Ninety seven
*Third Pov*
Kelly would not give up without a fight. Her mind raced with new schemes to rid herself of her wretched stepsister and have Alpha Rafe all to herself. In her room, she paced back and forth, muttering to herself in frustration.
“Enough, Freya!” She yelled at the empty space around her. “You’ve had your fun with King Rafe, now it’s my turn. But as long as you stand in my way, I will do whatever it takes to get rid of you. Rafe is mine, and I won’t let anyone, especially you, stand in the way of our love.” The intensity in her voice grew with each word spoken. Kelly was determined to have what she wanted, no matter the consequences.
With a new sense of determination, Kelly strode out of her chambers, her footsteps echoing through the palace halls. She made her way to the kitchen, where she knew her co-conspirator would be waiting.
As she entered the kitchen, Kelly spotted the maid lurking in the shadows. The maid, her face obscured by a hood, bowed her head in deference.
“My lady,” the maid murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kelly approached the maid, her eyes glinting with malice. “Is everything prepared?”
The maid nodded, though her hesitation was palpable. “Yes, but… are you certain this is wise? If we’re discovered-”
“We won’t be,” Kelly snapped, cutting her off. “And even if we were, I’d ensure that you take the fall. Remember, you’re just as much a part of this as I am.”
The maid’s shoulders slumped, resignation weighing heavy upon her. “I understand, my lady.”
Kelly reached into the folds of her gown and retrieved a small vial filled with a dark, viscous liquid. She pressed it into the maid’s trembling hand.
“Pour this into Freya’s wine tonight at dinner,” Kelly instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Every last drop, do you understand?”
The maid’s fingers closed around the vial, and she nodded, though her eyes remained downcast.
“And if you fail me,” Kelly added, her voice as sweet as honey, but laced with venom, “I’ll ensure that your family suffers the consequences. Your precious little sister… what’s her name again?”
The maid’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with fear. “Please, my lady, leave her out of this. I’ll do as you ask, I swear it.”
Kelly smiled, a cruel twist of her lips. “Good. See that you do.”
With that, Kelly turned on her heel and swept out of the kitchen, leaving the maid to stare at the vial in her hand, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
As Kelly made her way back to her chambers, a sense of triumph swelled within her. Soon, very soon, Freya would be nothing more than a memory, and Kelly would at last take her rightful place as the Queen of the Crimson kingdom.
“Enjoy your last meal, dear sister,” Kelly whispered, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “For it shall be your last.”
But wait, there was someone else that coveted the throne as much as Kelly did. A heavy weight settled in Kelly’s stomach as she walked back into her opulent chambers. The thought of Jessica Gabriel, with her sharp wit and cunning ways, vying for the throne just as fiercely as Kelly was enough to make her want to groan out loud. She had tried to befriend Jessica, hoping to learn her weaknesses and use them to her advantage, but the woman was a mystery. Her every move calculated and guarded, a powerful force to be reckoned with. But Kelly knew she couldn’t let this deter her. She needed to find a way to remove Jessica from the equation, to secure her own rightful place as Rafe’s queen.
As she lay on her luxurious bed, Kelly made a silent vow to herself. No matter the cost or sacrifice it may take, she would come out victorious in this game of thrones. She would destroy her stepsister and outmaneuver Jessica so that she could claim what was rightfully hers. The flickering candlelight danced across the ornate cottons hanging on the walls, casting shadows that seemed to mimic Kelly’s determined thoughts. She would do whatever it takes to wear the crown and sit upon the throne next to Rafe as his Luna, ruling the Crimson kingdom with pride and grace.
*Rafe*
My heart was heavy with the weight of unresolved questions. Who had tried to poison Freya, and why? I had been keeping a close eye on all the ladies at court, hoping for any leads, but so far I had only come up empty-handed. Jessica’s jealousy towards Freya and her desire for my attention were the only suspects I could consider, but they felt too obvious and petty.
I tried to push away my nerves, but it was impossible. The thought that someone may still want to harm Freya made me shiver in fear. They had already attempted once, and failed. Who knew what other dangerous schemes they may be planning? My mind raced with worry and frustration as I struggled to come up with any possible leads or suspects.
Suddenly, I heard my Gamma’s voice bringing me back to reality. “Are you listening to me Alpha?” he asked impatiently.
With great effort, I tore my thoughts away from the ongoing investigation and refocused on my Gamma’s words. “Um… sorry, what were you saying?” I replied, trying to hide my distraction.
Rafael’s eyes narrowed in annoyance before answering, “The party tonight. Who are you choosing to accompany you?”
I gave him a questioning look, wondering why he needed to ask when he already knew who I would choose. “You know who I’m going with, why do you ask?”
Rafael let out an exasperated sigh before continuing, “You’re not pleasing the pack elders and the council members by constantly choosing one girl. What about Jessica or Aurora? The people are watching, Alpha. You can’t keep favoring Freya just because you’re… infatuated with her.”
“In love with her,” I corrected firmly, feeling my anger rise at his disrespectful tone towards Freya. Rafael may not approve of her as a potential mate for me, but he would have to learn to accept her as the future Luna.
“Right.. I know Lady Freya is special to you, but you have to make an exception once in a while. You need to take another candidate to the party with you, this would show that you still appreciate each and every one of them for being there.”
“But–”
“Rafe!” He cut in sharply. “As your Gamma, it is my duty to put you on the right path. You are the Alpha king and you have certain responsibilities that you simply cannot ignore. Listen to me just this once. Please! Will you?”
I gazed at Rafael, my mind racing with confusion. Why was he so insistent on me being with someone else? My heart belonged to Freya and no one else. I had no desire to prove myself to the council or other royals as the best Alpha king; all I wanted was to be by Freya’s side.
Rafael’s eyes searched mine, waiting for a response. We locked gazes in a tense moment that seemed to stretch on forever.
After a long pause, I finally spoke up. “Fine,” I forced out through clenched teeth. “I’ll go along with whoever you and the pack elders choose for me. Are you happy now?”
A tight smile spread across Rafael’s face. “Thank you, Alpha,” he replied gratefully.
As I plastered a fake smile on my face, I couldn’t help but worry about how Freya would react to not being able to accompany me to the party. Would she understand my reasons? Would she hate me for it? Would I even be able to face her?
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