Chapter 12
That night, Lucian stormed out of the pack house with Vlanche in tow, his anger radiating like a storm cloud. I stayed in our room, my hands trembling as I packed my things into a suitcase. I wasn’t sure where I was going yet, but I knew I couldn’t stay here–not like this.
As I folded another piece of clothing, a sharp knock interrupted my thoughts.
“What is it?” I called out, my voice sharper than intended.
“Delivery!” a cheerful voice responded from the other side of the door.
I frowned, confused. I hadn‘ t ordered anything. Cautiously, I opened the door to see a young man with striking silver eyes holding a medium–sized box.
“Cash on delivery,” he said with a polite smile, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim hallway.
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“Oh… right,” I murmured, even more perplexed. I grabbed a checkbook from the nightstand and handed him a signed cheque, keeping my expression neutral.
“Thank you,” he said smoothly before turning and walking down the hallway. Something about his presence felt strange, but I couldn’t place it.
Closing the door, I placed the box on the bed and hesitated. Who would send me something? My heart raced with a mix of curiosity and unease as I slowly opened the lid.
Inside was a shocking sight–a pile of condoms and lacy underwear, some so risqué I felt my cheeks heat up. My stomach churned with confusion and
anger.
Before I could process what I was seeing, my phone rang, the shrill sound slicing through the silence. Glancing at the screen, I saw Vlanche’s name flashing.
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Of course.
I took a deep breath and answered, my voice cold. “What?”
“Hey!” Vlanche‘ s voice chimed with fake sweetness, followed by a giggle. “I know you‘ re probably upset right now, but I need to tell you something soooo awkward. My order just got delivered to your room by mistake! Isn‘ t that hilarious?”
I didn’t respond, my grip on the phone tightening.
“Oh, and before you open it-” she continued with a laugh. “Please don’t peek inside! I’d be soooo embarrassed. Lucian made me order those, you know?” Her voice was dripping with smugness now, and I could practically hear the smirk on her face.
“Lucian made you order… what exactly?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm.
“Oh, you know… just some fun stuff for
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tonight,” she said with a giggle. “But don’t worry, Freya. I’m sure you wouldn’t know what to do with any of it
anyway.
My chest tightened, my pulse pounding in my ears. Without thinking, I hung up the phone and stared at the box, fury bubbling up inside me.
This wasn’t just a prank or an accident. This was deliberate–a move meant to humiliate me, to assert her place where I was supposed to stand.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.
“Enjoy it while you can, Vlanche,” I muttered under my breath. “You have no idea who you‘ re playing with.”
I shoved the box aside, a new resolve hardening in my chest. This wasn’t over- not by a long shot.
I rolled my eyes, cutting her off mid- sentence by hanging up. I grabbed the box,
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walked straight to the garbage, and tossed it in with a disgusted flick of my wrist.
“Trashy and cheap,” I muttered under my breath, turning quickly to wash my hands thoroughly with soap, water, and a generous splash of alcohol. No way was I letting their tainted things linger on me any longer.
Afterward, I lay in bed, alone, staring at the ceiling and waiting for news from the Elders about severing the bond. The anticipation gnawed at me, but it was a relief knowing that freedom was finally within reach.
But when I heard voices downstairs and footsteps nearing my room, my heart sank. I got up just in time to see Lucian and Vlanche walking into the house together, laughing softly about something I couldn’t hear.
What stung the most wasn’t their
audacity–it was the bitter reminder that today was supposed to be the day we
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celebrated our bond anniversary. Instead,
dour it would be the day I prepared to part ways.
Lucian noticed me standing at the doorway and stopped, his expression hard to read. “Are you still mad at me?” he asked, his voice calm, almost coaxing.
Vlanche gave me a saccharine smile before. slipping out of the room, her presence leaving a sour taste in the air.
“What’s there to be mad about?” I said coolly, crossing my arms.
He sighed and took a step closer. “I need you to take back whatever you said to Alpha Darian.”
I blinked, my brow furrowing. “I didn‘ t say anything to him, Lucian. You know that.”
“Stop the bullshit, baby,” he said, his tone shifting as he cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin.
“Tonight, we’ll talk. Just the two of us, okay? I’ve made dinner plans. You better
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get ready.”
His touch felt suffocating, and I could barely force myself to nod. My mind raced with thoughts of escape. How would I leave without them realizing my true identity? How would I protect myself from the inevitable attacks that would come when they discovered the full extent of my power?
The evening came, and I prepared for dinner, slipping on a façade of calm. Lucian returned, his expression softening when he saw me.
“You look beautiful,” he said, leaning in to kiss me.
Before I could respond, Vlanche sauntered into the kitchen, her presence immediately souring the air.
“What is she doing here?” I asked, my voice sharp, barely masking my irritation.
Lucian frowned slightly. “Don’t be like that, Freya. She’s like my beta now.”
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Vlanche gave me an exaggerated smile, her tone dripping with mock innocence. “I hope you don’t mind, Freya. I’m really… starving.”
Before I could say anything, Lucian stood up and hurried to pull out a chair for her, the same chair I had just set for our dinner. He even plated the food I had prepared, placing it before her with care.
I sat there, my stomach twisting in knots, watching the man I had once thought was my mate serve her with a devotion that should have been mine.
“Enjoy,” Lucian said warmly, his attention fixed on Vlanche.
“Eat,” Lucian urged, gesturing to the food with a smile as he sat beside Vlanche. He dug into his plate, acting as if everything was perfectly normal.
“This tastes amazing, my Luna,” he said, reaching for my hand across the table. His touch felt heavy, like chains holding me in
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place. “Your cooking has really improved.”
“You‘ re so lucky to have such a supportive mate, Luna,” Vlanche chimed in, a fake smile plastered on her face. Her tone was sweet, but her words dripped with mockery.
My patience thinned. I smirked, my words edged with sarcasm. “Do you want to have him-”
“Freya, baby,” Lucian interrupted, gripping my hand tighter. “I need you to help me. I know you‘ re the only one who can convince Alpha Darian to ally with this pack again. He respects you, even if he-”
His words were cut off by a sudden fit of coughing. Vlanche clutched her throat, her eyes wide with panic.
“It hurts!” she gasped, her voice hoarse and strained. “Why is there wolfsbane in the food?”
The room froze. Lucian’s head snapped
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toward me, his expression dark with anger and disbelief.
“Are you planning to poison her, Freya?!” he growled, standing so abruptly his chair toppled over.
I leaned back, crossing my arms with a cold, unbothered expression. “Poison her? Don’t flatter yourself–or her. Why would I waste good wolfsbane on someone like her?”
“Then what is this?” Lucian barked, gesturing to Vlanche, who was now gasping for air.
“Maybe you should ask your beta where she’s been before accusing me,” I shot back. “For all I know, she brought her own drama to the table.”
Lucian hesitated for a moment, his bond with me flickering in confusion, but the anger in his eyes didn’t waver.
Vlanche groaned, her coughing subsiding slightly. “Lucian… she’s lying… she
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hates me.”
My lips curled into a sharp smile.
“Hate’s a strong word, Vlanche. But if you‘ re feeling guilty about something, maybe you should admit it before throwing accusations.”
Lucian’s fury wavered, but his loyalty to Vlanche was clear. “Freya,” he said coldly, his voice a low growl, “if I find out you did this-”
“You‘ Il what?” I snapped, standing to meet his glare. “You‘ ll take her side. again? Accuse me without proof? Go ahead, Lucian. Show me just how little I mean to
you.
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