Avery caught me on my way to the training grounds that morning, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk. Her perfect curls bounced as she approached, her dress fluttering around her like she was parading on a stage.

“Lady Felicia,” she called me with her voice dripping with false sweetness,

After that, she maliciously continued, “I’m surprised you’re going out. Shouldn’t you be resting after last night’s little ... disappointment?”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep me from getting upset.

“I don’t have time for this, Lady Avery,” I politely told her.

“Oh, but I do,” she said as she stepped closer.

The woman then boldly talked, “Well, you see, the Alpha was so worried about me last night. He stayed by my side the entire time, making sure I was comfortable. Isn’t he the most attentive Alpha?”

Her words stung, but I refused to let her see that.

I just met her gaze coldly as I made a sarcastic remark, “If you’re looking for someone to congratulate you on being a mistress, you’re wasting your time.”

When Avery heard my sarcastic remark, her smile faltered, but she quickly recovered.

“Oh, Lady Felicia! Jealousy doesn’t suit you. After all, the Alpha is only with you because of a promise. We both know where his heart truly lies,” she mockingly said.

I couldn’t take it anymore. My wolf, Talia, growled in the back of my mind. She urged me to stand up for myself.

Before I could think twice, my hand shot out. Soon enough, I could see myself slapping Avery until that woman fell to the ground. In fact, the slap was hard enough that it echoed through the courtyard.

The murmurs around us grew louder as pack members stopped to gawk. Avery’s hand immediately flew to her cheek and her eyes widened with shock. Clearly, she never expected me to do this.

“How dare you!” she angrily yelled at me,

I took a step closer, my voice low but firm as I spoke, “I’ve tolerated your games long enough, Lady Avery. You might be Alex’s mistress, but I am his betrothed. Start behaving like it!”

Her face reddened with both anger and humiliation. She glared at me, then to the pack members. Everyone pretended to not see what just happened, but they clearly enjoyed the drama.

“You’ll regret this,” she angrily told me before she stormed off.

Without further ado, I turned away as I ignored the whispers and stares of the pack members. For the first time in years, I felt a small spark of satisfaction. However, I knew that I had to pay the price for what I did to the Alpha’s mistress.

Later that evening, Nathaniel found me in the library. As always, his expression was unreadable. Yet, I could tell that the Beta had heard what happened.

As the man leaned against the doorway, he said flatly, “You slapped her, I heard.”

“She deserved it, Beta,” I told him, not looking up from the book I was pretending to read,

The man then stepped inside the library after he made sure that no one was there but me before he said, “Well, I don’t disagree. But you’ve made a rather fatal mistake, don’t you think?”

“I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. She was pushing me too far,” I said to him, trying to justify myself.

Nathaniel nodded weakly as he told me, “I get it. But Alex isn’t going to let this slide. Be prepared for whatever comes next.”

The Beta’s prediction came true faster than I expected.

When I was training the next morning, a pack servant delivered a sealed letter to my room. I recognized my father’s handwriting immediately. A dread settled in my stomach.

I opened the letter with trembling hands, scanning the harsh words written inside.

[Felicia Nightfire,

Your behavior is unacceptable.

Alex has threatened to break the betrothal if you don’t apologize to Lady Avery in front of the entire pack. Do not embarrass our family further. Make this right immediately, or you will regret it.

Alpha Henry Nightfire]

I crumpled the letter in my hand, my vision blurring with tears of frustration. My own father had sided with Alex and Avery without even asking for my side of the story.

‘Talia, what do I do?’ I asked my wolf.

She calmly replied, ‘You already know the answer to that. Tear it up. We’re done with all of them.’

Taking a deep breath, I shredded the letter into tiny pieces. I let the scraps fall into the wastebasket. Frankly, this felt rather refreshing to defy my own father.

“I’m not apologizing for defending myself,” I said weakly.

When I told Nathaniel about the letter later that day, the Beta listened silently. His expression darkened with each word. I knew that he wasn’t too pleased with the news.

“I’m not surprised. Your father has always prioritized power over loyalty,” he finally said something.

I nodded as I asked the Beta, “What do we do now? Alex and my father are working together to make my life miserable.”

The man was quiet for a moment as if he thought of something.

“We’ll use this to our advantage,” he said at last.

However, what he said next really shocked me.

The Beta then said, “You’ll apologize to Avery.”

“What?” I asked him, staring at him in disbelief.

He quickly shook his head as he answered, “You will not apologize because you mean it, Lady Felicia. However, you’ll apologize because it’ll give us an opportunity to observe how the pack feels about all this.”

