Chapter 31
Sapphire
The room was suffocating, the weight of everyone’s gate pressing down on me like an iron vice. My palins were slick with sweat as I tried to steady my breathing, keeping my expression neutral despite the nerves gnawing at me from the inside.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything that might defuse the tension, when a low, side chuckle cut through the silence. I turned to see Millicent with a smirk plastered on her face, whispering something to Olivia that made them both snicker like they were in on some cruel joke.
I sensed the shift in the atmosphere, cleared his throat and asked, “Did I offend anyone?”
Mallicent’s eyes flicked toward him, the smirk never leaving her lips. “Oh, no. You’re fine,” she purred, shaking her head. Her gaze then locked onto me, icy and smug. “It’s not you that’s the problem. It’s her.”
I could feel my chest tightening as all eyes turned toward me. The urge to reliste buzzed under my skin, but I kept my face impassive, even is my fingers inched to crush something. Millie wasn’t done. She leaned forward slightly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Tell me, have you told your new friend here why you’re really in this pack?
I shot her a glare, but it only furled her amusement. I knew what she was doing, trying to humiliate me in front of everyone, to remind them all that I was here as punishment, nothing more
Millicent didn’t wait for me to answer. “She’s here to serve a punishment,” she used Imatter–of–factly, her eyes caring toward as if she was doing
em a favor by exposing me. “That’s why she’s with us. Nothing noble about it”
Isaac’s expression softened with pity as he glanced my way. I felt anger rise in my chest, but I plastered on a grin, forcing my voice to stay even. “It’s alright really. It’s not a big deal.
He hesitated for a mornem, clearly unsure how to respond, but eventually nodded. “Well, if it’s no big deal, then it’s no big deal.” He offered a sleepish amile before shifting the topic. “Do you have a mute!”
The room went dead silent again. My pulse quickened as I felt the weight of several unspoken questions hanging in the air.
Suddenly, there was a choking sound. My eyes shapped to Marcel, who was turning red as he coughed violently, pounding his chest to clear his throat. His reaction didn’t go unnoticed, but Isaac seemed determined to keep the conversation going
“Well!” Isaac prompted, his broses raised in curimity
I felt Aragon’s gaze like a physical force. I dared a glance in his direction and saw him gripping his fork with white knuckles, his eyes drilling into me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat
This was a tightrope walk. II said yes, it could lead to all kinds of complications and speculations I wasn’t ready to deal with. If I said no, I’d have to deal with a furious Alpha later.
I was tired, tired of constantly being pulled in opposite directions by these petty decisions. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I looked up at Isaac forced a smile, and shook my head. “No, I don’t have a mare.”
The room felt colder. For a moment, Isaac seemed pleased with my answer, opening his mouth to say something else, but he flinched as the loud crash of a plate shattering against the floor echoed through the room.
All eyes whipped around to see Aragon, standing rigidly with fury radiating off him in waves, Without another word he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room the door slamming behind him.
The tension that had been simmering boiled over into an uneasy silence. Millicent looked satisfied, Olivia exchanged a glance with Isaac, and Marcel just stared at the broken shards on the floor, will recovering from his earlier choking in.
I sat there, my hands trembling slightly under the table as I stared at the spot where Aragon had stood. I could still feel the raw energy he left behind, the unspoken threats and emotions hanging in the air like a dark cloud
“Hey, it’s okay,” I said softly, trying to sound reassuring, but the pay in his voice grased on my nerves. “You don’t have to be uncomfortable around me.”
I wanted to snap, to tell him that this whole conversation was the last thing I needed, but 1 forced another smile instead. “Im not uncomfortable.”
Millicent snickered again, and I was sure it was directed at me. “Sure, you’re not, she misered under her breath.
I clenched my fists under the table. I was tired of this dinner.
“Maybe we should all just drop it” Marcel ordered, his voice shaky as he rubbed at his throat. “No need to make things awkward.”
“Too late for that,” Olivia chimed in, her tone playful but laced with mockery. “But I guess that’s what happens when you’re in the middle of well,
whatever this is.”
Igrited my teeth, base opened his mouth to say something else, but I was done. I pushed back my chair and stood up abruptly, needing air. seeding to be away from their prying eyes and their mumptions
“Where are you going?” I asked, concern evident in his voice.
“Just for some air,” I muttered, barely holding back the urge to lash out. Without waiting for a response, I walked out of the room, my mind racing.
I found myself outside, my thoughts spinning in circles. I leaned against the wall closing my eyes and taking deep breaths. I didn’t want to think about Aragon’s reaction, about what my words had done. I was already bracing myself for the confrontation that would surely come Inter.
Chapter 31
After a few minutes, the door creaked open, and I heard footsteps approaching. I didn’t have to look to know who it was
“What do you want. Millicent? Facked, my voice edged with exhaustion.
She let out a small laugh. “I just wanted to see how you’re holding up. After all, you’ve got quite the talent for pretending everything’s fine.”
1 opened my eyes and met her gaze, my own glare sharp enough to eat through steel. “You really get a kick out of this, don’t you?”
Her smile widened, smug and fill of satisfaction. “It’s not about getting a kick out of it. It’s about knowing where everyone stands. You’re in this park for a reason, and people need to be reminded of that from time to time.”
“Go to hell,” I snapped, finally letting some of my anger bleed through. But she just shrugged, clearly unbothered.
“Maybe one day. But until then, you’re stuck with me.” She winked before turning away, leaving me seething.
She was going to get what’s coming in her, one day she would see the other side of me.
I didn’t blame Isaac, he was clueless but that’s because he was just being friendly. Next time, I will clear things up s
I would hide up here till I was bold enough to go out
so he doesn’t get the wrong idea
