bChapter /bb52 /b

Nyssa pov

“Mydy, please wake up,” I heard Serena’s voice bas /bbshe /bcontinuously tapped me. I ignored her, keeping my head buried in bthe /bbpillow/bb, /btrying bto /bdrown out her bvoice/bb. /bbBut /bbshe /bdidn’t take that as a sign to stop, instead, she bbegan /bshaking me.

“Mydy, my bdy/b. It’s time for breakfast. The Alpha asked me to wake you up and get you dressed myself so you wouldn’t dress the way you did yesterday. Please wake up, the bath is ready,” she said without taking a breath.

I winced andzily lifted my hand in the air, waving her off to leave me alone. I kept my beyes /bshut bbecause /bI knew the moment I opened them, there’d be no going back to sleep.

Goddessb, /bbwas /bthat so hard to understand?

I had only fallen asleep an hour ago. Last night, I couldn’t get a wink of rest, I was tossing and turning, terrified that Darius would figure out it was me and barge in at any moment to reject me.

Every little sound made me jolt awake, expecting to find him standing in front of me with that terrifying look in his beyes/b. But eventually, exhaustion won, and I finally fell asleep, too drained to care about anything else. Even now, all I wanted was to stay asleep.

“Mydy…” Serena sighed in frustration. “Please wake up, or I’ll get in trouble if I don’t get you downstairs.”

I didn’t respond, slowly drifting off again, soft snores escaping me.

I don’t care. I don’t care. I just want to sleep.

“Oh goddess… Mydy, I don’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice. I’ll ask for forgivenesster, but for now…”

As soon as she said that, I felt the nket yanked off me and then, to my horror, Serena’s fingers slowly began trailing up and down my foot.

My eyes immediately snapped open and I yanked my leg away from her, grabbing her foot as I red at her.

This girl!

How could she? She knew my feet was one of the most sensitive spots on my body, any touch and I’d feel it intensely.

I watched as she bit her bottom lip, clearly trying hard not tough, which only sharpened my re. Without thinking, I kicked her off the bed.

Serena yelped, falling to the ground with a soft thud. I scoffed, running a hand through my hair as she quickly stood back up, rubbed her butt, and lowered her head respectfully.

“I–I apologize, mydy, for my disrespect. I will ept any punishment, but for now, you really need to take your bath.”

I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh before responding, my voice hoarse.

“Alright, alright, stop nagging, will you? I’m awake.” I yawned and stretched, a little surprised that my body didn’t ache or bfeel /bstiff like I thought it would.

I had even expected to wake up with a cold and a sore throat, but everything felt clear, which meant Zayn’s medicine must have really worked.

“He really does live up to his name, doesn’t he?” I muttered under my breath.

b“/bWhat did you bsay/b, miss?b” /bSerena basked/b, and bI /byawned againb, /bshaking my bhead /bbas /bI forced myself to sit bup/b.

“It’s nothing. Let’s bjust /bbget /bbready /bbefore Father bursts through bthe /bdoor and bstarts /bscolding me,” bI /bsaid, getting bup /bfrom the bed. bSerena /bbowed and began to undress me.

As I stepped into the bathtubb, /bdifferent thoughts ran through my mind ball /bbat /bonce.

So, today was the day I would finally frame those two idiots for my death. It bwas /bbsimple/b, just bas /bI nned. All I had to do was lure both Kieran and Aria here, then kill myself and frame them for it. Let Serena witness the whole thing, have her bcall /beveryone in, and then watch bas /bthey were executed for my murder, just before the rejection ceremony tomorrow.

bIt /bsounded simple, but what I was truly worried about… was Serena.

bI /bwatched her carefully as she wiped my body with a serious expression, her touch gentle and filled with care.

How would she breact /bwhen she saw my body?

I knew how it felt to lose someone right before your eyes. I had lost my father, his Beta, Gammab, /balmost everyone I ever loved. I had lost her, and I knew the pain of losing someone like that.

Could Serena take that? Was this too much for her?

“Mydy, are you still upset about what I did? I apologize if you are. I really didn’t want you to get scolded by the Alpha,” she said, focused on her task.

“Really?” I asked with a small smile, my eyes trained on her.

She nodded.

“You know the Alpha is really worried about you, mydy. He wants you to look your best today, to impress the Lycan King. He said tomorrow is the rejection ceremony, and today is the only chance we have to plead with the King not to reject you.”

She leaned in to wipe my face, and the moment I caught a clear view of hers, I froze. Tears were silently streaming down her cheeksb. /b

“Wait, Serena, why are you crying?” I asked, my smile fading and brows furrowing.

She quickly wiped at her face and shook her head.

“N–nothing, it’s nothing, mydy. I apologize—”

Before she could finish, I grabbed her hand, narrowing my eyes as I stared at her, catching her off guard.

“Serena, stop lying and tell me. Did something happen? Did anyone say anything or bully you?”

She blinked in confusion at my furious expression, but then a soft smile spread across her face.

“No, mydy. No one said anything or bullied me. I’m just… worried about your safety. If the King rejects you, then thedy surely won’t be able to withstand it. It could mean death for you.”

She inhaled a sharp breath, then reached out and held my hand tightly, her voice trembling as she murmured,

“And I don’t want anything to happen to you. I don’t want to lose you. If anything happens to you, then I would surely follow you, even if it means dying with you!”

My eyes widened at her words. And before I could stop myself, my lips began to tremble, my eyes stinging as tears welledolliup./li/ol

1 remembered how she had thrown herself to death for my sake.

Even in this life, she was still the most loyal person by my side.

A dryugh escaped me as I leaned in and wrapped my arms around Serena, taking her by surprise. I gently patted her back as I whispered,

“Thank you,” I said softly. “Thank you for standing by me. And I’m sorry for still thinking so selfishly… even now.”

I closed my eyes, holding her close as a quiet decision settled in my heart.

bI /bcouldn’t do that to Serena.

bI /bcouldn’t let her be the one to find my body.