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Unsurprisingly, I was proven right - any time Seth and I were alone for even a few moments, Pearl would saunter over and interpose herself between us, giving me a look that dared me to call her out. I refused to rise to the bait, and Seth was very good at deflecting her so he and I could talk and get to know one another again. But every time he did so, Father would then come over and insist Seth meet another pack member. Or he'd insist I go talk to Jonas, who didn't seem to like the prospect of being in my company. This turned out to be not the case; he didn't dislike my company, but he disliked the fact I was being forced to do so when it was so clear I'd fallen head over heels for Seth. "If it comes to us being forced to marry, I'll look the other way," Jonas told me. "I won't have you suffer just because the rest of your pack are a bunch of spiteful arseholes who are trying to force you to do something you don't want to do."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hOuHre8UB
I let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you understand," I said. "I disliked you mainly because I was being forced to marry you against my will, but you don't seem to be so bad."
Jonas chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment," he said. "Look, for what it's worth, I don't believe any of the drivel your father told me when he came to break the arrangement off. Pearl's the real problem, and if she ends up marrying Jasper, she's going to make his life a living hell. I've half a mind to call that off since, as you can see, she's not interested in being faithful to him."
"She's always taken things from other people simply because they have those things and she doesn't," I said. "She overheard Jasper and I promising to marry each other as cubs, and she went to Father to demand that she marry Jasper instead. And now she's trying to take Seth, because she knows we've gotten very interested in each other."
Jonas squeezed my hand. "I understand," he said, but before he could say anything more, Pearl came strutting over, and I resisted the urge to grit my teeth as she batted her eyelashes at Jonas. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIMeMy3eZq
"I'd love to get a drink," she said, her tone sultry as she used her (admittedly) gorgeous body to full effect. "Would you like to come with me? I can tell you all sorts of interesting stories."
"Actually, I'm good," Jonas demurred. "Why don't you go back to doing your thing?"
Pearl's eyes narrowed. "I said, I'd love to get a drink," she said, her words coming out very clipped now. "There's no reason why you should refuse me; you're beholden to no one."
"You're beholden to my son," Jonas reminded her, his own voice clipped with an edge of anger he only just managed to rein in. "I strongly suggest you return to him."
Mother stepped in before things grew heated. "Pearl., leave the alpha alone," she said, giving me a warning look that promised a long talking to when the party was over. "Your betrothed is wondering where you are."
Pearl allowed herself to be led off, scowling, and Jonas wiped his brow. "It's a good thing I'm not terribly affected by a gorgeous woman," he said, "but damn. I don't want to praise her, but she's got the looks and the know how to use them."
"Oh, that she does," I agreed, scowling despite myself as she tried to once more get in between Ryan and Lisa. Father stormed over to them, but before he could do anything, Lisa slugged Pearl with a vicious right-hook that sent Pearl flying. She crashed into a table laden with food and drink, and while broken dishes and smashed glasses dripped their contents all over the deck, she got to her feet with a snarl of inhuman rage. Seizing one of the unbroken glasses, she smashed it on the edge of another table before stalking towards Lisa with murder in her eyes. Father tried getting between her and her intended target, but Pearl lunged at him, and he was forced to get out of the way before he was attacked. Ryan and Jasper leapt into the breach to defend Lisa, who was hurriedly escorted inside, and Pearl snarled again as she was thwarted. Father once more attempted to defuse the situation. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8IwfEjH81
"Pearl, that's enough," he said angrily, stepping up beside the two younger males. "I cannot believe your behaviour today; you've disgraced this pack with your disgusting treatment of your betrothed. I'm ending the engagement."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZees4L1OZ
"NO!" Pearl screamed. "I won't let you take Jasper away from me!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdttuxzeAC
"I'm rejecting you," Jasper told her firmly, tears in his eyes. "You forced your uncle to betroth us because you didn't want me to be with Cass. And you're basically whoring yourself around because you think our engagement gave you licence to act like a slut."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLmQrHbtyd
Pearl's eyes widened, and then narrowed. With a scream of rage, she threw herself at Jasper. Ryan shoved his brother out of the way, and got a slashed throat for his troubles, dead before he hit the ground, and dead silence fell over the attendees. Pearl looked shellshocked as she stared at Ryan's body, and for a moment, remorse crossed her face. Then Jasper went for her. It took my father and his to pull him away before he beat her to a pulp, and upstairs, Lisa screamed in anguish, no doubt feeling the bond to her mate snap in two at his death. The party descended into chaos, with Jasper hurling curses at Pearl, while Pearl screamed insults back at him. Jonas had to frog-march Jasper back to his car, while Uncle Martin and Seth helped Father wrangle Pearl back inside. Mother and I shared a look before getting the guests calmed down before the party turned into a bloodbath, and all the while, I cursed Pearl in my head. Her attempt to murder Jasper for his rejection of her had backfired horribly, and as Mother and I worked to soothe ruffled fur, I wondered how long it would take before she blamed me. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf82CDqBN5l
Knowing Pearl, it wouldn't take her long at all.
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