Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The doon dam open
The fucking galloping silence that fillos feels funder than the Bar of the front is as through someone post pressed pause on the universe and every local caught in their turnal Feen the guards holding me reach slighty through the weight of
Wade
Of course it’s lim
He steps in like he owns the world Sull blood on his sleeves from the hunt still the came fucking expression like nothing’s changed since he last saw me caged and bleeding in hesitation in confusion His eyes find Ariel first they’re megnenzed
Ariel gasps when she sees him And it’s not surprise. It’s rehears Her lip still has that dried smear of blood she left there on purp forward dramatically, right on schedule
“Wade the breathes, tears sparkling God, she’s good
He’s already rushing over
Soft and wounded, as if she’s been wanting for her cur
The crowd parts like she’s royalty as she smuldes
“Ariel,” he says, voice low and sharp with panic. Itis arms nearend her in seconds, pulling her in like she’s his lifeline and not the snake choking the fucking oxygen out of the entire pack What the hell happened
She doesn’t speak right away No, of course not. She trembles in his arms, chest rising and falling as if she’s in pain, head tucked in just the right way to hide the song flicker in le eyes. But she waits just long enough for the crowd to answer.
“She slapped her p>
“She lost if p>
“We saw it happen p>
No, you fucking didn’t.
“She was violent–she attacked the saintess p>
“Unhinged, that one p>
“Ungrateful bitch p>
My throat burns. I twist in the guards‘ grip, trying to step forward “That’s not fucking true p>
My voice cracks but I push through it. “None of you saw anything because it didn’t happen! There weren’t any witnesses, so how the fuck–why are you all lying for her p>
“Enough” Wade’s voice slices clean.
I freeze.
He steps forward, peels himself away from Ariel like she’s porcelin, like he’s terrified she’ll break again if he doesn’t move gently. His jaw ticks once–then twice–and then his eyes land of me thought’m rotting garbage stinking up his kingdom.
“I thought we were past this,” he mutters.
Then his hand comes down across my face.
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The sound is deafening.
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It’s not the first slap I’ve received from him. But it’s the first one front of everyone. Public Deliberate. My head whips sideways, cheek stinging, throat tightening–but I don’t cry. I won’t give him that.
“You’re pathetic,” he adds under his breath. “I felt sorry for you.
Ariel grabs his arm. “Wade, no… please, don’t blame her. I–it’s my fault, really.” She sniffles. “I told the guards to take her to a better cell. I wanted to help her. She just … she lashed out. But it’s okay. I understand why. She thinks I stole everything from her p>
Oh my fucking God.
“She’s hurting,” Ariel continues, hand on her chest, voice all cracked and noble. “I would’ve been angry too if I thought someone took my mate.” She looks over at me like she actually gives a shit. “But it’s okay. I forgive you p>
I want to throw up.
“You hear that?” Wade says, turning to me. “She forgives you. You’re lucky she’s better than you’ll ever be p>
I don’t reply.
My throat’s dry. My tongue is lead. My body is vibrating with a scream that doesn’t know how to leave me anymore.
“Enough of this,” he says finally. “She wants her to have a better cell?” He scoffs. “No. She doesn’t deserve a better cell. Put her in the attic. Keep the door locked. Let her see the sky through the fucking balcony if she needs air, but she’s not stepping one foot down without permission. Not with the Alpha King on his way here. Last thing we need is her making another
scene p>
He steps close–too close.
Leans into my ear, breath hot and venomous. “You could’ve walked away with your dignity. I would’ve given you that. But look at you now. Fucking pathetic p>
I finally lift my head and meet his eyes.
I don’t flinch.
“Just give me my trial,” I say, voice steady.
There’s a flicker in his eyes. Maybe confusion. Maybe surprise that I’m not begging anymore.
“Two days,” he says coldly. “Be ready p>
I nod. “I always am p>
He turns away though I didn’t speak at all. His arm wraps around Ariel again, and they disappear into the house, surrounded by murmurs of praise and admiration as if they’re a goddamn royal couple.
The guards drag me toward the stairs.
I don’t fight this time.
The crowd still throws words, but they don’t land anymore. Not really. Not when everything inside me already feels cracked and hollow.
Tomatoes. Rotting fruit. A few stones that graze my shoulders.
Whatever.
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I barely blink.
