I backed away into the shadows, pressing against the wall, trying to breathe past the storm raging in my chest. My wolf cowered inside me, tail tucked, ears flat, the way she always had in my old life….
Calm down, Kira… I told myself, closing my eyes
for half a breath. You're not that girl anymore.
You're not the weak one scraping for scraps.
You've been given another chance, another body.
Act like it.
I straightened my spine, forcing my shoulders back.
then I heard it…The sharp rhythm of heels clicking on marble floors..
And then she appeared.
Sylvia.
Hips swaying seductively like she was walking on a runway..not entering a dining hall. She looked like she'd spent hours preparing for this moment. Her lips painted the color of fresh blood, her gown clinging to every curve.
She went straight to Lucian's table.
"Alpha," she purred, dipping into a little bow. Her lashes lowered just enough to seem obedient, but the gleam in her eyes gave her away. "Forgive me for interrupting, but I need to apologize… on Jasmine's behalf."
My stomach twisted.
Apologize?
Lucian didn't move. Didn't speak. He just leaned back, eyes unreadable.
Sylvia bent closer, full cleavage on display, her voice soft….like a secret. But she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I've tried to stop her. Truly, I have. But Jasmine doesn't listen. She's stubborn… obsessed with Kale, even now. She told me earlier she wanted to run away again."
Gasps and murmurs rose around the hall. From what I remembered, Kale was Jasmine's former mate. So i could guess his name was like poison here.
My fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms.
Oh, Sylvia. A true viper in silk. Pretending to save Jasmine while slipping the knife into her back.
Across the table, Edmund's jaw ticked. "Pathetic. She can't even be loyal to you, brother." His voice dripped disapproval.
Lucian… the Devil Alpha… didn't flinch. He just sat there, crimson gaze steady, as though he was listening to prey chatter before deciding if it was worth killing.
No wonder they mocked her. No wonder Alpha Lucian tormented her.
She was easy prey…but not anymore.
If I wanted to topple the alpha family, .I couldn't waste this gift. I had to play it smarter.
But first…. I'll need to pacify Alpha Lucian. I couldn't do anything that would provoke him again.
So I summoned all the courage and Instead of retreating to some corner of the hall as jasmine would have, I walked forward. Each step drew whispers, shocked breaths. My heart hammered, but my face looked calm.
And then…boldly, deliberately…I took the seat beside him.
The hall froze. Forks clattered onto plates. Sylvia's mask cracked for just a second, her lips tightening like she'd bitten into something sour.
"What is she doing?" the whispers hissed. "Jasmine never sat with him before…"
Lucian's eyes lingered on me, curious, surprised maybe. Everyone probably waited for him to snarl, shove me away, remind me of my place….I had also prepared myself for that…
But instead, his gaze softened. Just slightly. And then, his voice rolled through the silence…
"You look beautiful, Luna."
What??
The hall stopped breathing.
Gasps burst like wildfire. Servants ducked their heads, trembling, peeking when they thought they could.
Across the table, Edmund choked so hard wine sprayed down his chin. "B–Beautiful? Her?"
"Brother…"he sputtered, staring like the world had gone mad.
And Sylvia….perfect, untouchable Sylvia…her painted smile twitched. A crack. A shadow of ugliness slipping through. I almost laughed right there.
I lowered my lashes, tilting my head toward Alpha Lucian. My voice was intentionally soft, grateful, and loud enough for all to hear.
"Th..Thank you, Alpha."
The sound of it….the sweetness….probably shocked them more than his words had. Because Jasmine would never.
Alpha Lucian's lips curved, sharper this time. But i could see a tiny hint of confusion on his face. He lifted his chalice of wine and set it before me.
"Eat," he commanded.."You've grown too thin since you went into coma."
Edmund snorted. "Thin? She looks like she hasn't eaten in years. If she turns sideways, she'll disappear."
Sylvia let out a tinkling laugh, covering her mouth with delicate fingers. "Oh, Beta Edmund, don't be cruel," she chided "She's been through so much already." Her tone was so fake it almost dripped onto the floor.
Alpha Lucian set his goblet down with a loud thud that silenced the table.. Slowly. His crimson gaze cut to the both of them, freezing the air itself.
"You find the luna's appearance amusing?" His tone was soft, but heavy enough to crush bones.
Edmund blanched. "N–No, of course not. I was only…."
"Perhaps I should relieve you both of your tongues. Spare you from more slips."
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Edmund sputtered, pale. "T–That won't be necessary, brother!" He bowed so low his forehead almost hit the table.
Lucian leaned back, satisfied. "Good." Then his eyes flicked back to me. "Eat, Jasmine."
I lifted the chalice almost instantly with steady hands, ignoring every stare, every hiss of jealousy. Sylvia's eyes burned holes in me, and I savored it.
You wanted me to cower, Sylvia. But I'll sit beside the Devil himself. And he'll keep me here.
We ate the rest of our dinner in silence.
Later, a messenger slipped into the hall and whispered in Lucian's ear. He stood, towering, shadows swallowing the table. "I will return shortly." His voice left no argument.
The second he left, Sylvia's eyes locked on mine. She bent close, her smile sweet as poison.
"What are you doing?" she hissed, voice sharp under the honey. "You're playing with fire. He's not safe, Jasmine…he's a monster.."
I tilted my head, smiling like I hadn't heard the venom. "You think so?"
"Yes?? are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Before i could answer, a maid hurried in, her steps light, nervous. She whispered in Sylvia's ear. Whatever she said made Sylvia's lips curl wider.
She straightened, her eyes gleaming. "Well lucky for you…A visitor awaits you. Someone you've longed for. Someone who's much better. Perhaps… this is your chance to be free."
Her words were coated in sugar, but I could taste the rot underneath.
She was up to something… and I was very curious.
I rose gracefully, smoothing my dress. "Alright …Lead the way."
Inside, my wolf growled. Let's see what you've planned, Sylvia.
The maid led me through the winding halls and down into the dim underground of the castle. The torches flickered, shadows bending like claws along the walls.
Sylvia didn't come with….
My wolf bristled, every hair on edge, but I forced my lips into a wicked smile. Whoever waited for me in the dark, I would face them.
And then….I saw him.
Kale.
The man whose rejection haunted Jasmine's soul. The man she'd begged thousands of times to keep her, even as a mistress. The man who spat her out like dirt beneath his boots.
He leaned against the wall, smug and arrogant as ever, his eyes sweeping over me with mockery.
This was going to be fun..