Chapter 2

Ava's POV

A WEEK LATER

I was beyond happy as I watched the marriage ceremony of Alpha getting married. It felt like a dream when Briane and the other maids had said it days ago...I found it hard to believe because it felt too true to believe until Alpha Darien had announced himself that we should start preparing for the ceremony.

That moment had almost knocked the wind out of me. I remember just staring at him, frozen in place, barely able to process his words. I was still healing from the last punishment—my back burned with every step—but the pain paled in comparison to the spark of hope that lit up in my chest. And he hadn’t sent for me since then, and I had really been grateful for that.

I had thrown myself into the preparations willingly, doing more than was asked.

And now, here I am. Standing at the edge of the courtyard, half-hidden behind the marble pillar of the archway, eyes fixed on the sight in front of me. He’s standing beside her...His bride.

Her name is Alina. I’d heard it passed around in whispers for the past days. She was royalty, they said. She’s tall, graceful, with silver hair and blue eyes. Her smile was calm and perfect as she placed a kiss on Alpha Darien's cheek.

Does this mean... I'm free? Like finally free?

Not entirely. I know better than to hope for too much. But maybe... just maybe, he’ll forget about me now. Maybe the bruises will stop coming. Maybe I’ll be invisible enough to fade into the background like the other maids. Maybe I’ll finally just...exist without being punished for it.

"Ava." Mira’s soft voice cut through my thoughts and I blinked fast, realizing my eyes were blurry. She walked over and stood beside me, her dress simple but clean. We were all given one nice gown to wear for the ceremony. I chose the plainest one—light blue with short sleeves—because I didn’t want to be noticed.

"I’m really happy for you, Ava,” Mira said softly, her gaze trailing to the couple at the altar.

I swallowed. My throat felt tight. “I know, right.”

Lyra’s voice chimed in from behind, her arm brushing mine. “You’ll finally be free like us.”

"Yes." I muttered, my eyes still fixed on the scene in front of me.

The crowd begins to disperse as the Alpha and his new Luna head toward the castle for the grand feast. I see servants rushing ahead to prepare. I clutch the sides of my dress and take a slow, shaky breath.

Mira touched my arm gently. “Let’s head to the kitchen. The head maid’s already asking for us.”

I nodded as I turned to follow them. Maybe… just maybe… I was done being a toy.

****

"The Luna is asking of you." Lyra’s voice came quickly, breathless, as she burst into my room.

“What?! Why does she want to see me?” I asked, sitting up slowly.

Lyra looked just as confused. “I don’t know, but I’m surprised she specifically asked for you.”

It had been a full month since Alpha Darien’s wedding, and he hadn’t called for me once. Not a word. Not a glance. Even when I passed him in the hallway and bowed so low my neck ached, he didn’t look at me. It was like I had turned to dust in his eyes—and I had been so grateful for that.

Even my wounds are healed now, thanks to that mysterious balm, only scars remaining all over my body.

I rose slowly and slipped into a simple brown gown. My hands trembled slightly as I tied the sash.

I had never interacted with Luna Alina directly. The other maids were careful—too careful—not to talk about her.

As we entered, Luna Alina didn’t look up immediately. She sat on her enormous bed, sipping red wine, while two maids tended to her hands and feet. Her robe was silk, embroidered with threads of gold. Her hair, long and silver, tumbled over her shoulder.

“Lyra, you can leave,” she said without looking up. Lyra bowed deeply and left immediately.

“Stop,” Alina snapped suddenly, and the maids attending her jumped, then rushed to kneel in a corner, heads bowed.

I swallowed. "You called for me, Luna."

She rose, stepping toward me. Her heels clicked sharply on the marble and then her hand landed on my cheek... unexpectedly.

My head snapped sideways. I gasped, stumbling slightly, my hand flying to my stinging cheek. The pain flared instantly—hot and humiliating. Even the kneeling maids flinched.

“I heard you were the one seducing my husband,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. Her hand settled on her hip like a queen pronouncing judgment.

“I didn’t—” I began, but my voice caught in my throat as another slap landed on my cheek, harder.

"Haven't they told you about me? When I speak, you do not. When I breathe, you kneel. Or is it because we’re sharing the same cock, you forgot your place?”

“No, ma,” I whispered, sinking to my knees. My pride shattered with the motion, but survival demanded obedience.

“You’re going to pay for what you did.” Her voice was calm now. Too calm. Like the calm before the storm

She clapped her hands once, sharply. The door opened and two guards entered.

“Shed off her clothes,” she ordered.

I froze. “Please—” I started, but her hand flew again, silencing me with another burning slap.

I cried out, but no one listened. My dress was ripped from my body by the guards, along with my undergarments. I was left naked—exposed—in front of them all. I tried to cover myself, arms crossing over my chest.

“What are you covering, bitch? You didn’t seem to care when you were flaunting yourself to him,” she growled.

“I’m sorry, ma,” I pleaded, shaking, palms pressed together.

