Chapter 4

MIRA'S POV

Selene leaned in closer to Kael, her lips brushing his ear as she purred, "Kael, darling. Truth or Dare?"

The room went quiet, everyone watching with eager anticipation. I could feel their eyes on me, on him, waiting for the entertainment to begin.

Kael's gaze flicked to me for a split second. "Dare."

Selene's smile widened "Good This would be fun okay baby I dare you to make the servant girl strip and give us a good show we could use some dancer her you know.."

She glanced at me, eyes gleaming with cruelty. "Make it convincing. Am sure it would be her greatest honor to entertain her future Alpha and his Luna."

My stomach dropped. The tray in my hands trembled so violently I thought I might drop it.

No. Please, no.

Laughter exploded around the room. One of the young alphas whistled. "Do it! This should be entertaining."

Another wolf called out, "Make her crawl while she's at it!"

"Bet with that body of hers I'm sure she'll be good" someone else muttered and the room erupted in crude laughter.

My face burned and tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I would not give them that satisfaction.

I looked at Kael, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else.

Please. Please don't do this to me. Not you. Not after everything.

His face was unreadable. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides.

"Kael, darling," Selene purred. "Are you going to do it or not? Or are you too soft to handle a servant?"

The young alphas snickered. "Kael the soft," one of them muttered.

Kael stood up so fast the sofa scraped backward. "Enough," he growled.

Selene's eyes widened. "What?"

But Kael wasn't looking at her anymore. He shoved past the laughing alphas and walked toward the door.

Selene scrambled to her feet. "Kael! Where are you going?Wait"

He paused at the door, his back to the room. "This is stupid."

The words hung in the air He turns to me “you are dismissed return to your quarters”

Selene's face went white, then red. "You humiliated me! In front of everyone!"

But Kael was already gone. The door slammed shut behind him.

For a moment, no one moved then chaos erupted.

"What the hell was that?" someone demanded.

Selene's silver eyes snapped to me, blazing with hatred. "This is your fault. You did something."

"I didn't do anything," I said quietly.

"Liar!"

But I was already moving toward the door I could stay here for a minute longer.

"You're not dismissed!" Selene shrieked. "You're a servant! You don't get to leave until I say you can!"

I didn't stop just kept walking as fast as I could.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" she screamed after me. "I'LL MAKE SURE YOU REGRET THIS!"

I stumbled into the corridor and ran.

I didn't know how long I ran. I just knew I couldn't stop. Not until I reached my tiny room and slid the bolt in place.

Then I collapsed against it, sliding down until I hit the cold stone floor.

I thought I was done crying but I guess I still had some left him me.

The tears came hot and endless.I pressed both hands over my mouth to muffle the sobs that wanted to tear out of my throat.

I kept gasping trying to breath but my chest felt tight like some was squeezing it tight.

He left. He left me there. He didn't even look at me.

I lay in bed through out not even going down for dinner

That night, the window creaked open just after midnight like always

I laid awake staring at the ceiling. I'd been staring at it for hours, replaying every moment.

The second I saw his silhouette slip through the window, something inside me snapped.

Kael landed quietly on the worn floorboards. "Mira. I had to come. Please, let me explain."

I shot up from the bed, the blanket falling to the floor. "Explain?" My voice cracked. "You want to explain?"

He stepped closer. "Selene was testing me. The alliance is fragile. If I had refused….."

"STOP LYING TO ME!" I screamed, tears already spilling down my cheeks. I wipe them away furiously. He won't see me cry " You let her humiliate me while you said nothing! She called me ugly, pathetic, untouched, and you just sat there!"

Kael flinched. "Mira, I—"

"NO!" I shoved him hard in the chest with both hands. He stumbled back but I followed, pounding my fists against him as sobs tore out of me. "THREE YEARS, KAEL! THREE YEARS I LET YOU SNEAK INTO MY BED! THREE YEARS I BELIEVED EVERY PROMISE YOU MADE! YOU TOLD ME I WAS YOUR MATE! YOU TOLD ME YOU LOVED ME! YOU SAID TOMORROW, TOMORROW EVERYTHING WOULD CHANGE!"

Tears streamed down my face. My voice grew louder, raw and broken. "I WAITED LIKE A FOOL WHILE YOU ANNOUNCED YOUR ENGAGEMENT TO HER! AND TONIGHT YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE ME STRIP?"

He tried to grab my wrists. "I walked out. I didn't do it. That has to mean something to you."

