Chapter 4: The rule isn't from the goddess

Lucille stared at her mother, shock written all over her face.

"And who made that law? The goddess?" she asked, her voice low but trembling with frustration.

Her mother paused, then slowly turned her head to look at her.

"The goddess gave us the main laws," she said softly. "But the authority created more rules based on them." She walked back to the bed where Lucille was still sitting.

"When we found out you were fated to him, I was happy. They're powerful, Lucy. Wealthy beyond imagination. I thought you were lucky. I thought your future was set. But now, you've destroyed everything." Her mother’s voice broke slightly. Then she turned and walked out, her shoulders heavy with disappointment.

Lucille felt like she didn’t recognize her mother anymore. How could she say that? How could wealth matter more than peace?

For years, her mother had seen the pain she endured. How Edward and her classmates treated her like she was nothing. Yet now, rejecting him was wrong?

The law from the goddess allowed mates to reject one another, but there was a cost. The one who rejected might never be fated to anyone else again. Their only hope would be to find someone whose bond had also been broken.

But now, the authorities had changed the rules. Rejection was only allowed if there was physical abuse or cheating. And even then, the cheating had to be witnessed by her wolf.

How could they be so cruel? How could they decide who deserved freedom and who didn’t?

Her mother said punishment would come. But hadn’t she already been punished? Hadn’t four years of silence, humiliation, and pain been enough?

Lucille laid down slowly and pulled the blanket over herself. She shut her eyes, hoping that sleep would wash away everything that had happened. But deep down, she knew—it wouldn’t.

The door creaked open again, causing her heart to jump. But it wasn’t her mother.

“Lucy.” came a soft, familiar voice.

Her brother, Louis Clinton, rushed to her side. He sat beside her, worry written all over his face.

Then he saw the mark on her forehead. His eyes widened, and he leaned in quickly.

“What happened?” he asked, panic in his voice.

Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. Wasn't that the first thing her mother should have noticed? The mark on her forehead?

But no. Her mother hadn’t even asked. All she cared about was Edward, About the wealth they had lost because Lucille rejected him.

A sob escaped her lips, and she let the tears fall freely, no longer trying to hold them back.

"Hey, talk to me," Louis said gently, helping her sit up. He pulled her close, letting her rest her head against his chest.

"Was it him?" he asked quietly. He already knew. He’d seen what Edward had done to her in the past.

Lucille nodded, unable to speak. Her heart was too heavy. The pain choked her words.

Louis didn’t push. He just held her, letting her cry in his arms. He knew she needed this more than anything right now.

After some time, Lucille pulled herself together. She wiped her eyes and sniffled.

"It’s Edward," she whispered, her voice shaking. Slowly, she began to tell him everything.

Louis listened carefully, his face tense with worry. His jaw clenched as each word left her lips.

"This is bad," he muttered, eyes fixed on her with deep concern.

"Those people, they’re heartless," he said bitterly, his voice filled with anger and pain.

Lucille gripped his arm tightly, her tear-filled eyes locked on his face. "I'm scared," she whispered, and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I didn’t know there was such a rule," she cried softly, her voice breaking.

"Why would the goddess give me a mate like him? Why not a Commoner like me? Someone kind?" Her words shook with pain as her sobs grew heavier.

Louis’s heart ached. He didn’t know how to comfort her. This situation was truly bad. He knew they would come for her, and the punishment would be severe.

He pulled her into his arms, pressing her close to his chest so she could hear his heartbeat. It was fast and unsteady.

Because he was scared too. He was scared for his sister.

The councils were always harsh with punishments, especially when it involved a commoner. And Lucille hadn’t just rejected anyone, she had humiliated the son of the High Councilor, in public, without visible reason.

They wouldn’t show mercy.

"I’m proud of you for standing your ground, for giving him that humiliation," he said quietly. "It’s just that…" His voice cracked. He couldn’t finish the sentence. The words were too heavy.

"What should I do?" she asked, her grip on him tightening. Her body shook as she cried harder.

Louis shut his eyes and swallowed the lump in his throat. He had to be strong for her.

"No matter what happens, you have me. And you have Mom," he said in a low, rough voice.

But his words only made her cry more. Yes, she had a brother. But he was just like her, a commoner. And there was nothing he could do to stop the judgment that was coming.

“Stop crying. Everything will be okay one day,” Louis whispered, holding her close. His voice was calm, filled with hope, even though deep down, he wasn’t sure that day would ever come.

“Yes… it will be f-fine,” Lucille tried to say, but her sobs broke the words apart. Tears streamed down her face like they’d never stop.

She regretted everything. She regretted going to that party. She regretted choosing her mother’s happiness over her own instincts. If only she had stayed home that night. If only she had listened to her heart.

But she didn’t. She just wanted to see her mother smile.

And because of that, she’d fallen into a dark, terrifying place—with no way out, and no one strong enough to pull her free.

After a long time, her sob dispelled. Her eyes had cried so much, they burned with pain. Her nose was sore, her body drained.

“Let’s treat your injury,” Louis said softly, sensing she was finally calm. At least for now.

He helped her off the bed, and together, they left for a small clinic nearby, one run by the authorities, where commoners could get partial, free treatment.

The visit to the clinic was quiet. Cold. But necessary.

When they got home, Lucille said nothing. She went straight to her room and locked the door behind her.

She took the painkillers and antibiotics the healer had given her, then sat on the bed, feeling like her soul had been emptied.

With a tired sigh, she laid down, hoping sleep would come and take the weight off her shoulders, at least for a little while.

But deep in her chest, fear still stirred. What punishment would the council give her?

Banishment? Servitude? Excommunication? Or worse, the silver shots.

She closed her eyes and prayed for strength.