CHAPTER 84
1406 Words
Elise sat at her desk, staring at the half-filled ledger in front of her. Her hand trembled every time she tried to write.
The scratch of her quill sounded too loud, too sharp.
Every noise in the packhouse seemed to crawl under her skin, every boots on the stairs, laughter in the hall, the bark of orders in the courtyard.
All of it reminded her that she was surrounded, watched, judged.
She dropped the quill and pressed her palms against her face. Her body was exhausted, but her mind wouldn’t stop replaying Luka’s words. You wanted it to be him so badly, you didn’t notice.
Her stomach twisted. She hated herself for not pushing Luka away immediately. She hated him for exploiting her weakness. She hated the silence that kept her chained.
But worst of all—she hated how Kai was beginning to notice.
By mid-morning, Elise left her room. She knew if she stayed hidden, people would start asking questions. She walked down the hall slowly, shoulders tense, trying to blend in with the flow of pack life.
When she entered the main hall, the sound of voices hit her. A group of women sat near the long table, peeling vegetables, talking in hushed tones that broke into giggles. At the far side, Becky was in the middle of the group, her laughter loud and bright.
The moment Elise walked in, the room seemed to shift. Conversations dropped to whispers. Eyes followed her.
“Elise,” Becky called, smiling warmly. Her tone carried that fake sweetness Elise had learned to dread. “You look pale again. Are you sure you’re alright?”
Elise forced her voice steady. “I’m fine.”
Becky tilted her head. “You should rest more. You’ve been acting so strange lately. People might think something’s… wrong.”
The words were casual, but Elise caught the glint in her eyes. Becky was pressing her, cornering her.
Before Elise could answer, the door opened and Kai walked in with two captains. His presence filled the room immediately—steady, commanding, impossible to ignore.
Becky’s smile widened. “Alpha,” she said, stepping toward him with a graceful bow. “Can I speak with you? Just a moment.”
Kai glanced at her, then at Elise, then back again. Finally, he nodded.
Elise’s heart started pounding. Something was wrong.
Becky led Kai a few steps away, lowering her voice. But Elise was close enough to hear.
“It’s about Elise,” Becky said.
Elise froze.
Kai frowned. “What about her?”
Becky hesitated, glancing toward Elise as if she felt guilty for even speaking. “I don’t want to… meddle. But I think you should know. Last night, I saw her. With Luka.”
The air left Elise’s lungs.
Kai’s entire body stiffened. “What do you mean, with Luka?”
Becky bit her lip. Her voice trembled just enough to look sincere. “I shouldn’t even say this, but… it looked like more than talking. She kissed him, Kai. I didn’t want to believe it, but I saw it.”
Elise’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Kai turned slowly, his eyes locking onto hers. They burned—not with rage yet, but with something heavier. Hurt. Betrayal.
Elise shook her head quickly. “No—it’s not like that—”
And then Luka walked in. The timing was too perfect. He looked casual, relaxed, like he hadn’t just stepped into the middle of an ambush he had planned.
“Talking about me?” Luka asked lightly.
Kai’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Is it true?”
Luka raised his brows, smirking. “Depends on what you heard.”
“Did you touch her?”
Luka’s smirk widened. “She kissed back.”
Gasps filled the hall. A few women covered their mouths. Whispers rippled through the room.
Elise’s face burned hot, tears rising before she could stop them. “That’s not true! He tricked me—”
Kai’s jaw tightened. His fists clenched at his sides. “Tricked you? Or did you let him?”
“No,” Elise cried. Her voice broke. “Kai, I thought—it was dark—I thought it was you—”
Becky gasped loudly, hand over her chest. Her eyes were wide with fake horror. “Elise… how could you?” Her voice shook with just enough pity to sound convincing.
“It’s not what you think!” Elise shouted, desperate. “I didn’t want it!”
But Kai’s face had gone blank. His eyes, the ones that always softened for her, were cold now.
When she reached toward him, he stepped back. The rejection sliced deeper than any blade.
“Don’t,” he said. Just one word, sharp and final.
Her hand dropped.
The silence in the hall was deafening. Everyone was staring—some with shock, some with judgment, some with satisfaction. Elise could barely breathe.
Kai looked at her one last time, unreadable, before turning and walking away. The sound of his boots echoed like thunder in her ears.
Luka leaned lazily against the doorframe, his smirk barely hidden. He didn’t have to say anything. His victory was clear.
Elise stood frozen in the middle of the room, her chest heaving, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Becky approached slowly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I didn’t want to tell him,” she whispered loudly enough for the room to hear. “But he deserved to know. I’m sorry, Elise.”
Elise shoved her hand away. “You liar.” Her voice shook, but her anger broke through the humiliation. “You wanted this.”
For a brief second, Becky’s mask slipped. Her lips twitched into the faintest smile before she covered it with a look of wounded innocence. “I only wanted to protect him,” she said sweetly.
Elise’s hands trembled. She wanted to scream, to tear Becky apart in front of everyone. But she couldn’t. The damage was done. Kai was gone.
And everyone had seen.
The gossip spread like wildfire. By the time Elise made it back to her room, whispers followed her through every hallway.
“She kissed Luka.”
“With her? The Alpha’s mate?”
“She looked guilty.”
“Maybe she wanted it.”
The words pierced her from every side.
She slammed her door shut and slid to the floor, curling against the bed. Her sobs tore out of her chest until her throat burned raw.
She wanted to run after Kai, to make him listen, but what would she even say? That she had been so broken and desperate that she didn’t know the difference between him and Luka? That she wanted him so badly she fell into Luka’s trap?
He would never forgive that.
Her tears soaked the fabric of her dress. “I didn’t want this,” she whispered over and over. “I didn’t want this.”
Across the hall, in another room, Becky and Luka stood together.
Becky closed the door behind them, her sweet smile gone. “Perfect,” she said.
Luka chuckled, tossing an apple from hand to hand. “Told you it would work. Kai looked ready to rip her apart.”
“He won’t trust her now,” Becky said, satisfaction in her voice. “That’s the first c***k. Once doubt sets in, it only grows.”
“She’s breaking already,” Luka added. “And the best part? She still thinks it’s her fault.”
Becky laughed softly. “Pathetic, isn’t she? Always blaming herself. It makes our job too easy.”
“Don’t get cocky,” Luka warned, though his grin matched hers. “Kai’s not stupid. If she ever tells him the full truth, he might start asking questions.”
Becky’s eyes narrowed. “She won’t. Shame will keep her silent. And even if she tries—who will believe her now? She’s the girl who kissed Luka.”
Luka smirked. “And the Alpha’s already doubting her.”
Becky leaned against the wall, her face hardening. “Good. The deeper the wedge between them, the easier it will be for us to finish this.”
They exchanged a look—an understanding that the game had only just begun.
And in her room, Elise lay curled up, sobbing into her pillow, completely unaware of how carefully her downfall was being crafted.
- Writer