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The only thing I register is the way my wrists are burning from the chains and the way the stairs groan beneath my weight as I’m dragged higher. The attic door creaks open, and the dust hit me in the face like a fucking slap from the universe. It’s dark, the air stale and suffocating, with only a tiny balcony door racked open on the far end.
“Enjoy the view,” one of the guards snorts.
Then they slam the door behind me.
I stumble forward. The dust clings to my skin. My knees hit theoor and I don’t bother getting up right away. What’s the fucking point?
I don’t scream. I don’t cry.
I just breathe.
Because the only thing keeping me sane right now is the thought of two days from now. The trial.
The truth.
And the way Ariel’s smile is going to fucking vanish when I tear her entire world apart.
The attic creaks like it’s holding its breath. Or maybe it’s me. Still stuck between the past and the boiling–now. My back aches from the fall, shoulder scraping rough wood, but I ignore. My mind’s too loud to register pain.
I hear his voice before I see anything.
“Fuck’s sake,” Wade growls from downstairs, voice muffled through the walls but sharp enough to cut. “He’s been asking again p>
A pause.
“Who?” she purrs like a damn snake. Of course she knows who. The venom’s probably already dripping from her fake–saint tongue.
“The Lycan King,” Wade snaps. “He won’t shut up about his fucking penpal. He swears she’s here. And he won’t leave until he finds her p>
My breath stutters.
Alaric.
I told him not to do anything. Of course a King wouldn’t so much as listen.
A sick part of me almost smiles – because I told him to leave. I told him I’d kill myself if he didn’t. And he left anyway.. but didn’t stop looking and letting everyone know the existence of a penpal.
Me.
Something sharp coils in my chest. Hope? No. That bitch got buried in the snow. This is worse. This is fear that he might wreak havoc before I seek my revenge… and worse, fear that he won’t.
“I told you it’s okay, baby,” Ariel coos, like a cheap whore pretending she’s the fucking Madonna. “I know who it is p>
I freeze.
No. No, no, no.
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She doesn’t.
She fucking wouldn’t.
My heart hammers so hard I swear the walls can hear it.
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I crawl on all fours toward the window. The only goddamn view this shitty attic cell. It’s covered in dust and streaked grime, but I can still make out shadows moving below – Lycans parring. Probably showing off for the King.
Training field. I know this setup. Pack layout 101. If I were smart’d be counting steps and memorizing guard rotations.
But all I can think about is that bitch smiling when she said, “I know who it is p>
She knows.
I fucking know she does.
She’s going to use it. Twist it into something rotten and hand–fe to the elders. It’s what she does. She took everything from me — my title, my life – and now she wants my words too?
I almost laugh. Almost.
Instead, I lie back down, arms folded beneath my head, staring at the cracked ceiling.
I burned those letters.
I burned all of them.
Didn’t I?
I hesitate.
No
not all.
There were some… a few I couldn’t bring myself to torch. Hidden. Deep in the hollow of the dresser one of my Omegas told me to stash them in. I hadn’t even looked at them in weeks. Maybe longer.
My stomach twists.
If Ariel’s going to the room-
There’s a sudden knock.
No, not a knock
pounding. Urgent.
I jolt upright, scrambling to the door like some rabid thing.
“Luna!!” It’s a girl. Young. Omega. I don’t recognize her voice, bu she’s fucking panicking.
I press my ear to the door just as I hear her cry, “She’s taken the! Ariel–Ariel’s in your room, Luna! She’s tearing through your stuff p>
My throat dries instantly.
No. No, fuck no.
“You need to let me in–please, she’s taking the letters! She has e letters p>
Guards are already dragging her back, scolding her in that dismissive tone they use on Omegas like we’re yapping dogs. I
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can hear the scrape of boots, the shove of bodies.
I slam my palms on the door. “HEY!” I shout through the wood, desperation clawing through my ribs. “HEY, LET HER SPEAK-
But it’s too late.
I hear the slap of skin on skin.
Then silence.
I back away, slow, like if I take one more step, my entire world night snap in half.
My letters. The ones with Alaric’s name on them.
The ones that prove everything.
My innocence. The coverup. The damn timeline.
If she has them …
My knees hit the floor. I don’t even remember falling.
And then-
BANG.
Someone’s at the door.
No knock this time. Just a violent, metallic CLANG.
And again.
CLANG.
My entire body locks.
Is that-
A shadow shifts under the crack in the door. And then…
It stops.
Everything stills.
I hold my breath.
Then-
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