bChapter /bb41 /b

The minutes were ficking away, and I could feel the knot in my stomach tightening. The party was drawing near, and the nerves wed at me with each. passing second.

Mi still didn’t know that I was working with ra. She still thought I was the dutiful servant, bringing her all the “evidence” of Cael’s bsupposed /bnightly escapades. Ragged underwear, a used condos, a stained sheet–each nor a piece of these I was feeding her, piece by piece. And she was buying it.

Mi waspletely oblivious

The clock struck the hour, and arrived at the bvenue/b, just bas /bra had instructed. I stood outside the bdoors/b, my nails dug into my palms as I paced. The staff bustling around me, the guests auriving in their morous dresses and sharp tuxedos–all of it was overwhelming. And yet, all could focus on was the silence. The silence that ra had left me in.

She hadn’t said a bword /babout the ns

I only knew one thing for sure tonight, ra would make her move on Mi. But what exactly that meant, I still had no clus

When I asked her, she’d just smiled that cryptic smile of hers. “Don’t worry Just follow bMi’s /bblead/b. Leave the rest to me

How could she be so calm? I hated not knowing what wasing next. I hated being kept in the dark.

I was lost in my spiraling thoughts when a voice snapped me

me out of my h

y headspace.

“What’s going on with you?”

1 rope. It was Mi, standing right behind me. I hadn’t even heard her approach, band /bnow she was watching me with a sharp, calcting gaze.

“You’re acting a little… anxious.” Her eyes narrowed, studying my face. “Why?”

It felt like I was caught under the weight of a predator’s stare, band /bI couldn’t breathe.

Forced a smile, my words stumbling out, “bN/b–nothing. Just a little worried about tonight, you know? It’s a big event. I’ve never been to anything like this before

M’s expression softened. She was buying it. For now.

“You’re such a simpleton,” she bscoffed/b, rolling her eyes. “It’s just a party, Fenna. Nothing to worry about. But I get it. Growing up as a maidb, /bbyou /bprobably haven’t seen anything nice in your life. Don’t worry. After tonight, you’ll be living the high life. I make sure you’re set with money and jewels. You’ll have everything”

nodded, keeping my gaze low

A week ago, I might have believed her words. But not banymore/b. bra /bhad opened my eyes to just how ruthless Mi was. And I wasn’t so nave

The maid who helped Mi steal Cael’s key? She’d been discarded, just like that. Mi would do the same to me when she was finished. I knew that bnow/b.

Mi didn’t notice the shit in me as she tugged on my barm/bb, /bba /btake sweetnesscing her tone. “Come on, let’s go inside. Tonight’s your first step into the world you bwere /balways meant for.”

followed her, feeling every inch like a puppet being pulled along on invisible strings.

As bsoon /bas we entered, all eyes were on her. Of course, they were. She was the queen of this scene, the one everyone wanted to get close to Men flocked to her immediately, each one vying for her tention.

Miss Mi” A man stepped forward, kissing her hand in that exaggerated, respectful way that made my stomach turn. “May bhave /bthe honour of a

dance tonight?”

Mi gigged, her eyes sparkling with mischief. But she didn’t answer him directly.

Then, another trio of young men pushed through the crowd, each one eager to stake their im.

“I should be the one to dance with Miss Mi. She owes me fromst time,” one of them dered

“Please, you couldn’t even afford a decent tud” another mocked, his voice dripping with arrogance “Look at me, I spent three grand on this one for tonight. I’m the only one worthy?”

Their bickering turned into a small spectacle, drawing more attention from the other guests. The tension between the men was palpable, and I could see their rivalry growing. Everyone around us seemed to be watching and whispering

It was all so petty. And yet, it was the game they yed. A game Mi thrived in

“Stop fighting over me, guys,” she cooed, waving a hand dismissively. “It makes me feel bad.”“”

She half turned, peeking at the crowd behind her with a grin, then badding/b, “Besides, I already have a date tonight.”

