Chapter 5

Marietta's Pov

The second the door shut behind me, I collapsed onto my bed.

My body ached all over and my back burned from the whips. 

I buried my face in my pillows, biting down in the soft pillowcase as sobs racked through me.

Why does it always end like this?

I had wanted to see father and for what?

For this? 

For him to look at me like I wasn't worth asking what had happened to me. 

For him to regard me like I was nothing.

It was clear now.

I had no one.

No one except myself.

I forced myself to sit up and the movement sent a sharp pain through my back and I hissed.

My dress was still sticking to my wounds.

I shuffled to the small mirror on my dresser and whipped out a white cloth. I dampened it in water and wiped off the dried blood. 

Each stung, each aching pulse, only made my anger burn hotter. 

I stared at my reflection, my breath shaky.

I looked pathetic but this feeling brewing in the pit of my stomach wasn't weakness anymore.

It was pure rage.

They thought I was nothing.

They thought I was just a worthless, rejected wolf.

But they were wrong.

I would never cry over them ever again.

I would never beg them for love.

I would make them all reject it.

Starting with Alpha Kyros.

One day, I will destroy them all. Everyone who'd ever hurt me.

I barely had time to process my emotions before —

“Marietta, your father summons you in his office.” The maid's shrill voice announced. 

I was confused.

Father was not one to summon me not to talk of his holding the meeting in his office.  

Standing outside my father's office felt worse than facing a pack of rogue wolves. 

“Enter.”

I stepped inside cautiously, keeping my head low. My father stood near the window, arms crossed.

“Where did you run off to?” He asked.

Straight to the point, as always. 

“I was captured…” I replied carefully. “...by a rogue Alpha. His name is Kyros.” 

The reaction was instant.

Father stiffened, his eyes narrowing. He turned to face me fully, and for the first time in years, he looked shocked. 

“Kyros?” He repeated, like he couldn't believe it.

“Yes, sir.” I said with a nod. 

His eyes darkened. “What did he want from you?”

“He thought I was a spy but I convinced him I wasn't.” 

Father pinched his eyelids. “And he let you go just like that?”

“Yes, sir.” I muttered.

“You're dismissed.” He said.

I turned, ready to leave but as I reached for the door, his voice stopped me. 

“Stay out of trouble, Marietta.” Father said.

I almost laughed.

I'd been doing that since I was born. 

I thought being summoned by my father was easy but I wasn't. The palace invited me over.

The second I took a step into the hall, the air became thin.

At the far end of the room, His Majesty, Alpha King Roman, sat atop his throne. He was a very powerful man — he was intimidating, tall, and his powerful golden eyes pierced through my soul as he looked at me.

“You are Marietta Drayton, correct?” His regal voice echoed through the grand hall.

I nodded, forcing my voice to remain calm. “Yes, Your Majesty.” 

“I heard you were captured by Kyros, the Rogue Alpha. Is that correct?”

The way he said Kyros's name made my heart clench. 

Kyros, the most wanted criminal in BloodMoon pack. 

I had unknowingly spent time with someone every wolf in my pack wanted dead. And now, they want details.

I carefully recounted my ordeal making sure I omit the part where Kyros asked me to spy for him.

His Majesty, Alpha Roman, listened with an unreadable expression on his face. 

“Did he say anything about his plans?” He asked suddenly, cutting me off mid-sentence.

“No, Your Majesty,” I shook my head.

He gave a long pause before nodding to me. “You may go.” 

Relief washed over me as I turned to leave.

But then I saw HIM!

My teeth gritted with rage and my heart clenched.

The nerve of him!

I had to walk past him.

I needed to walk past him.

But his voice stopped me.

“Marietta, wait!” 

I froze.

Slowly, I turned to face him.

Hunter.

And he looked… different. 

There was no lazy smirk, no disgust in his eyes, not even a flicker of hatred on his features. Just… something… softer. Something I had wanted to see so badly that night. 

“I heard what happened…” he began in a soft voice I never knew he owned. “I just… I'm sorry.”

Sorry?

A part of me wanted to laugh while the other half wanted to punch him.

“You're sorry?” I said in a sharp voice.

Hunter exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I know I was harsh. I shouldn't have treated you like that in front of everyone. I was such a jerk.”

I stared at him, my heart betraying me by beating faster.

He cared?

After everything? 

Maybe… just maybe there was little hope after all.

Before I could open my mouth to speak, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind.

A beautiful purple-haired woman leaned into him, her eyes filled with warmth as she smiled at him.

“Hunter,” she cooed. “I was looking for you.” 

My body turned to ice.

Hunter gently unwrapped her arm from his waist and cleared his throat.

“Marietta… um … this is Valerie,” he began nervously. “My fiance.” 

Those words cut through me like a blade.

I forced a smile, despite my heart twisting painfully. 

“Congratulations.” I said softly. Then I walked away before he could see my eyes burn with unshed. 

I barely made it home before the dam broke. 

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I slammed my door shut, pressing my back against it. 

How could I have been so stupid?

How could I have wanted him after everything he did to me?

I wiped my tears roughly, disgusted with myself.

I had bigger things to worry about.

There was a letter sitting on my bed. 

I picked it up, breaking the seal with trembling fingers. 

The message was short.

Find out when Alpha Roman plans to attack me and report back immediately. If you fail, I'll kill you — Kyros.

I had my first mission.

If I was caught, I would be executed as a traitor. If I wasn't, I'd carry out my duties without any surveillance.

I crumpled the paper in my hand, feeling a rush of excitement roll over me.

Beneath the fear was a strange, dangerous enthusiasm.

Despite all that's happened, a part of me couldn't wait to see Kyros again.