Chapter 8: Cruel Realities
1688 Words
AFTER THE EMBARRASSMENT
The tension in the training grounds had barely dissipated when Felipe stormed back into his cabin, his mind racing with anger and frustration. The memory of Paris humiliating Margie in front of the entire pack played on repeat, stoking the fire in his chest. He didn’t care about the consequences anymore—Paris had crossed a line.
Not long after, the door slammed open, and Paris walked in, her eyes red and her body shaking with rage. Her wolf simmered just below the surface, clawing for control.
“What was that, Felipe?” she demanded, her voice trembling. “You’re defending her now? After everything we’ve been through?”
Felipe turned, his eyes cold and unyielding. “Yes, I am. And you need to listen carefully, Paris, because this is your final warning.”
Paris faltered at his tone, her anger momentarily giving way to fear. “Final warning? I’m your mate, Felipe. Your mate. How could you even say that to me?”
“Being my mate doesn’t give you the right to treat someone like that,” Felipe snapped, his voice like thunder. “Margie has done nothing to you, and yet you humiliate her in front of everyone? Why? Because you’re jealous?”
Paris clenched her fists, her wolf snarling in her chest. “She’s trying to take you from me! I see the way you look at her, the way you protect her. How am I supposed to feel, Felipe? I’m your mate, and I love you more than anything!”
Felipe’s expression softened for a brief moment before hardening again. “Then act like it, Paris. Love isn’t just about claiming someone; it’s about respect. And right now, you’re not showing me or her any of that.”
Paris took a step closer, her voice breaking. “I can’t lose you, Felipe. You’re my world. My wolf—she needs you. I need you.”
Felipe’s jaw tightened, his inner conflict evident. “Then stay away from Margie,” he said firmly. “This is the last time I’ll tell you. If you so much as look at her the wrong way again, I’ll do what I should’ve done a long time ago.”
Paris’ eyes widened, her wolf howling in despair. “You don’t mean that,” she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“I do,” Felipe said, his voice low and unwavering. “I will reject you, Paris. And we both know what that means.”
Paris’ knees buckled, and she sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. “You can’t... Felipe, please. I’ll do better. I’ll fix this. Just don’t leave me. Don’t leave us.”
Felipe’s gaze softened as he crouched down, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Paris, I don’t want to lose you. But this—whatever this is between you and Margie—it has to stop. She’s not your enemy. If you love me like you say you do, you’ll trust me. Can you do that?”
Paris nodded through her tears, clutching his hand like a lifeline. “I’ll try, Felipe. I promise I’ll try.”
Felipe sighed, his heart heavy. “Good. Because if this happens again, I won’t hesitate.”
As he stood and walked away, Paris remained on the floor, her tears soaking into the wooden boards. Her wolf growled weakly in protest, but she knew Felipe meant every word.
And as much as it hurt, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.
💥
The castle corridors were eerily quiet as Hazel wandered aimlessly, her footsteps echoing against the marble floors. Her heart felt heavy, frustration bubbling beneath her composed exterior. Xavier had stormed out of the room hours ago, leaving her with no explanation. She waited, her hope dwindling with every passing minute, until sleep claimed her in his empty bed.
Now, with the first light of dawn creeping through the windows, her patience had run thin. She had checked almost every corner of the castle: the war room, the training grounds, even his private study. Yet, there was no sign of him.
Her mind raced with questions. Why did he leave without saying anything? Where could he have gone? The unanswered questions gnawed at her, stirring a tempest of anger and insecurity.
As she rounded a corner, deep in thought, a maid carrying a bucket of water appeared suddenly from an adjacent hallway. Hazel barely had time to react before the maid tripped, the water splashing across Hazel’s pristine dress.
A sharp gasp escaped Hazel’s lips as the icy water seeped through the fabric. Her initial shock quickly morphed into fury.
“You incompetent fool!” she snapped, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. The maid immediately dropped to her knees, her head bowed low.
“I-I’m so sorry, Luna,” the maid stammered, trembling. “It was an accident—”
“An accident?” Hazel interrupted, her eyes blazing. “Do you have any idea who you just drenched? You clumsy i***t!”
