Georgia swept the hall, her stomach growling loudly, the ache a constant reminder of the dinner she wasnโt allowed to attend. She glanced up just in time to see Serafina strolling past, heading toward the dining room.โDonโt look so miserable, Georgia,โ Serafina said with a mocking smile. โItโs not my fault you werenโt invited.โGeorgia gritted her teeth as the hunger in her stomach intensified. โI wasnโt invited because you made sure of it.โSerafina paused, turned, and laughed coldly. โWell, someone has to clean up after us. Itโs not like you have anything better to do.โGeorgia tightened her grip on the broom, her voice barely audible. โYouโve taken everything from me, the food, the attention, the life I shouldโve had.โSerafinaโs eyes gleamed with amusement. โYouโre just bitter because Iโve always had what youโve wanted. Get used to it.โWith a final glance, Serafina walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Georgia stood frozen, the emptiness in her stomac
The next day, Serafina, with a knowing smirk, deliberately assigns Georgia the impossible task of carrying a massive crate, fully aware she can't lift it alone. As Georgia struggled, her arms trembling under the weight, a voice slid in from behind, smooth yet firm.The next day, Serafina, with a knowing smirk, deliberately assigns Georgia the impossible task of carrying a massive crate, fully aware she can't lift it alone. As Georgia struggled, her arms trembling under the weight, a voice slid in from behind, smooth yet firm. โYou donโt have to do this alone, Georgia.โ Jaredโs voice was gentle but unwavering as he reached for the crate she was barely holding up. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she tightened her grip, refusing to let herself appear weak. โI can manage,โ she muttered, shifting her stance despite knowing she was barely standing. Jared frowned, his jaw tightening. โYouโre about to collapse. Just let meโ Before he could take the crate from her hands, a s
The hallway was quiet now, too quiet. Georgia stood frozen, staring at the shadow that had just slipped away with that cruel laugh."You scared me..." she whispered to one of the guards standing there, her voice breaking slightly.Why had he pretended? Why had he scared her like that?She wanted to crumble to the floor, but pride, stubborn, burning pride, held her upright. She had no one to lean on. Not really. Jared had tried. But even with him, she didnโt want to be seen as weak.Not again.Not by anyone.Later that evening, the staff moved around her like she was invisible. When she reached for her portion at the kitchen door, the cook, usually indifferent, stepped back and folded his arms.โYouโve already eaten,โ he said flatly.โI havenโt,โ Georgia replied, confused.โCheck with Lady Serafina,โ he said with a shrug, turning away.Something cold and cruel settled in Georgiaโs stomach.She didnโt need to ask.She knew.Day after day, it continued.No food.Whispers behind her back.
The morning sun had barely warmed the palace walls when the trap was sprung.Georgia was heading toward the garden shed with a basket of linens when a pair of uniformed guards stepped in front of her, blocking her path.โMiss Georgia,โ one said coldly, โyouโre needed in the council hall. Now.โHer stomach tightened.โWhy?โ she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.โYouโll find out soon enough.โTheir faces were stone. No emotion, no answers. Just duty.She followed them, heart thudding against her ribs like a warning drum. Every step felt heavier than the last. The corridors she once walked freely now felt like they were closing in on her.When they entered the council hall, a small crowd had already gathered.Servants. Guards. Advisors.And at the far end of the room, standing tall with his back to her, was Alpha Jared.Her eyes flicked to the right, Serafina.Smiling.Smiling like the devil himself had whispered a secret in her ear.The air was tight with tension."Step forward, G
Serafina reclined in her chair, fingers tapping idly against the armrest, her gaze distant. Jaredโs words still echoed in her mind, sharp and unforgiving.โIf you ever attempt to harm Georgia again... you wonโt just be stripped of authority. Youโll be exiled. Banished. Do you understand me?โA smirk tugged at her lips. Almost a laugh.As if exile could undo what theyโd had. As if a bond, no matter how sacred, could erase years of obsession, stolen nights, and the raw power theyโd once wielded together. He thought banishment could break her?Foolish.He was mistaken.It was just a phase. A foolish impulse from a man trying too hard to prove something to a room full of wolves.She rose from her seat, her silk robe dragging behind her like smoke.โGeorgia may have caught his eye for now,โ she murmured to herself, โbut Iโll remind him where he truly belongs.โShe summoned her handmaid.โSend Georgia to deliver Alpha Jaredโs food,โ Serafina said coolly.The maid blinked, clearly puzzle
Georgia shoved him.Hard.Her palms hit Jaredโs bare chest, the sound loud in the quiet room. For a moment, she thought heโd step back. But he didnโt. He barely moved. The only sign sheโd done anything was the sharp twitch in his jaw.โDonโt,โ she said, breathless. โDonโt do this to me.โJared stared at her, his chest rising and falling, lips still parted from the kiss they had just shared.โGeorgiaโโIโm a weak Omega,โ she snapped, pushing him again. This time, it wasnโt as hard, more like she was trying to push the memory away than him. โYou said it yourself. Five years ago. In front of everyone. You called me weak when the Moon Goddess chose me to be your mate. Do you remember that?โHis face froze.โI remember,โ she whispered, her voice cracking. โI remember every word. Every look. Every second you made me feel like I wasnโt enough. Like I didnโt belong by your side.โJaredโs eyes darkened. Not with angerโbut with guilt. Regret. Hunger.โI didnโt know how to handle it then,โ he sa
