The day of Lucian’s funeral was nothing like I imagined. I thought there’d be a grand ceremony, a show of respect for the powerful Alpha who had ruled with an iron fist. But all I felt was the weight of his absence, the strange quiet hanging over the estate like a thick fog.
The pack had gathered, their expressions grim, their eyes wary, like they were waiting for something. I wasn’t sure what they expected, but I knew they all had one question in mind: Did I do it?
I was still in shock over the whole thing. Lucian had been my jailer, but his death… it wasn’t a relief. It felt wrong, like something had shifted in the universe.
As the ceremony wrapped up, I stood by the edge of the crowd, trying to remain invisible. I didn’t belong here. Not anymore.
Then I heard his voice.
“You!”
I turned, my heart leaping into my throat. Damien Blackthorn, Lucian’s son, was striding toward me with an icy glare. He was tall, lean, his dark hair perfectly styled, and the way he carried himself… it was clear he was a man accustomed to power. His eyes, cold and sharp, drilled into me as if I were nothing more than an insect.
“You’re the one who poisoned my father, aren’t you?” he spat, his voice dripping with venom.
I recoiled, my stomach churning. “What? No! I didn’t—”
He didn’t let me finish. “Don’t lie to me. I’ve been abroad for years, studying medicine, learning how to spot the signs of poisoning. I know exactly what happened.” He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “You married him for his money, and now you’ve killed him for it.”
My blood ran cold. I had heard whispers before, but this? Accusations of murder? This was something else entirely.
“I didn’t kill him,” I said, my voice shaking despite my efforts to keep it steady.
Damien’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a smirk. “I’ll prove it. You’ll pay for what you did.”
The pack council met the next day. I was dragged in front of them like some criminal, my hands tied with invisible chains. Damien stood at the head of the room, his posture straight, his expression unreadable.
He didn’t speak for a long while, just stared at me with that chilling gaze. Finally, he spoke. “This woman is guilty. We have no proof yet, but I’ll find it. And when I do, she’ll pay for what she’s done.”
My throat tightened as the council murmured amongst themselves. I could feel the eyes of the pack on me, some sympathetic, but most just waiting for the verdict.
The council questioned me, but the more they asked, the more they realized they had nothing concrete to accuse me of. No poison residue, no signs of foul play.
In the end, the case was dismissed. But the damage was already done. The pack’s whispers had started, and once those rumors spread, they never stopped.
***
The next few days were a blur. I could feel the eyes of the pack following me, like I was some sort of monster. “Gold-digger,” they’d mutter as I passed. “Murderer.”
I didn’t know where to turn. Agnes had vanished, probably already plotting her next scheme, but that didn’t matter anymore. The pack had turned its back on me.
And then there was Damien.
He found me in the gardens that evening, his presence unmistakable even before I turned around.
“You’ve been lucky so far,” his voice low, dangerously calm. “But you won’t be for long.”
I straightened, anger flaring up in my chest. “What do you want from me? I didn’t do it! I didn’t poison him!”
He smirked. “I don’t care if you did or didn’t. You’ll pay for his death one way or another.”
My stomach twisted in confusion. “What are you talking about?!”
“I’m talking about punishment.” His smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. “You’ll marry me.”
I froze, my mind struggling to process his words. “What?”
“You heard me.” Damien stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “Lucian’s death is on your hands, and I’ll make sure you suffer for it. I’m going to make you marry me. It’ll be my revenge.”
My breath caught in my throat. “No. You can’t do that.”
“Oh, I can,” he said, his smile cold. “And I will. You’re going to learn exactly what it means to be my wife. To feel the weight of this pack’s judgment on you.”
I wanted to scream, to fight back, but the truth was clear. I had no choice. Damien wasn’t just angry—he was powerful, and he was determined to make me suffer.
And I knew, deep down, that the pack would follow his lead. They would never let me escape.
So this was it. My punishment. The price of silence.
