Third Person’s Pov:
Holding her gown a bit high, Mira kept running. She needed to run far away from Derrick, to preserve her sanity. With her heart pounding, she ran without a clear direction or destination.
Her plan tonight was to avoid Derrick and Nicholas, but it seemed luck wasn’t on her side. Because once she reached the river bank, she found herself face to face with Derrick. Despite her intention to reject him, the tension between them almost led to a forbidden kiss.
And now running with no clear destination, she wondered how to cope with this situation. She knew her life was about to change, taking a path that terrified her. The potential for destruction loomed if she didn’t proceed with caution. Gasping for breath, she continued running until she collided with an obstacle. Her head collided with a solid surface, causing a jolt of pain.
“Ouch…!!” she groaned in pain, hopping on the spot. The collision left her feeling sore and disoriented.
“What the…!!” a male voice growled in anger, causing her to realize that she hadn’t just bumped into something, but someone. The voice sounded familiar, and the anger in his tone was unmistakable.
“Are you dumb or mute……?” The voice snarled at her, causing her to shrink back in fear. She realized the owner of the voice and her whole body was trembling and shuddering in fear. She refuses to lift her hand as she already knows the consequences.
“So… for…” her lips quivered as fear gripped her, making it difficult for her to find her words. Panic consumed her, and she looked visibly afraid.
“So… what? Have you lost it?” he snapped at her, causing her to suddenly flinch back, her head still cast down.
“Just let it slide…” another voice said. She knew it was Lucien, trying to diffuse the situation. She hoped Nicholas would listen and let it go before he discovered her true identity.
“Slide……!! ARE YOU JOKING RIGHT NOW?” He asked in utter disbelief.
“Yes, I know you’re angry, but you just have to let it go before someone walks in on us. And besides, I’m sure she’s just an omega,” Lucien muttered. She thanked the moon goddess; they didn’t notice her aura either.
“Even if she was an omega, that doesn’t justify what she did… She just bumps into her Alpha without apologizing,” Nicholas declared with anger in his tone.
“I… I… am sorry,” she sputtered, hoping he wouldn’t notice her voice. Shaking like a chicken wing, she fidgeted with her nails, casting her head down to avoid being noticed.
Her hair was covering half of her face, which was loosened during her run and she’s grateful it helped hide her identity because if not, they would know that it was her. Taking a step back, she prays the mate bond doesn’t implicate her.
“You can now go…..” Lucien said, taking her by surprise, she thanked the moon goddess.
“Thanks…” she mumbled before turning to leave, but she was yanked back with force. Her body felt electric sparkles twinkle on her skin where the hand was roughly holding her.
“You think that I am stupid that I can’t recognize you… right?” he snarled as he roughly lifted her chin. Lucien staggered back in surprise, seeing Nicholas’s dangerously glaring eyes. She twitched and shook in panic and terror.
“Luna…” Lucien mumbled with his head cast down in submission. Mira had no time to acknowledge him as she struggled to free herself from Nicholas’s rough grip on her chin.
“How dare you bump into me…?” he growled hazardously. Mira jerked up suddenly, tears getting stuck in the corner of her eyes. She feared the outcome. This monster in front of her, this demon, is her worst nightmare.
“Nicholas, please you are hurting me,” she pleaded as a drop of tears trailed down her cheeks.
“Haha…!” he laughed out dangerously, tightening his grip on her chin and flashing an evil smile. Gritting her teeth in pain, Mira pleaded with Nicholas, raw hurt flickering in her eyes. She knew the place would be sore and bruised once he let go.
“What did you do this time? Where are you coming out, running?” he suspiciously asked with a narrowed eyebrow. She couldn’t tell him she was with his brother, that would be the worst. Her head ran in different directions for a possible excuse but none was found therefore making her feel worthless and unsettled.
“I am talking to you, idiot……!!” He angrily snapped at her.