Morning came too quickly.The soft rays of sunlight filtered through the tall, arched window, brushing warm gold over the tangled sheets and discarded clothes strewn across the floor. Georgia sat at the edge of the bed, a sheet wrapped around her body like armor. Her back was to Jared. Her fingers were clenched tight, nails digging into her palms.Jared stirred behind her, the bed shifting beneath his weight. She didnโt look back. She couldnโt.Her heart was still racing.Her body still remembered everything.And that terrified her.โGeorgiaโฆโ Jaredโs voice was still husky from sleep. โYou okay?โShe stiffened. Donโt turn around. Donโt look at him. Just breathe.โIโm fine,โ she said quickly, too quickly. Her voice cracked like a fragile shell.โYou donโt sound fine.โThere was a pause. Then, the rustle of sheets as he sat up behind her.โIโฆ..I need to go,โ she whispered, standing abruptly and nearly tripping on her own discarded boots. She clutched the sheet tighter, looking everywher
โI need to stop this,โ Georgia whispered into her trembling hands.The dim glow of the candle flickered against the stone walls of the palaceโs service corridor. Her heart still pounded in her chest from the dream or hallucination; she wasnโt even sure anymore. Jared hadnโt come into the room. He hadnโt said those words. She had imagined every second of it.And that terrified her more than anything else.Because it meant she wanted it. Wanted him.Even after everything.Even after being discarded like an afterthought five years ago.She rose from the war room chair, smoothing her apron and tying it tightly, almost as if binding her feelings in place. No more of this. No more foolish fantasies.She was a maid. A palace maid. She had no place in an Alphaโs heart, especially one like Jaredโs...โ โฟ..โ โฟ..By midmorning, Georgia was in the East Wing, arms full of fresh linens and polished silver trays. She moved quietly from one room to the next, nodding politely at the guards, ignoring the
"Sheโs unfit for her role, you know," the maid whispered, her voice sharp as broken glass. As they gossip about serafina.Serafina froze behind the corner, her fists tightening until her nails carved red moons into her palms."Mad," another murmured. "Dangerous."Their words swirled through the stone halls like smoke, curling around her throat, choking her.She should step forward.She should slap the girl so hard her descendants would feel it.Her body trembled with the urge, raw, hot, violent, but she didnโt move.Not because she couldnโt.Because they werenโt worth it.Serafina turned on her heel, her boots clicking sharply on the marble. She didnโt look back, didnโt let them see the wildfire rising in her chest. She marched past them like they were less than dirt.Her face, cold as winter.But inside?Inside, she was crumbling, screaming, clawing at the walls of her own ribs.They dared.They dared.She shoved through the palace doors and into the open courtyard, the evening sky b
"Do it clean," Serafina said coldly, her eyes never leaving the horizon. "Yes, my Lady," Kae murmured, already melting into the shadows like smoke.She stood there for a long moment, fists still trembling, feeling the sting of broken skin and broken trust. The air was thick, hot, like it could swallow her whole.She turned, cloak swirling, and stalked back through the palace gates. The guards didnโt dare meet her gaze.Good. Fear was easier to command than loyalty.Each step she took echoed loudly, bouncing off the cold marble walls. She didn't slow down. She didnโt look back. Her blood pounded in her ears, louder than the roaring whispers of servants scrambling to get out of her way.She didnโt care.She didnโt care about their looks, their mutterings, their prayers.She had a storm inside her chest, and it needed somewhere to go.By the time she reached her quarters, Serafina was breathing hard, her chest heaving. She threw the heavy doors open and let them slam behind her.Sile
"Where is he?" Serafinaโs voice sliced through the humid morning air like a blade. No one answered. The soldiers in the training yard froze mid-swing, the clang of steel against steel dying in the tension. A few exchanged glances, daring each other to speak. She stormed forward, barefoot still, blood dried around her knuckles, her once-glorious nightgown hidden now under a dark cloak she had grabbed from her closet. Her hair was wild, her eyes two burning embers that promised nothing but ruin. "I saidโ" she roared, fists clenched at her sides, "WHERE IS HE?!"A young squire, no older than fifteen, pointed a trembling finger toward the center of the field.Caleb.He stood with a training sword in hand, mid-spar with another knight. His back was to her, unaware of the storm about to crash into him.Serafina didn't walk to him. She charged."CALEB!" she screamed, her voice cracking the air like thunder. The boy turned, confused, then his eyes widened in horror.It was too lat
