# Chapter 16 – Vanessa's POV: Unwanted Visitor
I kept staring at my hands.
They looked normal enough. But I remembered claws. I remembered the burn in my chest when that white light exploded out of me in the forest.
Was any of it real? Or was I just losing my mind?
I flexed my fingers. Nothing happened. Just regular hands attached to regular arms. But that power I felt...
My stomach twisted when I thought about Alexander. How disgusted he looked when he found out I couldn't shift. The divorce papers he threw at my feet. My sisters laughing while my world fell apart.
*Worthless. Broken. Not a real wolf.*
That's what they called me. And I believed them.
But maybe they were wrong.
I tried to stand but got dizzy. Had to grab the bed to keep from falling. My body still felt weak from whatever happened in the woods.
I needed to get out of here. But Ryder's words kept playing in my head about the rogues still being out there. About his pack not trusting strangers.
I was trapped.
Voices in the hallway made me look up.
"She's here! Everything has to be perfect!"
"Hurry with those flowers!"
"The Alpha wants everything spotless!"
People rushed past my door. Someone important was coming. Someone who mattered.
The door opened. No knock.
A woman walked in. Tall, blonde, beautiful in that perfect way that made everyone else look plain. Expensive clothes, expensive hair, expensive everything.
She looked at me like I was dirt.
"Who are you?" Her voice was sharp.
I tried to answer but my throat felt tight. Something about her made every alarm bell in my head go off.
"I asked you a question." She stepped closer. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my future mate's pack house?"
Future mate.
The words hit me hard. Ryder had someone. Of course he did.
"I..." I started.
"You what?" She moved fast. Her hand shot out and shoved me back hard.
I hit the wall. Pain shot through my shoulder. She was strong. Wolf-strong.
"You think you can waltz in here and play victim?" She grabbed my shirt and yanked me up. "Think you can steal my place?"
"I'm not trying to steal anything!"
"Liar!" She slammed me against the wall again. Stars exploded in my vision. "I can smell him all over you. I know what you're doing."
Something hot flared in my chest. Not fear. Anger.
"Let go of me."
She laughed. "Or what? You'll show me your big bad wolf?"
She raised her hand to hit me. As her fist came toward me, something exploded inside my chest.
Power. Wild and burning.
My eyes flashed white.
She stumbled back, face going pale. "What the hell..."
I felt it again. Claws trying to push through my skin. Light building in my chest. The wolf that wasn't supposed to exist.
"Sophia!"
Ryder's voice boomed from the doorway. He saw me against the wall, saw her standing over me.
He was between us in seconds, arms going around the blonde woman.
The power inside me died. My legs gave out and I slid down the wall.
"What's going on?" Ryder's voice was ice-cold.
"She attacked me!" Sophia's voice changed completely. Sweet. Innocent. "I just came to see who was here and she went crazy!"
Lies.
Ryder looked at me. "Vanessa, are you hurt?"
I couldn't speak. The power had drained everything out of me.
"See?" Sophia pressed against his chest. "She's unstable. Probably on drugs."
"Ryder." My voice came out as a whisper. "I didn't..."
"You didn't what?" Sophia snapped. "Attack me? Try to seduce my mate?"
Mate. Not girlfriend. Mate.
Ryder's jaw tightened. He looked between us, trying to figure out what really happened.
"Sophia, wait for me in my office."
"But—"
"Now."
His Alpha command filled the room. Sophia's mouth snapped shut, but her eyes promised murder when they met mine.
"This isn't over," she whispered as she passed me.
After she left, Ryder knelt beside me. "Are you okay? What happened?"
I wanted to tell him the truth. But what was the point? She was his mate.
"I'm fine." I pushed myself up, hands shaking. "Just tired."
"Vanessa—"
"You should go. Your mate is waiting."
He was quiet for a moment. "We need to talk. Later."
"Sure." I climbed back on the bed and pulled the blanket up. "Whatever you want."
He hesitated at the door. "Vanessa, I—"
"Just go, Ryder."
After he left, I buried my face in the pillow. I'd been stupid to think I meant anything to him. Stupid to hope someone would choose me for once.
The door opened again.
"Forget something?" I mumbled into the pillow.
"Oh, he forgot something all right."
Sophia's voice made my blood freeze.
She was standing by my bed, perfect smile sharp as glass.
"He forgot to warn you about me." She leaned down close. "So let me make this clear. You have three days to leave this pack. Three days to disappear forever."
Her breath was hot against my ear.
"Because if you're still here after that, I'll make this pack your personal hell. And trust me—I keep my promises."
She stood up, smoothing her perfect hair.
"Sweet dreams, Vanessa."
The door closed, leaving me alone in the dark.
Three days.
I stared at the ceiling. Three days to figure out what I was. Three days to find somewhere to go. Three days before Sophia destroyed me.
Outside, something howled in the distance. Long and hungry.
I pulled the blanket over my head and tried not to be scared.
But deep in my chest, something growled back.