Six
Emira’s POV
My consciousness started slipping. Right before I blacked out, I heard the man speak into a phone.
“It’s done. Just like you asked. I expect the payment.”
“Good. Send her back.”
That voice….E
My heart stopped.
I knew who it was.
It was Luther.
He did all this… because of Diana?”
I stood frozen, my wolf whimpering inside me–weak, broken. Did I really deserve this? A hundred lashes… for what?”
I couldn’t take it anymore. The pain blurred everything. My body gave up, and darkness swallowed me whole.
Σ-
I woke up in a hospital bed, the sterile scent making my stomach turn. Voices buzzed nearby, nurses checking on the other patients.
“She’s so lucky that room 205,” one nurse said. “A caring, handsome mate like that? And she just had a scratch!”
“Right?” the other chuckled. “Everyone’s coming in to see her. Must be nice.“}
Then one of them glanced at me and lowered her voice. “Poor girl. She’s covered in wounds and no one even came. Isn’t that Beta Emira?“}
“Hush, she might hear you,” another one warned, and the door clicked shut behind them.\
I stared at the ceiling, hollow. Then reached for my phone and made a quick call.
A few hours later, a warrior from my mother’s pack showed up, handed me a paper bag, and left. It was food coming from my grandfather. He wanted to see me when I was better.
I said nothing. Just nodded.”
As soon as he left, I forced myself up. My body ached, but I ripped the IV out anyway and wrapped my wrist. I had to leave. I couldn’t stay in a place where people looked at me with pity. I’d seen that too many times. Heard too many whispers. I hated it.
I changed into clean clothes and stepped out. Each movement sent a sting down my spine, but I was healing. Slowly. Then I passed by her room. The one the nurses were fawning over. I stopped when I caught a familiar scent–or two. I peeked inside, and saw Luther.”
He was sitting by Diana’s bed, gently wiping her tears. His touch, soft. His expression, full of warmth.
“You’ll be better soon,” he whispered to her. “I’m here if you need me.”
Words he never said to me.
Not when I was the one bleeding in that hospital bed. Not when I took the punishment meant for her. Not when I needed his protection the most.
But Diana? She always came first.”
Even if it meant breaking me to keep her safe.
My chest tightened. It felt like something was squeezing my heart until I couldn’t breathe. I bit my lip to keep from crying. Why did it still hurt?!
I wanted to stop caring. I wanted to let go of these feelings, but no matter how hard I tried, it still haunted me. Over and over again.
I hated how pathetic I was.
I hated how I kept hoping, even expecting that someday, he’d see me. That he’d realize I
Maybe he did realize it. Maybe he just didn’t care.”
Because he loved Diana. His precious Diana.
Three days passed, I still wasn’t fully healed when Luther came back.
I was reaching for a glass of water to take my medicine when our eyes met.
Cold.
his mate.
8:12 AM Cola.
No warmth. No concern. Just… blame.\
As if I was the villain in this whole mess.
He handed me an envelope. I didn’t need to open it. The pink hue and the symbol said it all was my father’s pack.
Diana’s birthday celebration.
“My father wants me there?” I asked, not bothering to take it from his hand.
“Your sister wants you there,” he replied, avoiding my eyes. “After everything, she still thinks of you.”
She thinks of me?”
I couldn’t forget what he did. My wolf was still broken, hanging on by a thread. And his rejection… it was killing us both.
I almost laughed, but bit it back. Instead, I took the invitation.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’ll be there. Not for her. For you. Because that’s what you want, right?”
As I walked past him, his voice stopped me.”
“Beta Emira,” he said. “Why do you hate your sister so much? She’s the sweetest soul. She loves you. Cares for you.” This time, I didn’t hold it in.
laughed. Bitter. Hollow. Almost unrecognizable from my own mouth.
