Chapter 56 056

Chapter 56 056
ZURI

I fidgeted with my hands as I stared at the door, my eyes glued to it as if sheer willpower could force it to open. Every passing second made the silence in my room feel heavier. I was waiting for him to knock, just like he always did.
Derrick never failed to check on me.
That had been our routine for years. No matter how busy he was, he would always come by, even if it was just for a few minutes. Sometimes we would talk. Sometimes he would just ask if I needed anything before leaving again.
But today…
Nothing.
I bit my lower lip as anxiety slowly crept into my chest. I was sure there was no way he was going to ignore me. Derrick might be many things...cold, distant, stubborn...but he had never ignored me before.
Yet right now, I didn’t know anymore.
Ever since that woman showed up, everything had started falling apart, piece by piece. The balance I had carefully maintained for years was suddenly crumbling.
And I couldn’t help the irritation bubbling inside me.
Why was she still here?
Why hadn’t she left yet?
“I just want her to disappear so badly!” I screamed, grabbing the vase on the table and hurling it against the wall.
It shattered loudly, pieces scattering across the floor.
But even that didn’t calm the fire raging inside me.
My breathing was still uneven when a knock suddenly came from the door.
My heart leapt instantly.
That had to be him.
Of course it was him. Who else would dare knock on my door like that?
I quickly straightened my dress and smoothed my hair, forcing my expression into something calm and elegant. By the time I spoke, my voice was sweet and gentle.
“Come in,” I said smoothly.
But the moment the door opened, my smile faltered.
“Milady,” Melina said softly as she stepped inside.
My eyes instantly burned with anger.
For a brief moment, I had allowed myself to hope. I thought Derrick had finally come. But instead, it was only my maid standing there with her head bowed respectfully.
What was going on?
Why wasn’t he coming?
“What are you doing here, Melina?” I demanded sharply. “And why is he not here?”
Melina flinched slightly but kept her head lowered.
“I am sorry, my lady,” she said carefully. “But the Alpha is busy, and...”
“Busy?” I cut her off, my voice rising immediately. “Too busy to see me?”
She hesitated before slowly shaking her head.
My nose flared with anger.
What exactly did I need to do for that man to notice me again?
Was missing the attack last night not enough to show him that I was angry with him? That I was upset he had ignored me during such an important moment?
“I will go see him myself,” I said, standing up abruptly from the bed.
But Melina’s next words stopped me in my tracks.
“I don’t think you should go,” she said carefully. “The Alpha is currently with the rogue… Lyka.”
My steps froze.
For a moment, I wondered if I had heard her wrong.
“What?” I slowly turned toward her. “The rogue?”
Melina nodded.
“He has been spending time with her,” she explained hesitantly. “And at the training ground today… he warned the men not to get close to her or he would personally deal with them.”
My legs suddenly felt weak.
I stumbled backward before collapsing onto the floor.
Derrick?
The same Derrick who barely expressed emotions?
The same man who treated everyone with the same cold distance?
He had said something like that?
“This is not right!” I cried out, my voice trembling. “This is wrong!”
My chest tightened painfully as memories flooded my mind.
I could still remember the day I lost my father. I was so young back then...confused, frightened, and alone.
Derrick had been the one who stayed by my side.
He protected me. Comforted me. Made sure I never felt abandoned.
Because of him, I grew up believing I would always have a place beside him.
And somewhere along the way…
Those feelings had changed.
I fell in love with him.
Even when he made it clear he didn’t want me the way I wanted him, I refused to give up. I thought that if I stayed close enough, if I remained patient, eventually he would see me.
Eventually he would choose me.
I had even taken a humiliating step for him.
I offered to become his bedmate.
But now…
He might be falling for that rogue girl instead?
No.
That was impossible.
“I know this must be difficult for you, my lady,” Melina said gently, kneeling beside me. “But maybe we should...”
“No!” I snapped, cutting her off sharply.
Something was wrong.
There was no way Derrick would suddenly change like that.
My mind immediately drifted to the argument Lyka and I had before.
