Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

Selene's POV

I stood frozen, my heart slamming against my ribs as Ashen's retreating figure disappeared into the night. I clenched my fingers as raw humiliation burned through me. He didn't even look at me properly. He just brushed me aside like I was a nobody.

All my life I had been raised to be a queen, to be loved and cared for. But here I was nothing more than a discarded wife. I was married just in name. And it was because of one slave. Zara.

A nsme I loathed. A name that had haunted me since childhood. Even while we were still friends, she had taken everything away from me. The Pack members loved her and would always sing praises of her. I was the Alpha's daughter, yet she got all the attention meant for me.

And now, Ashen?

The cruelest of it all, was leaving on our wedding night to save her, despite everything I had done to be a perfect wife, she still held his heart in her filthy, undeserving hands.

I gritted my teeth, anger pulsating through me. What did she have that I don't? Beauty? Power? No. She was a slave. A traitor's daughter. A nobody. And yet, Ashen was willing to throw everything away for her.

A bitter laugh slipped back my lips as I stormed back into my room. Inside, my room were dimly lit by soft candlelight, the silk sheets on my untouched bed mocking me. I had waited for him. I had waited and hoped, like a fool.

But not anymore. I will prove to him that he couldn't dismiss me, humiliate him just like that.

I summoned a trusted guard, and moments later, a knock came at my door.

"Enter."

The door creaked open, and a man stepped in. Luca

He was one of the few people, I trust —clever, discreet, and fiercely loyal to me.

"My Lady," he greeted, bowing slightly.

I inhaled deeply, swallowing my rage before speaking. "I need information. Everything you can find about Magnus.

Luca blinked. "Magnus? The one Alpha is chasing?"

"Yes," I snapped. "I want to know the severity of his condition and what his next move might be. I want to know if Zara is still with him." My lips curled in disgust. "That woman has been a thorn in my flesh for too long." Then I turned to him, my voice soft, "help me get her and you'll be rewarded."

Luca studied me for a while, then gave a small nod. "Understood."

"Good. Be discreet about it. Ashen mustn't find out."

"Yes, my Lady." He bowed and left.

While alone, a sense of relief washed over me.

Zara had stolen what was mine for too long.

But soon, she would learn what it means to cross Selene Nightshade.

Zara's POV

The clammy walls of the room seemed to close in on me as I sat on the hard, unforgiving floor, my body trembling even as I hugged my knees to my chest. My mind swirled with different thoughts. Magnus was shot and in danger because of me. Because of Ashen.

I had thought Ashen was different from the ruthless rulers I have heard of. I knew he was powerful, but I don't know he was ruthless. I had hoped that despite everything that had happened with me , Ashen hasn't still lost himself completely. But now, I knew the truth. The man who had loved me, the Ashen I had defended in my heart had betrayed every illusion I had about him.

The memories of tonight events burned through my mind.

Even when Viktor had ran into the forest to check on Magnus, I had the opportunity to leave but I didn't. I had stayed in the car, waiting—hoping. Hoping that Ashen and Magnus were just talking as it should be. That this wasn't some kind of setup. That Ashen wasn't as vicious as the stories had painted him to be.

But then the gunshots erupted.

The sound was sharp and had sliced through the silent night like a blade, sending terror racing through my heart. I could remember my heart pounding with fear, hoping it was some kind of mistake. But when Viktor appeared —his face darkened with rage, his hands drenched in Magnus' blood —I knew it wasn't a mistake.

Ashen had shot Magnus in his chest.

I wanted to deny it. Wanted to scream that it wasn’t true. But how could I? I had seen the blood. I had seen Magnus’ lifeless body slumped in the car.

Inside that car, I was scared to death. Because of the mate bond I could literally feel his pains, every ragged breathing and his fears.

And now, I was here. Locked in this room, waiting for my fate to be decided. Waiting for —

The heavy door flung open violently, I flinched, my head snapping up. Nerissa walked in, with two guards. Her cold eyes bore into me with pure hatred that the room started to suffocate me. With the way she looked at me, I knew Magnus was in critical condition.

"You," she spat, stepping forward. "Because of you and that bastard, Magnus is laying unconscious there fighting for his life."

I swallowed hard. "I—I didn’t know Ashen would—" I stammered, my voice barely audible.

"Save it!" She snapped, couching lower, tilting her head and I could the pure fury in her eyes. "You were in that car while he bled out. You let that bastard trick you that he is different, even when Magnus was being soft. Now he was in coma because of you."

I flinched, her words slicing through my heart like a dagger.

Coma. Isn't that a condition where the patient was barely alive?

The word tugged at me, making my heart raced with fear.

Magnus wasn't just injured. He wasn't just unconscious. He was in a coma.

I had been a fool.

Moon Goddess, please save him. Ella growled at the back of my mind. 'our mate'

"Take her," Nerissa ordered, stepping back as the guards moved towards me.

"Wait—please—" They ignored me, rough hands grabbed me and yanked me off to my feet. I struggled, but it was futile.

"The only reason I'm not killing you is because I'm still looking for a more appropriate way to deal with you," Nerissa hissed, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "But I won’t let you walk free after what you've done. From now on, you’re a maid. You will serve in this house, and you will do whatever I say until I am appeased."

I froze. A maid?

I stared at her in shock , but she only lifted her chin, her glare telling me that her mind as been made up.

My life at the Nightshade pack found me again. I can't really escape this life, can I?

But I deserved this. For the times I insulted Magnus, for the times I took our mate bond for granted, for the time I took his card for granted. Then I deserved this and more.

"You wanted to stay by Ashen's side?" She sneered. "Well, now you'll serve in the house of the man he tried to kill. You'll be a slave to your mate."

"You should start working now. I would fire all the maid and you'll assume all there duties."

My eyes widened. All their duties? I'd have to take care of the whole mansion?

I'm so....doomed.