Adina allowed herself to be led by Catherine to the room where she and Thorne were supposed to stay. She pushed the door open and stepped inside. Behind her, Catherine gestured for the maids to stay out and followed Adina into the room, shutting the door behind her.

She watched as Adina looked around, lightly touching things. Nothing seemed different to Adina. She wasn't surprised to see that Roman had made them clean the master's room. He had specially prepared this room for important guests, but throughout her years in Crystal Moon as the Luna, there had only been one guest who stayed there—a guest she wasn't even allowed to see.

Behind her, Catherine stared, arms crossed over her chest, jaw clenched tightly. She looked at Adina, starting from her very full and curled hair, to her dress that had made Catherine's eyes bulge. There was only one seamstress in the whole realm who made dresses like this, and even Catherine herself had traveled all the way to have her dress made but was rejected. That woman took one look at her and said no. Without reason too.

And yet, here was Adina, wearing a piece made by the same woman. Catherine's gaze dropped to the necklace Adina wore, and her jaw clenched even harder, almost straining her brain in the process.

How? How was it possible that Adina, who had been sent to her death, would come back like this? Or was it not her, but perhaps a lookalike who shared the same name?

Her eyes narrowed when Adina licked her lips, the same way she used to do.

"It's really you, isn't it?" she said before she could stop herself.

Adina paused, turning to look at her, her brows raised coolly. "Speak clearly and don't be so vague," she replied calmly.

It irked Catherine even more. She stepped closer, shining with the same hatred Adina had grown accustomed to.

"You slimy two-faced bitch," Catherine spat out, each word leaving her lips venomously.

Adina smiled, rolling her eyes. "I see you're still stuck in the past."

"What?" Catherine bellowed angrily.

Adina shrugged calmly. "Same pack, same man, same words," she smiled, "Same old you."

"How dare you? How dare you say those words to me? You should be ashamed! You should be cowering in fear to even face me, but you—you've grown so much guts you think you're above me."

Adina frowned as if she took offense at her words. "I don't think I'm above you. I know for a fact, I am ABOVE you."

Catherine's eyes flashed with anger. "How dare you!" she screamed. In all the scenarios she had imagined in her head all these years, she never once saw herself in this position. She had always seen Adina as the slave, attending to her. Catherine dumping a jar of juice on her head. Catherine wiping the floor with Adina.

"You think you're so much better? That I will fall on my knees at the sight of you back in this pack. That I'll shake and tremble in my boots on seeing you again. Was that what you expected?" she scoffed.

Adina didn't respond; she only stared at her.

"You must be out of your demented mind to think that I, Catherine, will tremble at the sight of you. Tell me, does the king know the kind of person you are? Does he know he has a snake as a mate…" she paused, her eyes lighting up. "That's if you are truly his mate. I bet you made some concoction up, didn't you?"

She shook her head, tsking. "What did you do, huh? Visit some sorceress? A witch? Or did you…" she smiled, "sell that loose thing between your legs? Is that what you did, huh?"

"You must be mistaking Adina for Catherine, but that's alright. You've never been the brightest," she paused, shaking her head as if it wasn't worth her time.

"Leave, Catherine," she said, turning, but the other grabbed her hand tightly.

"Never! Do you know how long I've dreamed of the day I would see you? I've dreamt of clawing those eyes of yours out. Dreamt of cutting you so deep and watching your blood drain out from your pathetic useless body. Do you for a moment think I've forgotten what you did to me, you fucking bitch!" she snarled.

Adina pushed her off, dusting her hand as if she were filth. "You can dream all you want, Catherine. Reality is different," she said, turning again.

Catherine breathed heavily. For the longest time, she had nursed this hatred, this pain in her heart. Her baby, her pup was taken from this world by her! She ruined Catherine's life!

"How dare you!" Catherine screamed, unable to hold back again. Not only did she lose her pup, she also lost her womb. Catherine was now a barren woman, all because of Adina.

"How fucking dare you!" she screeched, grabbing Adina back, her hand raised against her. Adina caught it with ease, tsking.

"Are you plain stupid or has spending these many years with Roman made you dumb, Catherine? Have you forgotten who it is you stand before? Your Queen. His Majesty's mate. I'm no longer the scared, timid Adina you used to bully. I'm so much more than that," she spat out angrily, jerking Catherine's hand back. Before the other could utter another word, she raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Catherine's eyes flashed red, clutching her cheek. "You!—"

Adina slapped her again on the other cheek, sending the woman falling to her feet.

Adina rolled her eyes as she stepped closer to her, she bent down slightly, forcing her finger under Catherine's chin. "Do you understand your place now, Catherine?"

Catherine jerked her head away, she scoffed even as her cheek reddened with Adina's fingerprints. "Does his Majesty know exactly who you are? Does he know you're a murderer? That you killed my pup? I bet he doesn't know. He doesn't know the crimes you've committed," she stood up again.

"I bet he doesn't know the evil that dwells in your heart. That you stabbed me till I bled my child out. That you're one heartless monster!" Her chest heaved as she spoke.

"You should've stayed back in Obsidian, Adina. You should've never shown your ugly face back here! You should've stayed dead like I wanted you. Now…now, I won't rest until your life is ruined just like mine."

"Do your best, Catherine. You couldn't get rid of me the first time, and now…you won't ever touch me," she said.

"You'll regret coming here," Catherine hissed, "I'll make sure of it." She turned and stormed out of the room, her maids hurrying behind her.