"Sorry, my foot. Stand up!" I scrambled to my feet, shame crawling over my skin like fire ants.

“Follow me.” I reached down instinctively to gather my torn clothes.

“Did I ask you to pick up your clothes?” she snapped. “You’ll walk like this—everywhere—until I say otherwise.”

“What?!” The word slipped out before I could stop it. Her hand flew again, and this time...my ears rang.

“To the hallway,” she barked. “Let the pack see what kind of slut tries to steal a Luna’s husband.”

The guards dragged me out. I trembled, head bowed, too humiliated to look at anyone. Whispers exploded instantly.

“Ava!” Lyra and Mira’s voices broke through the noise. Their faces were pale, eyes filled with tears.

Karen, the oldest maid rushed forward. “What are you doing?!”

“The Luna’s orders,” one guard replied.

Karen turned to Luna Alina as she strode from her room. “Luna, this—”

“Are you saying I’m wrong?” Alina demanded.

Karen’s lips trembled. “No…”

“Then don’t you dare interfere.”

I met Karen’s eyes and shook my head gently. I didn’t want her hurt because of me.

“Let her walk,” Alina said. “If she refuses, beat her senseless.” They let go, and I stumbled forward, naked, letting my tears flow freely.

"Please, forgive me, Luna," I pleaded, falling to my knees with a dull thud. The cold marble floor bit into my skin, but I didn’t care. I clasped my hands together, lowering my forehead in a gesture of total surrender. My voice shook with desperation. “Please…”

But it was like my words never reached her. Luna Alina didn’t pause. She didn’t flinch. She simply turned, her silken robe swishing behind her as she disappeared into her room.

“Let’s go,” one of the guards said.

I stood shakily, my knees trembling beneath me, and followed. Tears streamed down my cheeks, falling fast. My arms remained crossed over my bare chest.

We walked out of the mansion, and the sunlight hit my exposed body like a curse. I couldn’t even raise my head. I stared at the ground as we moved. I could feel dozens of people's gaze on me followed by whispers.

"I heard she's been trying to seduce the Alpha for a while now," a woman said, her tone thick with contempt. I felt her eyes drag over my body like poison.

"Yes, she has no shame," another woman chimed in, her voice sharper, crueler. I didn’t dare look at them. I kept walking, one foot in front of the other.

"Was she trying to become the Luna or what? Such a slut," the first spat again. A stick whizzed through the air and struck my arm with a sharp thwack. I yelped, recoiling from the blow. A bruise bloomed instantly.

"She's a disgrace to womanhood," another woman hissed. A small rock followed the insult and slammed into the back of my head.

Pain exploded behind my eyes. My vision blurred. I swayed on my feet, dizzy from the impact. I touched the back of my head and pulled my fingers away, shaking—they were wet. Blood.

"I hear she's just twenty years," someone muttered.

"Twenty years? And she's a slut already?!" came the disgusted reply.

That comment seemed to open the floodgates because more objects—shoes, sticks, even rotten fruit—were hurled at me.

I stumbled. My knees wobbled, nearly giving out beneath me. Every cruel word sliced into me like a dagger. My skin throbbed with fresh bruises layered over old ones.

The guards didn’t care. They marched behind me like I was a criminal being paraded, not a girl who’d already been punished enough for a sin she never committed.

I wanted to scream. To vanish. To dig into the earth and never be found again. My hands tried to cover what little dignity I had left, but it was impossible.

And yet… I kept walking. One foot in front of the other. I didn’t know where I was going—I don't know where they were taking me but the humiliation was too unbearable.

A child started crying when she saw me. Her mother pulled her away, casting me a look full of disdain. A man spat near my feet. I flinched, startled, ashamed.

Someone threw a shoe, and it hit my leg hard enough to leave a welt. I gasped, stumbling forward, hands outstretched to catch myself as I nearly fell.

Laughter rang out from a group of women, followed by more jeers. One of them mimed spitting, and I flinched even though the spit didn’t hit me. My legs trembled with every step, each bruise a growing fire across my skin.

"She's so pathetic. No wonder she was sold."

“Slut.”

“Attention-seeking maid.”

Their voices kept coming. I wanted to fucking scream. But I kept walking. Because I knew if I stopped…they would tear me apart.

We passed the training grounds, and I caught a glimpse of young warriors practicing under the sun. Their movements stopped. Their attention turned to me.

Oh, Goddess…not here.

My legs gave out. I dropped to my knees in the dirt, breathing hard, my body unable to go further. My arms shook. My skin stung in a thousand places and it felt my strength kept draining. I could taste blood in my mouth. The guards stopped walking, but didn’t help me up.

One of the guards raised a hand to strike but suddenly, a deep voice boomed across the square, silencing the crowd.

“Don’t you dare!"

My eyes fluttered, vision dimming as the last of my strength slipped away. I couldn’t lift my head to see who it was as darkness consumed me whole, and I felt a hand grasp me.