Chapter 41

Third Person POV

“YOU! You shouldn’t even be here! YOU ARE WOLF-LESS!”

‘Got you bitch,’ Cora thought smugly.

From the moment they had met Cora loathed Nan. The low blood commoner had strutted in those ancient halls without remorse. Cora had clocked Nan’s entitlement and greed the second she laid eyes on her.

‘Lionel is mine!’ Cora growled lowly. ‘I won’t let anyone else have him.’

First that cold bitch Katya had taken Lionel from her. When she had died, Cora knew it was her chance to claim him. He would see that no one else was better suited by his side.

Then he brought that gold digger, Nan, to his home. Cora knew exactly why Nan was there. That bitch would seduce her way into Lionel’s bed and take Cora’s rightful spot.

Cora would not stand for it. No one would get between her and Lionel. Lionel would come to see her way, whether he liked it or not.

She had intended to teach that peasant her place. But then Lionel had swooped in and saved the whore! How dare he humiliate Cora that way?

But finding out that the bitch was wolf-less? That had given Cora unholy glee. She would make Nan pay.

So, Cora snuck into the party. Eager to expose the abomination that their goddess had rightfully abandoned. Everyone would see.

Lionel would see. He would throw out that imposter. And Cora could graciously return to his side.

‘After I make him squirm for a bit,’ Cora mused. ‘But I’ll forgive him. Mates always forgive each other.’

She watched Nan’s face above all else. Anticipating her reaction. And she was not disappointed.

Nan’s dirty, smog-colored eyes widened. Like a baby deer in front of a dangerous predator. Her face turned ashen.

The stupid wolf-less woman’s mouth chin trembled. Cora could smell the sour flare of fear in the woman’s scent. Cora would beat that the woman’s pulse was as fast as a pathetic rabbit.

Nan looked utterly horrified.

Cora savored it.

Nan’s POV

‘No, please. Not now.’ I silently beg.

Not in front of everyone. Not in a crowd so dense I can’t escape. Not with Lionel just feet away.

I am tempted to run away. But my legs are locked. Unable to move.

‘Is this it? Will Lionel abandon me? Will I get kicked out without seeing the girls or Lionel ever again?’

This had been a fear of mine since I’d been a kid. To have my secret exposed to the world. To face even worse prejudice for something I could not help.

I should have known that evil woman would pull something like this. I should have prepared. I am not ready to leave.

There is silence. No one has said a word since Cora shouted. All eyes looking back and forth between Cora, me and…

I finally risk a glance at Lionel. He is staring at Cora with traces of anger. But otherwise, I can’t read his expression.

How do I explain myself? I just hope Lionel will not send me away without listening. I open my mouth to speak.

But then the silent bubble breaks. Laughter ripples through the crowd. It spreads fast.

I look around in confusion. No one seems angry. Only amused.

I look back at Cora. She is also confused. It seems neither of us understand what is occurring.

Then the mummers begin. I can’t quite make out the words at first. But I see that Cora does.

Her face falls. Her previous smugness has faded. She looks around in disbelief.

“…serious, is she?” Someone whispers.

“Looks like the self-proclaimed princess of society really has fallen from grace.” Another snorts.

“Is it any surprise? She always has been a notorious schemer.” A female laughs back.

“How uncouth! To crash a party such as this, and then to make up such ridiculous slander.” Somebody grumbles.

“Look at her! She can’t even keep her inner wolf under control! She should be removed.”

With each word I can see Cora’s anger grow. She is practically trembling in rage. Teeth bared and a crazed look into her glowing wolf eyes.

It makes me weary. Being this close to wolf rapidly losing control of their anger is not a good idea. I inch back.

But there is no room to move. No one else has noticed it yet. Except for Lionel.

I see Lionel moving closer. Carefully so. Trying not to trigger her instincts so close to other people.

‘Lionel does not seem anger at me,’ I note. ‘He is only focused on getting to Cora.’

Relief comes over me. If Lionel believed her, he would not be so calm. He must think she is lying.

I am a little pleased that he does not trust her word over mine. That he still takes my side even after our fight. It means there is hope for trust between us.

But then again…

It is simply more time added to my emotional bombshell. Had I not preached to Lionel about trust? Yet here I am keeping my own huge secret.

‘But it’s not the same,’ I argue to myself weakly. ‘He has no right to this one.’

Still, if I were to tell anyone...I would want it to be Lionel. To give me full trust to him. To trust him to not hurt or abandon me.

But our argument had raised some doubts in me. It would be only a matter of time until he found out. How much longer can I keep my secret from him?

Cora’s low snarl brings me back to the present. Her eyes dart wildly between people. Looking for anyone to believe her.

“I’m telling the truth! She’s wolf-less! She confirmed it for me herself!”

She points her finger to me once more. But I shake my head. I will not incriminate myself for this woman’s sake.

“YOU’RE LYING! ADMIT IT! I know you’re wolf-less!”

She swings her body toward Lionel. Lionel stops moving. Eyes taking in her body language.

“Lionel, you’ve been deceived! That bitch has been tricking you since the day she got here.” Cora shrieks.

Lionel says, “If you want me to believe you, this has not been the way.”

His voice is calm. I see the unhinged rage mellowing out as her trembling stops. She is listening.

But it is all for naught in the next moment.

“She must be crazy. Lionel would never let a wolf-less here.” A man mocks her loudly.

This sends her over the edge. Fangs on display, she roars. “HOW DARE YOU!”

She turns back around towards me. Rage twisting her face. She charges for me before Lionel can grab her.

I cry out as her claws carelessly nick me. She grabs my arms in a bruising grip. I jerk away but can’t.

She uses her brutal strength and pushes. I sail backwards. But I do not meet the hard concrete that I expect.

I feel something so much worse. I hit the cold water of the pool. Water engulfs my head.

I am too shocked to hold my breath. Water enters my nose and open mouth. My lungs burn.

‘I can’t swim!’ I try to scream.

It is a stupid move. This only causes more water to enter. But my panicked brain does not register logic in that moment.

I struggle. Try to remember the swimming tips Kay has taught me. But the cold distracts me.

The chlorine stings my eyes. I can’t see anything but blurry light above. My tight uniform is making movement difficult.

It’s probably only been seconds. But my fear draws it out into so much longer. ‘Water, why did it have to be water…’

I would have rather hit the concrete. Risked broken bones or possible concussion. Anything but the pool.

Drowning is my next biggest fear. For good reason. I’d never gotten over my fear of drowning after….

I try to reject the memories. To focus on getting to the damned surface so I could breathe. But my terror is in control.

I am helpless to its pull. Blackspots are appearing in my vision. My last view is Lionel.

Lionel’s face above the water. Watching. Watching me drown.

I black out.