Chapter 12

Rose’s Pov

A young woman stood at the door. She looked to be in her early twenties, probably my age mate or thereabout. She was dressed in a tight, short gown which clung to her like a second skin. The neckline dipped so low it left little to the imagination. I couldn’t help but notice how boldly her cleavage was on display,that was the first thing that caught my eye.

But I had never seen her before.

And yet, the moment our eyes met, her words hit me like a slap on my face.

“You slut,” she spat.

I froze. Did I hear her right?

Was she really talking to me?

I wasn’t sure what shocked me more, her sudden appearance or the insult she threw so casually, as if I had done something wrong just by existing.

“Excuse me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. I was already shaking inside, but I didn’t want to show it.

“Shut up the fuck up bitch!” she barked, her voice sharp and angry.

I had to get a grip on myself.

She took a few steps into the room like she owned the place. Something about the way she moved, with so much confidence and arrogance, reminded me of Diva. It made my stomach turn.

“How dare you talk back to me?” she added, her voice suddenly quieter, more dangerous and venomous. Each step she took made me move further back until my legs hit the edge of the bed, making me stop..

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” I muttered under my breath, trying to hold myself together. “Why are you here?”

She smiled. Not the warm kind,this one was smug, proud.

“Let me introduce myself properly,” she said, waving her hand like she was giving some grand speech. “I’m Cassandra Tuffin, daughter of the Alpha of the Shadowborn Pack. Fiancée to Aiden. Soon to be Luna of this pack.”

Then, without warning, she leaned forward,and spat right at me.

My heart sank.

Fiancée?

Luna to be?

What was she talking about? Did she know Aiden was mated to me?

Be But Aiden never said anything about having a fiancée. He never even hinted at it. How could he bring me here, claim we were mates, only for me to find out from a stranger that he was already promised to someone else?

I stood there frozen like ice, the words playing over and over in my head.

Aiden’s fiancée…

My chest tightened. My legs trembled.

Oh Moon Goddess, what’s happening?

Cassandra gave a slow, sarcastic clap, then crossed her arms over her chest and looked around the room with raised eyebrows.

“I see you’re enjoying your new home,” she said with a mocking smile. “But don’t get too comfortable.”

She took a step closer, her eyes locked on mine, her expression turning dark.

“Aiden is mine. I’ve known him longer, and I’m not going to just stand by while someone like you-” she looked me up and down “tries to take him away from me.”

She paused, then gave a low laugh that sent a chill through me.

“You better know your place,” she said coldly. “Do what you came here to do. Act right.”

She laughed again, then covered her mouth like she’d just remembered something funny.

“Oops. I said ‘do your job,’ didn’t I?” Her voice filled with sarcasm. “But I forgot, you’re just a slave, a mere omega. So stay in your lane. Do your little chores, and stay out of my business.”

And just like that, she turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her.

I stood there in silence.

Completely stunned.

What did she mean by all that?

Tiny beads of sweat formed on my head.My legs gave out and I dropped into the nearest chair. My mind was spinning, trying to piece everything she had just said together.

She looked even worse than Diva. More evil. More vicious. More fierce. There was absolutely no way I was going to face her.

“I see we have an obstacle here,” Rhea’s voice echoed in my head.

I swallowed hard.

“Rhea… what am I going to do?” My voice was shaky even in my thoughts. “I can’t believe this. Did Aiden bring me here just to put me through more pain? I should’ve stayed back. I should’ve never followed him.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away. My chest ached like someone had driven a stake through it.

“Calm down, Rose,” Rhea said gently. “This is not the time to break down or get scared. This is the time to fight. To claim what’s yours.”

Her voice softened. “You’re not just some random girl. You’re his mate. The Moon Goddess paired you with Aiden. That means something. And you can’t let anyone, especially not someone like Cassandra, make you feel less than who you are.”

She was right.

Cassandra reminded me of Diva, and I had survived Diva. I wouldn’t let anyone else treat me like that again.

I wiped my face with my hand and stood up slowly, my legs still a little shaky.

“I won’t let her win,” I whispered.

I wasn’t going to let her steal what was mine. Not this time.

“She doesn’t get to decide my worth,” I said more firmly now, looking at my reflection in the mirror across the room. “She doesn’t get to call me names. She doesn’t get to break me. She doesn’t get to order me.”

“She may think she’s already won,” Rhea added gently, “but she has no idea who she’s messing with.”

“Now go eat something,” Rhea said. “You’ve had a long day, and Ivy’s probably waiting downstairs.”

I nodded and forced a little smile. “You’re right. I’m done letting people walk all over me.”

I looked around the room again, reminding myself that I wasn’t a slave anymore.

Not here.

Not now.

And never again.

I pulled my shoulders back and took a deep breath.

“This time, I’m not backing down,” I said under my breath. “No matter what happens.”

This was just the beginning.