bChapter /bb56 /b

ra’s POV

The two mach froze, their faces draining of color

“Gamma ra, what are you talking about?” One of them stammered. “How would we know what happened to Miss Trics?”

“I heard what you said earlier,” I said, forcing my tone to be softer, “Please, don’t worry. I’m not here to scold you, I’m here to help, and I need you to trust

I watched them closely, trying to gauge their reactions. But they still looked stiff as boards.

“Please, Gamma ra… don’t drag us into this.” The

“The other maid’s voice quivered with fear. “It was wrong bof /bus to gossip about our masters. We promise

we won’t do it again. Please, just let us go this time.”

let out a heavy sigh, trying to calm the frustration bubbling in my chest. “I already told you this stays between us. I won’t say a word.”

The first maid bit her lip, torn. But after a long, tense silence, she whispered, “I know you mean well, but…we just can’t take the risk. The rules here are

so strict. One wrong move and…we’ll be in for it. So please, Gamma ra, can you just pretend you didn’t hear anything?”

I nodded, understanding all too well. The Direstone Pack was ruthless when it came to discipline. I’d been a maid here once–trapped in that fear mysel I couldn’t ask these women to put themselves in harm’s way.

“Alright,” I said, adjusting my t

y posture. “How about this? You don’t bhave /bto say anything. But if you think Triss’s being mistreatedb, /bjust wink your left eye.”

The two maids changed a nced, hesitation hanging thick between them. After a moment, one of them hesitantly blinked her left eye.

b“/bGood,” I nodded, satisfied with their response. “Now, wink your right eye if someone in power is bullying her

The maidplied, her right eye closing briefly

“Okay,” exhaled deeply. “I get it. You can’t give me any details. But can you point me to someone who might know more? You’re not the only ones who’ve seen what’s happening”

One of them swallowed hard, looking nervous but determined. “If byou /bcan find a maid who trusts you. I think you’ll find someone who can help. It’s not a secret among the servants, but most are too scared to talk.”

I gave them a grateful nod. “Thank you.”

The maids scrambled to their feet, their fear evident as they quickly fled the scene. I watched them disappear, my mind working through the puzzle they’d just presented,

Then it hit me Prisca. She’d been a maid here, and she trusted me. She had the answers I needed.

I didn’t waste another moment. I set off for the pack cloic where Prisca now worked as a receptionist.

When I arrived, a nurse greeted me and informed me that Prisca was out checking on patents

-Should I call herback?” the nurse asked eagerly

“No, it’s fine. I’ll wait for her,” I replied, shing a smile,

was genuinely happy to see Prisca thriving, even without her hands. She had found a way to carve out ade for herself, and I respected that

sat in the waiting area, pulling out my phone to update Thorne on my progress. But before I could type a word, a loud, high–pitched argument broke out the hallway.

“Who the hell are you?!” A voice shouted, filled with fury. “How dare you ask me to scrub the tulet BACK OFF NOW

I knew that voice, it sent a jolt through me.

I stood up and followed the cofomation, turned thees to find a group of noises gathered outside the restroom.

And in the middle of it all, i

Lalmost didn’t recognize her at first. Gone was the morous it used to know the one with perfect makeup and expensive. looked like she had aged ten years in the span of a week. Her hair was greaty, her skin haggard. She was wearing ragged,

her thin frame..

She was shouting at

-nurses, het voice manic and wild.

“My name is Mi Dar! Lady M Show me re

– She screamed, her eyes shing with desperation

ngfrom

A nurse stepped forward, raising her hand. Before Mi could react, the nurse pped her across the face with a sharp crack

“Enough with the “bitch“,” the nurse snapped. “You’re no longer ady Alpha Thome made it clear–you’re a ve now. You’m your days doing hardbor to atone for your sins.

“That’s right,” another nurse added, nodding. “All of bus /bclean the restroom. It’s just your turn. What makes you think your

Mi screamed again, her eyes wild. “This bis /bbnot /bmy duty! I’m meant to be the Lunat Alpha Thome is mine. He loves me, band /bheit; wait and see, you filthy rats”

Her words wereced with delusion as the burst into an eerie, tunelessugh.

pend the rest of

out of here. Just

I couldn’t help but watch as the nurses exchanged looks of disgust. Behind me, I

I overheard a few muttering.

“Look at her. She’s lost itpletely.”

“She’s still dreaming of being Luna? bWhat /ba joke. She doesn’t even know what she looks like now.”

Before Mi could continue her rant, a nurse stopped forward with a mop and a bucket. She dumped the contents in front of Mi, sending the dirty water sshing.

“That’s enough,” the nurse said coldly. “We’re all done listening to

ning to byour /bcraziness. Now get moving and clean the toilet.”

Mi’s face twisted with rage. “Hell not Don’t you darey a finger on me

She was cut off by a deep voice that seemed to cut through the chaos.

“And what exactly are you going to do?” The voice was icy,manding

-4 turned, and there was Prisca. Her expression was calm but fierce, like a predator surveying its prey Mi recoiled at the sight of her, her eyes wide with

terror.

“Stay back!” Mi cried, her body trembling as she took a step back. “Don’te any closer.

bPrisca’s /bblips /bcurled into a mocking smile. “Are you trying to scare me?” She raised her foot and kicked Mi’s leg, sending he bucket tipped over, sshing Mi with dirty water,

Mi screamed in fury, but she was too slow. A nurse grabbed her by the hair, holding her back.

ing to the floor. The

“bDo /byou really think anyone’s scared of you anymore! Prisca’s voice dripped with contempt. “You’re nothing now. No power, no family. Just a shell of the woman you once were.”

Prisca stood tall, exuding confidence as she nodded at the nurse. “Lock her in the toilet. She’lle around eventually

eries from inside.

“Pleaset Let me out! It sticks in here I’m sorry, I’m sorry–je

“Scrub the toilet, and I’ll let you out, Prisca called hack, her wore as cold as

sabahind, for bed in

The crowd began to disperse, and the nurses returned to their duties, leaving

Prisca turned to face me, her expression softening when the saw me

“Gamma ra!” She smiled brightly “What brings you here? Do you need somet

from mer

E