Thirty
*Freya*
I pulled away from Rafe abruptly as the door swung open, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Rafe’s uncle stood in the doorway, his eyebrows raised in surprise as he took in the scene before him.
“I hope I am not interrupting anything?” he asked, his tone a mix of confusion and disapproval. He glared at me.
My mind raced for an excuse, anything to explain why I had just been kissing the alpha king in his office. “I… I was just here to ask Rafe some questions. About the competition,” I stammered out lamely.
Rafe let out a low chuckle beside me and I shot him an irritated glare. He was clearly enjoying my discomfort far too much.
Rafael frowned, unconvinced. “I see. Well, perhaps it’s best if you direct any further questions to the competition committee from now on,” he said coolly. “To avoid any… inappropriate appearances.”
My face flushed even hotter at the implication in his words. I nodded quickly. “Of course. It won’t happen again.”
As Rafael left, closing the door firmly behind him and giving us a mocking look, I turned on Rafe. “This isn’t funny!” I hissed. “Do you know how humiliating that was?”
“Oh come on, it’s not the end of the world,” Rafe said with an infuriating grin. “Rafael will get over it.. Or get used to it.”
I shook my head furiously, backing away toward the door. “No. I can’t do this anymore. Whatever this is between us, it stops now. You need to focus on the competition, not get distracted by… by whatever game this is between us because I know I’m definitely not your choice.”
I spun around and fled his office before he could argue, silently vowing to myself to stay far away from Rafe and his smoldering eyes and tempting lips from now on. I couldn’t let myself get sidetracked again.
I hurried down the hall, my cheeks still burning, desperate to get back to my room and collect myself. Focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, I didn’t see my step-sister until I crashed right into her.
“Watch where you’re going!” Kelly snapped, stumbling back. She narrowed her eyes as she took me in. “What’s wrong with you? You look like a tomato.”
“Nothing,” I mumbled, trying to step around her. The last thing I needed right now was to deal with Kelly’s attitude. “I’m just in a hurry.”
But Kelly sidestepped, blocking my path. Her gaze raked over me suspiciously. “In a hurry coming from the direction of the king’s office, huh? What exactly were you doing in there?”
My stomach dropped. I couldn’t let her find out about the kiss. Lifting my chin, I met her glare head on. “That’s none of your business. Now if you’ll excuse me…”
I pushed past Kelly but she grabbed my arm, fingers digging in painfully. “Not so fast. I think you’re up to something and I’m going to find out what it is.”
Yanking myself free, I resisted the urge to rub my arm. What did she think I was up to? And why did she even care? “Believe what you want,” I said coolly. “But I don’t answer to you. You’d do well to remember that.”
Not waiting for a response, I marched off down the hall, spine straight, determined not to let Kelly see how rattled I was. I could feel her gaze boring into my back as I walked away from her.
“Hold it right there,” Kelly called after me. I ignored her and continued to walk towards my room. “I know what you’re doing, Freya. You got yourself shot on purpose, didn’t you? As a pathetic ploy to get Rafe’s attention and sympathy.”
I froze midstep, a chill running down my spine at her outrageous accusation. Slowly, I turned to face her, my voice shaking with barely suppressed rage. “How dare you?? How dare you accuse me of something so twisted! I could have died, Kelly. I’m not that desperate or manipulative.”
She scoffed, flipping her glossy hair over her shoulder. “Oh please. We both know you’ve been panting after Rafe like a bitch in heat. Batting your eyelashes, following him around. It’s disgusting. You’re not good enough for him and you know it.”
Her words cut deep, preying on my own insecurities and fears. But I refused to let her see how much she got to me. Squaring my shoulders, I stared her down coldly. “Think what you want about me. But stay out of my business. This is your last warning – leave me alone or I’ll report your harassment to the king himself.”
Kelly’s lips curled into a wicked smirk. “Go ahead. Report me. But if you do… I’ll tell everyone your dirty little secret. That you’re not a true werewolf at all. That you’ve been faking it this whole time.”
The blood drained from my face as terror seized my heart. It was something I knew she could do. For her to have told Jessica, it would not be long before the entire kingdom found out. Dear goddess, If she exposed me, I’d be ruined – Sent out of the palace in disgrace, and I knew my parents would be waiting to have their hands on me again.
“You’re bluffing,” I whispered, voice quivering. “You cannot threaten me. The competition does not allow that.”
“Care to bet your future on that? Just try me. All it takes is one word from me and you’re finished here.” Her eyes glinted with cruel triumph, knowing she had me cornered.
My mind reeled, scrambling for a way out, but I was well and truly trapped. Kelly held all the power and she would wield it without mercy to crush me. Angry tears stung my eyes as fury knotted my stomach.
I didn’t understand how she could be so evil, So consumed by jealousy and spite that she’d ruin my life, expose my deepest shame without a shred of remorse. I’d never done anything to her except exist. In that moment, I hated her. Hated her with every fiber of my being.
But I was powerless against her threats. Choking back a sob, I averted my gaze, shoulders slumping in defeat. “You win, Kelly,” I said hoarsely. “I’ll keep quiet. Just… just please don’t tell anyone. Please.”
“Oh, I’ll keep your dirty little secret… for now,” Kelly purred, relishing her victory. “As long as you remember your place and stay out of my way. Rafe is mine, understand? I won’t let a fake werewolf like you steal him from me.”
That was enough. I couldn’t take Kelly’s bullying anymore. White-hot rage seared through me, burning away my fear. I whipped my head up to glare at her.
“You’re delusional if you think Rafe would ever want a vicious, petty witch like you,” I spat. “He sees right through your act. You’ll never have him, and that’s what’s really eating you up inside. That’s why you’ll always be jealous of me.”
She stared at me silently, her mouth opened in shock. Good.
****