Chapter Twenty three

Maliya's POV

I couldn’t wait to hear her reaction.

As soon as I stepped out of Alpha Sebastian’s office, I fished out my phone, my fingers itching to dial her number. I pressed the keys with intention, the weight of my decision bearing down, but focused solely on the outcome.

The phone rang a few times before she answered, her voice cool and unaffected. “Yes?”

I smirked, even though she couldn’t see it. “Leila,” I said, my tone polite but pointed. “I’ve just spoken with Alpha Sebastian. He’s in agreement. You’ll be moving to the maid’s quarters immediately. Your presence in the main house is no longer acceptable. This is for the best.”

I paused, anticipating her reaction. I knew she would fight me on this, but I was ready for her resistance.

Instead, there was silence.

Then, she spoke.

“Fine,” she replied simply, her voice steady, lacking any trace of emotion. “If that’s what you want.”

A frown creased my brow. Shock washed over me at her lack of resistance. This wasn’t the reaction I had predicted. No anger, no defiance.

“You’re not... angry?” I pressed, surprised by her swift compliance.

There was a prolonged silence before she replied, “No, Maliya. I’m not angry. I’m amused. You think you’ve won. But remember, this doesn’t break me. It only makes me stronger.”

And with that, she hung up.

I stood there, momentarily stunned. Her words echoed in my mind like a chilling reminder. She wasn’t defeated. Far from it. She was smiling—smiling as if she had the upper hand.

My stomach clenched. This wasn’t how it was meant to unfold.

But there was no turning back now. And I would make sure that this was only the beginning of Leila’s downfall.

I walked to the corridor to stand, I needed to see how heartbroken she looked while packing her rags out of the room but unfortunately, she was munching on something.

Leila moved past me without so much as a glance, casually munching on something—her posture entirely at ease, as though nothing in the world had shifted. I had expected her to be rattled, upset, maybe even desperate. But no, there she was, as unbothered as ever, walking away as if she were simply on her way to the dining hall.

It pissed me off.

I stormed after her, catching up with ease. Without warning, I gripped her arm, pulling her to a stop. “Leila,” I snapped, forcing her to turn and face me.

She raised an eyebrow, the sandwich still held between her fingers. Her expression was one of mild curiosity as if she couldn’t quite understand why I was still here, talking to her.

“I told you to stay away from Alpha Sebastian,” I said, my voice low but filled with a dangerous edge. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Leila’s gaze flickered over me, taking in the intensity of my words. Her lips curled into that infuriating smile of hers, the one that made it clear she found my threats amusing, but beneath that smile, I could see something else—a calmness that unnerved me.

“I don’t know why you’re still concerned,” she said, her tone unbothered. She casually wiped her hands on her jeans, as though she had all the time in the world. “Sebastian isn’t a part of my plans, Maliya. I don’t need him.” She paused as if considering something. “But you, on the other hand... you need to understand one thing.”

I clenched my jaw, waiting for her to continue.

Leila leaned in, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “People like you, with no faith in the Moon goddess... you’re already lost.” Her eyes met mine with a quiet intensity that left me uneasy. “You think you can control everything, manipulate who gets to be with whom. But there are forces at play here that you’ll never understand. And those who can’t see the truth? They’re the ones who’ll fall.”

I felt the words like a slap across my face, but I refused to let her see how deeply they stung. I jerked her arm, pulling her in closer, our faces inches apart.

“You have nothing to do with people who are fated,” I spat, forcing the words out. “You have no place in the world of the Moon goddess.”

Leila didn’t flinch. Instead, her eyes locked with mine, steady and unyielding. There was a strange quiet power in her gaze, something that made my pulse race in a way I couldn’t explain. It's was palpable and sent shivers down my spine, her next words would weigh heavily on my mind for days after her utterance.

“You’re right,” she replied softly, “I have no place in your world, Maliya. But it doesn’t matter. The Moon goddess doesn’t choose sides based on who you think deserves it.”