The Claw's Penalty: She Survived to Rule Them All

POV: Harlow Love

He didn't shoot. He pistol-whipped me.

White light exploded. The next thing I knew, I was being dragged across the floor, the IV ripping from my arm.

He threw me into the dungeon. The stone floor was slick with grime.

"The cameras were off," Kaden paced, manic energy radiating off him. "Convenient. Confess, and I make it quick."

"I didn't do it!"

He nodded to the Torturer, a massive Beta holding a tray of silver needles.

"Silver burns healing factors," Kaden said coldly. "Show her."

The Torturer jammed a needle under my fingernail.

I screamed until my throat tore. It was liquid fire. My body convulsed.

"She's tough," the Beta grunted.

"She's stupid," Kaden turned away, refusing to watch the result of his order.

Five fingers. My hand was a ruin.

"Enough!"

Lily, the head maid, burst in. She shoved the Torturer aside.

"Are you insane?" she screamed at Kaden. "This is General Love's daughter! Brittaney poisoned herself! I saw her in the greenhouse!"

Kaden froze. "You're lying."

"I raised you, boy! Do I lie?"

Kaden looked at Lily, then at my mangled hand. The rage drained out of him, leaving behind a terrified realization. He had messed up. Badly.

"Clean her up," he muttered, walking out fast. He couldn't face me. He couldn't face what he had done.

I woke up in the attic. My hand was heavily bandaged.

"He whipped the Torturer," Lily said softly, wiping my brow.

"To make himself feel better," I croaked.

"You have to go to the Gala tonight," Lily whispered. "He... he needs to show the pack everything is fine. To save face."

I laughed, a dry, cracking sound. Of course. His image.

"Fine," I said. "I'll go. And I'll watch him burn."

POV: Harlow Love

I stood in the corner of the banquet hall, a ghost in long sleeves.

Kaden sat at the High Table with Brittaney. She was miraculously healed, wearing a new red dress. She raised a glass to me, smirking.

Suddenly, the lights cut. A distorted voice boomed. "A gift."

Photos rained from the ceiling.

I caught one. It was explicit. Brittaney. And the Beta of the Silver Lake Pack-our enemies.

I sniffed the paper. Vanilla and betrayal.

The hall erupted. Kaden stood up, snatching a photo. He inhaled sharply. He smelled it. I saw the recognition in his eyes. He knew.

Brittaney grabbed his arm, whispering frantically into his ear. "Think about the merger, Kaden! If I go down, the alliance with the South breaks. You need my father's money!"

Kaden stiffened. He looked at the crowd. He looked at me.

He made a choice. He chose power.

"Forgery!" he roared. "These are fakes! Planted by my jealous, barren wife to frame the future Luna!"

The betrayal hit me harder than the bullet would have. He knew the truth, and he threw me to the wolves to save his bank account.

He dragged me out of the hall before I could speak. In the limo, silence reigned.

"Why?" I whispered.

"Politics, Harlow," he said, staring out the window, his jaw tight. "You're expendable. The alliance isn't."

That was it. The final crack.

Inside me, something woke up. Not the weak Omega wolf. Something ancient. A White Wolf opened her eyes and looked at Kaden with pure, glacial indifference.

We are done.

"Okay," I said softly.

Kaden blinked, unsettled by my calm. "Okay?"

"Okay."

I wasn't waiting for the lashes. I was leaving tonight.