"IT MEANS YOU'RE A COWARD!" I moved away from him my chest heaving. "YOU CHOSE HER THE MOMENT YOU STOOD BESIDE HER IN THAT HALL! YOU CHOSE POLITICS OVER YOUR FATED MATE! I WAS NOTHING BUT YOUR DIRTY LITTLE SECRET!"

"Mira, please…" His voice broke. He looked devastated "I do love you. I swear I'm going to fix this. Just give me time.A little time Mira I promise.The pack needs this alliance right now, but you're my everything—"

"YOUR EVERYTHING?" I laughed through my tears, the sound ugly and painful. " WHY DID YOU LET HER MOCK ME? WHY AM I STILL SCRUBBING FLOORS WHILE SHE WEARS YOUR FUTURE LIKE A CROWN?"

I shoved him again, harder this time, pushing him toward the window. "GET OUT! GET OUT AND DON'T COME BACK! I'M DONE WAITING FOR YOU TO CHOOSE ME!"

He stood there for a long moment not knowing what to say. "Mira… I can't lose you.please"

"YOU ALREADY DID!" I screamed, voice trembling as more tears fell.

I turned my back on him and stayed silent. The seconds stretched into minutes. I could feel his eyes on me he way hoping I'll cave and turn to him telling him everything is ok.But im not okay

Finally, after what felt like forever I heard the window creak open.. “I love you.” He whispered then he jumped out.

I stood there for a long time, staring at the wall. Then I collapsed onto my bed and sobbed until I had nothing left.

The next few days passed in a numb fog.

I didn't leave my bed. I couldn't. The thought of facing anyone was too exhausting.

Mara came several times but I kept pretending to be asleep.

Finn came."Mira? You okay in there?" He called out to me.

I didn't answer.

Elara came with food. She left it on a tray outside my door but I just let it sit there until it grew cold. Then someone took it away and left another.

Days passed like that in this pattern and I could only lay in bed not daring to leave my room.

The sun rose and set and I just lay there, staring at the ceiling.

He chose her. He always chose her. He was never going to choose me.

One morning, my door burst open with a loud bang

"That's it," Mara declared,her hands on her hips. "You are getting out of this bed right now, Mira."

Finn stood behind her,."We've given you space but this is getting ridiculous. You look terrible."

Elara entered last, carrying a bowl of warm broth. "Sweetheart, you have to eat something. Just a little. For us?"

I shook my head, curling tighter under the blanket. "I'm not hungry."

"Not an option," Mara said firmly. She yanked the blanket off me. "Up. Now. We're not leaving until you come with us."

I tried to resist but I was too weak. When Maea and Finn set their mind on something they made sure to carry it out so arguing with them was futile.

Mara and Finn grabbed me under my arms and half-dragged me out of bed. My legs buckled beneath me but they held me up.

"Easy," Finn said. "I've got you."

"Please…" I whispered. "Just let me sleep."

"After you eat," Elara said. "Then you can sleep all you want."

They half-carried me down the corridor, into the servants' common room. The fire was crackling and the smell of fresh bread and hot tea filling the air.

The smell made my stomach turn.

"Sit," Elara ordered, pushing me onto a bench.

I slumped forward, too tired to hold myself up.

Mara set a bowl of stew in front of me. "Eat."

I stared at it.

The broth was thick with chunks of meat and vegetables floating on the surface.

It was my favorite, “oh thank you”I said, tears filling my eyes. At least someone still remembers me.

"I don't need your gratitude Mira." Mara's voice was sharper now. "Eat the stew."

Slowly, I lifted the spoon. My hand trembled so badly I almost dropped it.

"Come on," Finn said softly. "Just one bite."

I brought the spoon to my lips. The warmth spread across my tongue. I didn't want to eat but I forced myself to swallow.

"Good," Elara said. "Another bite. You'll feel better."

I took another. And another. Just to make them stop staring.

Mara watched me closely. "Talk to us. What really happened at that party? You've been like this since Kael's announcement."

"I don't want to talk about it," I mumbled.

Elara placed a hand on my arm. "Whatever it is, you don't have to carry it alone. We're your friends."

Tears stung my eyes. I pushed the bowl away and stood up so quickly my chair toppled over.

"I need some air."

I didn't wait for their response. I turned and fled.

I barely made it halfway down the corridor before my stomach churn. My hand flew to my mouth but it was already too late.

I dropped to my knees and vomited everything I'd just eaten.

The stew came back up, burning my throat leaving me gasping and shaking.

The world swam around me, my vision blurred and I couldn't breathe.

I heard hurried behind me hurried toward me and gentle hand rubbed circles on my back.

"Mira?....Mira, are you okay?"