Chapter 25 From here on, I would choose myself. And Bianca? She could keep pretending the crown fit. Eventually, I'd be the one to knock it off her head. Bianca Lately, life had been nothing short of radiant, the kind of golden streak where the world seems to finally catch up with what you've always known deep down: that you were meant to have everything, and more importantly, to have it effortlessly. The light hit just right when I walked through the courtyard, people turned when they heard my heels, and Callum, my crown jewel, the perfect future alpha from the most powerful pack, was finally right where he belonged-next to me, doting, generous, loyal. It was all exactly as it should be. Ever since Callum shoved Liora back in her place, the world was right again. Ugh, perfect, at least for the past day or two. And perhaps it was because things were going so well, because the world had finally aligned to acknowledge the obvious brilliance of my presence, that I found myself wanting more. Not out of greed, of course. No, that would be such a base explanation for what was clearly a simple truth: that someone like me was never meant to stop at just one great thing. Desire is like wine, after all-it deepens once tasted, and lately, everything tasted like power. So naturally, when I saw Zane walking through the south garden, all lean muscle and deliberate arrogance, I thought to myself, why not. He wasn't mine, not yet, but I had seen the way his eyes lingered, the way his mouth twitched when I passed, and most of all, I had felt the way the space around him shifted when I was near. He had that magnetic stillness, like a storm right before it hits, and I couldn't help but wonder how long it would take to turn that indifference into obedience. If I could get Callum, surely this loiter would be easy prey for my collection. 1/3