Chapter 8: Your Wife

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZ.

Sophie's hand reaches for my cheeks, but I grab it and hit her first. It wasn't pre-planned; I never thought in my wildest dreams that I could hit Sophie. She felt so powerful, so above, so untouchable, that striking first became a fantasy after she had inflicted bruises on my body, damaging my skin.

"You wench!" Her voice is louder and harsher as she crazily reaches for me to hit me. I recoiled as fast as I knew how to and tripped; a nail from the shelf caught my nightdress, grazing my skin and ripping the bottom at the back. I knew Sophie planned something here to kill me.

Her maids held her as she hit them, breaking out of her grip. She freezes upon seeing me wounded on my own. She laughed. Oh, Aaron. I am afraid your wife is deranged.

She is a sadist who derives pleasure from watching others suffer deeply. A woman who must be put to an end.

Many would call me audacious, insane, and wicked for hitting the kind Luna, but to me, it is my first step to victory for all she had done to hurt me. This is the beginning of my punishment for you, Sophie.

"I will not be the one to teach you your place. I have the perfect person for that." She grabs the glass jug of water on the nightstand and pours it on me as I stand.

I stood drenched in water as she smashed the glass on the floor.

"What are you doing?!" I screamed at her.

"Giving you a sample of learning your place. By the time that I am done with you-"

"I'll run to my father's pack like a fragile princess?" I stood up to face her. "All I can smell is your jealousy. You wouldn't be fighting so hard to keep a place if you actually had one in the first place. I know you're trying to ruin my chances of becoming his concubine, but you can kiss those aspirations goodbye because I'm not going anywhere, I promise you!"

"No. I actually want you to marry Aaron. Marry him so I can teach you something important."

I scoffed. "You want to teach me? A woman who has learned nothing herself. I'd like to see you try."

"You are making a big mistake." She sneered.

"No, you are. Now, get out of my chamber." I pointed out the door.

She eyes me in a way that speaks the language of cheap villains.

You have not seen the last of me. And she left. I sucked in a deep breath. This was nothing short of absolutely dreadful.

My maids rushed in immediately after she left, and I was forced to change into the same nightgown I avoided. What a shame.

The white nightgown felt good on my skin as I put it on; the fabric was smooth and tender. It was simple, flowing down gently to just my ankles. The neckline was a soft scoop, tied delicately with a little bow right in the center. Over it, I wore a light, sheer shawl, also white. It had beautiful lace trim along its edges, which draped softly over my shoulders and arms. My long, wavy dark hair cascaded around me, framing the whole look.

It would have been perfect had it not left me feeling absolutely bare, especially when light hits the fabric. I should not have trusted Jade with my clothing.

I put some ointment on the red graze, hoping it would heal. All the glass and water were wiped off like nothing had happened. I promised not to hurt Deva's body, and I had failed her.

I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to imagine that it was me in this dress. That it was my face, but even my face had begun to fade from my head, like it had never disappeared.

Lana was disappearing. My stomach grumbled from hunger. And I grabbed my purse to unwrap a bun I got from a bakery. It is barely enough, but it would have to do.

I was in the enemy's territory; I had to protect myself the best I could. In the morning, I'll worry about my food.

I sat down with the book I had picked up earlier on my soft bed, just so I could distract myself when I heard my name from the lungs of fury.

"Deva!" I'll recognize his voice even in unconsciousness. Sophie had told him something or more than everything that had transpired. Whatever it was, I knew I would lose before I tried, so the best thing to do was to plead my innocence and make sure Aaron marries me.

I scrambled through my luggage for a bigger shawl and wrapped myself with it before opening the door for him.

"What have you done?" He slithered, sounding very disappointed.

Whatever got his hopes up about me?

"What have I done?" I tilted my head as he stood by the entrance.

"To Sophie. Why did you cut her?!" He raised his voice at me, making me flinch in shock. He had never, not even before he stopped seeing me as Lana, had his voice raised at me.

"Cut her?" I asked bewildered.

To what lengths will you go, Sophie?

"I did not cut her." I immediately defended myself. "She tried to hit me, I hit her to protect myself, then she tried to attack me, I slipped, fell, and grazed my skin." I turned back to show him the thin slice across my olive skin.

"Please put your gown down, Deva, we are not married." I turned to face him. "I am only showing you what Sophie did to me." I gritted.

"Sophie would never." He shook his head in disbelief. "She never even told me you hit her."

"She also must not have told you that she poured a jug of whatever on me and broke it against the floor." I swiftly added.

"No, you tried to hit her with it, but she dragged it with you, then the water splashed on you, and the jug fell and broke." He countered me.

I whispered, tears welling in my eyes as I processed his utter faith in that woman. "Are you under a spell?"

"Watch it." He warned, his voice low and dangerous.

I flailed my hands in desperation, forgetting the bigger shawl was to protect myself from him seeing my nakedness.

"Heavens, Deva." He raised his voice again, looking at me as though I had committed a sin so grave.

"Look away!" I yelled back, and he did instantly. I spoke as I covered myself again. "I do not care what you choose to believe, but I did not do that to her."

"Do you crave my affection?" His question caught me off guard.

I used to that it became all I ever wanted, but not anymore.

"No. I told you that I wanted a loveless marriage. The one I love is no more. How could you even ask me that?" Now, I sounded disappointed. Who does he think he is? Not everyone wants to obsess over his affection.

"I cannot process this. Why would you pick a fight with Sophie?"

"All you want to hear is that Sophie is right because you cannot imagine her hurting a fly, right? Then she's right. Do what you will with that information and leave me be. I need some space away from all of this.

I said turning away from him, hoping that he'd leave on his own, and he did.