Chapter 21
I woke up to the sun streaming through the windows, far too bright for my liking. I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head, but the light had already done its job. With a huff, I threw the covers aside and sat up, rubbing my eyes. For a moment, I wished I was back home with my aunt. She would have been fussing over me by now, helping me dress, brushing my hair while I complained. I even missed her nagging.
I wondered how she was doing, especially with the baby on the way. I wouldn’t even be there when it was born. And my mother—she was expecting too. In just a few months, I’d have a baby brother. The thought of being away from them twisted something in my chest.
I shook off the feeling and headed to the tiny bathroom attached to my room. It wasn’t much—just a shower and a toilet, with barely enough space to move around. The hot water helped clear my head as I tried to focus on the day ahead. I prayed it would be better than yesterday, which felt like an impossible wish.
I got dressed in a simple blue dress and tied my hair back into a ponytail. Maybe if I kept my head down today, I could avoid more drama. As I was adjusting my hair, I felt a presence outside the door, even before the knock came. I sighed, knowing who it was.
Opening the door, I found the same girl from yesterday—the one I’d scared off. She jumped a little when she saw me, her eyes wide. I felt bad instantly. I hadn’t meant to frighten her.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” I blurted out before she could say anything. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
The girl blinked, clearly surprised by my apology.
“It’s alright,” she said softly, offering a small smile. “Breakfast is ready, if you want to join us.”
I followed her down the hall, but in my head, all I could think about was how I wished I could eat alone in my room. Anywhere far from the others—especially far from him.
When we reached the dining hall, I was surprised to see that Alpha Jeremiah wasn’t there. Instead, an older woman sat at the head of the table. She had striking blue eyes just like his, her hair a silver-grey, and though she looked too old to be his mother, the resemblance was unmistakable. Four men sat around the table as well, the same ones from yesterday, along with the redhead, who was seated elegantly in a purple dress. Her cherry-red hair fell in waves around her shoulders, and her sharp green eyes locked onto mine the moment I entered.
She glared, and I quickly looked down, making my way to a seat without meeting her eyes again. Today, I wasn’t going to cause any scenes. I was going to eat, keep my mouth shut, and avoid any drama.
Breakfast was laid out on the table—eggs, sausages, bread, and tea. The smell made my stomach rumble, and I realized I was starving. I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday, and the food looked like heaven.
As I reached for my tea, the redhead spoke, her voice loud and cutting through the quiet room. “So,” she said, her eyes fixed on me. “Why’d you stab the Alpha like that yesterday?”
The fork in my hand froze, and my heart skipped a beat. Across the table, the old woman slowly placed her fork down, her blue eyes narrowing. “Who stabbed my grandson?” she asked, her voice dangerously calm.
I felt my pulse quicken, and I couldn’t speak. The redhead smirked and answered for me. “She did. She stuck a fork in his chest yesterday during dinner.”
The old woman’s eyes, cold and sharp like ice, turned to me. I could feel the weight of her fury, and it reminded me too much of Alpha Jeremiah’s cold rage. My throat went dry, and I couldn’t get a word out.
“And who is this girl?” the old woman continued, her voice rising. “Another one sent to kill my grandson after her family killed my son and daughter-in-law?”
Her words hung in the air like a threat. Everyone at the table went still. I saw one of the younger men smirk, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Before I could respond, the old woman stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. My heart pounded, and I pushed my chair back slightly, ready to run if I had to. But before I could move, the old woman grabbed the teapot from the table, and with a furious snarl, she hurled the hot tea over me.
I screamed as the scalding liquid hit my skin, the pain immediate and searing. I fell off the chair, hitting the floor with a thud. My skin burned, but more than that, I was in shock. I hadn’t expected her to do something like that. Who throws tea at someone?
“Witch!” the old woman spat, looming over me with the teapot still in her hand. “You think you can sit at my table, after what your family has done? I’ll kill you before you even think about touching my grandson!”
She raised the teapot again, ready to strike me with it, and I braced myself for the hit. But before it could come down, Alpha Jeremiah appeared out of nowhere, grabbing his grandmother’s wrist gently but firmly.
“Stop,” he said quietly, his voice calm but commanding.
The old woman froze, lowering the teapot, though her eyes were still blazing with rage. I stayed on the floor, my heart racing, my body trembling. The pain from the burns was already fading as my werewolf healing kicked in, but the shock hadn’t worn off.
Jeremiah glanced at me, and for just a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes—sympathy, maybe even guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by that same cold, stony expression he always wore.
“Get up,” he ordered, grabbing my arm roughly and yanking me to my feet. His grip was harsh, and I could feel the tension in his body.
I was too stunned to say anything, too scared to resist as he dragged me out of the dining hall. As we passed the redhead, I caught the grin on her face, a smug, satisfied look that made me want to slap her.
But I couldn’t. Not now. Not like this.
Jeremiah didn’t say a word as he hauled me back to my room. Once we were inside, he shoved me in and slammed the door shut, locking it behind him.
I sank onto the bed, my heart still pounding, my body still shaking. The burns were healed, but the humiliation, the anger—they lingered. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me of how hungry I still was.
I sighed, burying my face in my hands. This place was a nightmare, and I missed my family more than ever. I felt so helpless and very angry . I was not going to stand for any of this.
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