The maid’s lip quivered, tears threatening to spill as she remained on her knees. “Please forgive me, Luna. I didn’t mean to—”
“Enough!” Hazel barked. She straightened her soaked dress, her anger escalating with every passing second. “Guards!”
Within moments, two castle guards appeared, their expressions neutral but attentive.
“Take her to the dungeons,” Hazel commanded coldly, her voice laced with venom.
The maid’s eyes widened in horror as she began to plead. “Please, Luna, have mercy! It was just water—I’ll do anything to make it right!”
Hazel sneered, her lip curling in disdain. “Maybe some time in the dungeons will teach you to be more careful. I don’t tolerate incompetence, especially not in my presence.”
The guards hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. One of them reached down, pulling the maid to her feet despite her protests.
“Luna, please!” the maid cried as she was dragged away, her voice fading into the distance.
Hazel adjusted her posture, her anger still simmering as she turned and made her way back toward Xavier’s quarters. Her encounter with the maid had done little to quell her growing frustration.
Where are you, Xavier? she thought bitterly, her fists clenched at her sides. You’d better have a good reason for abandoning me like this.
💥
THE NEXT MORNING
The morning sunlight streamed into the room, highlighting the disarray from the night before. Xavier’s eyes fluttered open, his senses overwhelmed by the scent of his mate. For a moment, his wolf purred in satisfaction, but then he realized where he was—and who was beside him.
Margie lay there, still asleep, her bare back exposed to him. The memories of the night before crashed down on him, igniting a mix of rage and regret. He shot up from the bed, yanking the sheets off them both.
“Get up!” he barked, his voice cold and cutting.
Margie stirred, her body stiff and sore. As her eyes opened, they landed on Xavier, his glare like ice. She pulled the sheets around herself, her heart sinking at the fury etched on his face.
“Xavier...” she began, her voice soft.
“Don’t,” he snapped, his tone venomous. “Don’t you dare say my name like that. What the hell did you think you were doing last night? Throwing yourself at me like some desperate fool?”
Margie flinched, his words slicing through her. “I didn’t throw myself at you,” she protested, her voice trembling.
“Then what would you call it?” he growled, his eyes narrowing. “You wanted this, didn’t you? To trap me? To make yourself more important than you are?”
Her chest tightened, tears threatening to spill, but she refused to let them fall. “I didn’t trap you, Xavier. You marked me.”
Xavier froze, his gaze darting to the mark on her neck. A surge of rage bubbled up inside him, but it wasn’t directed at her—it was at himself.
“You’re lying,” he hissed, taking a step closer. “You must have done something to make this happen.”
“I didn’t do anything!” Margie cried, standing her ground. “You marked me. That means something, doesn’t it?”
“Means something?” he repeated with a bitter laugh. “It means nothing. You mean nothing to me.”
The words felt like a dagger to her heart. Margie clutched the sheet tighter around her, her tears finally spilling over.
Xavier sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’re nothing but a weak, pathetic girl. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong with me.”
Margie took a shaky breath, her pain transforming into anger. “You’re the one who came here. You’re the one who claimed me. And you know what? This is my apartment. If you don’t like it, you can leave.”
Xavier’s jaw clenched, his wolf roaring in protest, but his pride wouldn’t let him back down. He stepped closer, towering over her. “Your apartment?” he spat. “Don’t forget who allowed you into this pack. If I wanted to, I could have you thrown out like the trash you are.”
Margie’s hands trembled, but she didn’t back away. “Then do it,” she whispered. “If that’s how little you think of me, then go ahead. But don’t think for a second that I’ll beg for anything from you.”
Her defiance only fueled his anger. He grabbed his clothes, hastily pulling them on before storming toward the door. “You’ll regret this,” he growled over his shoulder.
Margie waited until the door slammed shut before she let out a shaky breath, tears streaming down her face. She touched the mark on her neck, a bitter reminder of the bond she couldn’t escape.
“Why did it have to be him?” she whispered, sinking onto the floor as the weight of his rejection crushed her.
- Writer
