Alison’s POV
The whispers had become a chorus in my head, even though I couldn’t hear the exact words most of the times. Every step I took outside my room felt like walking into a raging storm, invisible but overwhelming. I’d spent hours caged in my own misery, avoiding the pack, avoiding Xander like. He had requested, he didn’t make any attempt to find me. But today, I couldn’t take it anymore. The walls of my room had started closing in, suffocating me with memories of that horrible night.
I threw on a pair of jeans and a hooded sweater, something casual and nothing special, just enough to pass by unnoticed. Or so I hoped. As I stepped out into the hallway, the air shifted. The faint buzz of conversation among the staff immediately quieted, replaced by awkward greetings and sidelong glances. It felt almost like when I had first arrived here, Their eyes followed me like shadows, heavy with judgment. My stomach churned, but I kept walking, refusing to let them see how much it affected me.
When I reached the kitchen, the scent of freshly baked bread and simmering soup hit me, a momentary comfort. I paused at the doorway, hoping to ground myself. The staff inside were laughing, chatting, their voices a lively hum of normalcy like I remember. But the second I stepped in, they glanced back seeing me, the room fell silent.
“Morning,” I said softly, forcing a small smile.
The head chef glanced at me briefly greeting awkwardly before returning to chopping vegetables. No one else acknowledged my presence. The warmth of the kitchen turned icy, and my cheeks burned with humiliation.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” I tried again, my voice wavering.
Still, no response. Just the clatter of utensils and the occasional side-eye followed by awkward hums. My throat tightened, and I felt the familiar sting of tears threatening to spill. I backed out of the room, muttering an apology no one seemed to care about.
The garden. That was where I needed to be. Before I could decide my legs moved.
The crisp autumn air greeted me as I stepped outside, wrapping around me like a cold embrace. The garden had always been my sanctuary from the first day I set foot into this castle, a place where I could escape the noise, the expectations, and the judgment. But even here, I felt exposed now. The laughter and whispers from the castle seemed to follow me, echoing in my mind.
I found a bench tucked away beneath an old oak tree and sank onto it, burying my face in my hands. Why was this happening? How had everything gone so wrong?
“I was wondering when you’d finally come out of your shell,” a voice broke through my thoughts.
Startled, I looked up to see Beta Luke standing a few feets away, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Luke,” I whispered, attempting a smile but failing miserably.
He walked over and sat beside me, his presence calm and steady, like a lighthouse in a storm. “You’ve been hiding,” he said simply, his tone free of accusation.
I shrugged, my hands twisting nervously in my lap. “What else was I supposed to do? No one wants me here. I can feel it.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. Finally, I let out a shaky breath.
“I didn’t do it,” I said, my voice breaking. “I don’t even know how he ended up in my room, let alone in my bed. But no one believes me. Not even Xander.”
Luke’s gaze softened. “I believe you.”
The words hit me like a lightning bolt. I turned to him, my eyes wide with disbelief. “You… do?”
He nodded, leaning back against the bench. “I’ve been watching you, Miss Alison. You’ve worked too hard to gain the pack’s approval. You wouldn’t throw all of that away on some random fling. It doesn’t make sense.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. “Thank you,” I choked out. “Thank you for saying that.”
Before I could say more, a slow, mocking clap interrupted us. I froze, my stomach dropping as the familiar scent of roses and venom filled the air.
“Well, isn’t this touching?”
I turned to see Caitlyn strolling toward us, her every step calculated, her lips curved into a smug smile. She stopped behind the bench, placing a perfectly manicured hand on the backrest.
“First, the Alpha rejects you,” she said, her voice dripping with faux sympathy. “And now you’ve moved on to his Beta? That was quick, even for you, Alison.”
Her words cut deep, sharper than any blade. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. The humiliation was too much.
Caitlyn leaned closer, her perfume overpowering. “Don’t worry,” she whispered, her tone conspiratorial. “I’ll make sure Xander finds comfort during this… difficult time. Someone has to, after all.”
She straightened, her smile widening. “You two make such a cute pair, though. Really. Almost like you belong together. Anyone was a fit for you Alison, not of course my Xander”
Her laughter rang out as she walked away, leaving a trail of icy malice in her wake. I stared after her, my body trembling with anger and helplessness.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Luke said, his voice firm.
“She’s right,” I muttered, tears streaming down my face. “I’m nothing. I don’t belong here. I’ll never be good enough.”
Luke grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Stop it. That’s exactly what she wants you to think. You can’t let her win.”
“How?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “How am I supposed to fight back when everyone already thinks the worst of me?”
Luke’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “By finding the truth. Thus whole thing reeks of a set up, Alison. And I think we both know who.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine. “Caitlyn?”
“Think about it,” he said. “How did the mailman even get inside the castle without being stopped? His job ends at the gate. Someone must have let him in.”
As his words sank in, a memory rose to the surface, a memory of Caitlyn’s smirk that night, the way her eyes had lingered on my wine glass. I’d dismissed it as nothing at the time, but now…
“She did this,” I whispered, the realization hitting me like a freight train. “She drugged me. She set the whole thing up.”
Luke nodded. “Then you know what you have to do. Prove it. Show everyone the truth before the ceremony next month.”
I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. Could I do it? Could I fight back against someone as cunning, manipulative and ruthless as Caitlyn?
“You’re stronger than you think, Alison,” Luke said, his voice steady and reassuring. “Don’t let her destroy you.”
For the first time in days, a flicker of hope sparked within me. I wiped my tears, nodding slowly.
“Thank you, Luke,” I said, my voice firmer now. “I won’t let her win.”
He stood, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Stay strong. You’ve got this.”
As he walked away, I took a deep breath, the weight on my chest lifting ever so slightly. Caitlyn thought she’d broken me, but she was wrong.
This wasn’t over.
With renewed determination, I stood and headed back toward the castle. I didn’t know how yet, but I was going to find out the truth. And when I did, Caitlyn would regret underestimating me.