Chapter 48 Chapter 48
ANNA'S POV
“It will be held in five days’ time.”
Elijah's words cut through the hall like a knife.
All I felt was my chest tightening, my heart hammering, and my blood boiling. He had searched the crowd, found me, paused, stared directly at me—and then said it.
Five days.
That was on my birthday.
I clenched my fists at my sides. I could feel my nails digging into my palms. Rage, sharp and unrelenting, surged through me.
Damon’s presence behind me barely registered. I barely heard him whisper, “Anna, are you alright?”
I forced myself to turn to him, keeping my voice low but firm. “I… I’m fine.” I lied.
His eyes narrowed at me, clearly unconvinced, but he didn’t press further to know what was wrong. That was fine. I didn’t need anyone’s sympathy. I didn’t need anyone’s interference. I had to get out of here before I did something I would regret.
I took a step back and forced a small, controlled smile. “I’m going to… attend to something. I’ll be back shortly.”
Damon raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
I nodded quickly. “Yes. It’s important. I’ll be back.”
He hesitated, probably sensing the storm brewing inside me, but he didn’t argue with me or attempt to follow me. I turned and stormed toward the exit.
I pushed through the hall doors and into the corridor, the cold breeze hitting my flushed face. I didn’t stop until I reached the stairs, taking them two at a time. I had to get away before I made a scene, and before I did something I’d regret.
I didn’t stop running until I reached the servant quarters. My mind wouldn’t stop spinning. I stumbled down the dim corridor, the walls feeling too close, and the air too thin.
When I reached my room, I slipped inside and shut the door quickly. My hands trembled as I locked it. I even tested the handle twice just to make sure it wouldn’t open.
As soon as I turned away from the door, the tears rushed out.
They fell fast, without warning, slipping down my cheeks before I could even understand why. I pressed both hands over my face, trying to stop them, but they kept coming. I slid down to the cold floor, my back against the wall, crying harder with every breath.
Why was I crying?
Was I still in love with Elijah?
“No,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head. “I can’t be. I shouldn’t be in love with Elijah.”
But my voice cracked.
And that single crack made more tears slip down on my cheeks.
Because why should my heart ache for someone who could stand there and pretend I meant nothing?
And there he was—kissing Amanda's forehead, smiling at her, holding her hand, and announcing their mating ceremony on my birthday.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
And I knew it too.
And that hurt more than anything else.
“How could you do this to me?” I whispered into my hands, choking on the words. “After everything… how could you?”
I wiped my face, but the tears wouldn’t stop. My breath came unevenly. My stomach twisted and ached with every thought of him.
Then—
The lock clicked.
I froze.
My heart jumped into my throat.
I had locked it.
I was sure I had locked it.
I shot to my feet, wiping my face quickly. “Who’s there?” I asked, my voice still shaking.
The handle twisted.
The door opened.
And there she stood.
My stepmother.
My whole body went cold.
She stepped inside like she owned the room, like she owned me. She even closed the door gently behind her, as if she were doing me a favor.
“You were crying on the floor again? You're so pathetic and predictable, Anna.”
I swallowed hard, backing up a step as I stared at her. “How did you get in here?”
My stepmother dangled a small silver key between her fingers. “I'm the head maid, Anna. Have you forgotten that I'd have a spare keys. You didn’t think you had privacy in here, did you?”
Her smile widened. It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t motherly. It was cruel—familiar and cruel.
She looked around my tiny room with disgust. “You know, I warned you this would happen. I told you you’d always be a maid. You're never becoming something more than just a mere maid, Anna.”
I clenched my fists, but my voice still shook. “Please leave me alone, mother.”
She ignored me, stepping closer, her eyes turning sharp and cold. “Did you really think an Alpha would choose you? A maid? A nobody?” Her laugh was soft, and cruel. “Elijah chose Amanda to be his Luna. Don’t tell me you actually thought for a second that he’d change his mind and suddenly make you his mate.”
I looked away in embarrassment, blinking fast.
My throat tightened painfully.
My stepmother was unfortunately right.
Even though I hadn’t said it aloud—or even fully admitted it to myself—I had held onto a foolish hope. I had believed that one day, Elijah would choose me as his mate, even if I wasn’t his Luna. I didn’t care that Amanda already held that title.
Deep down, I had thought… maybe, just maybe, I could be the one Elijah truly belonged to.
A Luna ceremony… it wasn’t the same as a mating ceremony. Someone could be a Luna and still not be the mate. The mating bond was different—final, unbreakable. Only a true mate could claim that.
I had hoped… foolishly, and desperately, that maybe it would be me—Elijah’s mate, not Amanda.
But Amanda… she wasn’t like me.
She was strong, a true she-wolf, fierce and powerful, the daughter of Elder Matthias himself.
Everyone respected and feared her. I was nothing like that. I was just a human. I wasn't a wolf, not a hybrid, not a vampire, not even a witch. I was just… human. How could I ever hope he’d pick someone like me?
My stepmother's voice cut through my thoughts, as she continuously mocked me.
“And Damon? Do you really think he wants you?” She shook her head and continued. “Don’t be foolish. He’s a hybrid, Anna. Men like him only want one thing from girls like you.”
My stomach dropped.
And just like that, the last bit of hope I’d been hiding in my chest crumbled.
“After a few rounds of him fucking you, he’ll dump you faster than your own mother did…”
It wasn’t just words.
It was an insult—a cruel shade thrown straight at me. My mother had died when I was too small to remember her, too young to understand love or loss. And now, my mother’s absence was being twisted into a weapon against me, used to humiliate me, and to remind me that I could never be loved.
“Stop, please, mother…” I pleaded, my voice trembling.
But she didn’t stop.
“Damon will dump you too!”
Her words weren’t warnings. They weren’t advice. They were meant to sting, to shame me, and to break me.
It was working...
“Damon obviously wants something from you. Men don’t look at maids unless they want to use them or get something they need.” She paused, tilting her head. “Why would a man of power choose you? Tell me, Anna. What exactly do you think you have to offer?”
Her words hit harder than Elijah’s announcement.
I felt my breath catch. My vision blurred again.
“Look at you,” she continued. “Crying over Elijah who never loved you. You're probably crying over Damon who will soon realize he made a mistake. No one is ever going to love you, Anna. You are a maid, and the world knows exactly where a maid belongs.”
The room suddenly felt smaller.
My chest felt tight again.
The tears came back before I could stop them.
I didn’t know what hurt more—
The things she said...
Or the quiet, and terrifying thought that she might be telling the truth.
Because what if she was right?
What if no one could ever love me?
Not Elijah.
Not Damon.
No one.
I felt the tears spill again, running down my cheeks. My stepmother watched me for a moment, then smiled with satisfaction, like she had achieved exactly what she came for. “Clean yourself up!” she ordered, turning toward the door. “You look pathetic!”
My heart sank.
Especially as I thought about what she had said.
What if no one could actually love me?