CRESSIDA'S POV
The first thing I could feel on my skin was the warmth of the sun.
Slowly, I blinked my eyes open only to find the sunlight reflected on my face, bright and blinding.
Was this what it felt like to be dead?
I stirred, trying to turn my heavy body away from its bright reflection. But the layers of fabric I was wearing made it harder to move.
Why was I wearing layers of fabric in Werewolf heaven?
Groggily, I rubbed my eyes thinking I was dreaming— until the memories of last night slammed into me at once.
The dreaded wedding.
The Alpha's chamber.
The waiting.
My eyes flew open immediately as I sat up.
I was still in King Alessio's bed.
Alive.
My heart raced as I looked around, expecting to find his side of the bed slept in, checking for marks on my body. Anything that would prove that he was here last night.
Instead I found nothing.
My wedding dress was intact, with no scars on my skin.
I had survived my wedding night only because Alessio never showed up here last night.
I felt almost sick with relief.
I was really alive.
A knock at the door broke through my racing thoughts.
Before I could breathe out a reply, the door opened and two maids walked in, carrying fresh bedsheets.
"Too bad about this bride," one of them hissed, not noticing me. "She was really beautiful."
"Yeah but she looked too delicate, a woman like that would never have survived the bond," the other one said as they walked into the inner chambers.
I sat frozen on the bed, unsure of what to do or even say.
"Yeah and she was from a lower pack, thank the goddess that a woman like her didn't survive—" The maid stopped talking as the other one locked eyes with me.
Slowly she turned her head and gasped in shock, the sheets landing on the floor soundlessly.
"You're—You're alive," the first maid pointed, her fingers trembling.
The second maid looked like she was going to pass out.
"You actually survived?" The first maid asked, sounding more shocked than relieved.
"Yes," I breathed out, unable to believe it myself. "I did."
Their stares crawled over me like insects.
"Did his Majesty…?" The second maid recovered, her eyes drifting off to the unused bed.
"No," I answered flatly, "King Alessio never came."
The two maids turned to each other slowly, exchanging looks.
Then the first maid straightened. "We… we need to inform the council."
Before I could stop her, the maid took her friend's hand in hers and ran out of the chambers.
I inhaled deeply, staring ahead in silence.
Something was wrong—but for the first time since I came here, I wasn't the one falling apart.
***
The Council room was buzzing with tension as I was brought in.
I watched them feeling slightly fascinated at the panic and confusion on their faces. I was supposed to be dead, but here I stood, alive and probably a nuisance.
Lord Severin stood in their midst, his cold eyes locked on mine while the other elders murmured among themselves.
"Where is the king?" one of them finally asked me.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "I have no idea."
The elder's eyes bulged in rage. "What do you mean you have no idea? Are you not his mate? How can you not know where your husband has gone?"
"Maybe he had more important business to attend to?" I answered with an innocent look in my eyes.
The elder scoffed in annoyance. "How can the King abandon his mate on their wedding night?"
"Which of you guards know where the king disappeared to?" Lord Severin asked the guards behind me.
One of them stepped forward. "He left immediately after the wedding due to a personal emergency."
"What emergency was that?!" Severin thundered angrily.
"I am not at liberty to say," the guard lowered his head.
"How dare you!" Severin slammed his hand on the table, his face red with rage.
I bit back a smile.
Severin's eyes locked on mine immediately, his expression hardening. "Does this council amuse you?"
"Of course not," I shook my head, amusement still glinting in my eyes.
"Who among you guards is at liberty to tell me where the King of this empire has disappeared to?!" Severin thundered angrily, just then a maid stepped in.
"Lord Severin," she greeted him with a bow, kneeling before the council. "I was sent by the King to tell you that he had to leave immediately after the wedding ceremony yesterday because he received intel that a rare beast was spotted at spirit lake, so he had to leave immediately to hunt it down."
"Are you serious?" Severin looked like he was about to explode. "He left for a hunting expedition?"
"Yes, Your Highness," the maid replied, keeping her head lowered.
The room erupted immediately.
"He abandoned his bonded queen on the first night to hunt?"
"This is an insult to the throne!"
"He defies us openly now?" the elders complained.
Severin raised a hand, silencing them.
Then he pointed at me. "You will return to your chambers," he instructed. "We will decide what is to be done with you later."
I scoffed in disbelief, replaying his words until something inside of me snapped. We will decide what is to be done with you.
Since I arrived at the castle, these men had treated me like an item to be discarded.
And I didn't feel like being discarded anymore.
"No."
My voice seemed to echo in the room, making everyone go silent.
Severin's eyes narrowed. "What did you just say?"
I stood proud. "I said no."
"I will not allow you to dismiss me like a servant."
"I advise you to mind your tone or—"
"I am bound by the moon and law, married to King Alessio with the blessings of the Luna Goddess," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite how hard my heart was racing. "I am your queen and you will address me as such."
Severin scoffed.
The elders stared.
For the first time since I arrived, I saw uncertainty flicker across their faces.
"You are bold," Severin finally said, his eyes assessing mine.
"I am also alive," I replied. "And until that changes I still remain Queen of Silverfang."
With that, I spun on my heels and walked away before anyone could stop me
My legs felt weak as soon as I stepped outside the door. It was like all my bravado had evaporated.
What in the hell had I done?
I was a doomed queen who wasn't even sure I was going to live past tomorrow so what made me go and assert myself to the Council?
What was I even trying to prove?
Don't blame yourself. Besides, they deserved it. Even if I had one more day to live, I wasn't going to die a coward.
I sighed deeply, suddenly feeling weary.
I needed Alicia.
***
I found her room downstairs in the servant quarters. Her door was closed.
"Alicia?!" I knocked excitedly. Thinking of how shocked she would be to see me still alive.
"Alicia! It's me." I knocked harder.
There was no answer.
Why would she still be asleep by now?
Suddenly, my mind flashed back to the way she had held on to me yesterday.
How can you expect me to live without you? Her words echoed in my brain.
Then panic set in.
I pushed the door open immediately only to find her lying on the bed.
She was still, her chest unmoving.
Curses.
I gasped in fear as I rushed up to her, shaking her awake.
"Alicia—no, no, wake up. Please," tears were already blurring my vision.
She still didn't move.
I grabbed her hands. They were still warm at least.
That was when I saw it. By her bedside was an empty potion glass and a folded letter.
I unfolded the letter with trembling hands, hoping it was not what I thought it was.
If you wake and I am gone, forgive me. I could not bear a world without you. My only wish… is to be with you, Cressida.
It read.
The words on the letter cut deep into my heart.
She had been scared, scared to live in a world with her soul sister and so she had done this to herself.
"Alicia!" I cried out. "You foolish girl what have you done?!"
I rushed to the door in panic, screaming for help.
"Guards! Anyone out there please help!!" I cried out.
The guards came running and I showed them Alicia.
"Get the pack healer immediately," I ordered. "She drank poison."
The guards rushed out immediately and I ran back to Alicia's side, holding her hand to my chest, desperate to keep it warm.
"I am not going to let you die," I whispered fiercely. "Not after everything we have been through together."
For the first time, the castle felt truly empty.
And I realized that whatever sick game I had been thrown into, was going to cost me more than I imagined.