Chapter 3

They all headed for the dining table, to take their seats in absolute silence. Lilith set eyes on the plates with distaste, her disgust evident on her face, not even bothering to hide it. 

"Really, Naida? This is what you call cooking?" she asked sarcastically, her voice dripping with malice. "I could have made something better myself."

Calista and Quinn giggled, looking at each other. Asher sent them a glance, but they ignored it. "Don't listen to them, Naida. It looks and smells delicious." Asher tried to reassure her, though it was apparent that he didn't have much conviction in his voice. 

"Of course, he would defend our precious Luna," Quinn said, rolling her eyes. 

Naida felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, and her eyes prick as unshed tears burned at the back of her eyes. But she was used to their taunts by now, as painful as they were. 

"She really can't do anything right," Calista whispered to her twin sister, her gaze resting on Naida for a moment. "Even her cooking is as bad as her dress sense."

Naida turned to Rylan, who didn't even come to her defense. In fact, he looked the most annoyed of them all, not even bothering to look up from his plate as he shoved his food into his mouth. Asher saw Naida's downcast expression and his heart went out for her. He bestowed upon her a small, sympathetic smile as if to say, "Don't let them get to you."

But Naida barely noticed. She was too deep in her own misery, wondering how her life had gone so far out of control. Was she really as worthless and undesirable as Rylan and the others made her feel? Silent tears ran down her cheeks as she poked at her food, her appetite gone.

Later that day, Rylan left for another pack meeting while Asher headed out to meet up with some friends, leaving Naida alone in the house with Lilith, Calista, and Quinn.

"You there, Luna," Lilith called out as soon as the front door closed behind Asher. "Come clean up this mess." She gestured lazily at the glasses and plates littered around the living room.

Naida hurried over and began gathering the dirty dishes without a word of protest. She knew what would happen if she didn't obey her.she would complain to Rylan and right now she didn't want him to hit her for disobeying his mistress. 

She could feel the judgemental stares of the three women burning into her back.

"Honestly, I don't know the moon chose you to be Rylan's mate, Naida," Calista sneered as Naida bent down to pick up a particularly stubborn plate. "He could have done so much better."

Quinn laughed. "Who would want a plain, mousy thing like her when they could have real women like us?" 

Their laughter echoed in Naida's ears as she made trip after trip to the kitchen. By the time she finished, her eyes were red-rimmed from holding back tears.

After enduring their taunts and demeaning treatment for a few more hours, Naida finally went back to the bedroom, her heart heavy. 

This was her chance to speak to Lilith alone about leaving Rylan. She began practicing what she would say, pacing back and forth as she rehearsed the lines in her head.

"Lilith, this needs to stop.you have your own mate out there leave my husband alone." She shook her head, that didn't sound convincing at all.

Squaring her shoulders, Naida regarded her reflection in the mirror, determination flashing in her eyes. "You can do this," she told herself firmly. "For your marriage.for Rylan."

Taking a deep breath, she smoothed out her clothes and exited the bedroom, heading into the living room where Lilith sat on the sofa, sipping a glass of wine.

"Lilith." Naida began, her voice trembling slightly. "I.I need to talk to you about something."

Lilith looked at her, eyeing Naida as if in disgust. "What is it?" she asked impatiently, taking another sip of her wine. 

Naida took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Lilith, I.I'm begging you." Her voice quivered as she took a glimpse of Lilith's cold, calculating eyes. "Please, leave my husband alone…"