the wounded, vengeful part–wanted to prolong her humiliation. But another part recognized that this display wasn’t really about justice, it was Alpha Foster demonstrating his control over everyone around him. I wanted no part in his power games.
“I’ve done what you asked,” I said flatly, ignoring his question. “Now take me to my son.
Alpha Foster smiled, clearly pleased with my direct approach. “Of course. That was our arrangement.” He gestured toward the pack house. “Shall we?”
Alpha Foster led me through familiar hallways to a suite of rooms I recognized immediately–our old quarters, where we had lived together as husband and wife. The rooms looked exactly the same, as
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though I’d never left.
“Nothing has changed since you left,” Foster said, confirming my observation. “Your clothes are still in the closet. Your books on the shelf. I knew you’d return eventually.”
His delusional certainty made me want to scream. Instead, I asked flatly, “Where’s Felix?”
“In good time,” he repeated, his patience clearly wearing thin. “First, you need to clean yourself. I can’t
stand that Alpha’s scent on you.” He gestured toward the bathroom. “Everything you need is in there. I’ll
wait.”
“Where is my son?” I demanded, ignoring his attempt at charm.
“Safe,” Alpha Foster replied vaguely, echoing Suzanna’s earlier answer. “And he’ll remain that way as long as you cooperate.”
“You promised I could see him. That was our arrangement.
Alpha Foster’s expression hardened slightly. “You’ll see him when I decide the time is right. For now, you’ll do as you’re told.” He leaned closer, inhaling deeply near my neck. His face twisted in disgust. “You reek of him. Of Blackwood.”
I lifted my chin defiantly. “Good.”
The thought of being naked in the next room from Alpha Foster made my stomach heave, but I needed to play along until I could find Felix.
Once inside the bathroom, I locked the door and leaned against it, trying to steady my breathing. The familiar fixtures and expensive toiletries were like ghosts from another life–a life where I had been broken down piece by piece until nothing remained of the woman I once was.
I turned the shower on full blast, letting the steam fill the room as I assessed my options. Where would they be keeping Felix? The pack house was massive, with dozens of rooms, but Alpha Foster wouldn’t want him far away. The east wing, perhaps? That had always been strictly off–limits to me during my time here–a perfect place to hide a prisoner.
Would Alexander know something was wrong by now? Would he come looking for me?
