Accusations Again

ARIA

Liora's voice cut through the hall before anyone could answer. Trouble always comes even when you are hidden in the shadows.

"You fat bitch! What did you do to my Xavier?"

As I rolled my eyes at her words, the glass of wine I held in my hand tilted, spilling on my dress. The silver goblet in my hand tipped against the tablecloth. Dark wine spread across the white fabric, creeping toward the polished edge before dripping onto the marble floor.

Her Xavier? He was my mate, bitch. But I would rather have those two scumbags together.

My jaw locked so tightly a dull ache crawled toward my temples. I forced my fingers to loosen around the goblet before the metal bent beneath my grip.

Despite the numerous piercing glares and the dagger filled eyes of Liora towards me, I slowly lowered the last drop of wine and gulped it all down.

Every head turned toward me, waiting for my explanation. What could I possibly say when I had been in the hall since my parents shamefully shoved me in?

With a sigh, I spat out. "I didn't do anything. I have been here all along. When will I have the time to be with 'your' Xavier?"

My voice barely carried beyond my chair. I wanted to deny the pang deep in my chest. My grip around the goblet tightened, yet I managed to wear a smile that tore through me.

I kept my chin raised, but my knees pressed together beneath the table, trembling hard enough to make the chair creak. I prayed no one heard it.

Liora strode across the hall without waiting for another word from me. The train of her ivory gown swept behind her while the jewels around her neck caught the light. Tears streaked her cheeks, leaving dark lines through the powder on her face.

She stopped so close that I caught the sharp scent of her perfume. That's the signature scent of the precious Hawthorne daughter. Unlike the abandoned one like me, hated by all.

"You spoke to him. That's why he left the ceremony. He didn't even want to see me. What the hell did you do?" Her finger lifted toward my face, digging deeper as I felt coldness caressing my cheeks. It dripped until it stopped at the edge of my lips. Liora didn't stop poking as she gritted loud enough to echo in the hall.

"He was perfectly fine until you dragged him onto that balcony."

My shoulders drew in. I bit hard on my lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood. My pain was nothing compared to Liora's accusations in front of everyone. Was Liora insane? She was there that day. She even mocked my sorry ass and called me names.

With a frown etched on my blood-clot cheek, I corrected. "Your Xavier was the one who dragged me there."

A short laugh escaped Liora, her mascara stained eyes tearing daggers at me. Her voice cut through, high pitched and mocking.

"You expect anyone here to believe that?"

I clenched tighter, the answer obvious by the sneers in the hall.

Around us, the murmurs gathered strength. Liora was right though. No one would believe someone like Alpha Xavier would ever bring himself down to dragging a 320+ pound divorced she wolf to the balcony. It must have been me who was so desperate. The whispers tore through, my veins popping out around the wine goblet.

Heat rushed into my face while the rest of my body turned numb. I swallowed again and again, but the knot lodged in my throat refused to move.

"I knew she was jealous and evil."

"She couldn't stand watching her sister become Luna after she was divorced."

"She has always wanted attention. A black heart."

"Poor Alpha Xavier, suffering because of a fat ass jealous freak."

The voices blended together until I could no longer tell who had spoken first. I wished I could hide even deeper in the shadows. These people didn't even want to hear my side of the story. The perfect side of the story was a fat ass bitch seducing the mate of their favorite pack princess.

Liora had always been the one in the right. She had always been the beautiful, slender and fit-to-be Luna kind of princess. And I would always be the rising dough of Hawthorne. The shame and stain of the family and the entire Hawthorne Pack.

I felt lost, my eyes searching for someone to take me out of this mess. I don't even fucking know what happened to Xavier. I had not seen him after that day at the balcony. I never even want to see a scumbag like him who forsook the bond just to please himself.

I hate him.

The words echoed inside me, yet they failed to quiet the sharp pull buried beneath my ribs. I dug my nails deeper into my palm until the sting gave me something else to feel.

Ever since that day, Vin had remained silent. The thread had shaken her more than she could take. I don't blame her. We have been rejected twice and divorced once. I could feel no love anymore.

At the front of the hall, my father set down his glass with enough force to rattle the table.

The sound cracked through the whispers, and my heartbeat stumbled with it.

I let out a sigh of relief. Surely, father would speak for me. They were the ones who had me locked up all these days claiming they are too embarrassed to have a daughter like me.

"Aria."

His voice carried across the room, erupting with emotions I couldn't really point out. Although I was sure he would speak for me. Just this once, right?

Instead he asked, "What exactly happened on that balcony?"

Every pair of eyes settled on me again. I pressed my fingers together beneath the table. The crescents of my nails dug into my palm. Maybe he just wanted to know the details so he could fight for me.

Hope fluttered inside my chest, fragile as a candle flame. I held onto it anyway.

With that thought, I desperately let out, "He wanted to talk."

Liora cut in, screaming and baring her fangs. "Talk? Stop lying, you fucking psycho."

My father tapped gently on the floor with his golden staff, shutting Liora up. His voice had become icier.

"And?"

At first I was confused. Then reluctantly let the words glide out in stutters.

"He admitted..."

My throat tightened around the words again.

"He admitted we are mates... five years ago. Before I even got married to Alec."

Gasps rippled through the guests. Not just the guests alone, but a growl enveloped the entire hall as Liora faced me with a sneer. Her eyes glowed red and I could see her claws sticking out.

The next minute, I felt a sting across my cheek and a voice that shook the entire hall.

"YOU ARE A PATHETIC LIAR, BITCH!"