Chapter 3

MELISSA

I staggered back to me and Rico's room in a daze. The night air brushed over my skin, but I didn't feel it. It was all far away—blurry, as if I was having a nightmare that I couldn't shake.

I replayed the scene repeatedly. Rico. I remembered Lorinda.

The way he'd looked at me with icy detachment.

No. There had to be some mistake. There had to be a reason.

I went into our bedroom, the scent of my mate surrounding me. It provided a thin margin of comfort, and I clung to it in desperate hope. The room remained as it had been that morning—untouched and unaltered.

I moved on autopilot, stripping off my clothes and stepping into the shower. The warm water cascaded down my body, but it did nothing to wash away the ache in my chest.

By the time I slipped into bed, my body was exhausted, but my mind refused to rest.

He’ll come.

He’ll explain everything, and I’ll forgive him.

I lay there in the darkness, waiting, my eyes growing heavier with each passing second.

Eventually, sleep claimed me.

---

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding.

I reached out instinctively—but the bed was empty. Cold.

Rico never came.

A sharp pang of realization hit me as I sat up. Did he spend the night with Lorinda?

I swallowed hard across the knot in my throat and rose from the bed, brushing the idea away. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he'd been working late and slept at his desk.

Demanding answers, I put on some clothes and exited the room, heading to the pack mess hall.

The moment I stepped in, my gaze fell on them.

Rico stood by the middle of the hall, speaking in low tones with Lorinda. The two were cozy, too cozy, and Lorinda had a self-satisfied smile on her lips.

My heart clenched, but I continued, haste in my steps.

"Rico," I called out, placing a hand on his arm.

The moment my fingers made contact with his skin, he spun on me violently, yanking his arm back as if I had burned him.

His silver eyes blazed with fury.

"Don't. Touch me," he snarled.

I stepped back, stunned. "Rico, I—"

"How dare you?" His voice was as sharp as a knife.

The entire mess hall fell silent. Whispers started in a hushed flurry of voices as everyone gazed on in shock. Their Alpha and Luna, never to be separated, now on different sides of a storm.

Lorinda stepped forward, her face contorted in a mask of pretentious concern. "Melissa, you really need to stop embarrassing yourself," she cooed and then turned to the pack members who had gathered.

"Everyone," she declared, her voice echoing in the room. "You should all understand. Melissa is a traitor. She's been sneaking deals behind everyone's back with the rogues."

Gasp flowed through the people.

My eyes opened wide. "What?! That's a lie!"

But harm had already been caused. Whisperings swirled about.

"The Luna? A traitor?"

"No, it can't be…"

"She's always been one of us—"

"Then why is the Alpha upset with her?”

I glanced over at Rico, desperation evident in my tone. "You know that's not true. You know I'd never betray this pack!"

Rico stared at me, his face a mask. Then he spoke, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade of ice,

"I have denounced Melissa as my mate and the Luna of the Lycan Pack."

My breath was caught in my throat.

The world spun.

No. No. No.

Pain seared through my chest like fire, incinerating me from the inside out.

Rico's tone was monotone as he continued, "All of her privileges are stripped from her. From now on, she is nothing but a common slave. A merciful one, considering the punishment for treason is death."

My body went cold.

This wasn't happening.

My lips parted, but nothing came out.

Guards advanced, their faces blank, their hands extended to take me.

My wolf growled with rage, and I snarled, turning to Lorinda. "What have you done?!"

Lorinda merely smiled, tilting her head. "Oh, Melissa," she sighed dramatically. "You really should've been more careful."

Betrayal churned in my veins like molten lava.

"I trusted you," I whispered.

"And that was your first mistake," Lorinda whispered back, her grin expanding.

I lunged at her, but the guards grabbed my arms, dragging me back before I could get to the woman who had taken everything from me.

I fought, but they were too strong.

"Let me go!" I snarled, but they didn't listen, dragging me away.

I caught one final glimpse of Rico, his back already turned to me. Walking away.

Just like last night.

Just as he had abandoned me so easily.

Blinded by tears, she let the guards drag me out of the mess hall, out of my world.

---

I was tossed into a tiny, square room in the omega quarters, my body thudding onto the floor with a dull thud.

"This is your new room," one of the guards spoke.

I lifted my head, eyes landing on the threadbare bed, the ragged grey shift folded neatly beside it.

My throat tightened.

Everything was gone.

My title. My home. My mate.

I pushed myself up, eyes blazing as I looked at the guards. "You actually believe that horse shit?" I demanded. "You think I’m a traitor?"

The guard shifted uncomfortably but did not look at me. "Orders are orders," he said before stepping back.

Then the door slammed and locked.

The click of the lock being turned was ringing in my ears.

I dropped to my knees, a shattered cry escaping my lips.

Everything… everything was taken away from me.

---

Not long afterward, the door creaked open. A woman—one of the head servants—was standing in the doorway, her face twisted in sympathy.

"Your first task of the day has been assigned," she said softly.

I stood up, my back rigid. I would not let them see that I was broken.

I followed behind the woman through the pack house, but as I did, no one glanced at me.

People who had previously saluted me with respect turned their faces away.

I did not exist.

I was nothing.

When we reached the main hall, the woman handed me a mop and bucket. "You are to start cleaning," she said gently.

My grip on the handle strengthened.

I didn't move.

The woman waited before moving closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you don't play along, Lorinda will administer the punishment."

My jaw clenched.

Lorinda.

The woman gulped as I whispered, "Do you think I'm innocent?"

The woman was silent for a moment.

And then finally, in a mere whisper—"Yes."

My shoulders slumped in relief.

But then the woman went on to say, "But that doesn't matter anymore. Everything has changed.”

She spun around and sped off quickly, leaving me to stand there grasping the mop, staring at my new fate.