"Leave." Susan's voice was hard. I flinched and glanced at Lily who looked like she didn't want to risk moving from Damien's arms. Damien extended his hand to the messenger and dismissed him, while everyone else left the room. For a moment it was quite, until Susan spoke again. "I said leave." Oh. My eyes widened and my cheeks tinged with embarrassment. Why did I think she would want to open Alpha Chris Vale's message in front of me? "Both of you." She added again, and Lily's head shot up so fast, I feared she would dislocate it. "But mother—" "I'm not your mother." Susan cut off her with a snide look. Despite myself, I couldn't help but be pleased that Susan didn't seem to like her too. Lily stubbornly held on to Damien, who suddenly looked extremely exhausted. "Alpha," she pouted, tears in her eyes again. I was already moving to the door when Damien spoke. "
My back straightened when I heard that familiar voice, and despite myself I turned to him quickly, hating that I wanted to check up on him even after everything. Lily was just as quick, her expression morphing into one of worry, before she moved towards him. "Oh, alpha! We've been so worried for you. How did this happen?" Her words broke off, huge gulps escaping her lips. My eyes travelled to her, and I mildly wondered if this was the woman who had been hell-bent on throwing me out. Now she looked so distraught, crying over my mate. I eyed her foolish performance. Damien managed a weak smile. "Those darned bear pack. I'll ruin them if it's the last thing I do." He spat angrily. Shivers travelled up my skin at the tight expression on his face, his muscles bulging with rage. Unconsciously, I reached my hand to soothe his tense forearm, and he visibly relaxed. I gasped, taken aback by th
Lily's footsteps were followed by Susan's who was walking closely behind her. I watched them approaching—a dangerous glint in Lily's eyes like a predator approaching a prey. My throat bobbed with the force of swallowing, and my hands felt incredibly sweaty. Just a day ago, this woman who I thought was nothing more than a rogue mistress to my mate had caused me to be confined. I knew I couldn't underestimate her anymore. "I—I came because I thought he might need my help." I stuttered, looking back at Damien who didn't look as bad as before. My palm that touched his skin still felt hot to the touch, but at least he didn't look so pale. And I could feel how he felt through the mate bond—he had truly left the brink of death. I didn't know how to feel about that. On one hand I hated how weak I had been to the bond, letting it force me to feel sympathy for a man who didn't care about me. On anot
My breathe stuttered, and I vaguely felt Runa wrapping her arm around me. "My lady, please wake up!" I blinked rapidly, trying to soothe the fire behind my eyes, before I struggled to stand on shaky feet. The guard who'd been resistant to letting me go now had a grave look on his face. I grabbed Runa's hands, "Take me to the alpha." Everything after that was a blur. People were running, but I didn't know where they were running to. I caught men in long white robes rushing out with equipments I was sure to be medical care kit. I was acutely aware of Runa's grip on my arm, an offered support as she led me to towards another room. When I stepped in, multiple eyes zeroed in on me, and I didn't notice where I was until I felt my emotions string tighter than a rope. All my senses were attuned to the person on the bed, and I walked with heavy feet, unable to see or hear anyone until I got to his
Or maybe, he was dying. Almost in the grave.A painful feeling like claws sinking into my chest and ripping out my heart expanded until my vision clouded. I couldn't remember what I did first, but I knew I was screaming—deep and painful guttural screams that shook my body. I pressed my hand to my chest, clutching my throat desperately, with fingers that appeared hazy in my vision. What was happening to me? I wasn't sure of it, but I knew something terrible was happening to my mate, and that was why I was in so much pain. It seemed that without Damien rejecting me, I could still feel somewhat of his emotions—or his impending death. From a distance, I could hear Runa screaming in panic, her hands reaching for me to soothe me, but I pushed her away. I rushed up and ran towards my bedroom doors, more desperate to get out, and—and what? Help him? The same monster who had killed me, but
A day passed—a full twenty four hours, and I knew because I was being fed three meals a day. Which meant I'd gotten three meals by now—but I hadn't stepped a foot out of my room yet. I knew I should be worried about the prospects of being locked up in my room throughout Lily's pregnancy, but that seemed like a faraway thought.At least compared to the task I had at hand—feeding the poison to Damien. With the only person coming and leaving my room being Runa, who brought me my meals, the chances of giving Damien the poison were dwindling before my eyes. My mate wasn't even looking at, more or less kissing me. And as much as I hated Damien, I desperately wished he would come see me. The Serpent never told me what would happen if I didn't manage to dispell the poison out of me in record time, but I had an inkling of what would befall me. The poison inside me needed an out—something to destroy—anything at all, and
"What? What do you mean by that?" I croaked, hating the desperation that was seeping into my tone. He couldn't mean that, right? Lily wasted no time in getting up, and leaning into my mate, who all but melted into her. "Alpha, I want her punished for it." She said the words softly, like a caress, but Damien's eyes were still on me. There was such vicious hate in them, that I wondered if this man and I could possibly have any ties to each other, if my existence was just an uncomfortable reminder to him that I was his mate. Maybe they would have still killed me even if I hadn't caught them in my past life—merely because they hated me. Why did I think I could relive a life with a man who hated me so much? Did I forget the look in his eyes before he took my life in the past? "No need. The maid disrespected me by coming into my room without my permission, I will deal with her." Horror filled me, and I gasped. "She didn't come in. She didn't see anything. I swear on it. If you want
The voice wasn't my mate's voice, so I ignored it and stepped further into the room. Runa came running behind me, barely stepping a foot in before her eyes widened. Shame burnt like an avalanche crashing on me when I realized just what she was seeing. My mate—his limbs all tangled up in Lily's, as she pressed her soft skin to his, practically cooing in pleasure. I wanted to rip her away from him, and throw her out of his arms—his room—this palace. I wanted to drag her hair and stomp on her until—until all the violent emotions I was feeling were appeased. But one look at Damien and I knew he would have my dead instantly if I touched his mistress. So, I curbed all these very rational anger induced thoughts, and flashed Runa who was behind me, a bright smile. Even the smile hurt my face, but I struggled to maintain it. Just a little while. Damien would be dead, and I would throw his shameless mistress out of my life for good. She would regret not even trying to maintain a false
The pale look on my lady in waiting's face spelled of doom, even before those words leave her lips. I could feel my lips parting to tell her that I was fine, but I couldn't really hear myself. "My lady, are you alright? You don't look soo good. You're frightfully pale." She inched closer, pressing soft fingers to my cheeks. I flinched unconsciously, still a little rattled from the attack, despite my survival. Shaking my head, I mustered a smile I hoped reached my eyes. "I'm fine. Did you say there's been an issue?" I repeated her words to her. That was more important than the state I was in, so I probed further. A frown married her face, and she took a step back, keeping some distance between us, as was customary of lady's in waiting. "My lady, it seems miss Lily has done something scandalous." She sounded frightful and restless, but she seemed to watch her words. Did she think I wasn't aware of the rumors? Almost everyone in the kingdom was aware that I had lost favor in my