The scene erupted into chaos.

Screams filled my ears, someone shouting for enforcers, others whispering. "Who's this wolf? Is he out of his mind? He just stabbed Chloe!"

"I heard Miles say something about five years ago. Didn't Chloe kick out some orphaned pup she raised, her so-called mate? No way that's him, right?"

"Doesn't look like it."

"Word is, that pup had no one, just a dog. Got tortured to death for crossing Miles. The whole elite pack saw that video-skinned alive, man!"

"Look, Chloe's smiling!"

Blood dripped from Chloe's arm. Miles yelled, "Chloe!"

Ignoring his own bleeding head, Miles lunged to shield her, roaring at me. "Caleb! How dare you hurt Chloe! The Lynn pack raised you for twenty years, and this is what you are-a rabid wolf! Apologize to her now!"

I laughed at Miles acting like the Lynn pack's alpha, ordering me around. Meeting Chloe's gaze, I said, "Five years of training, and you've got yourself a loyal dog, Chloe. Feeling pretty proud, huh?"

Miles paled.

Chloe stepped in front of him, just like five years ago. "Caleb, we were done five years back. I told you, my heart's with Miles. I'll never love you, never want you." Her eyes were ice. "I don't care how you've survived out there or how you conned your way into this gala. But you're never crawling back into the Lynn pack to hurt Miles again."

"Caleb," she said, looming over me, "I could've ignored you today, pretended you didn't exist. But you hurt Miles, so you'll pay." She clapped, and enforcers surrounded me. "Your choice-come quietly, or I make you."

An enforcer handed her a blade. Chloe took it, waiting for my answer.

I laughed. "Chloe, you think the whole world revolves around you?"

I pointed at her knife. "If you've got the guts, you'd better finish me now." I stepped closer. "Because when it's my turn to come for you, don't." I leaned in, each word sharp, "beg for mercy, haha."

My laughter echoed through the silent hall. Chloe's face darkened, trembling with rage. It reminded me of five years ago when she used my pup Rusty to force me to my knees, groveling.

She'd locked Rusty in a cage, taped his muzzle shut. If I didn't beg, the blade would carve into him without mercy.

My pride was shattered, watching Rusty suffer. I knelt, pleading, "Chloe!"

Tears streamed as I begged, "Don't hurt Rusty. I'm sorry!"

I slammed my head against the floor. "I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"

Rusty was all I had, my only dream to take him and leave the Lynn pack.

I begged desperately, "Let Rusty go! Please!"

I'll never forget Rusty's heartbroken look or the bone-deep rage that still burns when I think of it. Facing Chloe now, all that remained was unquenched hate. "Chloe, you're just a mutt Miles plays like a toy," I said, each word deliberate. "Your father, Walter Lynn, handed you the Lynn pack, and he's probably clawing out of his grave to haunt you. The Lynn pack? It's done for!"

Chloe's grip clamped around my throat, stealing my breath, draining the air from my lungs.

Her crimson eyes bore into mine, her voice venomous and unhinged. "Caleb, don't think I won't end you! You're nothing but the Lynn pack's mutt." She slammed me to the ground, champagne glass shards slicing into my skin, carving countless tiny wounds. Pain jolted through me as she yanked my hair. "When I say kneel, you kneel! When I say die, you die!"

Chloe flashed a twisted smile. "But today," she said, patting my cheek, "I'm not quite ready to let you die." She leaned closer. "Such a fun toy-how could I let you go so easily, huh?"

Staring at her, inches away, I remembered that day. Miles had sent me a video, his tone smug.

"I just told Chloe that Rusty was scary, and she skinned him alive."

"What if I tell her you're scary too? Think she'll skin you next?"

"Hilarious, right?"

"You're the Lynn pack's so-called mate, but you're lower than the help."

Now, locking eyes with Chloe, a metallic taste rose in my throat. As she raised her hand to slap me again, I spat blood in her face.

Her expression flickered from shock to disgust. I grinned. "Yeah, Chloe. How could you die so soon?" I mimicked her tone, chuckling. "This game's too fun to end early."

I came back for a reason. I'd never let Lynn Business off the hook. Those who killed Rusty-they'd pay, one by one.

Rusty's death was brutal. How could I let them walk?

Seeing my defiance, Chloe suddenly released my hair, wiping the blood from her face. "You're right. Some things need slow torment." She met my gaze. "Since you're back, let's play."

She didn't look at me again, barking at the enforcers, "Keep an eye on him. Don't let him slip away."

Then, like flipping a switch, Chloe turned soft, tending to Miles. "Does it hurt?"

She gently wiped his tears. "Let's get you to a private room."

Miles leaned into her, eyes red. "With you here, it doesn't hurt. With you," he choked out, "I'm not afraid of anything."

I watched Chloe guide Miles out, collapsing to the floor, my wounds stinging. The crowd of opportunists started yapping.

"No clue where this trash came from, daring to hurt Chloe. You're lucky she didn't rip you apart-scram!"

"Yeah! I heard you were just some orphan Walter dragged in. He raised you, and you repay him by going after Miles? You deserved to be kicked out."

"Speaking of," one smirked, pulling out his phone, "I still got that video of your dog."

He opened his gallery, pulling up the torture video.

Others crowded around, eager. "Lemme see!"

"I wanna see too!"