The next morning, Serafina stirred from a restless sleep, if two hours of tossing and turning even counted as rest. Her head throbbed, her eyes burned, but she refused to appear weak. She snapped her fingers, summoning one of her maidens.โBring me tea. Now.โThe girl rushed off, anxious to avoid another outburst. She returned minutes later, hands trembling as she placed the cup on the tray.Serafina took one sip, and froze.Her expression darkened like a brewing storm.โYou dare call this tea?!โ she thundered, slamming the cup so hard against the table the china cracked. โDid you boil this with swamp water or tears?!โThe porcelain cup shattered against the wall, spewing golden liquid across the velvet drapes like blood. The young maid gasped, eyes wide as the fragments rained to the marble floor.Serafinaโs voice was a whip. "If you want to serve me lukewarm water, go fetch it from the stables, not my damn breakfast tray!"The maid bowed deeply, trembling, but Serafina didnโt give h
"Answer me, Jared!" Serafinaโs voice cracked like thunder across the grand chamber. "Youโre just going to stand there?! Say something!"The air between them was thick with rage, heartbreak, and disbelief. Jared didnโt speak. He didnโt blink. He didnโt even breathe for a moment. He just stood there, jaw clenched so tight his muscles trembled. His eyes, those usually fierce, calculating eyes, were now dark and hollow. Then, with no explanation, no apology, no glance, he turned around and walked out.Serafina froze.โWhatโฆ?โ her voice dropped to a whisper, trembling. โYouโre walking away from me?โShe blinked fast, as if her vision had betrayed her. But the sound of his footsteps, heavy and deliberate, echoed louder than any confession.โJared!โ she shouted, storming after him. Her heels clacked furiously against the marble floor. โIโm talking to you and youโre walking away from me?! Donโt you DARE walk away!โHe didnโt stop. Not until she caught up with him just outside the chamber door
Back at the palace, a storm raged, not outside, but inside Alpha Jared. The grand chamber, once a place of power and pride, now echoed with the sound of his pacing footsteps and guttural growls. The mighty Alpha, once calm and respected, was now nothing but a tormented soul spiraling out of control. His bare feet thudded against the cold marble floor as he walked back and forth like a caged beast, his massive frame trembling with anger and regret.Moonlight streamed in through the tall glass windows, casting silver streaks across the room, but Jared didnโt see the beauty of the night. His wolf was restless, scratching at the inside of his skin, urging him to howl, to destroy, to let go. His breaths came in hard, sharp bursts, like he was suffocating in his own thoughts. His claws had extended, slicing the palm of his hand from gripping too tightly.His heart thundered in his chest, heavy with the weight of what he had done. Every second that passed felt like a thousand needles prickin
โCan you imagine falling for a monster? The same monster who raped you?โGeorgiaโs breath hitched as the thought clawed through her mind like a jagged blade. Her grip tightened on the suitcase handle, knuckles pale. โOh hell no,โ she whispered to herself, shaking her head, trying to keep it together.โMommy, where are we going?โ Keiraโs sleepy voice cracked the heavy silence, tugging at Georgiaโs shredded heartstrings.Georgia paused. The hallway was dim, moonlight streaming through the windows like quiet judgment. Her hands trembled as she turned to face her daughter, her everything.โWe're just... getting some air, baby,โ she said softly, forcing a smile that didnโt quite reach her eyes, so "Just keep walking, baby. Donโt ask questions right now," Georgia finally whispered again, but her voice cracked.Kelvin rubbed his eyes. "Is it because Sir Jared doesnโt want us here anymore? Did heโฆ did he fire you, Mom?"Georgia stopped in her tracks. The name alone made her chest ache like a
Georgia turned back slowly.Her eyes locked onto Jared, still on his knees, still trembling.ThenSLAP!The second one landed harder. Sharper. Louder.His head jerked to the side.She was weeping now, chest rising and falling in uneven sobs. Her voice cracked with pain as she screamed, "I trusted you! I begged you that night! I said NO! And you still, YOU STILL"Jared shook his head desperately. "Georgia, I didnโt know it was you. I didnโt. I was sexually aroused and I was drunk too""But I did!" she shouted. "I knew what was happening, Jared. I begged. I cried. I screamed. And you... you didnโt stop. You didnโt care!"Her whole body shook as she backed away, hugging herself like she was trying to hold herself together. "Do you know what happened after that night? Do you even care what happened to me?"He opened his mouth to answer, but she didnโt give him the chance."I walked home that night, torn, bleeding, and broken! And when my parents that I was pregnant"Her voice broke again,
โTheyโre not leaving,โ Jared said, his voice cold and final, his eyes locked onto the guards by the palace gate. โLock the gates. No one leaves this territory unless I say so.โโYes, Alpha,โ the guards responded in unison, lowering their heads as they disappeared toward the outer wall.Georgia let out a shaky breath. โThank youโฆ thank you for letting them stay.โ Her voice cracked as she stepped closer, reaching out slowly, unsure. Then, with a surprising boldness, she pressed a kiss to Jaredโs forehead.Jared didnโt move.He didnโt even blink.His heart thudded against his ribs, loud and violent. Her scent filled his lungs, wildflowers and vanilla, and it only made the storm inside him worse.She smiled softly, a hint of relief on her face. โI know this isnโt easy for youโฆโYou have no idea, Jared thought.He didnโt deserve that kiss. Didnโt deserve her soft gratitude. Not when he was carrying a truth that could shatter her.โCome with me,โ he said suddenly, stepping back from her war