Chapter 34 Chapter 34
Chapter 34 Chapter 34
Luceila’s POV
Ruan and Silas walked out first, then Reis followed. His jaw was set as stone turned on his heel first, jaw set like stone. They ignored my mother completely, brushing past her as if she were furniture.
As soon as Rein reached the door, my mother grabbed his arm. “Rein, I asked what was happening. Explain yourself.”
He paused, looking down at her hand with pure disdain. His fingers closed around her wrist, squeezing hard enough that she winced, then he yanked her grip off him. Without a word, he walked out. The door clicked shut behind the three of them, leaving silence so thick it felt suffocating.
She turned to me slowly, the concern she’d faked for the brothers melted into a cold, familiar stare. “What was that about, Luceila? Tell me exactly what you did this time.”
I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks, swallowing the lump in my throat. My jaw still throbbed where Ruan had grabbed me. “Nothing,” I whispered.
Her eyes narrowed. “Nothing? Don’t lie to me. You’re always causing trouble. Always stirring up drama in this house. Do you want to spoil everything I’ve built here? After everything I sacrificed to secure our place?”
I swallowed hard, unwilling to share any information. I could bring myself to tell her how Ruan had come to me, how his touch had ignited unwanted fire before he twisted it into something ugly.
“I…,” I tried to lie, but she raised her hand sharply.
“Don’t. I don’t want to hear your excuses. You need to hurry up and get married, so you can leave my life for good. You're making the brothers hate us.”
“But…” I still tried to speak.
" No buts,” she yelled. "They have the guts to think we're alike? Do you know what that does to my reputation? To everything I stand for?”
A thought came into my head. Maybe if I tell her what really happened she'll see I didn't cause trouble.
I tried again, but still with a small voice. “Mother, in the garden…”
“Enough!” she snapped. “Save your stories. Just do what you’re supposed to do for once.”
The door opened again, and Luciana walked in. Always barging in without a knock. She hated me with a passion, the same way the brothers did. Her eyes flicked between us, lips curling in distaste. “What happened? I heard voices from down the hall.”
My mother immediately jumped in. “The famous drama queen is causing trouble again. As usual. Sneaking around, provoking the boys while acting all innocent. She never learns.”
“You don't know what happened," I said, almost pleading.
Luciana crossed her arms, stepping closer to my bed. “Of course it’s her. Always playing the victim while trying to steal attention. You think batting your eyes and spreading your legs will make them choose you over me? Pathetic."
I shot her a deadly glade but said nothing.
“Ruan told me how you threw yourself at him,” she continued. " Disgusting little gold-digger.”
The words cut deep. I curled my fingers into the blanket, shame and anger warring inside me. “I didn’t—”
“Quiet,” my mother interrupted. “You’re embarrassing me. Luciana is right, stop causing problems or you’ll ruin the only security you have left in this pack.”
They went on like that for what felt like forever, their voices overlapping in a storm of hurtful words. Luciana called me a desperate whore who couldn’t keep her wolf in check, my mother reminded me how much of a burden I’d been since birth, how my fractured wolf made me weak and dangerous to the family image.
They didn’t even know the full truth of the garden, yet they painted me as the villain without hesitation. I stayed silent after a while, tears slipping quietly down my face.
Finally, Luciana softened her tone just enough to seem caring. “Enough of this. I’ll bring you some tea. You need to rest so you don’t attract unnecessary attention from the pack. I don't want people thinking I’m not taking care of you, that's why you act up.”
Sisilya scoffed. “Take care of her? She probably wants to distract Reis from me again. Don’t think I don’t see through your little innocent act, Luceila.”
I didn’t argue. When my mother returned with a steaming cup, I took it with trembling hands. The tea smelled faintly herbal, slightly bitter, but I drank it anyway, hoping the warmth would soothe my raw throat.
They both watched me closely until the cup was empty, then Luciana shot me one last venomous look before they both left, closing the door behind them.
At first, nothing happened. I leaned back against the pillows, exhausted. Then a strange change began creeping through my entire body. It started as a low hum in my veins, something unnatural.
My wolf stirred, restless and confused. She wanted to rise, to push against the pain and humiliation, but something kept dragging her back down—like heavy chains wrapping around her broken form.
I pressed a hand to my stomach as nausea rolled through me. My skin grew hot, then clammy. The fractured pieces of my wolf thrashed harder, howling silently inside me. Every attempt to surface was useless, creating a tearing sensation deep in my bones.
Sweat beaded on my forehead, I curled into a ball, breathing through the growing discomfort.
It worsened quickly. The restlessness turned unbearable, my spine ached as if someone were pulling it in opposite directions. A pressure built in my chest, my throat, my mind.
A loud, piercing howl tore from my lips. Raw, agonized, and far too powerful for my weakened state. It echoed through the room and down the halls.
Before I could cover my mouth to prevent further noise, another howl tore out. Suddenly, the door swung open and they ran in.
Ruan, Reis, and Silas.
The last people I wanted to see.
The look in Reis’s eyes was something rare. Fear, like he was afraid something bad was happening to me.
“What is the noise all about?"