Instead, she turned on the crocodile tears. “You’re going to let her treat me this way,” she said to Donovan as great big sobs racked her body.

Oh, please. This woman was getting on my last nerve.

I turned to Donovan, but a doorway caught my eye. Between the flips and Vivian’s appearance, I hadn’t taken in my surroundings. The hallway to my right opened with two giant carved wooden doors. Beyond the doors, the entire pack watched.

Only they couldn’t have heard what Vivian just whispered to me. Now they probably thought they had a mad Were in their midst, only I was the mad one.

Way to make a winning impression.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

I stood frozen in the doorway as I took in the dining hall and all the Weres who were now staring at me. Everyone had just seen my exchange with Vivian. I fought the urge to close my eyes and sigh. I couldn’t let on that I hadn’t realized who was watching. A pack leader knew their surroundings. Always.

My father always said that if you couldn’t get a Were to show you respect out of kindness, then you had to make them respect you out of fear. Of course, he said that to my brothers, but I’d always disagreed with the advice. Until I met Vivian. I didn’t mind one bit if she feared me, especially if she was the one behind Bhrunyz’s attacks. Although if I wasn’t already his next target, I probably was now.

Every Were in the room was giving me either a carefully blank look or an expression of horror or fear. There was no salvaging this. From their perspective, I’d just attacked their second because she touched Donovan’s arm. Even for a young Were who might have a short temper, my actions were a little overboard.

I noticed a speck of red on my hand and decided I might as well go for broke. “Damn it. She got blood on me.” I gave Donovan a smile and a small shrug.

Well, that’s one way to do it, he said.

Vivian shuffled down the hall, holding her face in her hands. Hopefully, she was heading straight for the medic. I wasn’t joking about her nose healing wrong. It was going to have to be rebroken if she didn’t get it fixed in the next few minutes.

I watched her retreating form for a second before turning back to Donovan. I know it’s too obvious, but I really think Vivian’s behind everything. And if she’s not, well then she threw household decor at me. Girl deserved to get hit.

Donovan nodded. But you’ve made yourself a target. Even if not her target, she has allies in that room.