Chapter 8

Esther’s POV

The moment Nicholas stepped into the hallway, Amanda’s grip on my arm tightened until it ached. Her face was twisted with fury, but her voice came out with that sugary-sweet edge she used when she wanted him to see her as the perfect Luna-to-be.

“How shameless can you be?” She stood with perfect posture, her silk gown falling in waves of silver-blue around her. Her eyes were sharp, glittering with the satisfaction of having caught me in what she thought was the act.

“Climbing into Nicholas’s bed like some desperate wench… You really think being his fated mate means anything?”

The word mate dripped from her tongue like poison.

My chest tightened. “I didn’t—”

“Oh, save it,” she interrupted, waving her manicured hand in dismissal. “You’ve clung to him like a leech since the day you set foot here. If you had any dignity, you’d disappear and spare yourself the humiliation.”

Her words were meant to sting, but what hurt more was that she wasn’t wrong about the humiliation. Nicholas was standing behind her, his expression carved from ice.

“You see, Nicholas?” she said, tilting her chin toward me like I was a stain on the floor. “Esther continues to show you that she has no shame. She throws herself into your bed like a common whore. You should reject her before she gets any other ideas.”

My stomach dropped.

Nicholas’s gaze slid over me, cold and sharp, his lip curling as if the sight of me was unpleasant.

“Enough,” he said coldly, not looking at Amanda but keeping his gaze on me. “Go prepare for the succession ceremony. And get out of my sight.”

No defense. No explanation. He had only disgust for me.

I lowered my head so he wouldn’t see the way my face crumpled. I had already known he didn’t want me, but hearing it like that still cut deep. In his eyes, I wasn’t even worthy to warm his bed, not even by accident.

Amanda’s mouth curled in smug satisfaction, but I caught the flicker of jealousy. It was gone so quickly I almost doubted I saw it.

Later, the great hall blazed with light for the succession ceremony. Gold banners draped from the rafters, each embroidered with the royal crest. Every seat was filled with Alphas from allied packs, ranked wolves, merchants, and dignitaries. The air thrummed with excitement, the scent of polished wood and expensive incense mingling in the room.

Nicholas stood at the center, his posture straight, the crown of the Alpha King gleaming as it was placed upon his head. His black suit was perfectly tailored, the fabric catching the light like midnight silk.

Beside him, Amanda glittered in a gown the color of deep rubies, her hair twisted into a perfect updo. Jewels sparkled at her ears and at her throat. Her smile was sharp enough to cut glass.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the officiant announced Nicholas’s succession. I forced myself to clap with everyone else, but each sound of my hands meeting felt hollow. My chest tightened, an ache settling deep.

When the elder placed the ceremonial crest into Nicholas’s hands and declared him Alpha in name and in law, the hall erupted into cheers. Wolves pounded the floor with their fists, the sound echoing through the rafters. Amanda leaned close to him, her smile delicate, and whispered something that made him smirk faintly.

He hadn’t crowned Amanda Luna, not yet, but I knew.

I knew he never could name me his mate, not publicly and not ever. Mate bond or not, I was still a criminal in his eyes.

The throbbing in my chest grew worse until it was hard to breathe. I slipped away from the crowd, hoping no one noticed.

My luck didn’t hold.

Four Omega maids followed me into the courtyard. Their smiles weren’t friendly.

“Well, well,” one of them drawled, her lips twisting into a cruel smile. “If it isn’t the murderer slave who thinks she can be the Alpha’s fated mate.”

I froze.

Another stepped forward, arms crossed. “You think you belong up there with him? That was hilarious. We had a bet going whether you’d faint before the ceremony ended.”

Their laughter was sharp and mean, echoing off the stone walls.

“I’m just trying to get back to work,” I muttered, stepping sideways.

A hand shot out, shoving me back against the wall. “Not so fast.”

They crowded me, their jeers rising in volume. The leader’s voice cut through.

“Pathetic. You can’t even defend yourself. Maybe we should give you a nice reminder of your place.”

I swallowed hard. “Please… just stop.”

They didn’t. The first shove became a yank at my arm, a slap against my shoulder. My breath quickened, the mate bond thrumming painfully in my chest.

When the leader grabbed a fistful of my hair, something inside me snapped. I twisted, sinking my teeth into her wrist.

She yelped, jerking back. “You little bitch!” She spun to the others. “Hold her!”

Two of them pinned my arms, their fingers digging into my skin. They dragged me down until my knees hit the dirt. The leader pulled a small knife from the pocket of her skirt, her eyes glinting with vicious delight.

“Let’s see if anyone out there will want you when your pretty face is ruined.”

My heart pounded so hard it drowned out everything else. I struggled, but their grip only tightened. I braced for the sting of steel, but it never came.

“Enough.” The voice was cold steel. The knife never touched me.

Kevin Hill stood between me and the blade, his hand wrapped around the maid’s wrist. His expression was dark, his blue eyes sharp with disgust.

“You don’t know how to work, but you know how to bully?”

The maid’s bravado faltered. Kevin Hill was the Alpha King of the Blue Lake Pack, one of Nicholas’s rivals, and even the boldest servant knew better than to cross an Alpha king.

They scattered without another word, vanishing into the corridors like frightened mice.

I was shaking as Kevin turned to me.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

I shook my head quickly. “No. Thank you. You… you didn’t have to—”

“I wasn’t about to let them hurt you,” he said, his voice softer now.

I knew who he was. Everyone did. The Blue Lake Pack had always been a political thorn in Nicholas’s side. I’d never expected someone like him to step in for me.

Then I noticed the blood on his sleeve.

“They cut you,” I blurted.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing.” I reached into the pocket of my apron and pulled out a small pouch of herbs. My hands worked automatically, crushing the leaves and pressing them to the cut. The scent of mint and earth filled the air between us.

He watched me, his gaze oddly intent. “What’s your name?” he asked after a pause.

“Esther!” Nicholas’s voice was sharp and angry as he called for me. His footsteps were heavy against the stone. He stopped a few feet away, his eyes sweeping over me and then landing on Kevin. His jaw tightened.

“Idiot,” he said, his voice cold as winter. “What are you doing here?”