16

ISBERLT.

I move to sit up as the woman walks in with a scowl on her face, her dress cascading to the floor—the red material complimenting her look, and giving a bright glow to her glamorous face.

Heather moves from beside me, and she takes a step towards her—her arms folded before her as she bows, but the woman merely ignores her, and walks towards me; her gaze resting upon mine and giving me an unnerving customary sentiment on my abdomen.

"Leave us,"

She orders, nodding towards Heather, who lifts her head with widened eyes. She glances at me with worry in her eyes, and I wonder why.

Why's she concerned about the fact that this woman wants privacy with me? It's not like she is going to kill me or anything.

But again, Rio said she's a dangerous woman that shouldn't be messed with. Though I see no reason, I should be afraid of her when I have never crossed her line.

"Did you not hear me? I said to leave us!"

She snaps, turning back to scowl at the poor woman who trembles in her stand, her head bowed lower than necessary.

A bratty attitude, I see. Is there any decent woman with a respectable attitude around here? It seems quite impossible to find one.

"I'm sorry, Katniss, but the Alpha King ordered for me to stay with her. I can not leave. "

An uncomfortable silence rests upon the air as I feel the uncertainty that surges through the woman, and the rage that courses through Katniss veins.

No doubt that she would have Heather beheaded right here and there if she could.

"I think you should leave us, Heather,"

I speak, turning the attention of both women back to me—Heather shaking her head in opposition to my words, and Katniss lifting her brows as if daring me.

I don't know what the fuck she wants from me, but if she thinks she scares me, then she's fucking wrong.

I have stood with no fear before a man that could have me beheaded with just a flip of his fingers, so why should I fear his whore?

"Isberlt, " Heather speaks when Katniss occupies her earlier seat with her left leg crossed over the right, and her hands draped over her knees.

Lifting my gaze away from her, I give Heather a warm smile—assuring her that everything will be fine. Something tells me she knows better than that.

"If you do not leave within ten seconds, I will have you thrown out. " Katniss pronounces, raising her hand to her face, and blowing an imaginary speck of dust. Fucking bitch.

Heather gives me one more compassionate smile before exiting the room—leaving me with the woman.

She turns her attention to me with a scowl, and I match her gaze with my brows lifted.

"To whom do I owe this visit?"

I smile at her as I rest back against the mattress, and she scoffs, uncrossing her legs, and putting forward.

"Do you have the slightest idea of who stands before you, or are you oblivious to that knowledge too?"

A sharp mouth, I see.

Seizing the dampened towel off my forehead, I tilt my head to the side before saying, "You're the woman who fucks the Alpha King. Or should I say, the one the Alpha King is currently fucking around with?"

I watch with a satisfied smile as anger crosses over her face, and she folds her hand into fists.

With a heaved breath and a shake of her head, she settles back in her seat, saying, "You're just like I was told. " Her gaze moves from my face to the collar that settles against my neck, and the bandage that rests just above the collar. "Stubborn, and mouthy," she mumbles as her gaze moves downwards to the white dress I'm clad in. "Isberlt Queen." Of course, you know my name.

"What can I say? I'm quite the talk of the town."

I tell her, and she chuckles, crossing her legs once again. My gaze drops to the skin that's exposed from the dress — spotless — before moving to her exposed cleavage, then further up to her face. And her curly hair that bounces off her shoulders.

"I am the future Luna of the pack. "

She announces, catching my attention with only a lift of my brows. Why exactly is she telling me this? Am I supposed to be scared or something?

"Okay? And?"

I question, and she doesn't look too happy about my response as she clutches her dress in her hands—an act of frustration, if you ask me.

"I don't know what slutty plan you have up your sleeves, but you should know the Alpha King will never look your way, or think of fucking your dirty little cunt. "

Is she fucking kidding me? Like, is she fucking serious? Does she think I want to fuck Theodore? Oh my Hades, this woman is fucking nuts.

"I still don't understand what you're talking about. " I tell her, and she shakes her head.

"I know what you're doing, Isberlt, and you should know it won't work. Your plan of seducing Theodore will all but get you into deeper trouble. You are nothing but a mere slave—one that he can't stand the sight of—so any plans of catching his attention will all go to ruin. "

She says with a scowl on her face. But goddammit, I tried. I fucking tried to keep it in, but it's so goddamn impossible, and I can't help the laugh that breaks off my lips at how ridiculous this sounds.

Does she think I'm trying to fuck her, man? This had got to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard since I've been here.

