MARIA.
I watched them go—one after the other—shadows peeling away from the garden as they chased after the woman who had dared to question them. Their footsteps faded into the distance, loud with urgency, with indignation, as though they were the wronged ones. My fingers curled at my sides, nails biting into my palms as bitterness burned my throat.
"Vipers," I muttered under my breath.
The word tasted like poison, sharp and hateful. I wished—truly wished—that they would all drop dead in a single day. Not slowly. Not painfully. Just gone. The world would be quieter without them. Cleaner.
It wasn't as if I had seduced any of them. That was the part that made my chest ache the most. I hadn't planned it. I hadn't wanted it. They were the ones who leaned in first, the ones who closed the distance, the ones who turned a single reckless moment into something ugly and condemning. And that kiss—that stupid, unwanted kiss—had been my very first. Something that should have meant nothing to them but had been everything to me, now twisted into shame.
I pushed myself to my feet, my movements stiff, my body protesting as I turned away from the empty space they had left behind. Slowly, carefully, I made my way back to my quarters, each step measured, as though moving too fast might make the humiliation spill over again. The corridor felt longer than usual, the walls closing in with every breath I took.
My cheek throbbed viciously, a sharp, constant reminder of what had happened. The sting pulsed beneath my skin, hot and unforgiving, and I raised a hand to it with a hiss. I would need ice—something cold enough to numb the pain, if only for a moment.
"How about we run away?" my wolf's voice slid into my mind without warning.
I froze mid-step.
Run away.
The words echoed, startling in their simplicity. I had never allowed myself to think of it—not seriously. Escape had always felt like a forbidden fantasy, something meant for weaker hearts or foolish dreams. But hearing it from my wolf… hearing the certainty beneath her tone made my chest tighten.
I exhaled slowly, my shoulders loosening for a bit.
"I think we can, Vernia," I replied coolly, though a spark of something dangerously close to hope flickered inside me.
The idea settled, heavy but comforting. If we were to leave, it couldn't be reckless. I needed time, needed a moment when eyes weren't watching, when guards weren't posted at every turn. The Moon Bridge Pack would be surrounded by protection; slipping through unnoticed would take more than desperation.
"Dumbass, don't you have a brain?" my wolf snapped, peeking into my thoughts with blatant impatience.
I winced. "Come on, Vernia. This isn't the time for insults. I need to think."
She scoffed, unimpressed. "The banquet they were all talking about earlier on. Isn't it a good chance to escape?"
The thought landed, sharp and precise.
A banquet, it's definitely going to be filled with noise, laughters and crowds. A perfect day for an escape.
My face beamed with an unguarded smile as I made my way toward my room, my steps light, almost careless. For the first time in a while, my chest felt warm, unburdened like the weight I had been carrying had loosened its grip, even if only briefly.
"Hey, Maria," a voice rang out as I stepped into my room. I paused mid-step and fixed my gaze on her, "Someone came looking for you."
The smile lingered on my lips as curiosity flickered through me. "Who?" I asked, my tone casual, unconcerned.
"I really don't know," she replied with a shrug. "But he was tall. Huge. Emerald eyes, light-skinned, with curly hair."
My breath hitched.
The warmth drained from my veins in one swift pull.
"Alpha Aidan," I whispered, the name leaving my mouth before I could stop it.
Her brows shot up. "What? He's one of the Alphas." She stared at me like I'd just spoken madness. "Why would he be looking for you?"
The memory from earlier surged forward without warning and the smile on my face cracked, then vanished entirely. My jaw tightened as my features hardened, a shield sliding back into place.
"I don't know," I said after a moment, forcing indifference into my tone. "Probably for some task again."
I didn't wait for her response. I turned and walked fully into my room, closing the door behind me with more force than necessary. The space felt smaller suddenly, the walls pressing in as my thoughts spiraled. I really hated those quadruplet Alphas to my bone. If I could be given the slightest opportunity to kill them, I definitely would hold unto it greatly.
'Jerks! Bastards! Vipers!' I kept cursing under my breath.
I strolled to the bed and dropped onto it, staring at the ceiling as my heartbeat slowly settled.
'Those demons truly live up to their names. Ruthless jerks!' I thought to myself.
I felt like screaming, to let every single thing out of my mind.
"Maria," Galen's voice cut through my thoughts abruptly.
I turned my head toward her and immediately sat up right when I saw some seriousness in her face.
"How long have you been here?" she asked, her tone oddly careful.
"Probably…Th..fi…" I frowned, searching my mind. "I don't know. Why are you asking?"
She hesitated, her fingers twisting together, her gaze drifting away from mine. "Do you happen to know the territory well?" she asked slowly. "I mean… like the layout."
My body stiffened instantly.
My eyes widened in shock as I pushed myself up, standing straight on my feet. "Galen," I said quietly, disbelief threading through my voice, "are you planning to escape?"
The words hung between us.
She had just arrived here. Barely settled in. Why would she already be thinking of leaving? My mind raced, unease curling in my stomach. Unless… she had something else up her sleeves.
Something she wasn't telling me.
And suddenly, the room didn't feel safe at all.