Chapter 4 Chapter Four

LILA'S POV 

“I would rather not.” I tried to act like I was strong even when I wasn't and my heart was still calling out for him. 

“Are you sure, my beautiful Lila?” Caelum teased and I almost fell back into the feeling of us together. 

“Don't call her that.”, Seraphine said, looking angry at the endearing term that Caelum had used. 

“Relax sweetheart. You know I think she's an ogre.” He walked towards her and wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss. 

They kept that on and she even began to moan with his mouth on hers. “Get out. Both of you.”

They paused and turned to me, stared at each other and then burst out laughing.  “You did not just tell us what to do.” 

My chest tightened. My neck still ached and my limbs felt heavy, but I forced myself to sit upright, tightening my fists so hard that I was sure I had left marks on my palms.

“Well, well,” Caelum said, his eyes taking over my weak self. “Look at you. Fragile little Lila. The mighty heiress was reduced to a hospital floor.”

Seraphine laughed. “I must say, this is even better than I imagined. Pathetic and helpless. Truly a sight to behold. Who would have thought that all those years where you held your head up high would be reduced to this?”

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, tried to force my hands to stop shaking. 

My voice came out soft, barely more than a whisper. “I… I need… money. To pay… the bills…”

Caelum tilted his head, looking like he was surprised by what I had just asked. I knew that I should hate them but I needed their help and I just couldn't do anything while I was still weak and barely had a dime to my name.

“Money? You actually think I’m going to help you? After what a fool you made of yourself?”

“You owe me.” I retorted and his face went dark.

“I owe you?” He stepped closer and closer till he stood directly in front of me. He then raised his foot and stepped down hard on my hand.

I let out a screeching sound from the pain as I grabbed onto his foot with my other hand to let me go but he didn't. He kept pressing down hard, smirking darkly at my pain. 

Seraphine stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with joy. “Honestly, Lila, watching you squirm is… delightful. Look at you, begging. Trembling.”

She placed her hand on her chest and spun around in delight. “It's such a glorious sight.” 

“Please…” My voice shook with every word.

He finally let go of my leg and stepped back but not before kicking me in the stomach. 

“Beg.” 

“What?” I forced the word out, already feeling myself losing consciousness.

“Maybe if you beg hard enough, I just might help you.” 

“I have no one else… I… I need it…”

“Hmm,” Caelum said, tapping his chin, his smirk widening.

“No.” 

His words struck my chest and I had already lost all hope but he spoke again. 

“The only fool who might help is Walter Fairmoon.”

I froze. Walter. 

Two years ago… the Alpha I had betrayed. The one I had left crippled after he tried to save me. The thought of him brought a cold ache to my chest, but I had no other choice.

I opened my mouth, voice barely audible. “Walter…?”

Caelum’s gaze sharpened. “Yes. Only he might consider helping. Everyone else? Forget it. You’re on your own, Lila.”

Seraphine leaned closer, her smile cruel. “Honestly, you must feel so small right now. All alone. Poor girl.”

I took a deep breath, trying to summon the courage I barely had to get myself to my feet. “I… I don’t care what you think. I won’t let you—”

Before I could finish, Seraphine’s hand shot out and struck my face, sending me crashing back against the floor. Pain flared through me, and my voice caught in my throat.

“You forget yourself,” she said, voice dripping with mockery. “You really think you can lecture us? Stand up to us?”

I gritted my teeth, ignoring the sting and the trembling in my limbs. “The doctor… he’ll hear—”

They both laughed, a sound that made my stomach twist. Caelum’s smirk widened, and Seraphine’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Doctor? Oh, you must have forgotten who has influence here,” Caelum said coldly. 

“The one person who could intervene already knows better than to step against us. And you, little Lila, are far too weak to matter.”

Seraphine brought out her phone and took a photo of my state, smiling at it with happiness and putting the phone back in her bag before walking out of the room. 

“Don't you ever think to contact me again,” Caelum warned and walked right after her.

I just lay there, hopeless again.

I saw my phone in the distance and crawled towards it, scrolling through whoever I could reach. 

Walter was not an option. I couldn't call him. He hated me and that I was sure of. He would most likely be worse than Caelum and Seraphine. He might even have me killed. 

I shivered at the thought. Mirabel! My eyes lit up with joy as I remembered my best friend.  I called her immediately but her phone kept ringing. She didn't pick up the call.

Had she abandoned me too?  My heart sank but I chose to try one more time. 

I dialled her number again and someone picked up the phone but it was clear they were in a hurry. 

“Can you call back later, Miss Mirabel is at a conference right now and she doesn't need any distractions. 

The person hung up before I could even get a word out and I was left with only one option. 

Walter.  Was it the best idea? 

I had no other choice. With shaky hands I dialled his number and raised the phone to my ear, hearing it ring. 

My heart raced as time went by and finally the line clicked and I heard his deep, velvety voice. 

“Who is this?”