Chapter 24 TWENTY FOUR

Chapter 24 TWENTY FOUR
ILYANA’S POV

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I closed the door.

Lucienne scoffed, disbelief painted all over her face. “What am I doing here, you pathetic omega? Ask me that one more time. Oh, pray tell, ask what the lady of the house is doing in her own house?”

I clenched my jaw together, refusing to let her words get to me. I would have asked her if she was truly the lady of the house. But the image of them together flashed in my head. I was no fool to guess that she might be right or maybe he even wanted her.

She stalked towards me like a predator. “You think you can come in here and act like you own the place?”

I squeezed my eyes together. “I’m not—”

“Ohh, but you are!” she snapped, her eyes widening as she gestured wildly. 

“You came here… and all of a sudden, you’re acting like you’re untouchable! Going to places that were mine, making it look like Kael wants you or is in love with you.”

She stopped in front of me. “He can never love you. In fact, he’ll never accept that mate bond. Should I tell you why?”

I knew what she would say. Knew the same words from the party.

She smiled and said, “Because he’s mine.” She stated, and my wolf whimpered, the mate bond searing hot.

Anger flared inside of me, tangling with disgust. I was his mate. His goddess-bound—and she… she…

She was just pathetic and desperate. 

“He was mine from the moment we were young and little. Do you know anything about him? Did he accept you as his mate?”

She scoffed, smirking after. “He would never, because I belong to him. Body, soul, life, all of this,” she gestured to her body. “…is for him.”

The more her voice went on, the angrier Elara got inside of me. She was so sure of herself for something she wasn’t.

He was my mate. Not hers. Unless he rejects me and the moon goddess mates her with him. But until then, he was still my mate. 

And she had the audacity to keep talking like… like…

“Please get out,” I managed to say, keeping my anger at bay.

Her expression changed from violent to shocked, a frown deepening on her forehead. “What?”

I gritted my teeth. “Please get out. I don’t care about any of this. Just stop…” I looked up at her. “Stop.”

And she laughed. No, she cackled, louder than I had ever heard anyone do.

When she looked at me again, it was with a mocking gaze. “Do you think you can even afford to care? You’re nothing but a breeder, brought here to produce his baby because of the mate bond, and after that you’re gone.”

My body went cold, my breath hitching at her words. She wasn’t supposed to know that. Kael had said it was just for both of us.

But did he? He only said I had to pretend well and make sure no one knows. He never said he had to.

I clenched my jaw hard, and my wolf snarled in my chest, betrayed and hurt. The entire picture felt useless, the box light in my hands.

I had let myself get excited when I saw the picture. Made myself think that this was something more, and maybe he wanted me when it was all still plain like 

“Ohhh, shocked now, are you?” Lucienne continued, cutting into my thoughts.

She snapped my jaw to look at her, pressing tightly. Her lips curled into something distasteful, our gazes boring into each other’s.

“He would never accept you, not now or never. You’re just a breeder. Once you give birth to his baby, you’ll be gone from here. Never remembered. Kael doesn’t care about pathetic omegas like you.”

“He cares about me. That’s why he has kept me for years. Together we’ll be unstoppable. The alpha king and his Luna. So if you think your stupid bond would do anything to change his mind, you’re wrong.” She bit out, tears burning at the back of my eyes.

Her voice dropped, cold like the alpha king’s. “So do us one better and stick to your role. Sell your body, do as you want, but know your place.”

I pushed her hand away, taking some steps back from her. This was not right. This was stupid. This was foolish. I could have sold my body or signed a contract to give him an heir, but that didn’t give her any goddamn right to insult me.

Anger flared in my veins as I matched her glare. “Are you just jealous he didn’t pick you to bear his heir?”

Her proud expression cracked, and her lips twitched. She covered it quickly with a dark chuckle. “Jealous? Me?” she scoffed after. “You think I’ll be jealous of someone like you?”

“Someone like me is his mate,” I countered instantly. “I don’t have to threaten other people. I would give him his heir, a baby. Isn’t that what he wants right now?”

Her face twisted with more anger, veins lining her forehead. Misha’s words rang in my head. I won’t be bullied any longer. Not now. Not ever. What’s the worst she’ll do?

Slap me?

Report me to the alpha king?

So I didn’t stop. I watched as her face burned brighter, her rage coloring every inch of her skin.

“So maybe you’re just jealous and you’re trying to pick a fight. Maybe the alpha king hasn’t been paying so much attention to you, and you’re taking it out on this poor omega.”

The expression on her face twisted into something darker. “You think he doesn’t want me?”

Suddenly, she brought the knife in her hand up, and I remembered it had been there for a while. Her smile sharpened, her lips curled, and her gaze narrowed at me.

“Who do you think he’ll cater to first if something happens?”

She raised the knife up, and my stomach dropped, all my confidence vanishing. “Lucienne… what are you doing?” I swallowed, my voice calm but faltering.

Her smile deepened, more wicked. “Watch and see, omega. Watch and see that you’re nothing but a fleck of dust to him.”

“Lucienne… drop the knife,” I stated again, calmer than before.

She chuckled and raised the knife higher.

“Lucienne!” I screamed, lunging for her.

But she was faster, bringing the knife down on her wrist as a loud scream, louder than my own, pierced the air.