I frowned because I was unsure of where he was going with this, so I asked him, “What do you mean?”

“People are watching, my lady,” he answered.

Then, he explained, “They see how Alex and Avery are treating you. While they pretend that you do not exist, they still watch. If you apologize, it might actually make them dislike Avery even more.”

Although it wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear, I knew Nathaniel was right. If we were going to leave, we needed to understand where the pack stood. We might be able to use it to our advantage.

“Fine. I’ll do it. But only because it’s part of the plan,” I said reluctantly.

The next morning, I stood in the pack’s common area. My heart was pounding as I faced Avery and the gathered members. Nathaniel stood off to the side, giving me a reassuring nod.

“Lady Avery,” I began talking my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach.

I continued, “I want to apologize for my actions yesterday. I let my emotions get the better of me, and I was wrong to lash out at you.”

Avery’s face lit up with triumph when she heard me apologizing to her. In fact, the woman didn’t even bother to hide her smug smile.

“Apology accepted, Lady Felicia,” she said loudly, making sure everyone heard.

I bit back a retort as she turned to the pack members.

“Do you see this? Even Felicia recognizes her mistakes. Perhaps we can all learn from this moment of humility!”

Her words were meant to make her look gracious, but the disapproving murmurs that followed told a different story. People weren’t buying her act, and neither was I. Nathaniel’s plan worked really well.

Both the Beta and I exchanged a glance, silently noting the pack members who looked less than impressed with Avery’s performance. We could gather their support. Although both him and I still had no idea what to do, it was still better than having no one at all.

Over the next few days, Nathaniel quietly spread the word of my apology among the pack. The elders were the first to voice their disapproval of Avery’s behavior, calling her out for overstepping her boundaries. Alex was obviously concerned when the elders began talking about it

“She’s not even our Luna,” one elder said during a meeting I overheard.

The other elder agreed as he said, “Her actions are causing division within the pack.”

“And, may we ask, where were you, Alpha Alex, during Lady Felicia’s birthday?” another elder asked.

The pressure on Alex grew, so it wasn’t long before the Alpha reluctantly approached me in the training yard.

“I’ve decided to include you in tomorrow’s hunting party,” he told me with is tone devoid of warmth.

I raised an eyebrow as I made another sarcastic remark, “I thought that was Avery’s special privilege.”

The Alpha frowned as he said in a rather dismissive tone, “You’re my betrothed. It’s only right that you join.”

Obviously, I didn’t believe for a second that he was doing this out of genuine care. This was damage control, plain and simple. However, I was curious about what would happen.

“Fine, I’ll be there,” I said to him, wiping my hands on my training clothes.

As the Alpha walked away, Nathaniel appeared at my side.

The Beta said, “Well, that’s a surprise.”

“Not really. He’s only doing it because the elders are on his back,” I told him.

To my surprise, the man then smiled as he said, “Well, yeah. But it’s still a step in the right direction.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I glanced toward the forest before I told him, “Maybe. But it’s too late for steps. I’m ready to run.”

When I arrived at the private hunting grounds, I felt the weight of the pack’s eyes on me. It wasn’t the usual gazes that they would cast on me. This time, it was different.

I wasn’t just the betrothed of Alpha Alex. Rather, I was the woman who dared to challenge his mistress, Avery. The tension in the air was palpable. Actually, I could almost feel the pack members waiting for the next move.

Avery was already standing by Alex. Her face looked very red as she held back her anger. The moment I stepped into the clearing, she shot me a glare that could melt stone.

“You’re late,” she said, her voice laced with disdain.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I retorted, trying to keep my tone steady.

Alex chose to pretend to ignore the tension. The Alpha smiled as if he had treated me well for the past five years, approaching me. However, it made me want to laugh.

“Felicia, I’m glad you could join us. The elders have been pressuring me to make sure you’re included,” the man said.

Avery’s lip curled in annoyance when she heard it, but Alex didn’t notice. His focus was entirely on me, or rather, on keeping up appearances. Seeing it made me have enough.

“I’m sure it’s not because you want me here, Alpha. But I’m grateful for the invitation,” I said sarcastically as I forced a smile.

Avery’s eyes narrowed as she boldly said, “Well, I’m not.”

The mistress was clearly upset that her lover had included me, but Alex waved her off as he brushed her concerns aside.

“Let’s not make a scene, Avery. We’re all here to enjoy the day. The last thing I need is more pressure from the pack,” the man said.

