ra’s POW

    The sting on my cheek was almost unbearable. I gripped the burning skin, unable to stop the humiliating tears from welling up in my eyes.

    “W Why did you hit me? My voice trembled as I demanded an answer, my words a mix of hurt and any helping me, not attacking me”

    “We’re sisters! Long lost sisters! You should be

    Kimberly’sugh was cold, dismissive. “Did you not hear me? Your parents left me to rot in a hospital like I was nothing, because I wasn’t pretty enough to meet their standards. They dumped me, just like garbage.” She red at me, eyes full of hatred. “And you, Mi, you’re no better. I hate all of you.”

    I opened my mouth, but my words caught in my throat, “Mom did give birth to you-

    “But did she te for me?” Kimberly cut me off, her voice venomous. “Did she protect me? Did she feed me? No. Hell no. Her disgust was palpable, the way she looked at me like I was thest person on Earth she’d ever want to help. “Now get out. Consider yourself lucky I’m not ripping your face offight

    bnow/b.”

    I bit down hard on my lip, fighting the sting of her words. I thought Kimberly hade here to help me. I thought she would understand. But no, she was just another enemy. On ra’s side, bno /bless.

    I wasn’t about to let her walk all over me, not now. Not after everything i’d been through.

    “You can’t talk to me like that,” I snapped, straightening up. “I’m the King’s mate. His queen” My voice was firm, almostmanding. “You owe me an apology. Now.”

    Kimberly snorted, her eyes scanning the room, clearly uninterested. “I’ve been here for over a decade, and I never heard about any queen‘ of Lance’s Do you guys know about that?” She asked the maids, who ball /bshook their heads in silence.

    My frustration red. “He just hasn’t had the chance to announce me properly.”

    “Until he does, you’re nothing but a joke to me.” Kimberly’s eyes flicked back to me. “Even if he does make you his queen, I can still tell you to get lost whenever I feel like it.”

    She waved her hand, as if dismissing me altogether. “Escort her bout/b”

    Two maids stepped forward, their hands on my shoulders, and without another word, they shoved me out of the room

    bI /bcould hear my furious cries echoing through the hallway, still raging even after I was tossed aside like nothing.

    The door mmed shut behind me.

    “Well, well, well.. bisn’t /bthis the famous Gamma ra? Kimberly’s voice broke the silence as she leaned casually against the wall, eyeing me like ba /b

    predator sizing up its prey.

    Traised an eyebrow but didn’t bother responding right away.

    “They say you’re ba /blegendary warrior.” Kimberly smirked, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and disdain. Too bbad /bbwe /bnever had a chance to meet in battle. You would’ve been dead by my hands long ago.”

    “Likewise,” I said, my tone t, unbothered.

    Her grin only widened, her fingers twitching as if she were bitching /bfor a fight. “You know, your wolf head would look great hi

    I gave her a long, level look. “Don’t tempt me

    Kimberlyughed a short, sharp sound–and leaned in a little closer. “You are an interesting one, ra. Too bad we’re enemies.”

    She reached for a cigarette, lighting it and taking

    drag. “Theard you

    raised in the Dist household. How was then

    “It was a hellhole,” Invitered, my voice low. “You’ve seen what they’re like

    Herugh echoed through the toom, raw and unapologetic. “Well, I should be grateful they abandoned me. Growing up in rogue territory was a thousand times better than being stuck with a bunch of assholes.”

    She snapped her fingers, signaling to a maid who had been fingering in the background. “Get a towel for Gamma ra. And don’t let M anyshar near this room again. Got7

    “Ves, Lady Kimberly,” the maid responded, bowing quickly before hurrying away.

    I sat back in my chair, trying to shake off the tension in my muscles, as a maid came over to dry myce and fix my hair.

    Kimberly, still puffing away on her cigarette, nced at me. “You know about the banquet tonight?”

    “Yeah, I know

    She exhaled the smoke slowly, her gaze darkening. “All the important people in this city will be there. To wee you and Alpha Thorne. It’s the King’s

    order.”

    “Why?b” /bbI /basked, my voice cold, skeptical.

    She raised a brow, smirking as she blew another puff of smoke into the bair/bb. /b“Can’t tell you, can 17 We’re enemies. And you won’t get anything out of me Our King, well, bhe’s /bas stubborn as theye. He’s got a n, but he’s not sharing it with anyone. Not even his own cab,” Kimberly shrugged, clearly uninterested. “All I know is that your arrival and Alpha Thome’s has thrown the city into chaos. But Lance doesn’t seem to care about that.”

    I felt ba /bknot tighten in my stomach. Lance, bas /bbalways/b, was ying games. bBut /bwhat was his endgame? Why bring us back? It wasn’t like him to make a move without a reason.

    She flicked the cigarette into an ashtray and bfinished /bwith ba /blittle chuckle. “I guess I’ll see you at the banquet tonight, huh? Can’t bwait /bto meet the

    infamous Alpha Thorne.”

    “See you.

    She gave a casual wave bas /bbshe /bwalked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The tension in the air was thick, but something in me—some gut feeling–told me Kimberly wasn’t entirely bad. There was something more beneath that bitter exterior,

    The maids finished up my makeover after an hour. They had cleaned me up, washed away the grime, and now I was dressed in a sleek bck /bgown, my hair braided carefully behind me.

    “Wow, Miss ra.” One of the maids whispered, her eyes wide with awe. “You look amazing

    I smiled faintly, my gaze distant. “Thank you.”

    A few momentster, the bmaid /bled me out of the room, and to my surprise, a group of guards was waiting outside. But there, standing among them, was

    a familiar face.

    Jory

    I tried to keep my excitement in check, bgiving /ba simple nod to the guards as they motioned for me to follow. As we walked down the hall, I slowed my bpace/b, walking side by side with Jory

    “How have you been?” I asked quietly, just loud enough for him to hear. “Everything alright?”

    “Yeah, I’m fine” Jory whispered back, eyes straight ahead. “Look, about what happened earlier

    “Thome told me. It was all part of the n.”

    Jory sighed with relied “Good. I was worried you might think I was messing things up. Lance trusts me now. I’m on the patrol tramb, /bbso1 /bcarto more freely and get more info”

    *So, what have you found out?” asked, lowering my voice even more

    Jory looked around, making sure no one was listening, before responding

    now. But I’ll get a night off in three days. I’ll find you then. We can talk

    Inodded, understanding the need for caution.

    When we arrived at the banquet hall, I couldn’t ihelp /ibut marvel at the luxury, Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting soft light on the polished walls, while the long table was set with silk tablecloths, gleaming silver, mil delicate china. It was as if every inch of this ce was designed to remind me of who held the power here.

    The room fell silent when I stepped inside. All eyes turned to me, scrutinizing, waiting for something.

    At the far end of the table, Lance stood up, his imposing figure cutting through the tension in the room. He wore a ck coat that gave him the regal presence of a King.

    “Miss bra/b, wee!” His voice boomed, a broad smile on his face. “Come, join us. Meet my men.”

    I took a deep breath. Tonight, everything would change.

    市