Chapter 5

Veronica POV

The door creaked open, and I stood up, running towards her before I could help myself. 

“Goddess,” I cried, lunging myself into her arms. “Oh, goddess.”

“Roni, ” Ginny’s voice broke as she held me tight, rocking me back and forth. “I thought something happened to you.”

I pressed my face into her shoulder, sobbing. For days, I’d wrestled with the thought of involving her in my mess until the last minute. But now she was here, and I was glad, even if she shouldn’t. She’s the only one who could help me get out of the marriage. Only one I could trust. 

“I’m so glad you came,” I whispered, smiling through my tears.

She pulled back and searched my face, worry etched around her eyes.  Her eyes mirrored my swollen eyes, and she looked like she'd lost weight. She cupped my face. “Do you have any idea how worried sick I’ve been? I thought–” her voice cracked.

I shook my head, pulling her back into my arms. “Things went south. I thought of reaching out–”

“Not here,” she hushed me and grabbed my arm, dragging me towards the bathroom.

I frowned. “Gin, we’re alone–”

“They might be listening at the door,” her gaze flicked around the spacious room, decorated lavishly. “Richer walls have ears. Especially in this part of the manor.” 

I winced at the bite in her words. She was right, though. The room was luxuriously furnished, nothing like the dump we’re forced to sleep in the quarters. 

“I’m not judging,” she said softly, reading my guilt before I spoke. “Talk to me, Roni. What happened?”

So I told her. Everything. Every painful bit of it… Dever, his betrayal, his lies, losing my wolf, Klaus’ threat. It felt like I was reliving every moment, yet my eyes remained dry. I had no more tears to cry for the man who turned my life into a nightmare.

When I finished, Ginny's face flickered through a mix of emotions.  “A Maitan healer?” she breathed out, hurt lacing her words. “You had that much power, and you didn’t tell me?” 

“N–not anymore,” I stuttered, lowering my gaze out of guilt. “My wolf is gone, and so are my powers. I just–it was something I wasn't willing to share yet.”

She exhaled and took my hand. “You’re not the only one with secrets. And you sure as hell don’t owe me explanations.” She gave a small smile, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “So… marriage? Today?”

“Never happening,” I hissed. The hatred thickened my throat. “I have a plan. It’s reckless. Stupid, but it’s the only one I could think of. And I need help. Your help.”

She didn’t answer immediately. She ran her fingers slowly across the bottles on the dresser, her gaze trailing them. My heart sank. Maybe she was finally understanding what’s at stake.

“What do you need, Roni?” she asked quietly.

Relief slammed into me so hard my knees weakened.

I pulled her into the closet and spilt my half-baked plan. She listened and fixed it, perfecting my plan. After giving me a few instructions, Ginny left the room, leaving me restless. 

My plan depended heavily on her, and it was only a matter of hours before I lost my legs or had the brothers eating out of my palm.

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Ginny appeared beside me as I waited for my cue.

She’d been gone most of the day, securing the final piece of our plan. She cleared her throat, her hand sweaty as she grabbed mine. 

She opened her mouth to speak just as a maid reappeared. “They’re ready,” she announced, her eyes locked on me like a leech. 

My throat tightened. I glanced at Ginny, my heart pounding heavily against my chest. She nodded softly, sensing my fear and tapped the back of her head. It was a sign between us. My shoulder sagged with relief, breaking my face into a smile.

I swooped the train of my gown in one hand and stalked to the door. The brothers were about to learn that monsters weren’t the only ones who could play cruel.

The oaks' doors parted, spilling into a hall lavishly decorated. Hundreds of eyes turned towards me. I was conscious of how I looked, my curls packed high above my head, the emerald dress I’d picked was a perfect contrast against my skin, and the low neckline revealed everything it shouldn’t.

I swayed towards my mate-to-be, a smile breaking across my face as his eyes widened before dropping to my bosom. This was going to be fun. 

Kade held out his hand, pulling me into the circle. “Hello, mate,” he whispered. “You cleaned up nice.”

“Thank you,” I replied sweetly, batting my lashes at him. “You look… flustered.”

He tugged at his collar. “I think we underestimated the number of people who want to see me wed. It keeps getting hot,” he nudged me gently towards the priest. “Let’s get this over with.”

With all pleasure. I smiled and took my place at the right side of the priest. I glanced to the side, my heart quickened as I caught Klaus checking me out. He looked up, his face hardening as he met my eyes. I swallowed, fear flickering in the pit of my stomach.

Kade tapped my shoulder, pulling my attention back to the priest. “You need to denounce your past mate bond so we can begin with the rites.” 

I glared at Klaus. The rite was useless. He knew it. I had no wolf, no mate bond. And if the rumours were true, the brothers were wolfless too. He was doing it for the spectacle, for the world would know. Well, he was going to get more than he bargained for.

“I denounce and reject Dever Hawthorn, alpha of the Silverclaw pack, as my mate,”  I said loud enough for the whole room.

A cheer rang out from the crowd.

“Now to the marriage rites,” the priest placed a piece of rock in my palm. “Repeat after me…”

 I drowned out his words, staring at Kade as he struggled to unbutton the top of his shirt. The priest paused, and I recited the bonding rites from memory.

“We ask the moon goddess…”

Everything happened so fast– Kade falling, Klaus shouting orders and reaching him before he could hit the floor. The crowd erupted into shouts, but the noise settled in seconds as the guards pushed everybody out, leaving me alone with the brothers, priest and guards.

Pushing my fear aside, I crouched behind Klaus and leaned into him.

“He’s dying. Your brother digested a large dose of Actoine,” I whispered. Klaus went completely still. “A poison known to render even the strongest of men dead within minutes. And also known for having no antidote. Lucky for Kade, I brought one to the party.”

He clenched his fist, and for a second, I thought he would swing at me. “What do you want?” he gritted out.

“Silverclaw, without your brother. Can you do that?”

“How can you be certain I won’t just kill you when you give him the antidote?”

“Because Kade here will need to take the antidote once every month for the next six months until the toxins completely leave his body. Enough time for our deal to be settled. Then, I’ll have my pack and the council to protect me from you and yours.”

His jaw twitched. “You thought everything through, didn’t you?” he said it like a compliment.

“Four nights,” I said. “And the promise of breaking my legs made me creative. So, what’s it going to be?”

He shrugged. “You’ve all the cards. Save my brother.”

I stared, taken aback. He’d agreed too easily. “This was easier than I’d thought. Thought you would have made it more interesting…” I crawled towards Kade. “Considering your reputation. Hold his head up.”

I retrieved the antidote from my hair, cocked it open and poured it down Kade’s open mouth. I held my breath watching Kade for a response.

His fingers twitched, and I sagged backwards with relief. My mind felt hazy as the guards surrounded Kade, pulling him onto a stretcher. Hands gripped my arms and snagged me up. I started to resist just as my eyes fell on Klaus. He was standing beside the priest, his eyes dark with rage.

I paled as the guards dragged me towards him. He couldn’t hurt me. I held the key to his brother’s life. 

“Veronica,” he said softly, his anger only evident in his eyes. “you made a grave mistake. And you will pay for it… with every breath you take under my roof.”

I opened my mouth, but he raised a finger, silencing me.

“You’ll get your deal,” he added. “After all, I've a reputation to protect.” He turned to the priest. “Start the rite.”