Chapter 3

Athena's Pov

I woke up to something warmth, gentle, and safe.

For a brief second, I thought that everything that had happened had all been a nightmare. 

That I was still in my tiny, cramped room in the servant's quarters. 

That I hadn't just witnessed the most terrifying scene of my life. But then, pain slammed into me.

My shoulders throbbed from where I had been bitten. My limbs were unbearably heavy and felt like dead weight.

A metallic scent hit my nostrils and then I smelled it. 

Blood. 

It was my blood.

My blood.

Everything that happened was real. 

A gasp escaped me as my eyes shot open.

I was in a dimly lit room, lying on a bed too comfortable to be mine. 

The thick scent of pine and smoke lingered in the air and not the stale smell my room reeked with.

It wasn't uncomfortable but I was.

I tried to sit up but a sharp pain in my neck made me wince.

“You're awake.” A deep voice said.

It was smooth like wine and very familiar. 

I turned my head to the left to get a closer look at the intruder and met Damien’s blue eyes.

Damien, the Beta of DarkMoon pack.

The Alpha wolf who was strong, powerful and handsome in a way that made most women swoon.

He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest.

I swallowed hard. “H — How did I get here?” 

He leaned away from the doorframe, scanning my face as he moved closer. “I found you unconscious near the pack borders… . You looked half dead.” 

I almost was?

Memories crashed over me — Nuella's corpse, the Alpha twins, the searing pain of their marks on both sides of my neck…

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing those dreadful images to the deepest depths of my mind.

Nuella.

I gasped.

“I…I need to see the Alpha and Luna,” I croaked.

Damien studied me for a moment. “You are in no condition to speak.”

“Please.” I pleaded, my voice cracking.

They had to know what happened to their daughter.

He hesitated for a second before nodding. “Alright.” 

He turned in his heels and walked away. 

A few minutes later, he returned with two burly-looking guards.

“They're waiting.” He said.

Without a word of command, the guards moved and came over to help me.

As we walked down the halls, I couldn't help but recall Ryan's words :

“...You're an Omega, right? There's no way anyone will believe you if you told them what happened here.”

I shook my head, refusing to dwell on them. 

There was no way I would know that until I tried.

“We're here.” Damien announced and gave a light pat on the door. 

“Come in.” The Alpha's regal voice announced.

The door opened and we entered.

The Alpha's throne room was grand, far too grand for someone like me to enter.

The guards let go of me and stepped back while Damien and I remained. 

I stood in front of Alpha and Luna, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

Luna Mirabella's eyes were red-rimmed and her face was pale. Alpha Kyros sat beside her, his expression unreadable.

Nuella was their only child. Their precious princess and I were about to destroy them with the truth.

“Where is Nuella?” Alpha Ragnar asked in a gentle voice.

I recalled Nuella’s mutilated corpse and my throat tightened.

“Speak up!” Alpha Ragnar banged his fist on the leather armrest and I flinched.

I cleared my throat and forced myself to speak. “S - She's dead.” 

Silence.

The room was suffocating.

Luna Mirabella's hands trembled. “What … what did you just say?”

Tears blurred my vision, but I pushed through.

“I found her in the woods. She — she was already dead when I got there…” I choked, my voice barely a whisper. “The Alpha twins killed her.” 

Luna Mirabella rose from her throne. “Say that again.”

I froze.

“Speak, girl!” She screamed, making her way towards me.

“Darling…” Alpha Ragnar called behind her but she was too blinded by grief to respond.

“Nuella was killed… by the Alpha twins.”

She stopped in front of me. Then, suddenly — 

SLAP!

Pain exploded across my face. My head snapped to the side.

I could barely register the gasp from my lips.

“You liar!” Luna Mirabella screamed with rage.

I clutched my cheek, tasting blood in my mouth. 

“You're a bloody liar!” She raised her hand again and I failed to dodge it in time.

A sob threatened to escape my lips but I swallowed. Hard. 

“I'm telling the truth. I'm not lying…” 

“You think you can make up disgusting lies about the Alpha pack?” She grabbed the collar of my dress and tugged hard. “Who do you even think you are, Omega?”

Ryan's voice, cold and teasing resurfaced again.

“There's no way anyone will believe you if you told them what happened here.”

I flinched.

He was right.

I should've expected this.

I'm nothing.

Nobody would believe the words of a worthless Omega.

“Are you sure about what you're saying, Athena?” Alpha Ragnar asked, his voice void of warmth.

“Yes!” I cried out, desperately. “I was there. I saw them. The twins were covered in blood. Her blood! They stood over her body. I ran. I ran but they — they,” My voice cracked. “They marked me.”

Luna Mirabella let out a harsh laugh, shaking her head. 

“This is ridiculous.” She scoffed.

“Check my shoulders,” I pleaded,  tailing my fingers over my shoulders. “Their marks are there.” 

She didn't even spare me a second glance. Instead, she turned to her husband and said, “She's lying.” 

Alpha Ragnar sighed, rubbing his face. “Selene —”

“No,” she snapped. “She's trying to cover up what she did to our daughter!” 

My stomach dropped.

No.

They couldn't believe it.

That was a huge lie.

Damien turned to me and I saw the look in his eyes. He wanted to believe me but —

I tore my gaze away. One more lingering second and I would burst into tears. “I would never hurt Nuella! I —”

“— are a  lying scum!” Luna Mirabella cut me off. “You were the last person to see her, and now, you who show up with a ridiculous story, expecting us to believe you over the Alpha twins?” 

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out.

She was right

The Alpha twins weren't just powerful. They were Alpha royalty.

Who would believe the odds of a lowly Omega over them?” 

Alpha Ragnar sighed again and rose to his feet. “We will search for Nuella's body.” 

I exhaled shakily.

Good. If they saw her, they'd all believe me.

“But,” he added. “You will be sent to the dungeon.”

My eyes widened. “What?”