"I don't think you should waste your time any further here, Katniss, " I call, and her face hardens at the sound of her name falling from my lips, but I give no fuck about that. "You should go because your words hold no meaning. "

"I warned you, Isberlt. And trust me, I do not speak; I act. This will be the first and final warning I will give you. The next time will be something you wouldn't like. "

When I say nothing in response to her words, she stands and makes her way out of the room, only to stop midway. "Good luck on your recovery." She gives me a taunting smile that somehow sends a shiver down my spine before turning back to walk through the door, only for it to be pushed from outside; Rio walking in with a surprised look on his face at the sight of Katniss.

"Katniss,"

He greets to which only she responds with a nod before walking out the door.

He watches her leave before turning his gaze to me with lifted brows.

"What was she doing here?"

He questions as he makes his way towards me, and I shrug before resting back against the mattress—a groan leaving my parted lips at the pain that shoots through my body.

"Nothing important."

I tell him, and he stays silent for a few seconds—merely watching me, before saying, "You shouldn't make an enemy of her too. It will do you no benefit. " There he goes again.

"I'm not making an enemy of anyone. "

"You made one of Rita. I told you not to cause any trouble. " Of course, the slave will be the one to be blamed. Always the guilty one.

When I give him no response and turn my gaze away from him, he sighs before settling on the seat and shuffling it closer to me. "Look, " He starts, his rhythm softer. "I understand how arduous this is for you, but you should know that I'm only saying all these things to watch out for you. Look at what happened to Rita. You almost got raped, then killed because of that minor occurrence. How much more do you have to suffer before you understand you can't raise your voice here—no one will listen. "

"But I've done nothing wrong!" I snap, feeling the anger rise in me once again. "Why do I have to keep quiet, and take every insult and shame that's slammed to my face when I'm innocent of everything I'm accused of?*Harmed wolves* ? What the fuck is that supposed to mean, even?"

"You truly do not know?"

He questions, and I shake my head. "I told you, Rio. I do not understand what they are all talking about. "

"You do not know what you've done? And the many lives that you almost took? Are you that dumb, or are you just pretending to be?"

A wave of unusual anger that I've never heard of drips off his voice; making me realize that this might be something tremendous.

The lives I almost took?

I was living a fucking normal human life as a lab assistant, so how the hell could I have... *As a lab assistant*.

I was living an ordinary human life as a lab assistant to one of the most intrigued science researching world. It was fun, until they created a new Sera, and they all kept me in the dark about how it's used.

A new Sera that would be the *upliftment* of our company. One that's blended with **acotinum**—a dangerous flower that's harmful to wolves.

God! How could I have been so fucking stupid! Of course, that is where it all comes from!

"Rio, " I croak, stunned by this new knowledge, and hoping that it isn't what I think it is. It can't be true, right? Of course, it can't! How could I have not known? I would have! I would have... Fuck! That's why they never let me near the experiments! Hell, I even found out about the Sera by mistake; it was supposed to be a secret operation that required few doctors' knowledge of it according to Corey, but I somehow found out, which is why I learnt of it. *According to them*, the Sera was to test how human cognitive impairment and physical strength can be improved. But it was to harm wolves?

How the fuck did I not know about it? How could I have been so dumb? How didn't I know they were wolves within that very perimeter?

"Rio, " I start again, my eyes sprinkling as I turn my gaze to him, and his stance softens when his gaze rest upon mine.

"Are you okay?" He stands, popping himself beside me with his hand holding onto mine.

I shake my head as I feel my throat dry up, my insides boiling in anger as so many thoughts run through my mind. "I think I figured it out. " I tell him, sniffing to hold back my tears. "I did; I figured it out. They... I... My work. Is that what you're saying? Are you saying they used that Sera on wolves? And harmed them?"

I lift my brows at him, and he sighs, hands moving to my shoulders. "I guess you didn't know after all. You should calm down, Isberlt. You are still recovering from what happened at the moonball party, and I don't think you should..."

"Just tell me! Is that what it is?! Was I fucking deceived this whole time?" I snap, and he shakes his head.

I let out a laugh as my hands moves to my banging head, my mind racing too quick. "Of course I was. "

"It wasn't your fault, Isberlt."

He says, and I shake my head, jerking his hands off my shoulders.

"You knew nothing about it. "

But I should have. I would have if I hadn't ignored Raelyn. I would have known. I would have been able to save them. I would have...

"Come here. "

Rio grabs my hands from my hair, bringing me to flush against his chest as the tears finally roll down my cheeks.

I clutch onto his chest as loud sobs fall from my lips.

Now I finally get why they all hate me.

All those looks and assaults weren't for nothing after all.

I thought I had nothing to do with the wolves after I left, but I was unknowingly putting them in danger.

***
**A quicker update cause I love you all too much! lol. Let me know what your thoughts are!**