Avery opened her mouth to argue, but the Alpha silenced her with a glance before he said, “Please, just bear with it. It’s what’s best for the pack.”

Obviously, I could see the discomfort in her eyes. Eventually, she nodded stiffly. It was clear that she was unhappy. However, she was forced to comply.

The hunting party was soon underway.

As expected, both Alex and Avery stayed close. Their laughter echoed through the trees. I felt like an outsider, a third wheel, but I refused to let it show.

However, Avery’s voice cut through my thoughts as she said, “Lady Felicia, let’s ride together.”

“Ride?” I asked her back.

The mistress coldly said, “Yes, you heard me, my lady.”

Avery’s eyes gleamed with a mixture of annoyance and amusement as she continued, “I think it’ll be good for us to bond.”

I hesitated. Avery knew my fear of water, so she might use it to her advantage. The last thing I wanted was to get stuck in a situation where I would be forced to face my fear. But I couldn’t back down with the pack watching.

“Fine. But only for a short while,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

The horses were already saddled when we arrived at the stables. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Although I loved riding, the idea of being near water made my heart race. It had been a fear since childhood that I had never quite shaken off.

Avery’s smirk told me she knew exactly how I felt. She was enjoying this. In fact, she might enjoy it more than she should have.

“We’ll ride near the lake. It’ll be fun,” she said with her voice laced with malice.

I bit my lip, trying to hide the panic bubbling up inside me. However, I couldn’t back out without looking weak. So, I rode my horse and followed Avery as the woman led the way toward the lake.

As both of us got closer to the water, I felt my heart begin to race. The lake was beautiful, indeed. However, the memories of near-drowning when I was younger began replaying in my mind. I could feel the old fear rising within me as my body then tensed.

Avery slowed her horse as we approached the water’s edge.

“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” she asked innocently, but I could see the cruel gleam in her eyes.

“It is,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

She glanced at me as her smirk widened and said, “Maybe we should take a closer look.”

Before I could react, Avery spurred her horse forward. My horse followed automatically, but I tugged on the reins, trying to slow down. I wasn’t ready to get any closer to the water, but Avery wasn’t having it.

“Come on, Lady Felicia. You’re not afraid, are you?” she asked me mockingly.

“I’m not,” I said through gritted teeth, but my heart was hammering in my chest.

Without warning, Avery kicked her horse’s sides. The animal quickly took off, charging straight into the lake. I gasped, pulling hard on the reins, trying to stop my own horse. However, Avery had already forced both our horses into the water.

Immediately, The force of the water hit us. I struggled to stay on the horse’s back as it reared, the lake’s cold embrace threatening to pull me under.

“Lady Avery, stop!” I shouted, panic rising in my chest. But she only laughed.

Before I could react, her horse bucked again. Then, I was thrown from the saddle. It felt as if the world tilted when I fell into the cold, dark water.

I gasped for air as I struggled to stay afloat. The shock of the cold water quickly seized my chest. I kicked my legs, trying to swim. But my body was heavy and my panic only made it worse.

‘Help! Alex!’ I shouted through my mind-link with Alex, but I couldn’t hear him.

My vision was blurry as the water swirled around me. I couldn’t breathe, see, or think. Although I heard voices, I knew the voice wasn’t Alex’s. Avery was still laughing from the shore, her mocking voice cutting through my desperation.

“Alex, save me!” she shouted loudly.

Meanwhile, I reached out as my hands grasping for anything. However, it felt like the water was swallowing me whole.

A strong feeling of suffocation came over me, the air I breathed became thinner and thinner, and I felt like I was about to die...

Suddenly, strong hands grabbed me from behind. The person pulled me up out of the water. I gasped, choking as I was dragged to the shore.

“Lady Felicia!”

Nathaniel’s voice was the only thing I could focus on as he pulled me to safety. His arms were steady around me, his body warm against mine as he lifted me to solid ground. The man saved me.

“Are you okay?” Nathaniel asked, his voice low and concerned.

I nodded, still gasping for air, as I answered, “Yeah. I ... I thought I was going to drown.”

Nathaniel looked over at Avery, who was still standing at the water’s edge, a look of disbelief on her face. Alex wasn’t anywhere close to me. In fact, the Alpha was standing close to her. That really broke my heart.

“I thought the Alpha was supposed to be watching over you,” Nathaniel muttered, his voice full of disdain.

I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.

“He chose Avery over me. Again,” I weakly said.

