LUCY
Where will I go?
I'm packing my clothes—the little that can fit into the traveling box before me on the bed—because I'm not sure of the mercies of my father, whether he will send me off with a maid, a car, and a butler.
If he does, then I'm one lucky brat; then maybe the goddess doesn't entirely hate me.
But if he doesn't… well, it never hurts to have expectations, does it? Yet, it is best not to have any at all—hence the box.
Four regions in the Dominion of Lykara, and I don't think the other three will accept me into their kingdoms. Why will they? I'm no use to them. I can't even help with laborious work like the omegas, because my strength is small, crippled by the absence of a wolf.
No, they will not accept me. And if any do accept me, it will be to make a joke of me—to mock me, to taunt my father—and my father, in turn, will hate me more than necessary.
Not that I even want to go to these kingdoms. My pride can't take that.
"So the land of the humans then," I mutter under my breath, folding the last cloth I selected into the box carefully.
The remaining multitude of clothes in my closet can be given out… or—I don't know. I don't care. I'm trying not to care.
Tears sting my eye as I zip the box shut, the sound loud in the suffocating quiet of my room, as the reality of my situation grows more real with every passing second. But I hold it back.
No more tears, my mind reminds me firmly. You promised, right?
I nod weakly, sniffing, my gaze lifting to the ceiling as I blink rapidly, forcing the traitorous tears back into their prison. My hands settle on my waist, fingers digging lightly into the denim.
I'm already dressed to leave—casual jeans ripped at the knee, paired with an ash-soft, fur-like sweater that offers a small comfort.
Then a knock sounds on the door.
I immediately wipe any likeness of tears off my face, not wanting to present myself as weak, as exactly what they think I am. But my face still contorts into a frown when that stupid scent reaches my nose.
Mina.
What is she doing here? And why would my parents let her in when there is evidently bad blood between us?
"Seems you are packing already…"
Her voice is still the same… still soft, gentle, deceptively docile. The very sound of it makes my stomach twist. I can see now how it was so easy for me to stay disillusioned in that so-called friendship.
I stiffen and turn to her fully. She is still wearing the gown she wore for the wedding, the fabric mocking.
"What are you doing here, Mina?"
I remember seeing her following Doyle out. They had probably celebrated their victory—maybe even thrown in a quickie to toast the moment. And now she is here. For what?
"I'm here to change your mind." She shuts the door behind her with a soft click and steps forward.
I immediately take a step back. "Don't come any closer. Say what you want to say and get out."
"Oh, Lucy, that's harsh." Her lashes lower, her head bowing just a little, hands crossing demurely in front of her, fingers lacing together in that innocent pose. "We have been friends for a long time… surely you cannot believe that I will betray—"
I'm done hearing this bullshit.
"Do you get off spewing nonsense?" I throw my hands up, exasperation in every movement. "Mina, you have gotten what you wanted. Doyle will be groomed as an alpha, and he will have you as his luna. Case closed. So why are you here?"
"But… but…"
"Oh, I see why you are…" I cock my head to the side, staring at her unabashedly now, disgust and rage simmering hot in my chest.
"Yes, you do hope to convince me—so I can go along with the plans of you and Doyle, so that you can slave me around… You really want to command me as a servant…"
I see the tiny twitch of her lips before she schools her face into confusion, meeting my gaze with wide innocence.
"Yes, Mina," I continue coldly, "I overheard you two last night while your passion consumed each other. How you both forgot that I was coming that night, I do not know. But I did catch you two in the act."
The change happens so fast it is almost dizzying.
One second she looks apologetic. The next, she is a vixen—starting with the slow, psychotic smile that spreads across her lips.
"Oh? Is that so?" Her voice turns silky, poisonous. "Did you enjoy the moment? Did you peek? Did you see how he was undone in me?"
I shrug carelessly. "Doyle is undone with everyone."
I hold back a chuckle when she snarls, her hands loosening only to curl into tight fists at her sides.
