Chapter 131 Eira Strikes First

People looked alike sometimes. That was all it was.

The same eyes. The same mouth. The same stubborn line of the jaw.

A coincidence. Nothing more.

Vincent had spent thirty years believing Alpha Henry was his father. He’d grown up hearing how Alpha Henry had walked away from the Pack Council, choosing Luna Clara, his family, and his pack instead.

His father had given up everything for his mother.

Vincent wasn’t about to rewrite thirty years of his life because a stranger happened to look familiar.

So he looked away.

"Miss Crawford," he said, turning to Eira, "are you going to rein in your friend, or is this how the Sterling Pack handles itself in public?"

Eira glanced at Lila.

Lila raised her brows. "What? I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true."

"She asked a fair question," Eira said.

Vincent’s jaw tightened. "You and Sebastian have already—"

He stopped. Serena stood beside him. Even he knew better than to discuss Eira’s dissolved mate bond in front of the woman who had helped cause it.

Eira understood anyway.

So Vincent knew about the Two Mate Bond Dissolution Certificates.

Good. That saved her some time.

She turned to Serena. "You were involved with Sebastian while our mate bond was still registered."

Serena’s face flushed.

Eira’s mouth curved faintly. "But congratulations in advance. I’ll send flowers when Hale Pack announces its new Luna."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Serena.

"Not that I’d ever want to be part of a pack like that—or tied to wolves like you."

The insult landed because everyone understood what she had left unsaid. If Eira had refused to dissolve the bond, Serena would still be waiting in hotel rooms and borrowed apartments. Even now, Alpha Sebastian had not claimed her publicly.

Vincent frowned. "Miss Crawford, maybe don’t kick someone while she’s down."

Eira looked at him. "Do you say that in court too, Counselor? ’Your Honor, my client committed fraud, but let’s all be nice about it?’"

Lila snorted.

Vincent’s expression darkened.

"Funny," Eira continued. "I thought lawyers preferred facts."

"Speaking of facts," Lila said, folding her arms, "does your father know you’re in Palo Alto defending a woman accused of sleeping with a bonded Alpha, pulling strings at Silix, and reaching for classified research she had no clearance to access?"

Serena stiffened.

The first two accusations were ugly, but familiar. Pack scandals lived in group chats, private clubs, and council gossip for weeks.

The last one was different.

Vincent’s voice dropped. "Careful. Throwing around words like classified and leak without proof can get expensive."

"So can subpoenas." Lila smiled. "But sure. Let’s pretend Silix sent investigators to the Winthrop residence for the complimentary coffee."

Serena’s eyes filled with tears. "Why are you being so cruel?"

"Because I’m allergic to homewreckers."

Vincent’s gaze shifted to Eira.

"Does Luna Seraphina know her daughter is running around with a wolfless Omega who has no Pack blood behind her?"

The air in the lobby changed.

In old Pack society, bloodline meant protection, territory, inheritance, and political leverage. An orphaned, wolfless Omega had none of it. Elite Packs might offer charity. They did not offer a seat at the table—or a place in the family—unless they expected something in return.

Lila stepped forward, but Eira caught her wrist.

Eira faced Vincent instead.

"For a man with two living parents," she said calmly, "that was a remarkably fatherless thing to say."

Lila choked back a laugh.

Vincent’s face hardened. "Sharp tongue."

"Better than an empty head."

Serena’s nails dug into her clutch.

Eira had changed. The quiet Luna who once swallowed every insult in Hale Tower was gone. In her place stood someone polished, untouchable, and completely unafraid.

"Does Sebastian know you’ve become this nasty?" Serena asked.

Eira didn’t blink. "Does Sebastian know you’re having dinner with another man, or are you still auditioning for Luna?"

Serena’s eyes filled again. This time, the tears looked softer—carefully arranged to make Vincent step in.

He did.

"Enough, Miss Crawford."

Lila was already pulling out her phone.

"Hi, Mom."

Eira turned toward her.

Absolutely not.

Lila tapped the speaker.

Seraphina’s voice came through. "Lila? Aren’t you and Eira at dinner?"

"We just got here." Lila kept her eyes on Vincent. "Quick question. Would you be embarrassed if one of my friends grew up without parents?"

A beat of silence followed.

Then Seraphina’s voice turned cold. "Lila Sterling. Who taught you to say something that ugly?"

Lila smiled at Vincent. "You’re right. That was awful. Sorry, Mom."

"Apologize properly."

"I will."

"And come home after dinner."

Lila winced. "Love you too."

She ended the call.

Vincent looked as if he had just bitten into broken glass.

Serena’s fragile act cracked. Once Luna Seraphina had been dragged into the exchange, there was no graceful way to keep fighting. Vincent gave Eira one last unreadable look before following Serena into the elevator.

The doors slid shut.

Lila exhaled sharply. "God, what a dumpster fire. We came for dinner and got a full biohazard event."

Eira’s lips twitched. "Are you okay?"

Lila’s phone pinged.

Mom: Lila Sterling, come straight home after dinner.

Lila stared at the screen. "She used my full name. That’s never good."

Eira glanced at her. "Still okay?"

"Totally." Lila was already typing. "I have a secret weapon."

She opened Killian’s chat and fired off a quick summary of the elevator disaster—Vincent’s insult, Serena’s fake tears, and Seraphina’s reaction.

Then she added:You’re my actual brother. Save me. Come home with me tonight.

--

Outside the restaurant, Serena tried to regain control.

"Don’t let Lila get to you," she told Vincent. "Sterling money has clearly gone to her head. And Eira’s been acting different ever since she started running with them."

"Borrowed power," Vincent said coldly.

Serena lowered her eyes. "I’m used to it."

"That’s the problem. You shouldn’t be."

Before she could answer, a Bentley pulled up to the curb.

Serena recognized it immediately.

Alpha Sebastian.

Her heart jumped. For one awful second, she wondered whether he had seen her leave dinner with Vincent.

Then hope took over.

He had come for her.

"Vincent, I’m sorry," she said quickly. "Sebastian’s here. You should head home."

Vincent glanced at the Bentley, his expression tightening. "Go."

"I’ll text you."

She crossed the sidewalk, her steps growing lighter with every stride.

But Alpha Sebastian hadn’t come for her.

The night before, he had seen Lila drive through the gates of Southridge Estates—somewhere his own car had been turned away. He had left a driver watching the entrance. When the driver reported that Eira had left in Lila’s car, Alpha Sebastian had come straight to the restaurant.

He stayed downstairs instead of going up. The last thing he needed was Lila Sterling turning his private business into Pack gossip.

"Alpha," the driver said carefully, "Miss Winthrop is coming over."

"Serena?" Alpha Sebastian looked up.

Before he could react, the driver opened the door, and Serena slipped inside.

"Sebastian." She moved close and took his hands. "You finally had time for me. I’m freezing. Warm me up."

Her wrist knocked against the wallet in his hand. It fell to the floor.

Alpha Sebastian bent down, but Serena reached it first.

The wallet had fallen open.

Inside the clear pocket was a plain ring.

Eira’s ring.

Serena’s gaze dropped to Alpha Sebastian’s left hand.

He was wearing the band he had once stopped wearing—the wedding band from his marriage to Eira.

He hadn’t worn it when Serena first returned to California. Back then, he had treated his mate bond to Eira like meaningless Pack.

Now he carried Eira’s ring in his wallet and wore his own as if he were mourning the marriage he had thrown away.

Serena’s smile slowly faded.