bChapter /bb156 /b

    ra’s POV

    The moment Thorne stepped into Mi’s suite, I was hit with the kind of luxury that could make anyone feel small. The room was something out of a fantasy–rich tapestries draped the walls, gold–trimmed everything, and the carpet was cashmere. Pure. Soft. Expensive.

    Everything in here screamed power. A reminder that Mi wasn’t just a queen, she was royalty in every sense. I could almost feel her power soaking into the walls, seeping into my skin as we walked in. I’d never seeh anything like it – not even in Direstone Pack.

    Mi stood in front of a full–length mirror, eyes scanning her reflection as maids and designers flitted around her like busy bees. Their voices buzzed in the background, all of them desperate to make the new queen shine at the uing Crowning Ceremony.

    “Thorne, youe!” Lance’s voice sliced through the noise, his face lighting up when he saw us enter. He’d been lounging on the sofa, flipping through a jewelry brochure like he had all the time in the world. “My best man!”

    I froze. Best man?

    I turned to Thorne, eyes wide. He was okay with this? Being Lance’s best man?

    A respected Alpha, standing beside the Rogue King as his best man? The irony was too much.

    Thorne, cool as ever, nodded. “Why do you ask me toe?”

    Lance didn’t miss a beat. “Well, since you’re my best man, you should probably do a fitting. We’ve got Grace Ruin’s top designer in here… might not be as good as your pack’s, but they’ll do. Go on, get measured.”

    Thorne gave a curt nod, then paused, casting a nced over his shoulder. “Stay here,” he said, his voice low but firm.

    The air shifted as he walked off to the next room, and Lance’s eyes turned back to me, amusement curling his lips. “How’s the maid life treating you, ra?”

    I crossed my arms, biting back the retort. “Not so great,” I said, my voice colder than I meant it to be. “I prefer being a Gamma.”

    Lance snickered. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. But it’s not up to you now, is it? You’re a maid, ra. Get used to cleaning, doingundry, and scrubbing floors. Who knows? You might evene to love it. If you behave, maybe I’ll let you marry a rogue butcher or a peasant. How does that sound?”

    I didn’t answer, just shot him a look that could freeze water.

    Then, Mi’s voice rang out from the mirror, sharp and demanding. “ra! Come to me.”

    Lance nudged me with his shoulder. “Go on. The queen’s calling for you.”

    I dragged my feet, my every step feeling like it was pulling me further into this nightmare. Mi was a vision in a gown of delicatece and shimmering silk, her maids fussing over every little detail as if her appearance could be the key to keeping her crown.

    When I approached, one of the designers identally pricked Mi with a pin.

    “Ouch!” she shrieked, jumping back like she’d been bitten. “You idiot!”

    The poor designer dropped to her knees, practically shaking with fear. “M–my apologies, my Queen… it was an ident.”

    Mi’s eyes zed. “An ident?” Her voice rose, sharp and cold. “I don’t think so!” She shot a finger at the designer. “I know what you’re trying to do. You think you can hurt me, rece me? Not gonna happen.”

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    The designer begged, her voice barely above a whisper. “No, my queen. I wasn’t trying to

    But Mi wasn’t having it. “Liarl Guards! Take her out and flog her!”

    The guards rushed forward and grabbed the designer, yanking her away.

    I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. This was Mi, through and through always eager to show her dominance, always ready to humiliate anyone beneath her.

    The designer’s sobs echoed in the room as Mi stood there, the smug smile never leaving her face.

    “There’s no need for that,” I said, my voice tight with restrained anger.

    Mi froze, her smile faltering as her gaze locked on me. “What did you say?”

    I didn’t back down. “I said there’s no need to flog her. She made a small mistake. You’re the queen. Be merciful.”

    Mi’sugh was cold, malicious. “Merciful? You? You think your sweet little act is going to make me like you? It won’t work, ra. I’m the queen. And you… you’re just a maid.”

    Her eyes narrowed, gleaming with cruelty. “Do you think you can teach me? You’re not even worth the dirt on my shoes.”

    The guards dragged the designer away, and Mi spun around, opening her arms as if to unt her victory. “Look at mei,” /ishe purred. “How

    do I look?”

    I turned my face away, disgust flooding through me.

    “Oh, you’re jealous,” she sang, her voice full of glee. “I can see it in your eyes. You never had a big ceremony like this, did you? No crowning moment for you. Thorne didn’t even give you that, did he?”

    My heart skipped a beat, my throat going dry.

    Mi’s eyes sparkled with malice as she leaned in close. “You know what Thorne said on our wedding night?” She whispered it like a secret, her lips curling with satisfaction. “He said if he had a choice, he would rather have me as his mate.”

    My heart twisted in my chest, my body stiffening.

    “That’s right!” Mi beamed. “Nobody likes you, ra. Not even Thorne. You’re nothing but a sad little nobody.”

    I could feel my wolf growing restless, her fury surging beneath my skin. But I couldn’t fall for Mi’s trap. Not again. She was trying to make me snap, to make me ido /isomething stupid.

    But it was so hard. So damn hard not to react.

    “What are you talking about?” A deep voice cut through the tension.

    I whipped around, heart leaping into my throat as Thorne stood in the doorway, eyes hard as stone.

    The room fell silent, every eye on him.

    Thorne looked perfect. His suit, a deep jade, set off his eyes like nothing else. His presence was so maic, the maids couldn’t help but nced at him, their faces flushed. But Thorne ignored them, his gaze never leaving me.

    “What were you talking about?” he asked again, his voice low but sharp. “Why do you look so mad?”

    I shot Mi a look, my chest tightening.

    b11:05 /bWed, b6 /bAug

    “N–nothing!” Mi stammered, panic shing across her face. “Thorne, you look amazing. No wonder the maids are all crazy about iyou/i.”

    Thorne’s brow furrowed, his lips pressed into a tight line. “Is that so?”

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    Lance, still lounging casually on the sofa, chuckled. “Yeah, a lot of them have been talking about you, Thorne. I hear these maids aren’t good enough for someone like you, but they’re perfect for a bit of fun.”

    Thorne didn’t even flinch. “What’s your point?”

    Lance grinned, uncrossing his arms. “Well, we’ve got plenty of pretty girls here. Pick one, or two. I’ll have them bathed and sent to your room tonight.”

    The maids in the room held their breath, exchanging nervous, excited nces.

    It didn’t take much to see what they were thinking. Thorne was every girl’s dream. Strong, handsome, and unapproachable. Who wouldn’t

    want him?

    I tried to ignore the sudden pit in my stomach.

    I couldn’t let Mi and Lance push my buttons. But I couldn’t help wondering… what would Thorne choose?