Chapter 6 SIX

SERAYA POV

“Where is that silly mutt?!”

I jumped violently as Mistress Yhlda’s furious voice echoed through the kitchen. 

The door slammed open with a loud bang, and she stormed in like a winter gale.

I quickly let go of the mop, spinning around. Our eyes met. My stomach dropped and a feeling of dread surged through me.

She was here far too early — the sky outside was still pale with dawn. Nothing good ever came from her appearing at this hour.

I dropped my gaze to my bare feet, fingers nervously twisting the loose thread on my worn dress. My heart hammered against my ribs while I waited for her to speak.

“How many of you were on laundry duty yesterday?” she snarled.

My head snapped up. A cold wave of fear washed over me.

None of us answered. The other three Omegas stood frozen beside me, eyes wide with fear, trembling violently.

Mistress Yhlda’s expression darkened dangerously. She took several steps into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the stone floor.

“I asked a question, didn’t I?” she barked.

“Y-yes, Mistress,” we all stammered.

“Then why is no one speaking?” Her gaze zeroed in on me like a predator. “Would you rather I punish all of you until the truth comes out?”

The girl beside me, Lila, stumbled forward, twisting her hands anxiously.

“I… I and Mary were assigned laundry yesterday,” she stuttered.

Mary quickly stepped forward as well. “Yes, but we finished before the bonding ceremony began. Seraya took over the rest of the shift.”

All eyes turned to me. My breath caught in my throat.

Shit. I was done for!

“Yes,” I whispered.

Mistress Yhlda’s stare grew sharper. “And at what point did the Luna’s outfit come into your hands?”

“I handed it to Seraya after we finished our part,” Mary explained quickly. “Juliet was with me.”

Juliet nodded stiffly. “Yes, ma’am. That’s true.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Mistress Yhlda stalked toward me. Before I could react, her hand flew across my face with a vicious slap.

Crack.

My head whipped to the side. An intense ringing exploded in my ear. Fire bloomed across my cheek. Tears instantly burned in my eyes, but I forced them back, refusing to let them fall.

I lifted a trembling hand to my stinging cheek, staring at her in shock.

“How dare you steal from the Luna?!” she screamed, face twisting with rage.

“What?” I breathed, my eyes widening in astonishment.

I had never stolen anything in my life, least of all from the Luna.

“I asked you a question!” Mistress Yhlda thundered. “Answer me this instant!” Spittle flew from her mouth and landed on my face.

“I… I didn’t do it,” I stammered.

“You didn’t?” she snarled, leaning closer. 

“Then tell me, did the pearl dress gifted to the Luna by the Alpha mysteriously disappear on its own?!”

“I swear, I didn’t,” I whispered desperately, looking around for someone to back me up.

The other omegas looked away from me as soon as our eyes met.

Mistress Yhlda grabbed my arm in a bruising grip and dragged me out of the kitchen. My pulse thundered in my ears as I stumbled after her, bare feet slapping against the cold stone floors. I had no idea where she was taking me.

Until we stopped in the middle of Ashhall’s grand hall.

All the Omegas working nearby froze. Those who had followed us from the kitchen gathered closer, hungry for gossip. Dozens of eyes turned toward me.

Mistress Yhlda shoved me hard. I fell to my knees, the rough stone scraping my skin. Sharp pain flared as blood welled from a fresh cut.

She signaled to two guards standing near the entrance. “Search her room! Turn everything over and bring me whatever you find.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied, hurrying off.

I remained on the floor, heart beating fast. I was certain they would find nothing. I had cleaned my room thoroughly yesterday. All I owned was a small wooden box containing three worn dresses. Nothing more.

Still, I knew the truth wouldn’t matter.

I had been on laundry duty. That alone was enough for Mistress Yhlda to punish me.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. Mistress Yhlda stood behind me like a shadow of judgment. Hundreds of eyes fixed on us, while I prayed silently to the goddess for a good outcome.

Finally, the guards returned. One carried my small wooden box.

My brows furrowed in confusion.

The guard dropped the box in front of me and kicked it open with his boot. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the contents.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. “How…?”

“You stole the Luna’s dress,” Mistress Yhlda growled. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me upright.

“I didn’t!” I cried, clawing desperately at her wrist. “I swear I didn’t!”

“You stupid little thief!” she spat. “Were you planning to wear it? Hoping to seduce Alpha Rhazien like the worthless whore you are?!”

“I am not a thief,” I whimpered, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Tell that to the Alpha!” Mistress Yhlda hissed.

She dragged me by my hair out of the hall, my scalp burning with every step. A crowd of Omegas followed behind us, whispering excitedly.

“Please… I didn’t do it,” I begged.

Mistress Yhlda let out a harsh, sarcastic laugh. “Oh? Then I suppose the Luna stole her own dress and kindly placed it in your box?”

Her grip tightened painfully. More tears spilled down my face as fire spread across my scalp.

“Silence!” she ordered. “Or I’ll make you regret the day your foolish, whorish mother brought you into this world.”

I clamped my jaw shut, swallowing my sobs as best I could.

We reached the courtyard. Mistress Yhlda stopped abruptly and shoved me forward. I crashed to the ground. Before I could push myself up, two guards seized me. Cold silver chains snapped around my wrists and ankles.

The metal burned instantly against my skin, searing into my flesh like acid. A strangled cry escaped my lips as the silver weakened me, draining what little strength I had left.

I lay there on the cold stones, chained and humiliated, while the entire courtyard watched.

Celestara stepped into the courtyard with Alpha Rhazien at her side.

His gaze hardened the moment it landed on me.

For a brief second, something flickered across his face — then he looked away, wrinkling his nose in clear disgust.

My cheeks burned with humiliation.

Mistress Yhlda stepped forward, the pearl dress draped delicately over her arm. 

“Luna,” she said, offering a deep, respectful bow.

Celestara stared at the dress for a long moment before her eyes shifted to me. Her gaze was piercing, as though she could see straight through my soul.

For a heartbeat, I almost believed she knew everything.

Then her expression twisted — anger and hatred burning brightly in her eyes.

She sauntered toward me, stopping just inches away. I flinched as her hand rose. She paused, then continued anyway, tucking a stray lock of my hair behind my ear with false gentleness.

“Stealing is a criminal offense in Wolfsbane,” she murmured sweetly. “I’m certain you know the rules.”

I drew in a shaky breath and met her eyes. “I didn’t do it…”

Crack!

Her hand struck my face with brutal force. My head snapped to the side. I bit down on my lip hard, splitting it. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

Tears spilled down my cheeks uncontrollably.

Celestara’s beautiful face twisted with fury. “I hate liars!”

I wasn’t lying.

She spun on her heel to face Alpha Rhazien, who had been watching everything in silence.

“Won’t you say anything?!” she cried out, voice sharp with indignation. “She stole my most precious dress — the one you gifted me — and still has the nerve to make a fool of me in front of everyone!”

Alpha Rhazien’s eyes returned to me. Cold. Distant. Unreadable.

Please… I begged him silently. Spare me. At least for today. For the sake of our bond…

He raised his hand and signaled to the guards.

In a voice as cold as winter frost, he declared:

“Strip her. Flog her twenty times with the double silver whip. Then leave her chained here until sundown tomorrow.”

My heart shattered.