Victoria walked forth the shadows, rubbing her stomach, smiling in provocation.
"I knew it must be you from that worn out dress!
Don't worry Zyan has gone to bring me and the babies something sweet, if you would like, I will give a small piece to you as well. "
I didn’t answer her mock concern, my calm making her smile twist with a flash of frustration.
"Ah! don’t tell me you are still trying to stay strong? "she whispered. "God, how sad, you were almost raped, your naked body livestreamed across the internet becoming every dirty man’s wet
dream-"
"Shut up!"
I spat, turning around and her smile widened now that she had my attention.
"You saw how Zyan celebrated me right? If only you knew better you would have left his side by now.
Let me tell you a secret today…A month ago, Zyan took the strategic pact you spent half a year building and presented it as mine. "
Her smile widened, wicked.
"He told the elders I wrote every word. That I was the mind behind the southern trade alliance."
My steps froze in place.
That treaty was my blood, my sleepless nights, my years of sacrifice.
Zyan presented all my hardwork to his mistress on a silver platter.
Victoria stepped into the lantern light, savoring the moment.
"And for my ‘brilliance…"she continued sweetly, "your loving mate rewarded me with properties…land…and an obscene amount of money. "
"Do you want to know what I did with it? "
"I replaced all your loyal guards, signed a contract with the rogue King to make me stand at the pinnacle of power and…. hired those vile men to make your life worse than death."
My fingers curled without my permission, nails biting into my palms.
Red hot anger surged through my veins.
"Do you even know it was on your birthday party that he first held me.
Oh sister, he took me everywhere, on the desk you wrote him love letters, in the small rose garden you made him bouquets, in the bed you innocently dreamed about him…and near the cemetery where your mother's tombstone laid."
Her smile widened, wicked and victorious.
"Only when I needed a break that I told him…how about he use your body as an outlet until he can control his strong urges and handle me gently."
My entire body trembled in horror as memories of that night flashed into my mind.
Three years ago Zyan entering my bedroom while I cried for my mother before holding me gently.
'No buts, Lianna.' he had murmured, fingers tightening. 'I need you tonight. Just this once…be good for me. '
I was exhausted. It hurt. I told him.
‘Just once more darling’ he whispered instead, while my body was already trembling, bruised and hollowed out.
And I let him because I thought it was love.
Victoria lifted one manicured finger, her smile widening as she saw my face morphing into shades of anguish, as if whatever slept within me had heard those words and hated them.
"Shame the result of that day was born a bastard. But then again…children copy their mothers right? "Her smile was gentle. "Even now a whore like you will breed a whore, won’t you-"
Before she could say another word, a thunderous slap cracked through the atmosphere violently.
Crack!
The sound was so brutal that Victoria’s face twisted to a side, blood trailing down her lips.
For the first time, the woman who always looked untouchable looked small.
Her face went blank with shock before twisting with humiliation, rage and disbelief.
I stared at my own hand, breath ragged, that furious strength wasn’t me.
For the first time in my life, I felt it.
My wolf.
A slow presence simmering in my heart.
Not roaring, not awakened completely but still there breathing inside me.
"Lianna, you lowly whore, how dare you hit me?! "
"The whore was never me. "
I leaned closer, fury settling into my bones like winter frost.
"And If what you said is true then get ready to be replaced by another woman. …younger and more beautiful because men never keep mistresses forever. It's like a matching shoe, once old and used…it will be discarded for another. "
The last thread of sanity snapped inside her eyes and she stared at me like she wanted to rip my soul out of my chest.
"Fine" she whispered" Then tonight…you will see who is the real wife! "
Before I could move, her nails dug into my skin as she dragged both of us into the freezing river with a violent splash.
My scream drowned inside my throat as my hands frantically slaped the water to stay afloat.
It was then I heard a small laughter. "Remember, how I drowned your pet dog as your birthday gift and framed you sister? Lets play that game again. "
I gasped at the ruthless memory when Victoria's hand pressed down on my head, forcing me under ruthlessly.
"Sister, you can't swim because of that trauma right? Tonight I will make you relive that hell."
Her monstrous satisfaction quickly shifted to a gently cry.
"Lianna…please don’t be angry…I just wanted to see the festival…Sister, don’t hurt me…. No! I didn’t mean anything! "
She didn’t sound like a monster whose heels dug in my belly sharply instead her soft cries echoed throughout the arena.
My body convulsed, drowning, the world going dark at the edges. Through the muffled chaos, a loud roar shattered the night.
"VICTORIA! "
A splash followed immediately as Zyan jumped in the river, pulling Victoria in his arms immediately.
"Victoria! Are you hurt? Don’t be scared! I am here! "
It was then with the last of my strength, my arm shot out of the surface, water filling my lungs, mouth and ears as my daughter twirled in my stomach like she was crying frantically.
And only then Zyan looked at me.
One glance.
One cold, raged glare.
"Zyan…go save sister…I don’t blame her…she was just upset…she pushed me, but it’s alright…I am willing to die to prove my loyalty to her…"
Her tears fell on his shirt as she sobbed fakely while my entire being suffered in icy horror.
At last Zyan spoke. His voice cutting deeper than any blade.
"Lianna" he said quietly "I am disappointed to have a mate like you. In childhood Victoria went through your relentless bullying just because she understood your pain of losing a mother.
She went abroad to study because you hated her living in this pack! She saved my life because she wanted to see her sister's husband alive, so that you remain happy!"
The cold wind blew but his tone was colder than ice. "And you dare scheme against her?!"
Scheming?
I sank deeper, lungs burning, unable to breathe, unable to fight anymore.
His final words cracked through the night:
"Since you shamelessly planned this then get out of the water yourself! "And then he walked away with her.
Darkness covered my vision as my eyes closed.
No, I can't die here! I must save my unborn daughter!
Just before my consciousness faded completely, I summoned Darius through the fragile mind link.
"Darius, save me. . . save my daughter. . . "
