Chapter 149
Elara’s POV
“Get on your knees.”
Miela’s words clung to the air, thick with contempt. She was
was still standing there, her gaze steady as she fixed her eyes on me, daring me to
make the first move.
I didn’t have the luxury of time. And I certainly didn’t have the strength to fight back. A flicker of hesitation crossed my mind before I heard the sharp command from Lance.
“Guards,” he said, his voice cold but oddly calm, “Lady Miela needs assistance.”
At his words, the guards moved forward, their boots scraping against the stone floor as they closed in. I could almost hear the excitement in their steps. They were eager to see someone brought low, eager for a spectacle.
“Wait!” Miela’s voice rang out, trembling slightly, but still holding an edge.
I stood frozen, my feet unwilling to take a step forward. Being forced into position like this–by these lowly guards, no less–felt worse than any fall to my knees. It made me feel even smaller than I already did.
“Just get it over with,” I muttered under my breath, feeling the weight of the room press down on me.
I shuffled forward with a sigh, my heart a tangled mess.
“Elara…” My voice faltered as I spoke her name, a bitter taste rising in my throat.
“Get into the right position,” Thorne’s voice was like ice. It cut through my words like a knife.
I shuddered. Every time I faced Thorne, it was as if the past came crashing back. He had been my Alpha once. And now? Now I was the one
who had betrayed him.
With great effort, I forced my body down onto my knees in front of Elara.
“J–Elara…” I gritted the words out.
“I am… sorry,” I whispered, but the words felt weak. Insincere. It wasn’t enough, and I knew it..
“Louder,” Elara’s voice was steady, yet piercing. “I can’t hear you.”
tglared at her, my hands curling into fists at my sides. Resentment bubbled up from deep inside me. But I knew there was no way out.
“Elara,” I repeated, this time with more force, “I am sorry!” My voice wavered, betraying the anger swirling within me.
But Elara didn’t let it end there. No, she wanted more. “Sorry for what?”
My teeth ground together. “I… I am sorry for what I did to you… behind Alpha Thorne’s back… And I beg you, please forgive me…”
She chuckled softly, a laugh that sent chills down my spine. “You’re sorry for what? For betraying me? For thinking you could ever walk all over me and get away with it?”
I felt a flush of heat crawl up my neck. “I
“You don’t even have your King’s support, do you?” Elara’s voice grew colder. “How does that make you feel? You’re on your knees without
anyone to back you up. Does that make you feel like a fool?”
I snapped my gaze upward, my eyes flashing with fury. “I’m not going to answer that!” I bit
them.
out, the words slipping out faster than I could stop
“Answer her,” Thorne’s voice was a low growl. He wasn’t asking.
Lance cleared his throat from the side, his presence a silent reminder that he was still there, watching. He didn’t intervene. Just stood by, like
an observer to my humiliation.
I swallowed hard, my head heavy with the weight of the moment. It felt as if the ground itself wanted to swallow me whole. I couldn’t escape.
“Yes,” I spat out. “I feel like an idiot.” The words were
I could feel the soldiers‘ eyes on me, their quiet laught
They had no love for me. I knew that. They never did.
nomous, but they were true.
filling the air like a distant echo.
I had treated them like dirt. Made their lives harder than they should’ve been. I had punished them when I was Queen in Direstone Pack, but
- it. They didn’t care who I had been. They wanted me brought low.
here, in this new world, there would be no tolerance f
“Yes, an idiot.” Elara’s voice was sharp, her words slicing through the tension like a blade. “Don’t forget that. And don’t come near me again, understand?”
I didn’t say anything. Instead, I shot her a look that was full of silent hate, a promise of revenge. She might think she had won now, but one day–one day, would make her pay for this.
But 1 wasn’t afraid of her. I couldn’t afford to be.
Elara didn’t seem to mind. She had made her decision long ago. She wasn’t going to let me off the hook. She would find her revenge in her
own way.
But now? Now, I had to think about surviving. About getting out.
“I’m going to have you checked by a doctor,” Thorne said, his voice softer now, though there was an edge to it.
He bent to reach for me, but I jerked back, avoiding his touch like it
was
a
venomous snake.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. “I can walk.”
Thorne’s face darkened at my rejection, his jaw clenching. “You’re injured.”
“My legs are fine. I can walk just fine,” I snapped.
I attempted to rise, but my body was slow to respond.
And just then, Lance’s voice rang out again, the sound smooth and condescending. “Alpha Thorne, I think we’re far from finished here. We still haven’t discussed her punishment.”
Thorne’s eyes narrowed, his body stiffening. “We’ve already discussed it,” he growled. “My stance is clear.”
Lance tilted his head, as though pretending to consider the matter. “Sure, sure, But cutting off Elara’s hands was… excessive. However, I can’t just let her off lightly. Especially now that she’s one of us. Those soldiers she killed? They’re our soldiers too now.”
His eyes locked onto Thorne’s, his smirk growing. “If you don’t do something about it, I might start to question if you’re really one of us.”
Chapter 149
Elara’s heart sank. She knew what Lance was doing. He was setting the stage for a confrontation, trying to manipulate Thorne into doing his bidding.
“Well, I’ve been thinking,” Lance continued, his voice dripping with mock sincerity, “Maybe a minor punishment would do. Gamma Elara how about you take up some maid duties to make up for your… mistake?”
Elara’s eyebrow shot up at the suggestion. He wanted her humiliated. Degraded to a servant. But she wasn’t exactly unfamiliar with that role.
And honestly, the thought of it didn’t bother her that much. It would give her a chance to move around. To find a way out.
“Yes,” Elara said without hesitation, her voice steady despite the emotions running underneath.
But then, Thome spoke. And his words felt like a slap to the face.
“No.” His voice was low, tight with anger.
His eyes were full of something unreadable as they met mine. “You would let them do this to you?” His voice dropped to a hiss.
I met his gaze, my heart pounding. “It’s none of your business,” I snapped.
Thorne’s breath grew shallow, his fists clenched as if he were fighting to control himself. “I know what you’re doing, Elara. You want to stay away from me. You want to serve Lance and Miela, don’t you? Is that how much you hate me?”
His words cut through me. “Yes, I hate you,” I answered, my voice filled with a cold truth.
And I didn’t even try to hide the contempt in my eyes as I continued. “You let me work as a maid for years, remember? When I was your
Luna?”
Thorne’s face faltered. His eyes hardened, and for a moment, I saw the cracks in the armour he wore.
With a low growl, he finally spoke. “If this is what you want, fine. But don’t come crawling back to me when you need help.”
With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out.
Lance clapped his hands together with an eerie grin. “Well then! Looks like a decision has been made! Gamma Elara, are you ready for your new job?”
I met his eyes, cold and unfazed. “Yes,” I said, my voice steady.
“Great,” Lance’s smile widened. “Just remember, don’t try to run away again. We’ll be keeping a close eye on you.”
A maid came forward, guiding me out of the room and toward my new “duties.”
As we walked through the palace halls, Miela’s voice floated to my ears, sickly sweet, dripping with malice. “My King, can I boss that bitch around now? Since she’s a lowly maid?”
Lance’s voice responded fondly, almost too casually. “Of course, you can do whatever you want.”
I followed the maid, my mind already calculating how to make my escape.
But then, something caught my eye. A sign on the wall. “No entry to the West corridor on the -4 floor.”
I pointed to the sign, curiosity piqued. “What’s in the West corridor? Why can’t anyone go there?”
The maid shot me a glanced, but didn’t respond.
I knew there was something more to this place. Something dark and hidden. And I intended to find out what.