Nathaniel’s expression softened as he pulled me into a tight hug and told me, “Lady Felicia ... you don’t deserve this.”

“I’ve had enough, Beta. I can’t do this anymore. I’m done. We need to leave. Tonight,” I said to him weakly.

Nathaniel nodded as he said, “We will. I’ll be ready.”

I stood up, my legs shaky but determined.

“I’m done being his second choice. I’m done being the fool,” I muttered quietly.

We both turned toward the water where Avery was still standing. However, her smug smile quickly faltered as she saw the determination in my eyes. In fact, I would make sure to make her regret what she did from this moment on.

“I’m leaving, Beta. I’m leaving this pack, and I’m never looking back,” I told Nathaniel.

‘We’ll make them pay, Felicia,’ Talia said inside of me.

The days were passing slowly, but my decision was already made.

I made sure no one would notice me. Although I told myself I wouldn’t look back, a sense of dread crept over me every time I thought about leaving. I wasn’t afraid of leaving Alex. Rather, I was afraid of the unknown, of what lay ahead once I broke free.

Nathaniel had been my quiet companion in this plan. The Beta said little, but I could feel his resolve. He had been patient with me, understanding when I faltered, and supportive when I doubted myself. His presence gave me the courage to push through my fear.

I watched Alex from across the room, pretending to listen to his words as he rambled about something to me. His eyes kept darting over to Avery, who was now sitting nearby, playing the part of the delicate, frail woman in need of constant attention.

“I’m tired, Felicia,” Alex said, his voice soft.

The Alpha then asked, “Maybe you could take the night off?”

I wasn’t sure if he meant it or if he just wanted to spend more time with Avery.

But I played along as I nodded and said, “Of course. I’ll go to my room then.”

As I stood to leave, Alex seemed to notice something in my expression. His brow furrowed slightly as if something had caught his attention. However, Avery’s delicate cough broke the moment before he could say anything.

“I think I need to lie down,” she said, her voice low and trembling, making sure every word sounded like a plea for help.

Alex was instantly distracted as he rushed to her side and asked, “Are you feeling unwell, Avery? Should I call the healer?”

I had seen enough. The affection in Alex’s voice made my skin crawl. The Alpha cared for his own mistress far more than he ever cared for me, his future Luna. It was clear that no matter what I did, I would never be the one to receive his attention.

So, I turned away as I walked towards the stairs that led to my room.

As I reached Nathaniel’s door, I knocked softly.

“Lady Felicia,” Nathaniel greeted, opening the door almost instantly.

His eyes were filled with concern, but there was a sense of excitement too as if he was ready. Ready to leave.

“Everything is set?” I asked the Beta.

Nathaniel nodded, glancing down the hallway to make sure no one was listening.

The man said, “As soon as the Alpha is distracted, we leave. Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. I can’t stay here anymore, Nathaniel. I can’t keep pretending that this is my life. I’m not Alex’s second choice. I’m not a prize for him to show off when it suits him,” I told him.

Nathaniel stepped aside, letting me into his room. There was a long silence before us. Clearly, we needed to decide as soon as possible.

“Then it’s time we leave. We’ll find a place of our own, somewhere far away from all of this.” His smile was reassuring, but his eyes held something deeper—determination.

I nodded, feeling my heart race. The thought of running away made my skin prickle with both excitement and fear. I was leaving behind everything I knew. The pack, my betrothal to Alex, and the castle. But for the first time in years, I felt a spark of freedom.

We waited for hours, pretending nothing was wrong.

As the evening wore on, the sky grew darker. Through the thick windows, I could see the moon shining faintly through the clouds. The castle had quietened down. Even though I had heard the faint sound of Alex’s laughter just moments before, the noise gradually died as the night stretched on.

Both of us were ready.

With one last glance down the hallway, I crept out of the room and into the corridor. Nathaniel’s footsteps were silent as he followed behind me. We moved like shadows through the halls. After all, we had to get out of there before anyone could stop us.

It was only when we reached the back door that I allowed myself to breathe. Outside, the night air was cool and the sounds of the forest reached my ears. It felt like freedom.

“Ready?” Nathaniel asked, glancing at me.

I nodded as I answered him, “Ready.”

We stepped out into the night as we shited into our wolf forms. The path was barely visible, but Nathaniel led the way with quiet confidence. Each step felt like a step further away from the life I had known.

The cold air hit me like a wave, but I welcomed it. It was a reminder that I was alive, that I could breathe, that I was no longer bound by the expectations that had suffocated me for so long. At last, I was free.