The memory of that day still made my chest burn with humiliation.
Derrick had believed her.
Not me.
At the time, I couldn’t understand why.
But now…
Now it made sense.
“That woman is definitely doing something,” I whispered, my voice filled with cold certainty.
Melina looked confused.
“What do you mean, my lady?”
“That girl must have used some kind of spell,” I muttered darkly. “That’s why Derrick always believes her.”
The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became.
There was no other explanation.
Derrick would never choose her over me unless something unnatural was influencing him.
“I think it’s time I found myself a powerful witch,” I said quietly.
Melina’s eyes widened in horror.
“My lady… you know the Alpha does not tolerate witches. If he finds out...”
“Don’t say another word,” I interrupted coldly.
“If she used magic on Derrick, then finding a witch is simply helping him break free from it.”
I pushed myself off the floor.
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Melina grabbed my arm desperately.
“I can’t let you do this,” she said anxiously. “Just like before, I can’t watch you ruin yourself again.”
I yanked my arm away from her grip.
“That is not true,” I said firmly.
“If it is about Derrick, there is nothing I cannot do.”
The moment the words left my mouth, another voice spoke from behind us.
“Then I think I arrived at the perfect time.”
Both Melina and I jumped in shock.
I turned quickly to see another maid standing by the doorway. She held a tray of food in her hands, but something about her calm expression immediately irritated me.
“What did you just say?” I demanded coldly. “Do you think it is your place to speak like that?”
But instead of looking frightened, the maid looked almost amused.
“I believe I might have exactly what you need,” she said casually.
I frowned.
What was she talking about?
Normally, I would never waste my time entertaining a maid’s nonsense. But right now, I was desperate enough to listen to anything that might help me regain Derrick’s attention.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked slowly.
She placed the tray on the table before turning to face me fully.
A faint smirk appeared on her lips.
The sight immediately annoyed me.
“Don’t test my patience,” I warned coldly. “Start talking before I tear your throat open.”
She didn’t look intimidated at all.
Instead, she spoke calmly.
“I can help you get rid of your biggest threat.”
I laughed mockingly.
“Biggest threat?” I scoffed. “I don’t have one.”
The maid tilted her head slightly.
“Then perhaps you would like my help getting rid of Lyka.”
My laughter stopped instantly.
For the first time since she entered the room, she had my full attention.
“You’re serious,” I said slowly.
Her smirk widened.
“Completely.”
I turned toward Melina.
“Leave us.”
Melina looked reluctant.
“My lady...”
“That was not a suggestion,” I said coldly.
Reluctantly, she bowed before exiting the room.
Once the door closed, I sat down slowly, crossing my legs as I studied the strange maid.
“Well?” I asked. “What exactly do you have to offer me?”
She watched me carefully.
“But before we discuss anything,” she said, pulling a folded document from her uniform, “you must sign an agreement.”
I frowned slightly.
“An agreement?”
“Yes.”
She handed the paper to me.
Under normal circumstances, I would have thrown such nonsense back in her face. But right now, desperation was clouding my judgment.
If she truly had a way to remove Lyka from the picture…
Then it would be worth it.
Without thinking too deeply, I pricked my finger and signed the agreement with my blood.
The moment I handed it back, something strange happened.
The words on the paper slowly faded away.
But I didn’t notice.
“So,” I said impatiently, leaning forward. “Now that I’ve signed your ridiculous agreement, explain yourself.”
The maid’s smile turned darker.
“The rogue attack that happened the other night,” she said slowly.
“What about it?” I asked.
“She planned it with her pack.”
My eyes widened.
“What?!”
Melina’s voice echoed from outside the door at the exact same time.
“What?!”
But instead of shock, a slow smile spread across my lips.
If Lyka truly orchestrated that attack…
Then everything would fall perfectly into place.
“Don’t lie to me,” I warned sharply. “Do you really expect me to believe something like that?”
The maid simply shrugged.
“If you don’t believe me,” she said calmly, “then allow me to prove it.”
My smile widened into something far darker.
“Then prove it.”