The men fraze, eyes

swide with disbelief.

“Who?” one of them shouted, “Let me fight him! The winner gets the danceb! /b

Mi’sughter echoed in the room. “Oh, you do

don’t stand a chance. But… here hees.

Everyone’s gaze followed Mi’s as a tall, imposing figure entered.

Alpha Thome.

He was a vision in his ck tux, muscr and striking, every inch the Alpha. His mere presence made the room pause. The men, deted and Intimidated, shrank bback/b.

Mi, of course, wasn’t about to let banyone /belse near him. She rushed toward him, a seductive smile on her lips.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” bshe /bsaidb, /bher voice bdripping /bwith affection, “So many men wanted a dance with me tonight, but I turned them all down. I only

want you.”

Thorne, however, wasn’t paying much attention to her words. He scanned the crowd, bhis /bexpression distant. Then, his sharp gazended on me, and I felt my heart skip

“Where’s ra?b” /bhe asked, his voice deep andmanding.

Mi’s smile altered, a flicker bof /bannoyance crossing her bface/b. “Why are byou /bbasking /babout her? Am I not enough for you?”

bBut /bbefore she could protest any further, the whispers of the crowd cut through. People were starting to gasp, and I tumed to see what had everyone in

bsuch /ba frenzy.

“She’s here,” someone whispered.

A figure entered the room, and even the air seemed to still. ra

She was dressed to kill. Her ck gown clung to her like a second skin, the deep V–neck and thigh–high split leaving little to the imagination. Her liery red Tips contrasted sharply against the elegant jewels that adorned her, making her look like something out of a dream

And it wasn’t just her beauty. It was the way people followed her, a group trailing behind her like she was a bqueen/b. Behind her was Cael, looking the he owned the bce/b, and further back, Vessa band /bJory, a few soldiers from Blood Moon bPack/b–each of them radiating strength and power

The whispers grow louder, admiration mixed with awe.

20

“Who is she?” someone asked, “Is she really with Alpha Car?”

“That’s Gamma ra. She’s the real deal,” another replied, eyes wide. “She makes everyone else in the room look invisibl

Mi’s hands clenched at her sides. The rage simmered beneath her polished surf

“ra…” she hissed under her breath. “She’s stealing everything hom me,

Turface.

ra’s eyes met Thorne’s across the room, and she started to walk toward him, her movements confident and poised, Cael and Vess stayed dose, as if they were her shadow.

“Good evening. Alpha Thorne,” ra greeted with a unile, polite butced with power. “Thank you for inviting us tonight”

Thorne smiled–back, his gaze unwavering. “This is your pack too, ra. You were born here.”

ra’s smile was small, faint, but meaningful. Cael bspoke /bup, his voice cutting through the tension, “She belongs to me now. You gave up on her wh you turned your back on her”

I couldn’t help but nced at ra. She didn’t say anything, but the way she tilted her head and gave Cael that small, knowing smile–it said everything.

Mi, standing off to the side, was seething with jealousy, her fists clenched so tight her nails were digging into her palms. This wasn’t the night she’d nned. ra had taken over everything

And Mi wasn’t going to let that slideb. /b

The air was thick with unspoken tension, but Mi wasn’t going to let it go. She turned sharply to me, eyes narrowing in that dangerous way I knew too bwell/b.

Fenna, it was time to y your part.

Her sharp look cut through me like a knife. I couldn’t back down now.

Taking a shaky breath, I stepped forward, pointed directly at Cael, and screamed, “You!”

Heads bturned/b, eyes wide with surprise.

Cael raised an eyebrow, his voice calm. “What is it? Do we know each other?”

My heart raced in my chest. I had to do this. I opened my mouth, but the words stuck, Panic gripped me. But I couldn’t stop now.

Then, it came out “You… Alpha Cael… You raped me!”

The room wentpletely silent. Everyone was watching. And now, it was toote to take it back