Chapter 4

“Now go sweep outside.” Melissa’s smile didn’t waver as she said it and just like that, the broom fell from my grip, hitting the floor with a clattering sound.

“Didn't you hear me?“ Melissa asked as I nod my head before I bent down to pick up the broom.

She wanted to humiliate me in the worst way possible.

Everyone knew who I was, the alpha's daughter, now what would they say of me when they see me with a broom in an omega uniform?

“We don't have all day, you will not eat until you are done” Melissa said and left me.

I stared at the broom in my shaking hand with disbelief. I knew I had to do it, my pack would be the ones to suffer for any action I took.

I stepped outside with my face down.

“Huh, look. It's the new omega” someone whispered and I kept my head down, I wanted to pass by quietly.

I squeeze the handle of the broom tight.

“She's just a…tool“ one of the women said and I stopped to look at the woman who said that about me.

“What are you looking at?“ she asked me as her lips stretched into a predator-like smile. “Did I lie? Aren't you just a tool? A betrayer of her pack” the woman said with a laugh.

“Who do you think you are to speak like that about me?“ I asked her.

“Don't you dare talk to her like that!“ One of the maids hiss at me fiercely, “don't you realize who you're talking to?.“

“I am the mate of—” I start to say, but one of them interrupts me smoothly.

“Camille,” another one of them added smugly, “is Alpha Hunter’s fiancée. Our future Luna.”

Their future Luna.

Hunter already had a mate.

My wolf reared to the surface, anger clouding her senses as she surged forward and took control of my body. I lunged at Camille before I could think.

“How dare you!” I yelled, gripping her hair with all my strength and slamming her body into the wall.

She made a weak attempt to fight me off, her hands flailing uselessly. She was weak, She wasn’t from this pack, I noted and took advantage of it. I got in several slaps and punches before it even occurred to her lackeys to intervene. I lashed out blindly, my fists connecting with bodies as yelps sounded all around me.

They finally managed to pry me off her. Two of them restrained me, holding my arms tightly behind my back, while the others rushed to her aid. She looked like a mess,her hair tangled, makeup smeared, and her clothes torn in several places.

My wolf smirked in satisfaction. At least I had done real damage before they pulled me away.

Camille stood shakily, her body trembling with rage and humiliation. Her eyes burned as she glared at me.

“You stupid bitch,” she spat, slapping me twice across the face.

I smiled, refusing to let it fade. That only enraged her further.

She bent down and grabbed one of her heels,a sharp stiletto and raised it toward my face.

“Let’s see if you’ll still have something to smile about when your face is filled with scars,” she said venomously.

My heart dropped. Panic surged as I began to thrash violently in their grip, desperate to break free, but they were stronger than I was.

She laughed as she watched me struggle.

“Not so fearless now, are you?” she asked with a satisfied smirk.

“Ava, get me the wolfsbane,” she ordered.

Wolfsbane.

That was how she planned to make the injury permanent.

“No,no, please! Somebody help me!” I screamed, tears spilling down my face.

“Good,” Camille said, her smile widening. 

“Remember that fear the next time you cross me.”

Ava returned quickly and handed her the wolfsbane. 

Camille dipped the heel into it slowly, deliberately taunting me before stepping closer.

“Please, please don’t,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Don’t do it.”

“What’s going on here?” a voice boomed.

The heel froze inches from my face.

Camille spun around, her expression shifting instantly.

Alpha Hunter stood in front us with two guards at his side.

“Hunter, darling,” Camille said, pouting as she walked toward him. “I was just trying to teach her a lesson. Look what she did to me.” She gestured to her torn clothes.

“Please help me,” I cried. “They have wolfsbane.”

“Wolfsbane?” Hunter growled. “In my territory?”

“Honey, she’s lying,” Camille said quickly. “I was disciplining her and now she has the audacity to accuse me of something like that.”

Hunter’s gaze moved between the two of us.

“Do you have proof?” he asked me

“Ava has it,” I said immediately, pointing at her. “She brought it.”

“You liar,” Ava scoffed.

I looked at Hunter, desperation written all over my face, silently begging him to believe me. He studied me for a second.

“Search her,” he ordered one of the guards.

Ava stared at him in disbelief as the guard searched her.

“Alpha,” the guard said after a moment, “she doesn’t have wolfsbane on her.”

I gasped. How had they hidden it so fast?

I turned toward Camille just in time to see her smirk at me, before she replaced it with a wounded expression as she faced Hunter again.

“She attacked me,” Camille said in a whiny tone. “And then falsely accused me. She needs to be punished.”

Hunter looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

“Apologize,” he said.

“An apology isn’t—” Camille started.

“No,” I said, lifting my chin.

I wouldn't apologize for something I didn't do.

I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me plead for mercy.

Shock rippled through the crowd. Hunter’s jaw tightened.

“I said apologize. Now.” His alpha aura pressed down on me, demanding submission. My wolf whimpered, but I refused to bend.

“No,” I said again.

Raising my head in defiance, challenging him.

Hunter turned to the guard beside him.

“Twenty lashes,” he said coldly. “Stop when she apologizes.”

He walked away without even so much as a glance at me.

Camille smiled triumphantly as she followed him, her lackeys trailing behind her.

The guards escorted me to the whipping post outside and tied my wrists securely.

As the rope tightened, I lowered my head.

Hunter… I will make you pay.