Ophelia was sitting up in bed, curled against Luna Duskrend’s chest.
est like the spoiled princess she’d always been]
“Mom, I told you Socen’s always loved me! That desperate little bitch actually thought he wanted her as his mate.” Her laugh was puro venom. “If it wasn’t for needing her to wake me up, she would’ve died in some gutter years ago where she belongs.”
Luna Duskrend stroked her hair with maternal pride. “You nearly gave me a heart attack with that fice stunt. But tomorrow marks exactly three years. Finally, you can stop this charade.“]
My blood turned to ice. Three years. Tomorrow,
“But Mom, does the wolf bone bracelet really work? Will it actually kill her?”
“Of course it will sweetheart. Soren spent half the Blackvom fortune acquiring it from the eastern territories. He thought you were really dying–nearly bankrupted his family trying to save you.” The smugness in her voice made me want to vomit.]]
Istood frozen in that doorway, watching this twisted mother–daughter bonding session unfold. Something cold and sharp settled in my chest–not heartbreak anymore, but pure, crystalline rage
I turned to leave, but the world suddenly lurched sideways. My vision went black, and 1 felt myself pitching forward]
The sound of my body hitting the floor echoed through the hallway like a gunshot.
“What was that?” Luna Duskrend’s voice, sharp with alarm.
I heard footsteps approaching, then her audible sigh of relief.
“It’s just Kaela,” she called back dismissively. “Not Soren”
“Oh thank God,” Ophelia’s voice drifted out. “I thought he might have heard us“]
Ophelia appeared in the doorway, looking down at me like I was roadkill. She nudged my ribs with her bare foot, testing if I was conscious.
When I groaned and shifted slightly, she crouched down beside my head, her face transforming into something genuinely terrifying.
“Kaela,” she whispered, voice dripping with false sweetness, “Want to know the best part? Soren lanows I’m not really in a coma. He’s known all along.” Her smile was pure evil. “Even knowing he needs you to die, he still chose to save me today. That’s how worthless you are to him. Stop reaching for things that will never be yours.“]]
Something inside me didn’t just break–it fucking exploded.
Every ounce of rage, humiliation, and despair I’d swallowed for three years erupted all at once. With the last of my strength, I hinged forward and sank my teeth into her arm like the feral animal they’d always called me
“FUCK” Ophelia screamed, trying to jerk away!]
Luna Duskrend rushed over grabbing my hair and yanking with enough force to nearly snap my neck. But I held on like a rabid wolf, biting down harder until metallic warmth flooded my mouth
I didn’t let go until I tasted her blood completely. Only then did I release her, savage satisfaction flooding through me as darkness took over again!]
The surgical site on my skull had reopened, blood seeping through my hamlages. But I didn’t care. Let them all see what they’d created
“Yau psychotic bitch! Ophelia was kicking me repeatedly, each blow harder than the last
“Get back in bed! Surer’s coming!” Luna Duskrend lussed urgently
I felt rather than saw Suren appear in the hallway. His footsteps stopped when he spotted my crumpled form
For one brief moment, I sensed him moving toward me–maybe to help, maybe just to check if I was still breathing
Then Ophelia let out a perfectly timed gasp from her room
Of course. His footsteps immediately pivoted, rushing toward her instead of me. Even bleeding out on the floor, I still came securit
Professor Grimweald appeared moments later. He looked between Soren’s retreating form and my broken body, shaking his head in disgust before calling for medical assistance]
When I woke up, several figures in black tactical gear surrounded my hospital bed. Warriors. I could tell by their moved like a coordinated unit
“Who are you?” I croaked, instinctively gripping the blanket
stance, their alertness, the way they
The lead warrior bowed respectfully. “We’re from the Grimwwrald pack, Luna. We’re here to escort you to the mating ceremony.”
Luna. He’d called me Luna. Like I was already claimed, already protected]
Inodded, too emotionally drained to process the implications. Before I could think, a team of stylists swarmed into the room. They worked with military efficiency–makeup to hide my pallor, hair arranged to accommodate the bandages, a flowing white dress that looked suspiciously like Luna ceremonial robes.]
Finally, they placed a veil over my head, carefully positioned to conceal the medical wrappings underneath.]
When they finished, the warriors formed a protective formation around me as we moved through the medical center. A potential Luna in a hospital was unusual enough–one with obvious head trauma would definitely attract the wrong kind of attention
Back in Ophelia’s room. Soren was staring down at her in wonder as she blinked up at him with those manipulative doe eyes.]
“Ophelia you’re really awake.” He pulled her into his arms like she was made of precious glass.
She melted into his embrace, playing the role of fragile Survivor to perfection]
Then his gaze landed on the bite mark on her arm, and his expression hardened. “Did Kaela do this?” Ophelia’s eyes filled with crocodile tears. “Soren, please don’t blame her. She’s been through so much-“] “Where is she?” He stood abruptly, yanking open the door to find the hallway empty
That manipulative little–He started toward my room, ready to drag me back for another round of punishment.]
That’s when he saw us. A procession of warriors in black, escorting someone in ceremonial white down the corridor.
The figure looked familiar, but the well obscured her features completely
“Oh wow, Ophelia had followed him out, leaning against his arm with practiced weakness. “Someone’s having a mating ceremony in the h romantic.” She paused, tiling her head. “That girl looks kind of like Kaela from behind, doesn’t she?“]]
hospital! How
Soren studied the white clad figure more carefully, something nagging at the edges of his consciousness.
“not that’s impossible,” Ophelia continued with perfectly innocent confusion. “Kaela’s so obsessed with you–she’d never accept another mate. Right?” Her words stopped lam cold. Of course she was right. I was too pathetic, to desperate for his scraps of attention to ever really leave.[]
“I’m feeling dizzy again.” Ophelia murmured, swaying against him with calculated timing.]
“Come on, let’s get you back to bed.” He supported her into the rooms, all thoughts of the mysterious Luna forgotten
I watched this entire exchange from beneath my veil, every word driving the final nail into whatever was left of my heart
As we passed a waste receptacle near the exit, I pulled the well bone bracelet from my pocket. For three years, this thing had been slowly killing me For three years, it had been the chain landing me to a man who saw me as nothing more than a sacrifice
I held at for one last moment, feeling its cold weight against my palm.[]
Then I dropped it into the trash without hesitation
The metallic clink as it hit the bottom sounded like freedom
Goodbye, Suren.
Goodbye to the girl who would have died for scraps of your attention.
Goodbye to every pathetic, desperate moment I wasted loving someone who never saw me as anything more than expendable.
1 was done.
Completely, unterly done.
And I was never looking back
