Chapter 4
Caela’s sudden cry drew everyone’s attention. Their eyes immediately turned to me, and soon, whispers erupted all around the room.
“Oh my god! It was Nevara who stole the new Luna’s necklace! If Kael hadn’t had the Betas block the doors, she probably would’ve run off with it by now!”
“I can’t believe she turned out to be this kind of person. Just goes to show–you really can’t judge someone by appearances!”
“She must be incredibly petty. Stealing like that? Thank the Moon Goddess she’s leaving Nightveil Pack. I’d honestly be afraid to share a room with someone like her.”
My face went pale. I never touched Caela’s necklace. It had to have been planted on me–someone must’ve tampered with my things while I was submitting my resignation.
Kael’s face darkened. He bent down and picked up the diamond necklace from the pile of scattered belongings.
Holding it in his hand, he looked at me with deep disappointment. “Nevara-” he shouted my name in rage.
As I looked up, I saw that he had stepped right onto my belongings, grinding the broken pieces of the moonstone ornament under his boot.
Before I could say a word, Kael struck me hard across the face. “Apologize to Caela! Why did you take the necklace I gave her?!”
At that moment, I truly gave up on him.
There he was, clutching a million–dollar necklace meant for Caela, while his foot crushed the cheap trinket he once gave me, something not even worth a fraction of that price.
O
My tears spilled over. All the gossip, the accusations–none of it hurt as much as that slap from Kael, the man I had been with for six
years.
He didn’t believe me.
When I didn’t respond, he dragged me forward like a piece of trash and shoved me in front of Caela.
“I said apologize! Explain why you stole it!”
A hint of satisfaction flickered in Caela’s eyes, but she quickly put on a show of kindness. She furrowed her brows and reached down as it to help me up from the cold floor.
I slapped her hand away and, holding on to the last of my dignity, stood up on my own.
Though my eyes were brimming with tears, I straightened my back. “I didn’t take it! There are recording crystals in the pack hall. I want the footage pulled to prove my innocence,”
“And for the record,” I said, locking eyes with Caela, “that diamond necklace of yours? I wouldn’t even look twice at it”
“Enough! Stop acting insane!”
Kael covered my mouth with his hand and dragged me out. His grip was suffocating, like he was trying to choke the air out of me.
Behind us, I heard Caela speaking to the curious onlookers with a sweet smile: “Well, since the necklace has been found, I suppose there’s no real harm done. We’re all pack members, after all. I won’t press charges. I’ll even order everyone some afternoon tea later– thank you all for helping”
Kael clearly feared I would expose our past relationship in front of the others. That was why he dragged me outside so quickly.
“What exactly are you trying to do?” he demanded, pinching the bridge of his nose like he had a headache. “Even madness has its limits.”
I gasped for air, my face now marked with red and purple bruises from his grip.
“When did you become like this?” he asked. “Thank the Goddess Caela was gracious enough to forgive you. Now go and apologize to
Chapter 4
る
3.08%
酒
her!”
“I won’t,” I said coldly. “I didn’t do it. Why should I admit to something I didn’t do?”
Kael asked how I had changed, but I wanted to know when he had become so completely unrecognizable.
Caela handed me a cup of hot water.
“Nevara, drink some water. Calm down. I know you must resent me, but please don’t act so rashly next time.”
I didn’t take the cup, but she ended up spilling the boiling water on me anyway.
“Ah! It’s hot…” she exclaimed as a few drops scalded her fingers. Kael immediately rushed to her side and brought her to the faucet to cool the burn.
I, on the other hand, was dressed in a thin chiffon blouse. The scalding water soaked straight through, burning my arm. Steam rose from the fabric, and my skin stung like it was on fire.
I treated the burn alone in the restroom. A blister had already formed on my wrist.
When I returned to the pack hall, trying to collect the last of my things while enduring the pain, Kael came over and grabbed my hand.
“Ah-!” I gasped from the pain, and he paused, stunned. Then he let go.
Chapter 4
