Chapter 82

I was researching employment records in the pack library three days later when Giana appeared like a shadow between the towering shelves. The afternoon light streaming through the tall windows seemed to dim in her presence, and the temperature in the room dropped several degrees.

Gone was her usual sweet facade, the innocent smile and soft voice she used around Raymond. What stood before me now was something cold and calculating, a predator who had finally decided to drop her mask.

The transformation was startling in its completeness. Her posture had changed from the submissive, delicate stance she typically adopted to something more predatory. Her eyes, usually soft and doe-like when others were watching, now glittered with malice and intelligence that made my skin crawl.

"Marcus is dead,” Giana stated bluntly. “Why can't you let the dead rest in peace?" Her voice was ice, nothing like the gentle tone she typically employed. Each word was precisely chosen, delivered with the kind of menace that made my skin crawl.

I straightened slowly, my hands gripping the edge of the research table as I met her gaze steadily. The employment records I'd been studying suddenly seemed insignificant compared to the threat standing before me.

"Because the truth matters," I said firmly, refusing to show the fear that was creeping up my spine. "And you're hiding it."

Giana stepped closer, her movements predatory and deliberate. She backed me against the towering bookshelves, the leather-bound volumes pressing into my spine as she invaded my personal space. Her eyes, usually soft brown when Raymond was around, now glittered with malice.

"You're a desperate, discarded Luna clinging to relevance," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "Everyone sees it. The way you scramble for Raymond's attention, the way you throw yourself at Kane when Raymond won't look at you. It's pathetic."

The words stung more than I wanted to admit, hitting insecurities I'd tried to bury. But I refused to let her see how deeply they cut, how they echoed the fears that kept me awake at night.

"I see a rogue who's fooled everyone except me," I shot back, my voice stronger than I felt. "But your mask is slipping, Giana. I can see the real you underneath all that fake innocence."

Giana's mask slipped further, revealing the predator beneath the innocent facade. Her smile was sharp, dangerous, nothing like the sweet expression she wore for the pack. The transformation was so complete that it was like looking at an entirely different person.

"Be very careful, Aurora," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper that somehow felt more threatening than shouting. "Accidents happen to those who can't mind their own business. Just ask Marcus... oh wait, you can't."

The threat hung between us like a blade, sharp and deadly. My heart pounded in my chest as the implications of her words sank in. She was admitting to Marcus's murder, confident that no one would believe me if I tried to expose her.

"You killed him," I breathed, the words barely audible but heavy with accusation.

Giana's smile widened, becoming something truly terrifying. "Prove it," she whispered. "Go ahead, tell everyone what you think you know. See how quickly they dismiss the ravings of a jealous, desperate woman."

The confidence in her voice chilled me to the bone. She wasn't just threatening me—she was revealing how thoroughly she'd manipulated everyone around her. She knew that her word would carry more weight than mine, that Raymond's infatuation would protect her from any accusations.

Before I could respond, Kane appeared in the doorway of the library, his presence immediately shifting the energy in the room. His eyes took in the scene quickly—Giana's threatening posture, my defensive position against the shelves, the tension crackling in the air between us.

Giana's transformation was instant and terrifying in its completeness. The predatory stance melted away, replaced by wide-eyed innocence. The sweet smile returned, and her voice resumed its gentle tone.

"Kane!" she exclaimed, as if she was delighted to see him. "I was just having a friendly chat with Aurora about her investigation. I'm trying to help her understand that sometimes we need to accept difficult truths and move forward."

The lie rolled off her tongue so smoothly, with such practiced ease, that I wondered how many times she'd performed similar deceptions. Her acting was flawless, complete with the subtle body language that suggested vulnerability and concern.

Kane's fury was barely controlled, his protective instincts in overdrive as he assessed the situation. I could see the wolf in him struggling against his human restraint, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The mate bond between us hummed with his barely leashed violence.

"It didn't sound friendly from where I was standing," he said, his voice deceptively calm but carrying an undertone of steel that made Giana take a step back.

"Oh, you must have misheard," Giana said with a laugh that sounded forced despite her best efforts. "Aurora and I were just discussing how important it is to respect the Alpha's decisions and stop stirring up trouble where none exists."

Kane's eyes never left Giana's face, but I could feel his attention focused on me, checking for any signs of harm or distress. The new bond between us hummed with his protective energy, offering me strength and comfort even in this tense moment.

"I think this conversation is over," Kane said firmly, moving to stand beside me. His presence was like a shield, solid and reassuring, and I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.

Giana's smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. The momentary crack in her facade revealed a flash of frustration and calculation before the innocent mask slid back into place.

"Of course," she said sweetly. "I hope Aurora takes our discussion to heart. For everyone's sake."

The parting threat was subtle but unmistakable. As she glided out of the library, her movements once again taking on that submissive, delicate quality she used in public, I realized just how dangerous she truly was. Her ability to shift between personas so completely was the mark of someone who had been deceiving people for a very long time.

The moment she was gone, Kane pulled me into a private alcove between the stacks, his hands shaking as he checked me for injuries. His usual composure was completely shattered, replaced by raw fear and desperate concern.

"Did she hurt you?" His voice was strained, desperate, his hands running over my arms and face as if to assure himself I was unharmed.

"No, but she threatened me," I whispered, still shaken by the encounter. "Kane, she basically admitted to killing Marcus. She's not even trying to hide it anymore because she knows no one will believe me."

Kane's fear transformed into something primal and desperate. He pressed me against the wall of books, his mouth claiming mine with an intensity that stole my breath.

Need and fear warred in his touch as he lifted me, my legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. Our connection was electric, desperate, a claiming born of fear and relief. His hands tangled in my hair as he kissed me like I was his salvation.

"I thought I was too late," he gasped against my neck, his voice breaking with emotion. "When I felt your distress through our bond, when I realized what she was doing..."

Our lovemaking was fierce, desperate, fueled by the knowledge of how close we'd come to disaster. Every touch was urgent, every kiss a promise that we were both still here, still fighting, still together. The danger we faced made every moment precious, every connection vital.

Afterward, as we held each other in the dimly lit alcove, Kane's vulnerability showed through his usual confidence. His strong arms trembled slightly as he held me, and I could feel the rapid beating of his heart against my chest.

"Promise me you won't face her alone again," he demanded, his voice breaking slightly as the full impact of what could have happened hit him.

I cupped his face gently, seeing the boy who'd lost his parents in the man trying desperately to protect me. The fear in his eyes was raw, honest, heartbreaking.

"I promise," I said, meaning it completely.

But even as I spoke the words, I knew Giana wouldn't make it that easy. She'd shown her hand today, revealed the predator beneath the mask. The game had changed, and now it was a matter of who would strike first.

The real battle was just beginning, and I was no longer sure we'd both survive it.