Chapter 158 The Price of a Name

    Leslie’s POV

    I stood there, feeling the suffocating weight of Lyana’s pheromones in the air.

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    Finished

    Eric reluctantly made his way over, muttered a few polite lines, then grew impatient–his eyes never leaving me.

    Old Alpha Frost enjoyed chatting with me, asking questions non–stop.

    But Melina was unusually cold. Her warmth had shifted–to Lyana.

    After dinner, Lyana offered to make dessert. Melina dragged Eric in to help, while the old Alpha excused himself to rest.

    That left me and Melina sitting face to face.

    She put away her smile and set a credit chip down in front of me.

    I blinked, puzzled.

    One nce–ten million.

    “What’s thisb?/bb” /b

    Melina gave a faint smile, curling her lip with barely disguised disdain.

    “Payment for the painting. I know it’s not worth that much. But for the sake of our Packs‘ long- standing rtionship, I’ll eat the loss.”

    My gentle expression faded, reced by cool restraint.

    “Melina, I don’t understand. How does a gift be a loss?b” /b

    She flicked her hair back, looking at me without the slightest courtesy.

    “Because I know it’s a fake. Poor quality, at that.”

    My smile faltered.

    We locked eyes for nearly ten seconds.

    Then I looked away,

    A piece worth over a hundred million… being dismissed as a cheap imitation?

    Chapter 158 The Price of a Name

    :.

    There was no name for the feeling twisting in my chest.

    “So you thought it was a fake?” My voice was calm, almost amused.

    Finished

    “Leslie, our families go way back. Your mother passed early, but you and Eric were always close. Still, don’t think that gives you the right to fool me.”

    She said it coolly, trying hard to stayposed.

    At the mention of my mother, something tensed inside me.

    My eyes turned cold. My smile curled with a sharper edge. “If you don’t want it, I’ll take it back. No need for you to suffer a loss.”

    Throwing pearls before swine.

    Have Lunas‘ taste alwaysgged this far behind their Packs‘ fortunes?

    I was just about to stand when Melina’s voice sliced through the air–cold and clear.

    “And Leslie—stay away from my son.”

    I paused, startled.

    A warning. Again.

    The first time, it was Kirby’s mother–right before the engagement was broken.

    Now, Eric’s mother. Melina.

    I turned to look at her. Her face was calm, emotionless. The warmth she’d once shown me–an obvious performance.

    I felt a chill deep in my chest.

    I’d always regarded her as a respected elder.

    I curled my lip. “Is this a threat, Melina?”

    “If that’s how you want to take it, so be it. Do you know what happened to Eric after you bought that territory for five billion? His father flogged him with the discipline whip. He nearly lost his position as heir.”

    I froze.

    I’d thought I’d cleaned it up fast enough–that he’d been spared the fallout.

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    Chapter 158 The Price of a Name

    But he hadn’t.

    ?

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    Finished

    “If you’d stayed together, I wouldn’t have objected. But now? Your engagement just ended. You’re neck–deep in scandals. You’ve got a line of Alphas chasing after you. Eric’s the least suitable match for you–don’t you think?”

    Iughed.

    Why not just point a finger in my face and say I’m not good enough for her precious boy?

    No need to tiptoe around it.

    I nced toward the kitchen–Lyana working quietly inside, and Eric standing far off, looking bored and distant.

    Asphodel let out a snort in my mind, amused. “Looks like iyou’re /iiout /iiof /iithe /iirunning/ii, /iLeslie.”

    “So Frost Pack’s already picked a match for him. Just clearing the path, then?”

    Melina didn’t deny it. “Lyana’s capable, gentle, of noble blood—and most importantly, untouched by scandal. There’s no one more suited to be Eric’s mate.”

    Listening to her shower Lyana with praise, my wolf Asphodel was practically rolling on the floorughing.

    I rose slowly, towering over Melina’s seated form. Elegant as always. Hypocritical to the core.

    “You’re right. We’re not a match—after all, intelligence is hereditary.”

    Melina blinked, stunned, her face flushing with rage.

    “Leslie, that was beyond rude!”

    Send Gifts

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