Chapter 3: His Cruel Plan
1220 Words
CAMELLIA'S POV
"No." The word barely sounded like my own voice.
I snatched the envelope from Mother’s trembling hands.
My own hands shook as I tore the parchment free, desperate to see the words for myself—desperate for some impossible miracle in which my name wasn’t there, in which Mother had simply misread it.
But there it was.
Camellia Everleigh. The very first name on the list of five, written in bold, unmistakable ink.
Selected as a tribute to be offered to the twelve ruling Alphas of the kingdom. To be hunted. Claimed. Passed between them until dawn broke and the Rite finally ended.
My vision blurred at the edges. I felt sick.
Mother's sob shattered the silence. She clung to Father, her shoulders trembling. "What are we going to do?" she cried, her voice breaking. "Our Cammi... she's not like the others. Those Alphas won't be gentle. They'll tear her apart."
The anguish in her voice made my chest ache.
Father wrapped his arms around her, but even he looked hollowed out, as though someone had drained the strength from him.
The parchment crumpled in my fist as my grip tightened. Cold dread coiled in my stomach, but alongside the fear, something hotter began to rise.
Anger.
Not just for myself, but for what this was doing to my parents. The helplessness in Mother's tears. The grief in Father's eyes.
My gaze dropped to the crumpled parchment. Then I remembered something.
Alpha Beron had mentioned that Theo was organizing the Rite of Offering this year. I lifted my head and looked at my parents.
"I need to go," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "I need to talk to someone."
Father immediately shook his head. "It's getting late, sweetheart."
But I was already stepping away, already turning toward the road. I didn't wait for permission.
I walked fast. Then faster. Soon, I was practically running, the lights of the market blurring past as I headed for the one place I knew he would be at this hour.
The tavern.
I would find Theo. And I would make him take my name off that list. One way or another.
I reached the tavern in no time, my legs carrying me faster than my thoughts could keep up.
The place was already packed. Bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder, laughter and drunken shouts spilling into the street.
Wolves filled every corner—broad, towering, and loud. I slipped between them unnoticed, a small shadow weaving through a forest of muscle and swagger. The sharp scent of sweat, ale, and spirits assaulted my nose.
I kept my head down as I pushed through the crowd.
I knew exactly where Theo would be.
He always chose the same hidden corner, tucked behind a pillar and half-shielded by a massive indoor fern. Even before I reached it, I could hear his voice rising above the others—laughing, confident, utterly at ease.
Then I heard my name.
I froze behind the plant, my breath catching in my throat.
"I still can't believe you put Cammi's name on the list," Hugh said, disbelief coloring his voice. "I thought you liked her. Why throw her to the wolves?"
A round of cruel laughter followed. It tightened something in my chest.
Another voice chimed in. "A runt like her? She'll break easy."
I should have walked away. Instead, I stood there, rooted to the spot. Some foolish, pathetic part of me still hoped Theo would defend me.
But when he spoke, he shattered what little remained of that hope.
"That's the plan." His tone was casual. Careless.
“I want her ruined,” he said. “She’s always so damn virtuous, so self-righteous. Maybe then she’ll finally climb down from that high horse of hers.”
The blood drained from my face.
Someone let out a low whistle. "Damn, Theo."
Hugh barked out a laugh. "Wait." Amusement laced his voice. "You mean you still haven't f****d her yet?"
More laughter erupted around the table. Then Hugh added, "What happened? Losing your touch?"
“Shut up,” Theo snapped, though there was still a trace of amusement in his voice. “I know Cammi. After the Rite, she’ll be devastated. And I’ll be the only one left to pick up the pieces.”
A few of the men chuckled.
I peeked through the leaves of the fern. Theo took a long swig from his bottle before continuing. "She'll be vulnerable. Dependent. Once she's leaning on me, the rest won't be difficult."
Theo lounged back in his chair, completely at ease. "I'll convince her not to go to the capital," he said. "Getting her to give herself to me won't be hard."
My vision blurred. I pressed a hand over my mouth to keep the sob from escaping.
Lucy's voice sliced through the laughter, dripping with disdain. "You're engaged to a she-wolf from one of the most powerful families in the kingdom. Why are you so obsessed with a runt?"
Theo chuckled. "Maybe she's a runt. But have you looked at her?"
The men exchanged knowing grins.
"Cammi has the face and body to make every she-wolf in Crimson Ridge jealous."
Lucy scoffed. Even from where I stood, I could see her rolling her eyes so hard I was surprised they didn't get stuck.
Hugh let out a slow breath. "What if it backfires?" he asked. "What if one of the Alphas takes her? Makes her a mate or a consort?"
Theo let out a laugh. “Please. Alphas only take the strong. And let’s not pretend this is about anything noble. The Rite is just their excuse to f***k other females without their Lunas raising a fuss.”
More laughter followed, but I didn’t hear the rest.
So this was the truth.
My name hadn’t been placed on that list out of duty, or mistake, or oversight. He had done it to break me.
This was the boy I had loved since childhood. The boy who once defended me from other children’s teasing, who used to chase butterflies with me through the forest.
I had always known he could be selfish. Arrogant, even. But I had never imagined he could be this cruel.
I turned and slipped out of the tavern before my legs could fail me.
The walk home felt endless. When the cottage finally came into view, I saw my parents sitting on the porch, waiting, worry etched into every line of their faces.
“Cammi, where have you been?” Mother asked.
I couldn’t tell them. I couldn’t put that pain on them. It would destroy them, and that would destroy me.
I forced a smile. “Just needed air.”
They didn’t look convinced, but thankfully, they didn’t press further.
Father rose from the porch steps. “I’ll speak to the Alpha. He might listen. I’ve done him favors in the past.”
Hope flickered in Mother’s eyes. “George…”
I reached for his hand and held it tightly. “Father… it’s no use.”
His expression faltered. “Cammi.”
I took Mother’s hand as well and met their gaze. “If they want me to go out there,” I said softly, “then I will go as a tribute. I will serve.”
But I will not break.
- Writer
