Chapter 4

Aurelia's POV

Lyra pulled me into a small alcove, and pressed us both against the wall. We barely fit as I could feel her heart racing against my back.

The footsteps grew louder and a guard appeared at the end of the hallway, with his torch going everywhere in the dark places.

We were trapped and if he came any closer, he'd see us for sure.

Lyra made a decision and before I could stop her, she shoved me hard. The wrapped goblet flew from my hands and skidded across the floor, disappearing under a cabinet.

Then Lyra threw herself into the middle of the hallway and collapsed, her body convulsing like she was having a seizure.

"Help!" the guard shouted. "Someone's hurt!"

More guards came running and they surrounded Lyra, trying to help her, completely distracted.

I used the chaos to slip away, my heart breaking with every step as I'd left the goblet behind,also left Lyra behind. I had failed.

Back in my room, I couldn't breathe properly as the goblet was gone. It was my only proof. And Lyra...what would happen to her?

I paced the small space, with my mind spiraling. I'd been given a second chance and I was wasting it. I was still that same powerless Omega who couldn't protect anyone, not even herself.

Morning came too soon and I hadn't slept at all.

The knock on my door made me jump and i opened it to find Selena standing there.

Her smile was warm and sweet that it made my skin crawl. What was making her smile that way?

"Good morning, Aurelia. May I come in?"

I stepped aside because refusing her would be suicide and she walked in and sat down on my bed.

"I heard there was some excitement last night. A maid having some kind of fit in the hallways. How strange."

I said nothing as my throat was too tight to even say anything at the moment.

"You know what else is strange?" She tilted her head, studying me.

 "I still haven't found my goblet. But I did find something else interesting."

She reached into her purse and pulled out a piece of paper. It was a hospital bill. My mother's hospital bill!

"It seems your mother's treatment is quite expensive. And you're behind on payments." She looked up at me with false sympathy. 

"Poor thing. If something isn't done soon, they might have to stop her treatment."

Ice flooded my veins as my eyes immediately changed

"Don't."

"Don't what?" Her voice was still sweet, but it she was doing that intentionally.

"I'm just stating facts, dear. Of course, I could help. I could pay the entire bill. Make sure your mother gets the best care." She stood, moving closer to me. 

"Or I could make one phone call and have her machines unplugged... TODAY" she said emphasizing on the last word.

"So here's what's going to happen," Selena continued softly. 

"You're going to stop whatever little game you think you're playing. You're going to be a good, quiet Omega. You're going to do exactly what you're told. And if you step out of line even once..." 

She smiled. "Mama dies. Understand?"

I wanted to claw her eyes out, wanted to scream. But all I could do was nod.

"Good girl." She patted my cheek like I was a dog and walked towards the door, just as she pulled the knob

"I'm so glad we understand each other." She said without turning back.

When she left, and I collapsed onto the floor.

I had nothing; no proof, no power, no way to stop her, and now my mother's life was hanging by a thread.

How was I supposed to fight someone who controlled everything?

A knock on the door pulled me from my spiral but I didn't want to answer it, as the last thing I wanted to face now was someone else.

But the knock came again, and more insistent this time.

I dragged myself up and opened the door and it was no one was there, I looked around trying to be sure if I wasn't the one imagining things but it didn't even seem like anyone was there in the first place.

 

I was about going back inside when I saw a vial on the door, but it had liquid in it and it was almost filled to the brim. I picked it up out of curiosity and looked around again wondering who had dropped it there.

When I looked at it very well and also proceeded to opening it, it looked and smelled exactly like the remnants I had once picked from the room that night.

Who had brought this to my doorstep and why? Why had they also chosen to hide their identity?

I heard footsteps emerging and immediately shoved the vial under my mattress just as the door burst open.

The Alpha King stormed in, his face dark with fury and his eyes found me immediately.

 "You! Come with me. Now."

My heart stopped for a moment and Selena also appeared in the doorway behind him, and the smile on her face made my blood run cold.

"We found something in your mother's hospital room, Aurelia," she said sweetly.

 "Something very... incriminating."