The Beta's Salvation

Eleven

Sky POV

"He isn't going to thank you for this." Evie warned as I sat on my bed and listened to Neo's voice filtering through the door. I knew it was him without even needing to see his face or hear his voice—the desperation was like a signature scent.

"He is such an insufferable d**k, though." I muttered weakly. I couldn't help but feel a wave of disdain wash over me.

"Do you not think he is trying?" Evie questioned as he reminded me of the time, again.

"Nope, I don't trust him, not with his polished Mr. Nice Guy act." I explained because this crap he was pulling barely concealed the machinations underneath.

"I hope you're wrong." Evie expressed, but I could tell from her tone that she agreed with me. To make him think I couldn't hear him, I turned on the hairdryer, the loud whirring sound filling the room. I wrapped myself in a towel, my hair blown out in loose waves around my shoulders.

Checking my phone, I smiled, seeing I had two minutes to get dressed and go down the stairs. Totally do-able.

"The way you lie to yourself is comical." Evie snorted as I glanced at my wardrobe with contempt. Soon after, I found a simple long black dress. It was plain, boring, and I was almost certain it wasn't mine. Since none of my usual clothes were here, I was no longer the same size as I had been all those years ago. I had to make do.

Looking at my reflection, I grimaced. The dress made me look frumpy—a far cry from how I usually liked to present myself.

"But respectable is what Neo wants, right?" I asked Evie as thoughts of seeing him blush rushed through my mind. All of which made Evie, giggle into my mind. She was always ready with mischief, and I needed a bit of her spirit right now.

I pulled out a bracelet from my drawer and used it to tuck and twist the middle of the dress, adding some shape and a little pop to the otherwise dull outfit.

"Better but not perfect, yet." Evie proposed. I looked at myself and had to agree. This was not quite right. It was less frumpy and more.... normal.

"Normal is a bad thing?" Evie laughed when I decided I was still unsatisfied; I took a deep breath and fetched a pair of scissors from my old crafting desk. With a quick snip, I cut a large slit up the leg of the dress to my thigh. The fabric parted easily, giving me a much-needed edge of sass and rebellion. And a fair bit of skin on show.

"Normal.. is not a word I would use to describe us baby girl." I mused to my wolf.

"Then, why stop there?" She agreed, taunting me to continue. Determined to push it further, I cut down the neckline to show off some of my ample cleavage. Looking back in the mirror, I had to admit that I looked more than cute—I looked downright sexy.

Satisfied with my transformation, I applied some bright pink lipstick, which contrasted perfectly with the dark hue of the dress. Slipping into a pair of cowboy boots, I added a final touch of unconventional flair to the ensemble.

Winking at my reflection, I felt a surge of confidence. Neo wanted respectable, but I was going to give him a night to remember. With a smirk, I turned off the hairdryer, opened the door, and stepped out, ready to face whatever the evening had in store.

Walking down the stairs to the familiar settings of my old home, memories flooded back to me—memories of a simpler, happier time. My father, always doting and full of laughter, a busy but loving mother who was always there until her tragic accident, and even Neo, who, for all his misery, used to engage me in the occasional conversation or game.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I paused, my gaze drawn to the photo wall. It was a project of my mother's—a wall-covered top to bottom in black and white pictures capturing the myriad little moments of our family life. My favourite picture, one of my mother and me baking in the kitchen, covered in flour while my father watched on with pure joy, should have been right there in the centre. That image, a frozen moment of pure happiness, had always brought a smile to my face.

But now, it was gone.

I scanned the wall, looking through photos of Mum, Dad, and Neo on various days out—picnics, park visits, and holiday trips—but I could find none that included me. My heart sank as the realisation set in.

"Could Neo have removed them?" I uttered while still searching the walls, hopefully.

"No, he is not that childish," Evie whispered in my mind, urging me to think that perhaps I was just being paranoid. But deep down, I knew better. Neo's disdain for me wasn't a secret; it was a tangible force, and this felt like something he would do.

"I guess we shall see." I argued with my wolf, who I suspected was actually just as nervous about how right I was. Taking a deep breath, I resolved to confront Neo over dinner. It seemed the only way to get some answers directly from him. As I made my way through the dining room, I paused upon hearing Neo's voice. He was talking to Z, issuing a stern reminder.

"You are not to look at Sky, talk to her, or engage in any way." Neo warned, his voice loaded with rage.

"Really, this is dinner.?" Z laughed, making me smile somewhat.

"Remember, you made a deal to give up all that folly about being together. I've ensured your rise in the pack. Now, it's time for you to fulfil your part and Cut. Sky. off." My heart stopped. The cold, calculated words stung, each syllable slicing through me like a blade. I waited, holding my breath, for Z's response. I might not be able to see them, but I could visualise their faces; I knew them well enough. Neo would be smug, while Z would be utterly unbothered.

"I understand, Alpha," Z choked out, his voice strained but his words clear.

The pain that gripped my chest was intense, an aching, crushing weight that felt as if it would suffocate me. It felt like a physical blow, one that knocked the air from my lungs and left me reeling. The heartbreak was palpable, a sharp, poignant hurt that radiated through every part of my being. To hear Z submit so effortlessly, to listen to the resignation in his voice—how could he just agree to that?

How could he let go of us so simply? When hours ago.. He had... Shaking the memories away, I reminded myself that it wasn't just Neo who liked to play games.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I turned on my heels, quietly retreating from the room. I couldn't let them see me like this, broken and devastated. I needed to compose myself, to armour up against the betrayal that cut so deep. As I moved away, the echo of their voices seemed to taunt me, a reminder of the love I thought we had, now traded away so easily under Neo's cold command.