Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Fiona POV
“God. Gan you believe I ran into my damn half–sister of all things? How annoying,” Celeste’s voice was high–pitched as she continued to bitch to Claudia who of course readily agreed with her.
“I know. She looks just the same as she left. I can’t believe that Alpha Liam is interested in somebody who looks as plain as she does.”
I could almost imagine Claudia wrinkling her nose in the adjoining dressing room as she spoke quietly to Celeste, not wanting to be overheard. It was lucky I had sensitive shifter hearing or I would not have heard her at all. I struggled to remain silent, my hands clenching into fists.
“She’s always been the ugly one. The plain one. I don’t‘ understand how she can possibly think that she’s going to look even remotely pretty when she comes to my party. Then again.” Celeste giggled as I fought back my rising anger, “At least I know she won’t outshine me. Hell,” her voice turned thoughtful, “maybe I’ll try and seduce that mate of hers. The first time didn’t go so well but now that he’s been with Fiona for a while, he might change his mind. I doubt she’s pleasing him in the bedroom area. She’s always been a prude.”
Celeste had tried to seduce Liam and he had never said a word to me. I could feel my nails digging into the palms of my hand, drawing blood as it began to trickle down my hands. Autumn looked at me concerned, but I shook my head at her, indicating she should not do anything to come to my defense. I wanted to hear the rest of what Celeste had to say.
Celeste remained oblivious to my presence. I was surprised she hadn’t picked up my scent but I was hardly going to complain at the moment. “I can’t believe he turned you down,” Claudia’s voice was filled with disbelief. “Is he blind or something?” she added incredulously.
Of course. Celeste had always been popular with the unmated males of our pack. It must have shocked her when Liam turned her down. She wasn’t used to being refused. She was the golden child of our parents and the little princess of the pack.
Celeste snorted. “I guess he must have been feeling the mate bond when he refused. Like I said, now he’s been with Fiona,” her voice was dripping with heavy sarcasm, “I doubt that he’ll turn me down again.”
Her tone was filled with confidence now. I could almost see her flipping her hair over her shoulder in my mind and smirking at her friend.
The bitch was going to try and seduce Liam as though I wasn’t even there! How dare she, I thought seething. My sister had always been cruel but for her to go to these lengths and try to take my mate away from me, was unbelievable. She had no conscience. Then again, had she ever had one? From as far back as we were little she had always resented me and acted as though I tried to take our parent’s love from her. If only she had realized that the only love they had was for her. It might have solved all the conflict and hatred between us. Instead, it had only formed a wider wedge as I tried everything in my path to get my parent’s love and affection, only to fail again and again.
“What about your parents? Won’t they be angry with you for doing something like that to your sister?” Claudia asked uncertainly.
Was she afraid of retribution or did she simply have more of a conscience than Celeste had? It wasn’t saying much.
I almost laughed at Claudia’s statement and almost gave myself away. Part of me suspected that my parents would only applaud Celeste for her efforts and snagging herself an Alpha. They never cared about my feelings or how this would affect me. Autumn was beginning to stand up now, looking furious. I put a finger to my lips, reminding her to be quiet.
“Well, at least your party won’t end as tragic as hers did. Can you believe that Graham tried to rape her? She probably seduced him and then cried rape. I mean, why would he try something like that with her?” Claudia mused out loud her voice filled with disgust.
Celeste laughed. I tensed. “Because I paid him to. He was meant to ruin her so that nobody would want her. I saw Alpha
Liam looking at her and I wanted him. I figured if she was despoiled or if he saw her coming out of the woods all dishevelled he would have been disgusted with her and refuse to have anything to do with her. I didn’t know they were mates or I wouldn’t have bothered and wasted my money. Lucky nobody suspects me” she added.
Tears came to my eyes. My own half–sister had tried to get somebody to rape me. Not only that, but Graham had died that night, at my own mate’s hand. Didn’t she care she had ruined somebody else’s life? I couldn’t take it anymore. Autumn made no move to stop me as I walked blindly out of the dressing room and then practically tore Celeste’s off its hinges in order to get to her. I was amazed at my strength, even as the saleswomen gaped in shock.
Celeste was half–dressed and frantically grabbed the dress she was putting on, clutching it against her chest as she stared at me, her cheeks turning red as she realized I had heard everything she said.
“You got Graham to attack me?” my voice was chilling and unlike its usual cheerful lilt. “You paid a man to rape me? Are you sick Celeste? What kind of sister does that to her sibling?” I spat out.
She laughed. “Oh Fiona, so you heard that? Not that it matters, nobody is going to believe you. So what?” she shrugged, “none of us are siblings. I mean, I hate you. I wish he’d succeeded” she blurted out without mercy, “Then I would have had your mate. He would have been mine. Now instead, I’m going to be declared as Alpha of the pack, and you…you are nothing. I doubt even your mate cares about you that much. I’m going to take him from you, Fiona, only because I can.”
“You can try,” I said steadily, “but Liam would never betray me like that.”
I was sure of it. I slapped her, hard, causing her to give a small squeal as she stumbled backward. I heard Autumn give a giggle. I wanted to hurt Celeste more, but the pain in my heart was too much to bear. I glared at her. “From now on, you are nothing to me. I might have been kind to you before but you so much as look at me wrong and I will hurt you. I might not have a wolf, but I still have my human form and trust me, Celeste, I can injure you. Watch out tomorrow” I warned her menacingly “and stay the fuck away from my mate. You’re going to regret it if you go after him tomorrow. How your parents don’t know the true nature of your disgusting character I’ll never know but one day I’ll reveal you’re true colors. Just wait and see.”
She laughed. “Nobody believed you before and they won’t now. Give it up Fiona. I have what I want and I get what I want. Your threats mean nothing” she told me lifting her chin and staring at me arrogantly “and I can kill you with just a swipe of my hands.”
I just shook my head, feeling tired, and gestured to Autumn. “One day Karma’s going to bite you in the ass Celeste and I’m going to be there to see it. That day, I will be the one celebrating,” I told her steadily and then turned my back on her, heading to the counter and feeling numb. Autumn paid for the dress and then took my arm, leading me out of the store as we left Celeste and her bitch friend behind.
“Do you want me to inform Alpha Liam?” she asked me softly.
I shook my head. “No, it appears he’s happy to keep secrets from me so I shall do the same.”
My voice was bitter. Autumn frowned at me then let it go. Instead, we began to head towards the exit of the mall. Whatever shoes and jewelry I had would do. I no longer had any desire to continue shopping, and I no longer even had the desire to go and see my mate again. Celeste’s words would continue to haunt me and linger in my mind. Why hadn’t Liam told me she had tried to seduce him?
