Three

Rivette’s pov

Silence suffocated the room, so absolute that the only sound was the frantic, high-pitched whine of my hearing aid. I watched Kiel's chest stop moving, his eyes locking onto mine. 

For a fleeting, desperate second I thought I saw a fracture in his icy facade. Shock? Realization. Goddess, even the silver of the mate bond stirring deep within him? I couldn't tell. 

But then Ruby moved, letting out a small practiced gasp as her manicured fingers clutched Kiel's shirt. "I don't understand,” she looked at him like she had just been slapped in the face. "Kiel, what is she talking about? "

"I don't know, " the icy tone of his words made my fingers tremble as they tightened around my bag containing the documents. Before I could say another word, he closed the distance between us in seconds. 

"K- Kiel! " I choked out as he slammed me back against the heavy door frame. The impact sent pain travelling down my spine as my feet dangled from the floor. 

"You think I'm stupid, Rivette," I shook my head with tears in my eyes, but it was all pitch black in his, completely swallowing up the cold blue I was accustomed to. "A baby? That's the best lie you could spin from that dense brain of yours. "

The buzzing in my ears flared as I choked. ". Dr. Callista said... I- have.. "

"Shut the fuck up! " I gasped when he flung me across the room. I instinctively folded my arms over my stomach, bracing for when I crashed into the wall before dropping on the floor. 

I watched drops of blood from my mouth splatter on the ground beneath me before his shoe appeared in my vision. "You think pregnancy will secure Luna's position. You're a fucking joke, Rivette. You should be more bothered about how you intend to atone for your sins. "

"My... sins? " Amidst crawling on the floor, I stare at him like he's gone insane. 

"Kiel please! " Ruby cried out, rushing forward. She knelt beside me, pulling me into her arms as she stared up at him with tears in her eyes. I wanted to stand up and give her an outstanding applause for the performance but I was too stunned to speak or move. "Please don't hurt her. I forgive her. Wholeheartedly I do. She doesn’t have to do anything.” 

She got up, her hands on his chest sending a fiery tyranny through me as I watched them. "She's my sister."

"See? " We all stared in the same direction where Liam stoood, his eyes shooting daggers at me. With him joining them, the three of them seemed to stare down at me like I was condescending trash. It was humiliating. "This is why you can never be half the woman Ruby is." His voice was dripping with absolute venom. 

Liam had always hated me, always treated me like dirt at the bottom of his shoe. But the sheer hatred radiating from him now was suffocating 

"Ruby is kind. She's forgiving even to the monster who poisoned her. And she saved my life, don't you forget. When we were attacked and you and the other pieces of trash abandoned me to die, she stayed behind."

My brows pulled into a frown, the searing pain all over my body momentarily forgotten. 

".. she risked her own life for me. And you? A useless deformed latent. How dare you?" He looked at Kiel. "She has to atone for what she did and drink the exact same poison she made Ruby take." 

I froze. My breath hitched like I had been punched to the gut. 

Ruby saved his life? 

The same Ruby who hadn't even been present during the rogue ambush who took several lives that night. I had found Liam bleeding in the mud. I was wolf less, and deaf to the sounds of any impending doom from the rogues but it was ME. I had dragged his body through the thick bushes, collapsing from exhaustion the moment I took him to safety. 

Only to wake up days later and... 

No wonder. Liam had turned cold towards me since that day while Ruby was termed the hero of the pack. I never understood why. Until now. 

I stared up at Ruby. Over Kiel's shoulder her sweet, frightened expression had melted away, revealing the sinister look in her eyes. 

The agonizing clarity hit me like a physical blow and it suddenly felt hard to breathe. She had taken everything. Not just Kiel. Not just my father's affection. She had been strategically striping away my reputation, my dignity, piece by piece. And I never saw it till now. Now, when it was all too late. 

"You're wrong," I whispered, scrambling on my knees to rise up as tears rolled down my cheeks from rage. "The person who saved you, who dragged you through the hollow to safety. It was me!" On my feet, I pointed straight at Ruby. "She wasn't even there.”

Liam stared at me for a full second before letting out a harsh laugh. "Listen to yourself. A latent cripple dragging a full gown shifter? You're pathetic Rivette. You'll say anything"

I looked wildly between them. "It's the truth!" 

"Shut your mouth!" Kiel roared and everyone around had their necks bared before him in submission, but I stood here, eyes raging as I glared at him while his eyes burned into mine. "Don't you dare project your twisted jealousy on her. She's already suffered enough and you think this is the best time to lie against her?"

"Lie? I have proof! I- "

 Ruby suddenly swayed. She let out another dramatic gasp her knees buckling beneath her 

"Ruby!" Kiel lunged, catching her delicately before she could touch the floor. Liam was at her side in seconds, his face pale with panic. 

" What's wrong with the Luna?" He asked without sparing a glance at me. 

"Kiel..." she whimpered , clutching his chest as her eyes fluttered shut. "My heart, it's beating too fast. I feel so weak.."

"It's okay, I've got you. I'm right here," Kiel murmured, his voice dropping to that impossibly tender tone that shattered what little remained of my heart. He scooped her up effortlessly. 

Just before he left, he turned to me like I was an afterthought. "Liam. Have the guards lock her up in the east wing chambers."

"What?! " I was still in shock when Liam grabbed my wrist so tight I thought it would snap. "Kiel you can't do this."

"Place a guard at the door and beneath the window outside the room. She is forbidden from stepping out of the room. She is not to be fed or given a single drop of water until our mate bond is completely dissolved."

My stomach sank. "Kiel- " I couldn't even shout anymore. Only a pathetic squeak left my throat as I watched him turn his back on me, carrying Ruby up the grand stairs. 

Liam instantly mindlinked the guards, seeing the absolute disgust on his face when he tossed me to them while they dragged me away as I screamed.