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?”

pursed my lips. “Maybe. He might’ve found out. Maybe that’s why…

the floor. “So 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 so you couldn’t claim

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

me. She was just as furious as

back to last night. Ethan hadn’t said a word. Chole had done all the talking. She knew details Ethan

said he didn’t want to talk to me.

off.”

me, eyes still blazing. “What are you

breath. “Ava,

Chole’s POV

as we stepped into the grand ballroom of Moonlight Hotel. The chandeliers above gleamed like

brainchild, a political move more than anything else. Half the elite packs in the city were here, including my own-Windsor Pack. Everyone knew what this meant.

on Ethan’s shoulder when needed, laughed politely at the small talk. But in- side, I wasn’t even here. My

Why weren’t they answering?

again. Nothing. No messages. No calls. Just

the whole thing. Send the video. Simple instructions

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13:30

:

hell

Did they fail?

even told Amelia to lure her to that ho- tel under the pretext of a “private

Maybe…

chill crawled down my spine. Could they have

thought. Ugh. That would be boring. No payoff. No scandal. No video. Just a lifeless little body and a bunch of

was dead,

smiled at the guests, then leared close and whispered in my ear. “Come, sweetheart. I want to introduce you to

her arm through mine and led me away, whispering as we

you get her

C

hesitated for just a second too long. “Yes,” I said, then smiled brightly.

squeezing my arm. “You’ll be

my face smiling for the room, but inside, I

stupid Olivia. She must be dead

Ethan’s POV

the cool night air. The ballroom buzzed be- hind me-clinking

lit a cigarette, dragged in

I asked

at her parents’

I grunted. “Alright.”

hung up, and headed

waving a glossy auction catalog at me the moment I walked back

cooed, latching onto my arm, “which do you think is better-this sapphire ring donated by Mrs. Donald or the blue diamond necklace from Mrs. Janet? I can’t decide which one I want

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13:30

eyes had landed on the page she pointed

The blue diamond necklace.