Chapter Ten
Author pov
Leila sat on the cold stone bench, feeling the wind brush against her cheeks as she surveyed the sprawling garden before her. The vibrant colors of the flowers seemed to mock her mood. Once, this garden had been a sanctuary, a place of warmth and security. Now, it felt like a cage. Her heart tightened as memories of the last few weeks surged through her. Every effort to reach Alpha Devon had been met with indifference. The connection they once shared had clearly begun to unravel.
"I need someone," she said firmly to herself. "Someone who truly sees me."
Her thoughts drifted, landing on a butterfly flitting between the roses. Perhaps it was time to reclaim her life.
The sound of footsteps broke her contemplation, and she didn’t need to look up to know who it was. The unmistakable scent of sandalwood and earth wafted toward her—once a comforting aroma, now it churned her stomach. Alpha Sebastian, her mate, was approaching.
She refused to acknowledge him, her gaze fixed on the flowers, posture straight. Over the past few weeks, she had mastered the skill of ignoring him, ever since his betrayal with Maliya, the woman who now sought to take what Leila had once claimed as hers.
"Leila," he said, his tone smooth yet rife with condescension. She clenched her fists but remained seated, determined not to let him see the fury beneath her calm exterior.
A maid entered the garden, a young wolf with wide eyes and a hesitant demeanor, carrying a tray. She glanced nervously between Leila and Alpha Sebastian, unsure of how to behave amid the tension.
Leila's jaw tightened, but she forced a gentle smile at the maid, wanting to offer her a moment of solace. "Thank you," she said quietly as the maid placed a glass of juice in front of her. The sweet scent of fruit mingled with a hint of mint, a reminder of more innocent times.
Just as her fingers reached for the glass, Alpha Sebastian leaned in, a sly grin on his face. He grabbed the glass, brushing against her hand in an intentional act of dominance. Leila froze for a moment, feeling her pulse quicken.
"Excuse me?" she demanded, her voice cool but unwavering.
Sebastian chuckled darkly, swaying the drink in the glass, his gaze fixed on her. "You're thirsty, aren't you?" he taunted. "You should be. After all, you'll need all the strength you can muster, darling." He raised the glass to his lips and took a long drink.
The maid stood at a crossroads, torn between retreating and staying, sensing the building tension but unsure how to respond. Yet Leila couldn’t let this endure. She wouldn’t be his toy.
"Sebastian," she stated, her voice now charged with quiet defiance, though she kept her tone steady. "What do you want? Why are you even here?”
Sebastian set the glass down on the bench beside her with exaggerated care. His dark eyes gleamed with malice as he took a step closer, closing the distance between them.
"I’m here because it’s time to face reality, Leila," he said softly, his voice a mockery of tenderness. "You’ve been clinging to this idea of us for far too long. It's embarrassing."
She felt her body tense, her heart hammering in her chest. "What do you mean?" Her voice remained controlled, though every fiber of her being wanted to scream.
"Don’t act like you don’t know," he sneered. "You’ve seen it, haven’t you? Maliya is everything you’re not. She’s everything I need. And you, darling, you’re nothing but a disappointment, too innocent to be used, not even smart enough to face your fears."
Leila’s breath caught in her throat, the bitter sting of his words landing with cruel precision. She fought to keep her composure. "You’re wrong but at the same time right because I can't trust anyone again, you're worse than Devon," she murmured. "You don’t know what you’ve lost."
He leaned down even further, his presence looming over her. She could feel the heat of his body pressing against her, and yet she remained still, refusing to be moved.
"Don’t pretend you’re better than this, Leila," he spat, the venom in his words sharp. "Soon enough, I’ll have Maliya as my true mate. You’ll be nothing but my mistress if you’re lucky." His words slithered into her ears, poisoning her with each syllable.
Leila’s heart raced, her hands shaking. The pain of betrayal was one thing, but this—this was a wound too deep to ignore. Her throat burned, and she had to force herself to swallow back the tears.
But she wouldn’t cry. Not for him. Not anymore.
He chuckled darkly, savoring the moment. "I’ll see you at my side, though. You’ll get used to it, eventually. After all, what other choice do you have?"
Without warning, he leaned forward, his breath hot against her ear. "I’ll make sure you remember your place, maybe in the dungeon" he whispered, just loud enough for only her to hear.
His words were a final sting before he did the unthinkable. With a cruel smirk, he leaned back and spat directly onto her lap.
Leila’s eyes widened, the utter disrespect of the act hitting her like a slap to the face. She flinched, the warmth of his spit burning into her skin. She jerked back, standing up abruptly, a surge of anger crashing through her.
"How dare you!" she shouted, her voice shaking with fury.
Sebastian smirked, taking a step back, his amusement growing as he saw the way she trembled, the way she clenched her fists. "You think you’re worth anything? You’re nothing but a useless Omega wolf, a puppy is better than you" He stepped closer again, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his lips. "And soon, I’ll break you."
Her chest heaved as she took a deep breath, her heart racing as the intensity of the moment threatened to suffocate her. But still, she stood tall. "I’m not your pawn, Sebastian. I never was. And I will never be."
She turned on her heel, her body shaking as she walked away from him. Her mind screamed for her to run, to escape this nightmare, but instead, she took measured steps, her dignity the only thing she had left.
She didn’t look back.
She would never look back.
Behind her, she heard Sebastian’s voice, his words dripping with malice. "You’ll come crawling back. They always do."