Kane: Freya... what is this? Where did you get that ring?
Freya: It was never just a ring, Kane. You should have known that.
Chloe: Kane, don't listen to her! It's a trick! She's using some kind of cheap party light!
Kane: Shut up, Chloe! Just shut your mouth right now!
Chloe gasped, taking a step back as Kane pushed past her to reach Freya.
Kane: You're the heir to the Northern Crest... the lost lineage.
Freya: I came here quietly to see if your family possessed any honor. I see now that you have none.
Kane: Please, Freya. I didn't know! If I had realized who you were—
Freya: If you had realized my status, you would have treated me like a human being? Is that what you're saying?
Kane: No! That's not what I meant at all!
Freya: That is exactly what you meant, Kane.
The two suited security guards who had entered with Kane immediately dropped to one knee on the polished marble floor.
Guard 1: My Lady... forgive us. We did not recognize the Royal Crest.
Guard 2: We are at your command, High Alpha.
Chloe: What are you two doing?! Stand up! My father pays your salaries!
Guard 1: Not anymore, Miss Chloe. Our loyalty belongs to the Northern Throne.
Freya lowered her hand slightly, but the glowing blue wolf emblem remained floating steadily above her skin.
Freya: You built your entire reputation in this city on wealth, prenuptial demands, and fear.
Kane: We can change all of that, Freya! We can sign the wedding papers today! No prenuptial agreement, no conditions!
Freya: Do you think I care about your family's estate or your trust fund?
Kane took a shaky breath, reaching out his hand toward her, but the blue energy flared brightly, forcing him to step back.
Kane: I love you, Freya. You know I do!
Freya: You loved the idea of a quiet girl you could control. You let your cousin hit me without even asking for my side of the story.
Chloe: She's lying! Kane, look at my arm! She pushed me!
Freya turned her cold, bright eyes toward Chloe, her voice echoing with ancient authority.
Freya: If you speak another lie in my presence, Chloe, I will strip your family of their business license before sunset.
Chloe opened her mouth to argue, but the sheer power radiating from Freya made her throat go completely dry.
Kane: Freya, please... let's go into a private room. We can talk about this like adults.
Freya: The time for talking ended the moment your cousin's hand touched my face.
She turned toward the glass doors of the bridal boutique, her white coat billowing slightly as the blue light began to settle back beneath her skin.
Kane: Where are you going?!
Freya: To meet with the city council. It's time to review your family's mortgage agreements.
Kane stood frozen in the center of the shop, watching in absolute dread as the woman he had treated like a nobody walked out into the street, leaving his entire future hanging by a thread.