“Ye… yes… I mean…” Mira stuttered, her troubled look filled with fear.
“Are you stupid? I asked you a question, you moron,” Nicholas lashed out, his words dripping with venom.
“Who even made you my wife, you weak thing,” he lashed out, his eyes burning with anger. Mira’s heart twisted with each word, her voice caught in her throat as she tried to fight back the tears. But they streamed down her face uncontrollably, a reflection of the pain she felt deep within. The weight of Nicholas’ harsh words crushed her spirit, leaving her feeling small and worthless.
“Remember that I asked you a question,” He groans in frustration.
“You’re wasting my time…” he yelled, his words filled with anger and frustration. Mira’s cheeks stung from the force of his slap, tears streaming down her face. The pain of his actions cut deep, leaving her feeling broken and helpless.
“Haa…!” she cried out as she lost her balance and fell to the floor. Lucien’s concern was evident as he tried to rush toward her, but Nicholas’s angry gaze halted him in his tracks.
“Where did you go…?” he asked, taking a predator step towards her, his voice filled with intensity.
“I was afraid of staying in the dark…” she whispered, the words slipping out of her trembling lips before she could hold them back. She instantly regretted her choice of words, realizing it was a feeble attempt to hide the truth. The weight of Lucien’s piercing gaze bore into her, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and disbelief as if silently questioning her motives. At that moment, she couldn’t help but hate herself for being so weak and vulnerable in front of Nicholas. The way he looked at her, with that devilish smile playing on his lips, made her feel exposed, worthless, and utterly ashamed. It was as if he saw right through her facade, unraveling the layers of deception she had carefully constructed. The fear of being discovered, of being labeled as a liar, gnawed at her conscience. She knew deep down that the truth had a way of surfacing, no matter how hard she tried to bury it. Yet, the thought of revealing her true intentions to them, of exposing the raw vulnerability within her, sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t bear the thought of the consequences, the potential damage it could inflict on her fragile self.
“Haha… How can a wolf be afraid of the dark, you are indeed a misfortune,” he muttered, his words piercing her heart more than any physical abuse ever could. She fought back the tears, but they kept flowing down her cheeks.
She stared at Nicholas, her lower lip caught between her teeth, desperately trying to suppress her sobs. She knew that her pain and agony seemed to bring him pleasure and satisfaction, which only fueled her determination to regain control over her emotions. But no matter how hard she tried, the flood of emotions overwhelmed her, leaving her helpless and vulnerable. All she wanted was for Nicholas to truly see her, to acknowledge her worth, but it seemed like an impossible feat. In his eyes, she was nothing more than a piece of trash, a mistake that the moon goddess had made. The weight of that realization crashed down on her, and she found herself sobbing uncontrollably on the cold, unforgiving floor.
“I still don’t know how you were able to charm my family into loving you…” he wickedly laughed and immediately she questioned herself, wondering if his family’s love for her included Derrick. But before she could dwell on it, Nicholas’s words interrupted her train of thought.
However, Leaning down, Nicholas whispered in her ear, “I will make your stay a living hell. I will make all your loved ones, including my family members, dislike you. I will torment you until you can’t take it anymore and die.”
“Nicholas, the Alpha wants to see you… it’s important,” Lucien instantly announced, his voice laced with urgency as he glanced at Mira, with a mix of pity and a hint of regret.
She could see it in his eyes, that “I’m sorry” kind of looked as if he wanted to whisk Nicholas away from this place. Her heart sank as she braced herself for what was to come. Straightening himself, Nicholas towered over her, his presence exuding dominance and power. Without warning, he forcefully and mercilessly struck her ribs, a painful reminder of his control and the abuse that she endured.
As he turned to leave, his devilish smile lingered on his lips. Mira couldn’t help but wonder how she ended up in this twisted web of torment and despair. “Haa…!!! Oh! My God,” she cried out as she heard a bone crack. The pain surged through her body, leaving her in a pool of pain and tears.