Chapter 35
“You want to train, Miela?” Cael’s voice was smooth, but the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement. “Then join us. One round of dodgeball should help with your reflexes. Judging by that bruise, you could use it.”
Miela’s fake smile faltered instantly. The flush of pride in her cheeks turned ghostly pale. “Oh, no, thank you. I’m not dressed for that sort of… activity.”
“You sure?” Jory appeared from behind, already spinning a ball in his hands. “We were just talking about how you’re Direstone Keep’s princess. Surely royalty can handle a little friendly fire.”
He bent down and picked up another ball–one that looked big enough to crush a watermelon. “For you, we’ll play with the
deluxe version.”
“That thing’s lethal!” Miela stepped back, eyes darting between them. “I’m not… I never claimed to be-”
Jory raised a brow. “Didn’t you say you had noble blood? If that’s the case, your wolf must be powerful. This should be easy for you.”
The snickers behind her weren’t subtle. The soldiers were clearly enjoying the show.
Cael folded his arms, grinning lazily. “Miss Miela, you did say you came here to admire our training. What better way than to join in? I insist.”
He extended a hand. To the onlookers, it seemed like an invitation. To Miela, it was a public dare.
She hesitated, teeth sinking into her lip. “I… I appreciate it. Really. But I must decline. My schedule-”
“Oh no, don’t strain yourself,” Vessa said, not even hiding her eye–roll. “Your hair extensions might fall off mid–dodge.”
That was the final blow. Miela spun on her heels–nearly tripping on the hem of her dress–and stormed off, nearly dragging the tablecloth with her as she stomped away.
Behind her, chairs toppled. Cups shattered.
“What a tragic end to teatime,” Jory muttered with mock sadness.
“She deserved that,” Vessa snapped, still fuming. “Trying to flirt with Cael? She must be out of her damn mind.”
I watched Miela’s retreating figure disappear around the corner, then exhaled. “That won’t be the last of her.”
“She’s like a weed,” Vessa said. “You cut it down, it grows back stronger.”
“She’ll try something else. Just a matter of when,” I said. “Let’s stay ahead of her.”
Later that evening, Miela burst into the Diaz residence like a stormcloud.
“MOM! DAD!” she howled, slamming the front door hard enough to shake the picture frames.
A maid was crouched in the hallway, polishing the floor. Before she could move, Miela kicked over her bucket, splashing filthy water all over the tiles–and the maid.
“Stupid thing! Get out of my way!” Miela barked, not even sparing her a glance.
The poor maid scrambled up, drenched and silent.
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Corla emerged from the study, alarmed. “Darling, what happened? Did Alpha Cael fall for you already?”
“He did–until that BITCH ruined everything!” Miela wailed, collapsing into her mother’s arms. “Elara humiliated me in front of everyone!”
“Slow down, sweetie,” Corla cooed, stroking her hair. “What happened?”
“I went to the training field, like we discussed. I invited Cael over–he came, Mom, he really came–but then Jory threw sandbags at me, and everyone laughed! I have bruises!”
“And what did Elara do?” Corla demanded.
“She pretended she didn’t know. But she was smirking the entire time! And she let them hit me!”
“I swear,” Corla hissed through clenched teeth, “that ungrateful wretch. After all we gave her!”
“She’s still alive! Still powerful! Still ruining everything!” Miela stomped her heel. “I’ll never be Luna if she keeps walking around with that smug face!”
“Shh, darling. We agreed: if we can break her bond with Alpha Cael, she’ll lose her position and her power.”
“But Cael humiliated me too! He… he dared me to train! In front of everyone!”
Miela’s face twisted in frustration.
“I can’t face him again, not after that. He’ll think I’m weak.”
“Then we’ll find someone else,” Corla said softly. “Someone pretty. Subtle. Someone who can turn his head.”
Miela paused, biting her lip.
“What about one of the maids?” she asked. “You have someone who knows how to flirt, right?”
Before Corla could respond, a voice spoke from the shadows near the hall.
“I can do it.”
They both turned sharply.
A girl stood there, half–wet from the earlier bucket incident, her expression unreadable.
It was Fenna–the same maid Miela had splashed just moments before.
Miela narrowed her eyes. “Who the hell asked you to speak?”
Fenna stepped forward, her tone even but bold. “No one. But I heard what you want. You need someone to seduce Alpha Cael. I volunteer.”
“You’re just a servant,” Corla said with a raised brow. “What makes you think you’re capable of something like that?”
“I’ve cleaned his room,” Fenna said quietly. “I know what he likes. What kind of clothes he lingers on. What food he leaves untouched. I notice things.”
Miela folded her arms. “You think you can get him to sleep with you?”
Fenna didn’t flinch. “I know how to be useful. And I know how to obey orders. If you want Elara out of the picture, I’m your
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Chapter 85
best shot.”
The room fell into silence.
Then Miela cracked a smile. A slow, dangerous one.
“Let’s see what you can do, then.”
Fenna lowered her head. “I won’t fail you.”
Chapter 36
