Chapter 5

Ravenna's POV

The marble floor felt like ice against my knees, but I didn't care. I kept my head bowed, my eyes fixed on the hem of Luna Selena’s heavy silk gown. To the hundreds of guests watching, I was a terrified girl begging for mercy. To me, this was just another performance.

*Look at me, Selena,* I thought, my heart hammering against my ribs. *Look at how well I play the slave. Isn't this the view you love most?*

I heard the sharp click-clack of Luna's heels as she stepped toward me. 

The scent of her perfume, a heavy, suffocating floral, choked the air. It was the same smell I had inhaled right before she drove a silver blade into my chest three years ago. 

My skin crawled, and for a spit second, I felt the phantom sting of that old wound. But I remained still. I chose to remain silent, as my mission takes precedence. I am committed to doing everything in my power to accomplish it. 

"Stand up, girl," Selena’s voice rang out. It wasn't the voice of a woman who was angry. It was the voice of a woman who was deeply impressed by my humility and self control. 

I rose slowly, keeping my shoulders slightly hunched and my gaze modest. I made sure my bottom lip trembled just enough to look vulnerable.

"I have forgiven you," Selena said. I looked up and saw a small, sharp smile on her lips. She was smiling because she enjoyed seeing a girl this beautiful reduced to a servant’s posture, not because she was kind. 

"You have spirit, and you have manners. Rare traits in this academy."

"Mother!" Thalia’s voice shrill scream shattered the silence. She scrambled to her feet, her expensive blue gown was stained with wine and dust from the floor. Her face was bright red, her eyes bulging with fury. "Are you joking? She attacked me! She pushed me in front of everyone! Look at my wrist—she could have broken it!"

Thalia held up her arm, her voice shaking with outrage. But Selena didn't even glance at it, but rather, she turned to her future daughter-in-law, and her eyes turned into chips of cold glass.

"Be quiet, Thalia," Selena snapped.

The room went deathly silent. Thalia froze, her mouth hanging open in shock.

"You are the daughter of an Alpha," Selena continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "You are supposed to be the next Luna of this pack. And yet, you let a transfer student—a girl with no title and no wolf put you on the floor? You should be ashamed of yourself. If you are too weak to handle a simple girl, do not expect me to fight your battles for you."

Selena hissed, a sound like a snake in the grass, and turned her back on Thalia. She walked away without a second glance, her long black cape sweeping the floor like a shadow.

I watched Thalia. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She looked like she had been slapped. Her eyes darted to Ronan, who was standing a few feet away. Her face was wet with tears, wide and pleading.

"Ronan?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Are you just going to stand there? Are you going to let them humiliate your mate like this?"

I shifted my gaze to Ronan. I wanted to see his reaction. He looked... lost. He wasn't looking at Thalia with the protective rage of a mate. He was staring at me. His brow was pulled together, his blue eyes searching my face as if he were trying to remember a dream. He looked completely confused, his wolf sensing something his human mind couldn't name.

He didn't say a word. He didn't move toward her. He just stood there, frozen in place.

"Ronan!" Thalia sobbed. She realized he wasn't coming to her rescue. 

The silence of the crowd was like a weight on her shoulders. She looked at me one last time, her eyes burning with hatred so hot I could almost feel the heat on my skin.

 Then, she turned and ran out of the grand hall, the sound of her crying echoing behind her.

"Thalia! Wait!" Ronan finally called out, but his voice was weak. He didn't follow her immediately. He lingered for a long moment, his gaze snapping back to me one last time before he finally turned to go after her.

Inside, I was glowing with a dark satisfaction. *The crack in the foundation has started,* I thought.

"Vexley! Oh my goddess, that was incredible!" 

Astrid appeared at my side, grabbing my arm. A few other students crowded around us, their faces full of awe. "I’ve never seen anyone talk back to Thalia and get away with it. You’re a legend!"

"I was so scared," I lied, letting out a long, shaky breath. "I really thought Luna was going to throw me in the dungeon."

"Are you kidding? She liked you!" another girl chimed in. "You're the only person who's ever made Thalia Mooncrest look like a whiny brat."

I spent the next few minutes playing the part of the modest hero, thanking them and acting shy. But my throat felt like it was full of dust. 

Suddenly, I started feeling a deep, dry thirst. As the party finally began to conclude and people moved toward the exits, I slipped away from the group.

I walked toward the long mahogany bar at the back of the hall. The bartender was busy at the other end polishing glasses, so I sat on a high stool, letting my shoulders drop for the first time all night.

I just wanted a drink. I needed a moment of peace before I had to go back to the dorm and pretend to be Vexley again. I watched the bubbles in my glass, feeling the weight of the evening settle on me.

I heard the sound of heavy boots on the floor behind me. I didn't turn around. I didn't have to.

 The air suddenly felt heavy. The scent of pine and a coming storm filled my senses, a smell I knew better than my own.

"Hello, beautiful."

The voice hit my back before my brain caught up. I knew that voice. I looked over my shoulder, and there he was, close enough to touch. 

I froze.