11. WEAKNESS.

Kayla.

I rose slowly from my chair, every movement deliberate, my fists tightening with frustration over my failed attempt. The hairpin I had wielded just moments ago still tingled with potential, the imagined impact on his neck burning in my mind.

He had been so close, so damn close. Just one precise motion, one perfect angle, and everything would have been over. My pulse raced with the bitter taste of defeat. Instead, I had failed, and now all I could do was stand there, the weight of my own incompetence pressing down on me.

I picked up the hairpin from the floor, the metal cold and unforgiving between my fingers. My grip was tight, almost angrily so, as if holding it harder could somehow erase the failure.

Without another thought, I stormed out of the room, my steps sharp and echoing through the quiet hallway. The cool air of the corridor did nothing to calm my simmering anger.

“What a waste of time,” I muttered under my breath, letting the words hang in the air like a confession I didn’t want anyone to hear.

I could still feel the sting of missed opportunity, my mind replaying the moment over and over, the slight hesitation, the wrong angle, the way he had turned at just the wrong moment.

I hadn’t even taken a few steps down the hall when a familiar figure emerged in my path, balancing a tray in her hands. The sight of her immediately set my teeth on edge.

I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries or small talk, not today, not after what had just happened. I pivoted, planning to take the next turn, to escape her presence entirely, when her words cut through the air, sharp and deliberate.

“Wow, if it isn’t a whore I just stumbled upon. Who else could it be?”

The words froze me mid-step. I turned instinctively, my eyes locking on Laura, the intensity of my glare practically burning her where she stood.

“Excuse me?” I asked, my voice cold, controlled, though every fiber of me wanted to lash out.

“What? Are you pretending you aren’t a whore, you attention seeker?” Her voice rose, venom dripping from every syllable.

“Really? I never knew,” I said, forcing a tight smile onto my face, the kind of smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

My mind flickered briefly to the image of her, the way her movements had always mirrored mine, the way she had always tried to outshine me, even in the simplest moments. And without a second thought, I seized the cup of coffee she was balancing and hurled it toward her. The dark liquid arced through the air, landing squarely on her dress with a satisfying splash.

I chuckled lightly, a sound that was more amused than gentle. “I guess this is what a whore can do, Laura. I’ve been keeping you quiet all this while because you always had company. But with only you here, you are powerless.”

Her shriek of outrage cut through the hallway. “How dare you, Kayla? Do you even know whose coffee you just spilled on my dress?”

“I don’t,” I said, letting a smirk curl on my lips, “and I don’t care to know.” I pivoted, preparing to leave, the hairpin still clutched tightly in my hand.

But then I caught sight of a shadow moving against the far wall, subtle but unmistakable. I froze, my instincts flaring immediately. One of the triplets was approaching.

Acting weak earlier had done its job. Sage’s wrath had simmered down, lulled into temporary calm by my careful display of submission.

That meant, no matter what happened next, I had to maintain the illusion. I had to make them believe I was fragile, incapable, utterly powerless. Only then would their guard drop completely, leaving them exposed and only then could I strike without hesitation, without the slightest stress clouding my focus. The stakes were too high to falter now, and I reminded myself of that with every beat of my racing heart.

I turned back to the fuming figure before me, Laura. Her eyes blazed with fury, her body trembling with rage, and without warning, she lunged at me.

I barely had time to brace myself as her hands snatched a fistful of my hair, yanking my head backward. Pain shot through my skull as she slammed me against the wall.

“How dare you, Kayla? Let me show you what I can do!” she screamed, her voice sharp and unrelenting.

I struggled against her grip, the burn in my scalp searing through me, but then movement caught my eye. The shadow I had glimpsed earlier shifted, growing more defined, and in an instant, it was upon us. Strong hands shoved Laura aside with brutal efficiency. She collided with the wall, a painful thud echoing through the hallway, and stumbled backward, dazed.

“How dare you hit my personal maid? Do you not have respect for me?” the voice boomed, laced with authority and barely restrained fury.

I lifted my eyes cautiously and finally saw his face clearly, the sharp jawline, the piercing eyes, the commanding presence. It was Scott, the third Alpha who had been present during the selection. My stomach churned with confusion.

Why was he intervening, and so violently at that? I had only wanted him to perceive me as weak!

I had expected him to just watch.

“Get up and kneel, pathetic human!” Scott’s command cut through the tension like a knife.

Laura’s eyes widened in shock, and she obeyed immediately, dropping to the floor as if the very air had demanded submission.

I blinked in disbelief. My mind raced to make sense of what was happening.

Why was he punishing her on my behalf?

Everything had been going according to plan, I had staged weakness to lull them into complacency. Yet now, it seemed my ruse had spiraled into an unexpected chaos, one I hadn’t anticipated.

“Remain here for the next two hours!” Scott barked, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.

Before I could even process his words, before I could gather my scattered thoughts, his arms were under me, lifting me effortlessly. He carried me in a bridal style, his strength undeniable, his movements precise and controlled.

Every step he took reverberated through the corridor, and I could feel the weight of his authority pressing down on me, amplifying my confusion and frustration.

We moved swiftly toward his chamber, and I clung to the fleeting thread of my composure, my mind spinning in questions.

What exactly was going on? Why was he treating me with such care while simultaneously punishing Laura?

My plan to appear weak had taken an unforeseen turn, and now I was trapped in a situation that could either play perfectly into my hands or unravel everything I had worked toward.

As the corridor blurred past, my resolve hardened. No matter what happened, I had to keep my mask intact.

Weakness had to be my weapon now, even if I didn’t fully understand how the pieces were falling into place.