Chapter 24 The Wife Who Finally Fought Back

Alpha Sebastian had not expected Alpha Killian to bring lawyers into the argument over one employee. The speed of it only deepened his suspicion.

"What exactly is going on between you and Eira?" he demanded. "She’s married."

"She works for me," Alpha Killian said. "That’s all you need to know."

"And if this isn’t only about work?"

Alpha Killian’s expression never changed. "Still none of your business."

Alpha Sebastian stepped forward. Sterling security blocked him before he made it two feet.

Miles offered a calm, professional smile. "I’d stop while you’re behind, Alpha Sebastian. Security has even less patience than Legal."

That did it.

"Eira is my wife!"

His voice carried through the boutique.

Serena went pale. Near the fitting rooms, Eira and Lila both stopped.

Four years of marriage, and Alpha Sebastian had finally admitted the truth in public. Not because he loved Eira. Not because he was proud to claim her. He had said it because another Alpha had challenged his authority.

It was not love.

It was ownership.

Alpha Killian left Alpha Sebastian standing there and crossed the boutique to Eira and Lila.

"You both okay?"

"I’m fine," Lila said. "Eira handled it."

His gaze shifted to Eira. "I noticed."

Lila put her hands on her hips. "Is that your way of saying she was wrong?"

"I’m saying next time, let security handle it."

"Because hitting people is bad?"

"Because video evidence and lawyers hurt longer."

Lila considered that. "Fair."

A faint smile touched Eira’s mouth.

"Keep up," Alpha Killian said, already heading for the exit.

Lila linked her arm through Eira’s and followed.

"How long have you been married?" she asked.

"Four years and a hundred fifteen days."

Alpha Killian glanced back.

She had given him the same exact number the night before. People did not count days unless they were waiting for something to end.

He said nothing.

Lila caught the look anyway.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"That was definitely not nothing."

Alpha Killian looked at his sister.

"When you start dating, raise the bar."

Lila stared at him. "I haven’t even been on one date. Why am I catching strays?"

Eira lowered her eyes to hide a smile.

The warning had not really been meant for Lila.

--

Later, at a private urgent-care clinic, Isabella complained through the entire exam.

The physician had already confirmed that nothing was broken. Her cheek was swollen, her pride was worse, and she had demanded an X-ray anyway.

A nurse handed her a wrapped ice pack.

"Twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off. Take ibuprofen with food."

Isabella pressed it to her face and winced. "Sebastian, look at me. She could’ve broken my jaw."

"She didn’t," Alpha Sebastian said.

His voice was flat enough to make her turn. "Why did you bring up her foster-care background?"

Isabella stared at him. "Are you seriously defending her?"

"She didn’t choose how she grew up. Don’t use it against her again."

"Sebastian," Serena said gently, "Isabella’s in pain. This probably isn’t the time."

Isabella leaned toward her at once. "See? Serena actually cares about me. Eira just hits people."

Alpha Sebastian looked at the ice pack. "She hit you once."

"Once is enough!" Isabella lowered the pack and glared at him. "I’m your sister. Why do you keep taking Eira’s side? You love Serena anyway."

Alpha Sebastian’s expression went still.

"I want Serena as your wife," Isabella continued. "Everyone does."

Serena watched him carefully.

Alpha Sebastian looked away. "Drop it."

Serena ’s face fell before she could hide it.

Then she recovered and gave Isabella a soft smile.

"Your brother is married. Whatever happens next, he has to handle it the right way."

Alpha Sebastian thought about the night before.

Handle it the right way.

He was legally married to Eira and had slept with Serena in the bed he shared with his wife. There was no version of this that could be handled cleanly.

He turned toward Serena. "I need time."

Serena’s expression softened. "I’m not trying to corner you. You know I’ve always loved you."

She leaned into him.

After a brief hesitation, Alpha Sebastian put an arm around her.

Isabella watched them and quietly lifted her phone.

The photo she sent to the Hale family group chat showed Serena tucked against Alpha Sebastian’s chest while he held her close.

Luna Margaret responded first.

Finally.

Alpha Roger’s reply came a minute later.

[We need to discuss the legal and Pack consequences before anyone makes this public.]

Right after that, Isabella dropped a carefully angled selfie into the Hale family group chat, making sure her swollen cheek filled the frame.

Luna Margaret immediately called Isabella. "What happened to your face?"

"Eira slapped me."

The satisfaction disappeared from Luna Margaret’s voice.

"She did what?"

"She attacked me in the middle of a boutique. In front of everyone."

That was not quite what the security footage showed, but Isabella saw no reason to include the part where she had shoved Lila first.

Luna Margaret called Eira.

No answer.

She called again. Still nothing.

On the fourth attempt, the call went straight to voicemail.

Luna Margaret nearly dropped her phone.

"She blocked me?"

Eira had not blocked her. She had simply turned off the phone. The difference would not have mattered to Luna Margaret.

She called Alpha Sebastian next. "Where is Eira?"

"She’s still working."

"At this hour?"

"It’s not late."

"That little office job is suddenly more important than this family?"

Serena sat beside Isabella, helping her adjust the ice pack.

"Aunt Margaret, Eira isn’t in the general office anymore," she said carefully. "She was moved to Sterling Group’s executive floor."

Luna Margaret went silent. "Doing what?"

"She’s filling in as Alpha Killian Sterling’s executive assistant."

Luna Margaret gave a sharp laugh. "So she goes from a paper job to working directly for an unmated Alpha, and no one thinks that looks convenient?"

"Mom," Alpha Sebastian warned.

"I’m asking a fair question."

"Bring Eira home," Luna Margaret said over the phone. "Before the entire Pack starts hearing rumors."

"I’ll handle it."

Alpha Sebastian ended the call and set his phone facedown.

Serena lowered her eyes.

"Alpha Killian is young," she said softly. "And people notice him. If Eira keeps appearing beside him at dinners and public events, there may be talk."

The seed landed exactly where she intended.

Alpha Sebastian’s frown deepened.

Killian Sterling was younger than him, richer than him, and powerful enough to shut down a room without raising his voice.

Worse, he had looked at Eira as if she were worth studying.

He looked at her.

"Do you think Killian Sterling is better than me?"