37. TERRIBLE LIAR

RAVEN

I was crouched near the eastern wall of the training ground, tightening the bolts on the weapon rack, when I felt the sudden rush of movement behind me. Before I could even turn, Selene’s hand shot out and snatched the tool right out of mine like she owned the godsdamn place.

“What the hell?” I snapped, standing quickly. My voice wasn't loud, but the tension was already crawling up my spine.

Her guards appeared like shadows out of nowhere, circling her as though I had lunged first. I hadn’t even moved. She was the one who came to me. My fists twitched at my sides, and I had to remind myself to breathe. Deep and slow. Don’t give her what she wants.

“What’s your problem, Selene?” I asked tightly, trying to keep my voice even, though my heart was slamming hard against my ribs.

“You storm over here, grab my stuff, and now your dogs want to jump me?”

She narrowed her eyes, voice rising instantly so everyone in the damn clearing could hear. “Don’t play innocent, Vee. Whatever you’re hiding—spit it out. Now.”

My jaw clenched. “Hiding what?” I looked around at the others nearby who had paused their training to stare.

“What exactly do you think I’m hiding?”

Her eyes were wild with something I couldn’t place—paranoia, desperation, or maybe just her usual flair for drama. She stepped closer, her voice sharp as a whip.

“Don’t test me. I can smell secrets on you.”

That did it. The anger surged like a wildfire. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, so tight my nails bit into my palms. I imagined slapping that smug expression off her face. Just once. Just enough to make her stagger, to shut her up—but I swallowed it. That one slap could land me in the dungeon. Or worse. And she knew it. She counted on it.

“I’m not hiding anything,” I said quietly, teeth gritted. “You’re accusing the wrong person.”

She laughed—loud, bitter, cruel. “You’re such a terrible liar, Vee. Soon, everyone will see you for what you are. And when that time comes, don’t bother begging.”

She hissed, flicked her hair over her shoulder, and turned her back on me like I wasn’t worth the air. Her guards followed her, like loyal, mindless dogs.

I stared at her retreating form, breathing hard. The red haze was there again. That familiar itch behind my eyes. The urge to snap her neck and finally—finally—be done with her. The revenge I’d been waiting for felt like it was crawling at a snail’s pace, and every smug word from her lips made the wait unbearable.

But no… not here. Not yet.

Let her think she won.

For now.

Later on, I walked up to Rowena with heavy steps, the ache in my chest burning hotter than usual, my fists clenched so tightly I could feel my nails cutting into my palm. I didn’t even wait till she turned around. I just blurted.

“I can’t hold on much longer, Rowena. I swear, if I don’t burn this damn pack down with my bare hands, I’ll lose my mind.”

She turned to face me, calm as ever, her eyes scanning mine. “Raven,” she said slowly, with that eerie patience she always had.

“I know it’s hard. Especially after what Selene did. I saw the look in your eyes when she mocked you in front of everyone.”

“She humiliated me,” I snapped, my voice rising. “In front of her stupid friends. Like I was nothing! Just because she’s Kieran’s sister, she thinks she can get away with everything. And everyone lets her.”

Rowena stepped closer, her voice lower now. “You have every right to feel this way, but don’t lose control now. You’ve come too far. We’ve come too far. Revenge is closer than you think.”

I stared at her, my breaths sharp, my jaw clenched. “I want to see her bleed,” I muttered. “I want her to beg.”

“And she will,” Rowena replied without flinching. “Soon, Raven. Their heads will be on a stake. Just like we planned.”

I narrowed my eyes on her. “Any new development?”

She nodded slightly. “Lucian sent word. He wants to meet. Tonight. After midnight.”

My eyes darted around instantly. “We need to be careful. I have this... feeling. What if Kieran’s watching us? He’s been quiet lately. That usually means he’s thinking. Or worse, plotting.”

Rowena's lips curled into a tight smile. “He might be. But we’ll be ready for him too. Don’t underestimate Lucian.”

I looked at her again, unsure whether to feel comforted or more uneasy. “I’m not underestimating Lucian,” I said. “But Kieran’s not an idiot. He saw the shift in our behavior. He must know something’s off.”

“He might suspect,” she admitted, “but suspecting and proving are two different things. We haven’t slipped yet.”

I shook my head slowly, still unconvinced. “One wrong move, and this entire thing falls apart. We’ve been building this for months, Rowena. I won’t let some cocky Alpha ruin it because we got too comfortable.”

“And we won’t,” she said, her eyes locked onto mine. “We’re not done yet. But tonight—tonight might just be the turning point.”

I didn’t answer right away. I stared out into the trees instead, the moonlight casting eerie shadows.

“It better be,” I muttered. “Because if it isn’t... I won’t wait anymore.”

"I saw her spit out the cookies today," Rowena whispered, eyes darting to make sure no one else was listening. Her tone was sharp, accusing, laced with suspicion.

"You sure you’re dosing them right? She’s not supposed to notice, Raven."

I didn’t even flinch. Just kept my face calm, my voice steady as I picked at the crust of my sandwich.

“She’s getting weaker, isn’t she?” I said with a small smirk curling my lips. “That’s all that matters. The nausea, the dizziness… the tremors she tries to hide? They’re all signs it’s working. She’s not suspecting anything—just thinks she’s stressed. Poor little Alpha princess.”

Rowena narrowed her eyes on me. “That doesn’t answer my question. You’re sure she’s eating them?”

“She still trusts me enough to let me in her space,” I said softly, leaning in as if we were gossiping about some boy we both liked.

“She’s too busy being the queen of the damned to notice that the ‘sweet, quiet Raven’ might be sliding her a little wolfsbane with her tea biscuits.” I chuckled low.

“Even when she snaps at me, pushes me away, throws those glares like I’m a roach under her heel—I still smile, offer her a snack, and she takes it. Her pride won’t let her admit something’s wrong.”

Rowena’s lips tightened, her nails tapping the edge of the table. “You better be right. We can’t afford mistakes now, not when we’re so close to phase two. If she drops too soon or in a way that raises flags—”

“She won’t,” I cut her off, firm but quiet. “I’ve already started doubling the dose in the blueberry ones. She likes those the most. Says they remind her of her mother’s cooking.” I rolled my eyes at that, resisting the urge to gag.

“She doesn’t know that the berries I use now come from that patch I laced with concentrated extract.”

There was a long pause. Then Rowena exhaled, nodding slowly. “And you’re not getting cold feet?”

I let the silence stretch, let the weight of her words sit between us before I answered. “Every time she talks to me like I’m dirt under her boots, every time she tosses her hair and reminds me I’m nothing but a charity case in this pack, I remember why we’re doing this,” I said, eyes darkening, voice low with venom.

“She thinks she's untouchable. But she’s already dying, and she doesn’t even know it. That’s the best part. She’s decaying from the inside, and when she finally drops, they’ll scramble, confused, helpless. And we’ll be there... to clean up the mess.”

Rowena smiled then, slow and dangerous. “Good. Keep smiling. Keep feeding her. Soon, they’ll cry at her funeral while we dance in the ashes.”

I gave her a small nod and stood, brushing imaginary crumbs from my skirt. “I’ll bake another batch tonight,” I said as I turned, heading for the kitchen.

“This time, I’ll make sure they’re her favorite. After all… if I’m going to kill a queen, I want her to go out tasting sweetness.”