CHAPTER 52: _ WAY TO THE CEREMONY

Following Lira and Amias’s exit, the Luna tilts her head, her soft brown curls bouncing as she looks at Heidi one last time. Her smile is almost mischievous, like she knows something nobody else does.

"Well," she says brightly, her voice lilting in the air like a bell, "I’m quite sure she won’t continue to be called an omega at the end of today."

The words are bold. She sounds so convincing, considering the subject here, Heidi is an Omega. Her words float over the gravel of the Alpha’s courtyard.

Heidi’s breath stumbles in her throat. The statement feels like someone just pulled a rug out from under her. Won’t be an omega at the end of today? What on earth is that supposed to mean? She doesn’t dare ask. She doesn’t even dare blink too loudly.

From beside her, Isolde lets out a sharp laugh, one that taunts more than it amuses. "With due respect, Luna Rayne, everyone knows you have a poor sense of judgment. You’ve always mispredicted auras in the past. This could be yet another one of your wild guesses," she says dryly, her chin tilting higher in challenge.

Luna Rayne only grins wider, unbothered by the jab. She winks at Heidi as if they share some sort of private joke, and then she jogs off gracefully, skirts brushing around her legs, leaving a trail of expensive perfume and confusion behind.

Heidi stares after her, heart thundering. She doesn’t understand any of this. She doesn’t want to understand it. She just wants the ground to open and swallow her whole before someone else notices her standing here like a sore thumb.

Unfortunately, the universe has other plans. Because the moment the third wife disappears, Morgan and Grayson swoop in like vultures.

"YOU," Morgan grumbles, his arms folded across his chest. His lips curl in disdain. "What’s this trash doing here? A lowly thing like you could get killed for stepping into the Alpha’s estate without an appointment. Why on earth do you have to stand in front of our mom and let her see you?"

The absurdity of his words almost makes a scoff escape from Heidi. Grayson seems to always find new ways to be ludicrous every single time their paths cross. It was funny how despite knowing how unreal he can be, the venom in his voice stings her still. Her lungs contract, and it feels like she’s inhaling shards of glass. She wants to shrink, fold in on herself, and disappear into nothing.

Just how much more disapproval and hate can a girl handle from her mates? All freaking four of them.

However, before she can crumble, Daphne cuts in. "I brought her here," she snaps, stepping closer to Heidi, almost like a shield. Her eyes blaze with the arrogance only an Alpha’s daughter could wield. "She’s my guest. So back off."

The air between them sizzles with tension. Heidi feels it pulse against her skin. Her heart aches at the unexpected defense but the feeling is fleeting after she remembers Daphne is only doing this for Darien.

It’s to keep her brother’s secret and ensure his reputation remains intact. It’ll be foolish of her if she thinks anyone in this pack can have her back. Apparently, even Darien is nothing but a joke.

Morgan sneers at Daphne before leaning forward to Heidi as if he’s sniffing out her weakness. "Oh, I see what this is. You dressed the cheap girl up in your expensive clothes, and now she has the guts to look like royalty." His eyes drag over Heidi with palpable disgust, and her stomach flips.

Grayson smirks, adding with poisonous cheer, "Yeah. Better come use that royalty look to serve us later at school. After the ceremony, when everyone discovers you’ve got some weak-ass, low-level wolf and ability."

Heat scorches Heidi’s cheeks. Her insides twist. She feels like someone has stripped her bare in front of everyone, pointing and laughing at her nakedness.

Morgan leans in again and drags his tongue wetly over his bottom lip. "Don’t forget, you’re our slave."

W-what on earth was that gesture? Heidi blinks rapidly as if to test if her vision is somehow faltering, but it isn’t. Morgan did just do that disgusting and suggestive lip moistening.

Yet, the word ’slave’ prickles at her stomach. That’s what she is in their eyes, nothing more. They don’t even see her as a person. But being called a slave by them excites her in a way she refuses to acknowledge. As though, she doesn’t even care if they thought of her as a slave as long as she’s something in their eyes.

They burst into laughter in a tempo that echoes through the courtyard like hyenas tearing at flesh after seeing the somber expression on Heidi. Then, without another glance at her, they saunter toward their car, still chuckling as if they’ve told the best joke of the century. Their tires screech against the gravel, kicking up dust as they drive away, leaving Heidi trembling in the haze.

The silence that follows feels deafening.

Isolde exhales sharply in annoyance and disbelief. Her arms cross as she pivots to Heidi, studying her with narrowed eyes. "What is it about you? You’re just an omega. But somehow, you’ve gotten everyone to notice you. One way or another."

Heidi, who is still processing the unhealthy level of drama she has just witnessed in this bloody estate – all in one morning finds her throat going dry. Her mouth opens, but no sound comes out. What is she supposed to say to that? She doesn’t even know why anyone is noticing her either, and she wishes they wouldn’t since every glance feels like a dagger and every word, like a poison.

Daphne frowns, turning to Isolde with her usual bite. "What are you talking about?"

Isolde groans boredly. "Cut the crap, Daphne. You and I both know she’s not just your friend. She’s a Moon-blessed. The one I saw Darien sneaking in yesterday when she was unconscious."

Oh, so now, not one, but two of Darien’s sisters know about her affiliation with him. Seems her existence in this pack is set on trouble. Heidi’s knees nearly buckle. What if one of them decides to call the attention of their murderer mother—according to Daphne, to it?

Daphne stiffens beside her, but she recovers fast, tossing her hair in defiance. "Well, we have to keep it a secret because she’s helping Darien with an investigation. I think that’s why he’s hanging with her."

Isolde arches a brow, unimpressed. "I already know that." She spins on her heel and strides toward the car

Daphne’s jaw drops. "Why do you always know everything before me?" she snaps after her, stomping a foot like a child denied candy.

The two of them fall into bickering, voices rising and clashing like swords. Heidi just stands there, frozen like a statue in borrowed clothes. Her mind is a whirlwind of shame and disbelief.

She doesn’t even realize the car door has opened until Daphne hollers. "Heidi! Get in! Or we’ll drive away and you’ll have to walk to the academy yourself—which means getting past the estate’s gates. Impossible, by the way. You’ll get arrested before you make it ten steps."

The words jolt Heidi back to herself. Her heart slams against her ribs. She imagines the guards at the gate with their sharp eyes and ready weapons. She pictures herself dragged off, humiliated further, branded a criminal for daring to exist in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Her stomach churns. Her legs wobble. She scrambles toward the car, clutching the edge of her borrowed dress, desperate not to trip. Desperate not to make more of a fool of herself.

As she reaches for the handle, her reflection stares back at her in the black metal. She barely recognizes the girl in the glass—the one dressed like royalty but trembling like prey.

She swallows hard. Her throat aches. And the thought burns through her like fire: How much longer can she survive like this?