004

~BREE~

“I won't come back here.” Kaden's voice brought me back to reality as I struggled and stood on my feet before I made my way to my bed, where my bag was.

“Ouch!” A whimper escaped my lips as I tried to clean my cheeks, but they were sore from the slaps.

‘I'm so sorry, Bree. I'm sorry I'm weak.’ Rain apologized, but it wasn't her fault. I didn't want her to take account of Zanders' behavior, but unfortunately, I couldn't say the words as I was in so much pain, and with Kaden's warning, I quickly got to my bed and opened my bag; nothing was in it since I didn't have anything. The only thing I had was my old jeans and a tee; those were the only belongings I had, including the clothes on my body, track pants, and a white tee, which Kaden gave me earlier as I would be serving his guest and I couldn't look dirty.

I walked to the little mirror and looked at my reflection. I know I always looked messed up and bruised, but looking at myself like this on my birthday was heartbreaking, and the person responsible for it was my mate.

I raised my hand and gently touched my cheek, which was painful, but I still did as I took the tee from the bag and used it to clean my cheeks. I couldn't go out looking like this; it shouldn't matter as my mate just rejected me, but it did as I knew of second chances.

You might think I'm crazy, but I was hopeful. I didn't want to lose hope yet, so I trusted the goddess, and I prayed that she let my second chance mate come to the engagement. I didn't want to be tortured by Alpha Zander, and since he said he was going to deal with me after the ceremony, I knew he was, and his tortures were painful. My wound was just healing, and knowing him, he wouldn't mind sticking a knife to that same healing wound.

I lifted my shirt and looked at the wound, which was now healing, then I remembered the night he stuck a knife in my stomach. I didn't even know how my intestines were fine as it was deep.

“No, I have to do something,” I said to myself and quickly covered the wound. Then I sniffed before I walked out of the room and pretended to be fine as I went to the kitchen. I didn't realize I'd been there for long as the house was already filled with guests.

“Where have you been? Alpha Zander has been looking for you.” I heard Kaden's voice, and before I could answer, he gave me a tray that had two glasses of champagne. “Take this to Luna Ruby; she’s thirsty,” he instructed, he didn’t give me a chance to argue, so I nodded and headed out of the kitchen with a tray in my hands.

I knew how Luna Ruby looked, as it wasn’t her first time coming here and reaching outside. I spotted her, dressed in a royal princess pink dress with a crown on top of her head; she also had two guards beside her. I admired her dress for a second; not even in my dreams would I ever think of wearing that; it was just so pretty, and her milk chocolate hair looked so healthy and shiny that I wished I could have that even in my dreams.

“Do your job!” A voice that sent a shiver down my spine shook me out of my state as I cleared my throat and then approached her. She seemed to be chatting with a woman, but knowing I had to do my job, I decided to approach her.

“I heard you’re thirsty, Luna Ruby,” I said, and she shook her head. “From Alpha Zander,” I added, as I knew if she refused the drink, Kaden would accuse me of being rude and would get an excuse to punish me. Ruby looked around for a second before she picked the glass from the tray, and I slightly bowed my head as the other woman, whom I now recognized as Allison, Alpha Zander’s elder sister, took the second glass.

I almost walked away, but a voice stopped me; it was Alpha Zander. He moved so fast that in no time he had both the glasses from Luna Ruby and Allison.

“Who asked you to serve them?!” His voice was commanding, and it seemed to draw everyone’s attention as everyone was now looking at us.

“I…I…” I stammered, saying Kaden's name would put me in so much trouble.

“Doctor!” He screamed and summoned the doctor, who stumbled and rushed to our side. I didn’t know what was happening, but looking at things, I was sure something had happened. “Check if they are safe.” Alpha Zander's eyes were on me.

He handed the glasses to the doctor, who raised one and brought it close to his eyes. Silence fell on the crowd as everyone's eyes were now on the doctor. I honestly didn’t know what he was checking for. He brought the glass close to his nose before he quickly pulled it away and threw both the glasses to the ground, surprisingly, the grass where the liquid landed turned black, and everyone covered their mouths in shock.

No one needed to say it; they both knew what had just happened; the drinks were poisoned, and since this wasn’t the first time I would be accused of killing Alpha Zander’s mates—well, in this case, an attempt to kill—I knew I was in trouble, but still I had to defend myself even when I knew no one would listen to me.

“I swear I…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence as two people held me by my arm and started dragging me away. “I... I didn’t do it, please, I swear,” I continued even when no one was listening. All I heard were hurtful words from people we passed by who kept calling and saying all sorts of evil things.

But I was used to it; it didn’t hurt me until I heard one of them mention that this was Alpha Zander’s third mate, a third mate that I tried to kill, and it was the truth; this was Alpha Zander’s third mate, and I swear I didn’t mean to kill his first two mates, and if I didn't, then it meant someone had it for him, that someone was after him.

Before I could think of anything, I found myself on the cold, hard floor, and the familiar stinging smell made me realize I was in the dungeon.

“You messed with the wrong person this time because Luna Ruby's brothers are coming for you; they will teach you a valuable lesson!” I heard one of the men who brought me here say, and that’s when I realized the two men who dragged me here were guards, but that was not important. What was important was that I was in trouble.

True, I’ve been tortured by my pack members, Kaden, Stephen, Luna and Alpha Moonvalley, and Zander, but never by other packs, and the thought of Ruby's brothers torturing me made the back of my hair stand. I heard they were ruthless and overprotective of their sister.

What were they going to do to me?