Page 32 of Dark Sold Mate

“No?” Joan laughed. “Then how do you explain it? You're a human. A pitiable, feeble human who was not able to shift. And somehow you got Silas Weston, our Alpha, to bond with you?”

“Must have used some kind of magic,” Lauren snickered. “Or maybe you just manipulated him. Played on his guilt about how we treated you before.”

Elle scoffed in surprise. They thought she used magic on Silas. They thought she wanted this? “Trust me, you don't know what you're talking about.”

“We know you were banished,” Madison walked closer, her wolf rising to the surface. “We know you left in disgrace. And now you're back, stamped with the Alpha's mark, acting like us.”

“I don't want to be here.”

“Then why are you?” Madison's voice dripped with false sweetness. “Why not leave if you hate it so much? Unless...” Her smile widened. “You are too pathetic to survive on your own. Did the human world swallow you and spit you back out? Was that the reason you crawled back, deceiving our Alpha?”

Something in Elle snapped.

It took eight years to rebuild herself and not take bullshit from anybody. She was not going to allow these women, who had made her life a nightmare, to treat her like the former Elle.

“I survived fine. Better than fine, actually. I got a job, lived in an apartment, and had friends who really liked me. I was happy.” She took a step closer. “Maybe more than I can say of you. What have you accomplished within the last eight years? And you keep trailing along after Madison like a good little lapdog?”

The last statement was directed at Joan and Lauren, who flushed in embarrassment.

Madison's eyes narrowed. “You've got a lot of nerve speaking to us that way.”

“It was you who came to harass me. I was just minding my own business.”

“You mean minding your business in our territory.”

“In your Alpha's territory,” Elle smirked, enjoying the splotches of red creeping up Madison's neck. “And since I'm bonded to him, this is my territory, too.”

“You don't belong here,” Madison sneered. “You never did. You are just a human who puts on a costume.”

“Maybe. But I am not a bully who peaked a couple of years back and has nothing better to do.”

Jessica gasped. Lauren's mouth fell open. And Madison looked like Elle slapped her.

“You little—” Madison raised her hand, her fingers changing into claws.

Elle stepped back, her heart pounding hard against her ribs. She'd pushed too far. She allowed her anger to get the upper hand, and now she was going to suffer as a result.

But before Madison could hit her, someone appeared between them and grabbed her wrist.

Silas. His presence made all three women instantly lower their eyes.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” His voice was deadly quiet.

“Alpha, I—” Madison's voice shook. “She was disrespecting us.”

“She was defending herself.” Silas dropped her wrist. “I heard everything. You started it, and she just defended herself.”

“We were just—”

“Bullying her. Like you did eight years ago.” Silas's voice hardened. “Did you think I didn't know? Did you think I didn't see the way you treated her?”

Madison's face went pale. “Alpha.”

“There is something that I would like to make very clear.” Silas’ voice commanded absolute obedience. “Elle is my mate. My wife. Your Luna, whether you like it or not. And if anyone disrespects her, they shall answer to me.”

They shuddered at his authority. “Do you understand?” Silas demanded.

“Yes, Alpha,” they chorused.