Dahlia’s P.O.V
I stumbled blindly through the halls, my chest burning, every breath rattling out of me like I was choking on the air itself. Cade’s words kept hammering against my skull, over and over, louder than anything else.
“You’re not their real daughter, Dahlia. You were just some stray they picked up off the road. Do you even remember anything before you were six?”
His voice mocked me even now, echoing inside my head like it had been etched into my bones.
“No, stop—stop it!” I gasped, pressing my palms hard against my ears, as if I could block him out. But I couldn’t. His laughter slithered through every crack of my mind.
“Shut up, Cade… just shut up…”
I don’t even know how long I was running, or where my legs carried me, until suddenly something snagged my foot. I stumbled, falling hard onto the stone path, the br
Dahlia’s P.O.VI gasped when the sound echoed, sharp and shocking, and Killian’s head snapped to the side with the force of the slap. My breath caught in my throat, my hand halfway raised as if I could stop what had already happened.“Killian…” but I couldn’t find the rest of the words.Agatha’s hand was still frozen midair, her chest heaving as though she herself couldn’t quite believe what had just transpired, and for the first time since this confrontation began, the silence that fell between the three of us was heavier than any scolding she had thrown before.Slowly, he looked back at her, his voice steady and cold, though I could see the storm raging behind his eyes.“If you must strike someone,” he said quietly, “then strike me. But you will not touch her again.”I could only stare at his back, my throat closing with emotion, my hands trembling as I looked between mother and son.Lady Agatha looked startled by the suddenness of it, her eyes flickering wide before narrowing again
Dahlia’s P.O.VI stumbled back as my vision swam, black spots blotting out the edges of everything. The force of her slap had sent me to the ground, my cheek burning, and before I could even breathe, I heard Killian’s footsteps rushing toward me.“Mother, that’s enough—” he started, his voice sharp, but Agatha’s tone cut him down in an instant.“Stay back, Killian!” she snapped, her words like whips. He froze mid-step, his jaw clenched, his hands balled into fists, but he didn’t move closer.I slowly lifted my head, feeling the heat of humiliation crawl through my body. My lips parted, but no words came. Agatha’s eyes bored into me, filled with venom and disgust as she stepped closer.“So this is what I will find when I return,” she said, her voice low but shaking with fury. “I came all the way here, all the way from my mate’s pack, to celebrate my children’s birthday. My children, Dahlia. Their precious birthday celebration! And yet the room I walked into was nothing but chaos. Laugh
Dahlia’s P.O.VAs I walked beside Killian, my palms felt clammy against the soft fabric of my new dress, the one I had hurriedly changed into so I wouldn’t look like a complete disaster. My heart pounded in a way that no amount of careful breathing could ease, because no matter what Killian had told me, I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman we were about to meet.Lady Agatha Blackburn. The matriarch of the royal pack. His mother. I had heard stories about her—whispers that carried through the pack halls like smoke. They said she was strict, impossibly sharp, and that nothing ever escaped her watchful eyes. And as far as I knew, strict mothers and girls like me never mixed well. I was already replaying every possible mistake I had made today, and I just knew she must have heard something about it…about what happened at the party, and I had no doubt that it was the reason why I had been summoned.Killian glanced at me as we approached the tall oak doors, his voice softer than usual,
Dahlia’s P.O.VKillian muttered something under his breath, but I barely heard it, my mind racing as I kept on reminiscing what had happened today. I sat there, my chest rising and falling faster than I wanted it to, because Cade’s words kept ringing in my head, louder and sharper than I could handle.“You’re not their real daughter, Dahlia. You were just some stray they picked up off the road. Do you even remember anything before you were six? You don’t deserve to lead the Frost Hunters!”I wanted to brush it off, to laugh and tell him he was wrong, but deep down, I knew he wasn’t. And the worst part was…if I didn’t have my pack…what exactly did I even have left to my name?Me and Killian? This was an arrangement, a contract where I stayed by his side to help him heal from his curse, but leave when he found his mate. That has always been the truth. My place here was temporary, fleeting, fragile. I swallowed hard, my hands clenching into fists against my thighs, and I whispered.“Mayb
Killian’s P.O.VI struggling to balance my strength and gentleness as I carried Dahlia in my arms, her head drooping against my shoulder numbly. She was so pale, so fragile that I felt a lump in my throat, but I kept my jaw clenched tightly, every step firm and purposeful as I was determined not to let her feel another ounce of pain. I set her down on the bed carefully, almost too carefully, like she might shatter if I so much as let go too quickly.“Stay still, Dahlia… please,” I muttered in a low voice, pulling a cloth from the basin nearby, soaking it with cold water before wringing it out. I pressed the towel softly to her neck, wiping away the dried blood where Cade’s claws had torn her skin, and I felt my hands trembled even though I tried to hide it. Dahlia winced but reached up weakly, touching my wrist.“Killian… it’s fine, you don’t have to…” she whispered. But I shook my head sharply, cutting her off. “Don’t you dare tell me it’s fine. Look at you. He hurt you, Dahlia. He p
Dahlia’s P.O.VI stumbled blindly through the halls, my chest burning, every breath rattling out of me like I was choking on the air itself. Cade’s words kept hammering against my skull, over and over, louder than anything else.“You’re not their real daughter, Dahlia. You were just some stray they picked up off the road. Do you even remember anything before you were six?”His voice mocked me even now, echoing inside my head like it had been etched into my bones.“No, stop—stop it!” I gasped, pressing my palms hard against my ears, as if I could block him out. But I couldn’t. His laughter slithered through every crack of my mind.“Shut up, Cade… just shut up…”I don’t even know how long I was running, or where my legs carried me, until suddenly something snagged my foot. I stumbled, falling hard onto the stone path, the br