"That's a lie. He has been faithful—"
"You are so delusional, Mina. Faithful?" I fling a hand nonchalantly. "Define faithful."
Her jaw tightens.
"No, don't worry," I add coolly. "You probably cannot, since you are not either."
Mina laughs, a dry, brittle sound, as if trying to swallow the bullet I just lodged in her pride.
"No matter," she says at last, chin lifting. "You are the one leaving. And even though I don't get to slave you around, the thought that you will still get that treatment wherever you are going…" Her smile sharpens. "…will make me sleep better at night."
I watch her. Really watch the evil lady before me. And again I wonder—how did things go so wrong? How does one become this twisted? Was it hereditary… or circumstantial?
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she barks suddenly, folding her arms across her chest.
I shrug lightly. "Just relieved that I'm rid of small things…"
She rushes me without warning.
Her shove is brutal—far stronger than I expect—and I go flying backward, my body slamming hard against the wall. Pain explodes through my head, my back, everywhere at once. Blood spills from my nose.
"What are you doing?" I stutter, ugly fear beginning to bloom in my chest as she approaches slowly.
"What?" she taunts, crouching before me. "Where is the loud mouth now?"
Her hand lifts to caress my hair. I jerk my head away sharply—
—and she slaps me.
The crack rings in the room.
I refuse to scream. Pride clamps my mouth shut. I won't give her that satisfaction.
"Do you think you will get away with slapping an alpha's daughter?" I manage, voice shaking despite my effort.
She raises a brow as if I am being foolish and chuckles low in her throat.
"Girl, did you forget you have been banished?" she murmurs. "You are nothing. And your parents won't afford to wrong me now, since their last days are in my hands—and Doyle's. Who knows…"
Her smile turns vicious. "…when we are rulers, we might send them to the dungeons."
I grit my teeth, tears and fury warring hot behind my eyes. "You can't do that… there are rules guiding their safety in the event of a new ruler…"
"Semantics," Mina mutters, winking at me. "Rules can be changed. Either way, thanks for making my rise to the throne easier."
She pauses, scanning me with hate-filled eyes.
"I've always wanted your position," she continues softly. "Always wanted to be praised as an alpha's daughter. Now I get to be luna of an entire kingdom."
My lips tremble despite my effort as she keeps bragging, each word another knife twist. Can't someone come in and interrupt her?
Her gaze flicks to the door, catching mine.
"Oh, don't worry about that," she says sweetly. "I told your mother to give me some time to convince you…"
"My mother sent for you?"
Mina bobs her head dramatically.
"She thinks I am the perfect lady after all," she says with a cruel little laugh. "Much better than her daughter."
She shakes her head at my stupidity, then slowly draws a syringe from her pocket.
Cold dread floods my veins.
"What… is… that…?" I shrink back instinctively, but the wall is already behind me.
"They… will… know that you killed me…" My words come out broken, desperate.
She nods absently, focused on tapping the syringe.
"Yes," she says calmly. "But I am not here to kill you."
I try then to push the syringe from her hand, panic finally clawing free, while my mind wonders what it is for. But with her wolf reflexes, she is faster.
She lifts the syringe above me. She laughs as I scramble, as I try to get a hold of it, or at least make her drop it.
Then she gives me another hard slap.
But I won't stop fighting. I try to twist away, to shove her off when her left arm clamps down tight on mine. I try to shout this time—
—but she snaps a hand over my mouth and drives the syringe into my neck.
"I know you are pregnant too," she whispers near my ear. "Saw you vomiting yesterday morning. You seemed weaker than usual." Her breath is warm. Cruel. "But we can't have you ensnaring Doyle with that in the future, can we?"
"Mina… please… no… please… I won't come back…"
I'm crying now, hands clasped, begging, dignity shattering piece by piece—but she only smirks as she slowly backs away from me.
"Too late," she says lightly. "Although… you do look good begging."
Too late indeed.
As my vision begins to blur and tilt, I clutch my stomach, terror swallowing me whole. Darkness creeps in at the edges of my sight.
My baby.
Please… don't go.