It’s a lie–a massive one. My entire world exists here: Ma’am Nola, Joy, even Callum, who rarely crosses my mind and with whom I share almost nothing.
“So that’s it? You left the pack because of some guy, didn’t you?” he accuses. I roll my eyes at the suggestion. I didn’t sneak away; there was no real escape with how tightly he had me cornered–I was bound to be caught regardless.
“I don’t need a guy as a reason to leave. I’m fully capable of doing that all on my own,” I reply, and he rolls his eyes in response.
“Oh, come on, Aurelia. Your whole existence is driven by love. The only thing that motivates you is the hope that someone might care for you,” he scoffs, his words dripping with contempt. Then, with cruel amusement, he adds, “As if anyone ever could. The only thing you’ve got going for you is that perfect body of yours. That’s the only reason people find you appealing.” He spits the words. “You’re not even that pretty. Even your own parents didn’t want you–they left you behind like you meant nothing. Let’s be honest, Ria. I’m your best option. You know why?”
Tears gather in my eyes, and as I meet his gaze, I realize he means every bit of it. Every cruel word. I manage to slip away without him stopping me, but I feel completely unmoored. I don’t know who to turn to. I rush to my room, slam the door, and fall apart.
He’s not wrong. I spent my life clinging to the idea of him, dreaming of the day we’d be mated, believing in some kind of fairy tale. I lost myself in that fantasy. Now I’m left with nothing but confusion. I don’t know where to begin.
Another sob escapes–deep, raw, and aching. I need someone–anyone. “Mom…” I whisper. In that moment, I think of Ma’am Nola and how she would’ve held me, comforted me through this pain.
I don’t just want to leave–I need to. After tasting a few fleeting days of happiness, I long to return to that feeling. My thoughts drift to Thalric. The few encounters we’ve shared play in my mind, and I remember how he made me smile.
Is my world starting to revolve around him? I wonder as sleep starts to pull me under. There has to be more to me than just being someone’s mate.
Exhaustion weighs me down, and as I slip into sleep, I picture a tall man with pale skin and snow–white
hair.
I wake up sometime in the afternoon, a little more rested. After a long yawn, I stand and prepare to
resume my search for Ma’am.
With any luck, I won’t run into that jerk again. I honestly don’t trust myself to stay calm if I do.
I reach for the doorknob, but as I touch it, the door suddenly swings open and smacks into me. A sharp pain shoots through my hand, and I quickly pull it back.
“Fuck!” I mutter under my breath.
“So this is how you’re choosing to handle things?” Selene asks, a wild glint flickering in her eyes. “I should’ve guessed–you’re just desperate for attention,” she scoffs, scanning me from head to toe before stepping into the room and slamming the door shut behind her.
10:44
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“I honestly have no clue what you’re getting at, but-”
“Oh, that’s the excuse now?” she interrupts, staring me down. I can’t explain how, but I can sense her fury growing by the second. “You vanish for days just to provoke a reaction out of Theron,” she sneers, suddenly grabbing a handful of my hair and yanking so hard it feels like my scalp might tear. “I hope it was worth it–your dear ma’am taking the blame,” she mutters darkly, releasing her grip.
Her final words send a chill through my entire body. I have to fight the urge to spiral into full–blown panic. “As long as you’re still part of this pack,” she hisses, “you better stay alert… Aurelia.” The way she says my name–twisted, venomous–lodges itself in my mind. But what truly unsettles me is her mention of ma’am Nola.
Fear roots me to my room. I don’t even dare to check on her.
What if they’ve thrown her into the cellar and left her to suffer?
What if she’s being punished just because I left? I pace restlessly, back and forth, unable to bear the thought of her enduring pain in my place.
Or worse–what if they exiled her before I return? My skin goes clammy with sweat. After her mate’s death, her wolf faded. She’s nothing more than a frail, powerless woman now. I shake my head, trying to banish the idea. Theron wouldn’t do that.
She practically raised him. He wouldn’t treat her that way… right?
I repeat that to myself again and again, hoping it’ll stick. Selene must be trying to mess with my head. Theron wouldn’t act so impulsively. But my mind keeps spiraling, refusing to find peace.
Knock knock. “Dinner,” a voice calls from the hallway.
I glance out the window, stunned to realize it’s already evening. Have I really been holed up inside all day?
I nod to myself. Maybe I can figure things out during dinner. With how much the pack loves to gossip about me, I doubt it’ll be hard.
Surely someone will mention ma’am Nola’s whereabouts. Or maybe I could ask Theron directly. But I shut that thought down before it can fully form–I’d sooner gnaw off my own arm.
I step out of the room, keeping my head low, moving quietly through the hall, and trying to blend in as I make my way toward the food.
It’s a pointless effort, really, because the moment I walk into the kitchen, every pair of eyes turns toward me.
“Um, I… I want to…” I begin, exhaling sharply, frustration boiling beneath the surface. I had rehearsed exactly what to say on my way down.
“Your food is already on the table,” the cook announces, sparing me the embarrassment of fumbling any further.
“Who left it, please?” I ask, barely managing to keep my voice steady.
She shakes her head. “Not sure, kid. I honestly don’t know.” I nod silently and head to my seat, convinced it must have been Joy.
110.44
Seated, I glance around the room. The whispering has started.
Everyone begins eating once Theron and Selene join the table. I start on my own meal, pausing abruptly mid–bite. The aroma is eerily familiar–it smells just like the cake from my birthday. The same one Joy tasted… and nearly died from.
The thought nags at me. That cake had been laced with poison.
