Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.-Chapter 64: History of Clapbacks.

Caelum.

"Oh, fuck me!" I groaned under my breath when I stepped into the exquisite bustling hall filled with tons and tons of socialites only for my traitorous eyes to immediately snag on a girl at a far end of the room clad in a red sexy as sin dress and laughing animatedly with none other but Frostclaw himself.

I didn’t even need to check to know that the girl was Leilani. I mean, who else has the ability to set my wolf on fire if not her?

However, something about seeing them so close together made me feel nauseous. Maybe it was the way they laughed so naturally, or the way Alpha Frostclaw was so touchy around her, draping his arms here and there over her; But it made my blood boil.

And this was not how I’d envisioned my night to be.

Rolling my eyes, I turned to my brothers to find them watching the scene as well, but unlike me, they had more stony expressions on their faces. Zevran looked like he was about to puke as he squeezed so hard on his phone, if I do not do something now, he may probably break it.

I snapped my fingers in their faces and drawled; "Down to earth, bloody pheromones! What the heck is wrong with you two?"

Neither of them spoke but when they turned to me, I saw it in their eyes; the jealousy. The burning almost jealousy that seared through our veins, almost making us mad.

Just then, Chalice stepped away from us and began to walk over to Leilani before any of us could stop her. While she went, I couldn’t help but watch her closely, afraid that Leilani would try to hurt her again. But due to the bustling crowd, I couldn’t fully make out what was happening, and the next thing I knew, Chalice was looking frightened.

Her face was chalk white and filled with terror. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

As soon as I saw this, my blood boiled in my chest. My anger got the best of me and I began to march over to them but before I could arrive at where they were, Leilani was already walking away with Frostclaw. Chalice stood behind still looking terrorised with tears pooling in her eyes.

"Baby, what’s wrong?" I asked, and as soon as the words left my mouth, she jumped in fright, her eyes widening as she spun around to look at me.

She only heaved a sigh of relief when she realized that it was ’just me’ but by then, I didn’t miss the slight tremor in her hands and the way her eyes would occasionally dart towards Leilani and Frostclaw.

And that was all the proof I needed that Leilani had hurt her. I drawled; "What is it? You look pale."

"You don’t look too good." Zevran commented.

"Do you want us to go home?" That was Kael.

She immediately shook her head as soon as she heard that and turned to me, her red rimmed eyes filling with more tears as she muttered; "No. let’s not. I’m fine. Leilani just scares me sometimes."

Of course, it had to be that wench!

"What did she do?" I couldn’t help but ask, earning myself a few puzzled stares from some women passing by us.

I ignored them and turned to Chalice who immediately sniffed into a small handkerchief. And from this vantage, I couldn’t help but notice that her hands were still trembling. Whatever it was must be bad.

She sniffled. "She threatened me. Said she would hurt me badly if we continued to press charges. I tried to laugh it off, thinking she’ll do no such thing but she seemed... serious. Even Alpha Frostclaw looks like he’s in on it."

"Leilani has him wrapped around her finger. So of course, he would be in on it." Kael snapped, and I couldn’t help but notice how Chalice’s face fell as soon as she heard that.

For a very fleeting second, she looked uncomfortable. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought she was jealous.

But of what exactly? Leilani?

No, that was impossible!

I shook that thought away. "Don’t let her threats get to you. She’s nothing but a tramp."

"But Frostclaw isn’t a tramp, is he? He wouldn’t make empty promises... will he?"

Her question made a sudden silence settle between us before the weight of her words began to weigh on our chests

And I hated to admit this, but she was right.

One look at my brothers had me realizing that we all thought the same thing.

However, I was just about to pull her into my arms when the event’s host took over the stage. She was a strikingly beautiful woman in her early forties, with straight dark hair and eyes that were so sharp, it looked like she could see into one’s soul.

She drawled; "Thank you ladies and gentlemen, Alphas and their Luna’s... and everyone in between for taking part in this event tonight despite how many times it’s been pushed off in the past..."

I rolled my eyes. "Typical!" whilst pulling Chalice into my chest.

"...My sincerest gratitude goes to Alpha Jarek Frostclaw, CEO of Frostclaw. Inc. whose support has helped to shapen our vision and made tonight a success."

A thunderous applause rang through the air, causing the bile in my stomach to increase in size. I ground my teeth together and clapped reluctantly, feeling my heart ache so much, it felt like it was about to burst especially when Leilani turned to flash him a blinding smile.

And in front of everyone, he kissed her on the forehead, his own smile widening when she hugged his side warmly.

My wolf growled.

My body spasmed— but with rage. I wanted to walk over and rip her out of his arms. I wanted to claw off that stupid smile on his face...

"While today is meant to be another one of our social gatherings, Frostclaw. Inc. our biggest sponsor has also decided to make a toast to everyone... and to pitch their newest innovation, the next generation of Medical AI, created fundamentally for our species, to us!"

Another thunderous applause ripped through the room and my heart stopped.

I turned to my brothers and sure enough, they were already looking at me.

I didn’t want to think about the thoughts swarming around my head. I didn’t want to believe the whispers in my mind.

But the majority of the people here didn’t seem so surprised to hear this news. They looked like they were fully informed. Like they knew about it already and were expecting the announcement.

And to top it all, the majority of them were the CEOs of the companies that had pulled out of TRAGUS for no just cause some days ago.

My heart began to beat frantically against my chest, so much that Chalice raised her head to look me in the eyes. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

"I am. I am fine." I responded quickly, even though I had just broken into fits of sweat— and it’s winter— and a migraine as large as Antarctica had suddenly formed in my skull.

The host continued; "So to that, let us all give a warm round of applause for the brilliant mind behind Frostclaw. Inc.’s groundbreaking new invention as she takes the stage to share insights on CUSP. She’s none other but the leading engineer herself, Ms Leilani Sinclair!"

And as soon as the words rang out, my heart dropped into my stomach. My fake smile wiped off my face so fast you’d think I had been smacked. I quickly turned to my brothers and behold, they were equally stunned by the news. Equally just as restless as me. And with as much confusion on their faces as I felt.

"Leilani is the leading engineer at Frostclaw. Inc?" I gasped, turning to Kael who looked like he’d just seen a ghost. Zevran and Chalice looked like they had constipation, and I... you can say I felt it all at once.

"Seems so." He spat back.

But that was the last thing I wanted to hear. My headache intensified as Leilani gracefully walked up the stage and with her polite smile still stamped across her face, she muttered;

"Thank you all for giving me this opportunity to speak in front of you today. Thank you so much Jay."

If I’ve never been jealous before then I definitely am now. I balled my hands into fists as the warmth in her eyes when she looked at Frostclaw haunted me.

But do you know what struck me the most, when the blueprint of CUSP came on the screen behind her.

I froze. CUSP was everything TRAGUS was and more. So much more.

And then it finally dawned on me why everyone suddenly pulled out from us some days ago without an explanation whatsoever.

It was because they were coming for hers. It was because they wanted hers.

This was her clapback. And in the history of clapbacks, it was the worst I’d ever seen because she’d just cost us billions of dollars.

And so much more.