Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 21

Olivia’s POV

By six in the morning, I slipped out of my parents’ house as quietly as I could. Dad usually went out early for patrol runs in the woods, and Mom would be in the kitchen making breakfast. But not today. Neither of them had stirred. They’d stayed up past 2 a.m. waiting for me to come home-something they weren’t used to.

I left a handwritten note on the fridge door. “Went to see a friend. Will call later.”

I wore a hoodie, pulled the strings tight, and added a mask and cap before stepping out.

Then, I hailed a cab and found Ava.

She opened the door with messy hair and bloodshot eyes.

“Those bitches,” she muttered the second she saw me. “I swear to god, I’m gonna kill Chole and Amelia both.”

I stepped inside, brushing past her. “Do you have eggs or anything in the fridge?”

Ava blinked. “What?”

“I want to make breakfast.”

She stared at me like I’d just offered to host a tea party in a war zone. “You wanna cook right now?”

I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Yeah. We need food before we deal with scumbags.”

Ava followed me, fuming. “You’re seriously worrying about breakfast?”

I grabbed a pan and shrugged. “What, you want to go to war on an empty stomach?”

Her eyes narrowed. She was about to argue again but stopped when she caught sight of my wrists. Deep red marks wrapped around the skin like cruel reminders of the night before.

Her face twisted. “Why would he do this to you if he didn’t love you anymore?” Her voice cracked slightly. “Why not just break up like a damn adult?”

I didn’t respond. I flipped the burner on and cracked some eggs.

“It’s been eight years, Liv.” Ava’s voice got louder. “Eight freaking years. You’ve been with him longer than we’ve been out of school. And this-” She gestured wildly. “This Chole chick? What’s it been, six months? And suddenly he’s doingthisto you?”

I stayed silent, whisking eggs in a bowl. My hands didn’t shake.

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13:30

“He’s getting engaged to her tonight,” I said quietly.

“What?” Ava was shocked.

I nodded once. “That’s what Chole said last night. The big announcement is tonight.”

“Wait-” Ava leaned forward, bracing herself against the counter. “Does he know you filed the divorce papers? That you made him sign?”

found out. Maybe that’s why… all

you think he was planning this from the start? That you’d file for divorce, and then -bam-he’d hit you with this mess

going, barely pausing for breath. “Amelia plays the soft card, makes you think she’s trying to help. Mean- while, Chole’s poking you, pushing your buttons. You file the papers, they get their clean break-and if you fight back, they’ve got

growled inside me. She was just

a word. Chole had done all the talking.

aloud. “She said he didn’t want to talk to me.

off.”

eyes still blazing. “What are

breath. “Ava, I

Chole’s POV

chandeliers above gleamed

more than anything else. Half the elite packs in the city were here, including my own-Windsor Pack. Everyone knew what this meant. A future alliance. A merger through

head on Ethan’s shoulder when needed, laughed politely at the small talk.

Why weren’t they answering?

again. Nothing. No messages. No calls.

them everything-inject her, violate her, film the whole thing. Send the video. Simple instructions for a bunch. of rogues who’d do

25.0 %

13:30

:

hell were

Did they fail?

went alone. I even told Amelia to lure her to that ho- tel

Maybe…

chill crawled down my spine. Could they have killed her by

would be boring. No payoff. No scandal. No video.

was dead,

close and whispered in my ear. “Come, sweetheart. I

and led me away, whispering as we

you get

C

I

squeezing my arm. “You’ll be my

my face smiling for the room,

Olivia. She must be

Ethan’s POV

ballroom buzzed be- hind me-clinking glasses, soft music, voices layered over voices. I felt like I needed

a cigarette, dragged in the smoke,

Olivia?” I asked without

at her parents’ place,” Fin

I grunted. “Alright.”

hung up, and headed back

a glossy auction catalog at me the moment I

Donald or the blue diamond necklace from Mrs.

54.2 %

13:30

landed on

The blue diamond necklace.