Chapter 4

Violeta's Pov

During the days that followed, I stopped eating.

Stopped speaking.

I barely existed.

There was nothing left for me in this place and yet I remained.

Theron didn't force me to leave but he didn't comfort me either.

He let me grieve but he didn't hold me like he used to as I wept.

And Camilla?

She grew even more restless than she was when I was pregnant.

Every little thing made her furious.

And I knew why.

It was because she couldn't understand why I was still here or why Theron hadn't rejected me. I didn't even have an answer to that question.

I, too, wanted to know why Theron kept me here despite all that'd happen.

I didn't give much thought to it.

I just kept on existing like I used to.

But they wouldn't let me live in peace now, would they?

The horror began with whispers.

At first, they were slow, quiet, murmurs in the halls.

Every time I walked by, the servants would exchange glances, the guards would avoid my gaze and even the maids serving me would murmur.

I thought they were talking about my scarred face.

If only I had known it was more than that.

If only I had been quick to realize that it was all a plan to destroy me.

Cammila's plan.

One afternoon, I was sitting in the garden, embroidering two guards came in and dragged me out without an explanation.

“Hey,” I protested as they led me away to heaven-knows-where.

Well, I was starting to get an idea of where I was being dragged to when I arrived at Theron's throne room.

The guards forced me on my knees.

Theron's deep voice boomed through the room. “Violeta Silver, you have been found accused of a crime punishable by law.”

Crime?

Was embroidery now a crime?

I arched my brow, confused. “What?”

Cammila stepped forward, her face awash with an emotion I've never seen her display — sorrow.

“It breaks my heart,” she sobbed.

I was stunned at her acting. She was a PRO.

“My lord, I saw her.” she continued.

Saw who?

“I saw Violeta with Gaius.” She covered her face with white kerchief.

I wrinkled my nose. “Who the heck is Gaius?”

They said Gaius was shoved to the floor beside me. The hefty man turned to look at me and I recognized him instantly. He was the guard that had summoned me the night Theron found out I was pregnant.

I looked at Camilla. “What do you mean you saw me with him? When did I ever meet this man?”

Cammila scoffed. “Don't deny it. I saw you both the other day, embracing each other like lovers do.”

Now, it was my turn to scoff. This is ridiculous.

This is her game now?

Now, I understood what Theron meant by “crime punishable by law.”

Theron continued. “Violet Silver, you stand accused of fraternization with a staff member of the castle, a betrayal, a crime worse than anything imaginable.”

“Betrayal?” I rose to defend myself. “How could I give my body to another man after losing my child? Where is the logic in that?!”

Cammila raised her voice too. “I caught her, sneaking around the castle. She confronted Gaius. Didn't she confront you, Gaius?”

All eyes fell on Gaius.

And suddenly, it clicked.

“Lies!” I wanted to scream.

How could someone go to this extent to ruin me?

Cammila flashed me a grin and suddenly faked a sob when Theron looked at her.

“I told you, my Lord,” she cried. “I told you of her infidelity. I thought she destroys everything she lays her hands on.”

Infidelity? Theron and I aren't even married?!

“You're lying, Cammila!” I yelled.

“Silence!” Theron shot back, his voice, sharp, final, cold.

With a quiet voice, I spoke. “Theron, you know I would never do this.”

He hesitated and I saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

It was over.

Cammila had won.

Again.

She rambled on, cooking up rumours about me and Gaius. And each time she told them the “truth”, the hall would erupt into gasps and everyone would look at me with horror.

“Violeta isn't the saint she claims to be.” Cammila turned to me as if to say ‘I’ve won.’

The hall fell silent.

So silent that I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

I stared at Theron, waiting for him to say something.

I waited for him to say this is all ridiculous because it was. Because he knew I was innocent.

But he disappointed me yet again.

“You disgust me, Violeta.” He said, his eyes holding nothing but ice.

I opened my mouth to speak but no sound came out.

Gaius, the guard I barely knew, was pulled up to his feet.

“What do you say about these accusations?” Theron asked that man.

Gaius didn't look me in the eye when he admitted to the crime. A crime I never committed.

With a smug expression on his face, he told Theron and the entire pack that both of us were having an affair. He even went as far as lying to everyone that the child I had carried in my womb for 3 months had been his and not Theron's.

“He's lying!” I screamed.

“I told you she was using the pregnancy to manipulate you, my Lord.” Cammila added.

“That’s a lie! A terrible, monstrous lie!” I screamed.

I watched Theron without a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

He didn't even look at me.

He didn't believe me because he believed Gaius.

“Theron, I would never…” My throat went tight with emotion.

Theron's glare cut through me as he scoffed. “You're speechless now? Why? You were so bold when you were trying to trick me. Now, you have nothing to say?”

I shook my head desperately. “No! I never planned to trick you! Gaius, say something!”

“Stop!” Theron's roar sent a shiver down my spine.

He rose to his feet and walked towards me, his imposing figure towering over my small frame grovelling before him. “I should've known that you were a liar from the moment you stepped into my chambers. A slave like you thought you could tie me down? Is that it?”

I shook my head. “The child was yours!”

My voice began to break. “I'm not lying. I never did. I'd never do anything to hurt you.”

Theron barked a laugh. “Don't you dare — don't you dare claim that child was mine because it wasn't!”

“Theron!” I sucked in a sharp breath, tears burning my eyes.

This was the man I once thought I could love.

The father of my deceased son.

And he had just thrown me away. Again!

“The law of this pack states the punishment for fraternization is banishment. Therefore,” Theron declared in a loud voice. “You, Violeta Silver...”

“No…” I pleaded.

“... are banished from the BloodMoon pack.”

It felt like all the air got knocked out of my lungs.

Banished?

I was being banished?

“No…” I whispered but it wasn't enough.

Nothing was.

My knees, though on the floor, weakened.

“Get this filth out of my sight!” Theron commanded.

Guards stepped forward and grabbed both my arms roughly. I gasped as they yanked me towards the entrance.

I kept my head low as I was pushed forward.

Every eye that lingered on me started knives,

Every lips whispered insults as cruel as Theron's heart.

“She deserves it!”

“Good riddance.”

“Finally, Scarface is gone. My nightmares have come to an end.”

I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood, swallowing the sun rising in my throat.

I also heard Camila's voice.

“Aww, poor Violeta.” She cooed, faking her sympathy. “I hope the rogues don't rip you apart out there.”

I lifted my gaze to hers.

And that was when I saw it.

The cruel satisfaction in her eyes.

The victory.

The mockery that I had all but lost to her.

****

I was tossed into the night without mercy.

It was cold and my feet hurt from all the walking.

I didn't know where I was going but I knew I had to get away. Go to safety.

The second I crossed the border, I knew I had truly been alone.

The bond that once tied me to the BloodMoon pack had been severed completely.

But that was far from the worst part.

The worst part was the footsteps behind me.

Someone was coming.

And they were coming for me.

I didn't have time to turn around to know that they were.

The suspicious rustling in the trees told me everything I needed to know.

These men were going to kill me.

One more step and I broke into a sprint.

Panic clawed at my chest as I ran faster than I'd ever done in my life.

I ran until my legs screamed in protest and my breath came in ragged gasps. My body was weak from everything it had endured and I wanted to stop but I couldn't.

Not when strange men were after my life.

I wasn't going to give up after going through so much.

I wanted to live.

Benaches tore at my arms as I pushed through the dense forest. The sound of hooves clattered against the road ahead.

It was a carriage.

Hope flared in my chest as I reached forward.

I didn't think so.

I jumped.