Thunder's True Mate

Chapter 3: No One Believes Her

For a heartbeat, the ballroom turned to stone.

Daisy stood in the doorway, ribs aching, breath shallow. Blood crusted at the corner of her mouth. Her blue dress hung ripped and crooked, barely held shut by her fist.

Music died. Dozens of eyes fixed on her.

“My goddess," someone breathed. “What happened to her?"

“It's her birthday and she comes back like that? Shameless…"

The whispers spread.

“Isn't she supposed to marry Thunder Storm's heir?"

“Yes. She's meant to be Charles's Luna."

“And she dares show up like this in front of both packs? She's thrown our faces on the ground."

“If that's their future Luna, she'll be a stain on Charles for the rest of his life."

Across the room, Charles's shoulders went rigid. His hand, still at Rosalie's waist, curled into a fist. His jaw tightened as he heard his name and the word Luna wrapped in scorn.

She turned, pink skirt swishing. When she saw Daisy, her blue eyes flew wide.

“Daisy?" Rosalie's hand rose to her mouth. “What happened to you?"

Charles turned as well. His golden gaze swept from Daisy's tangled hair to her bruised face, down the torn dress to her scraped feet. Shock flickered in his eyes, then flattened.

“Daisy," he said quietly. “Why do you look like this?"

She didn't answer him.

Her eyes moved past the two of them until they found Amanda.

Amanda stood by the head table in a silver gown, a glass of wine in her hand. For a heartbeat she looked simply stunned, then her painted face crumpled with concern.

“Daisy?" she said, setting the glass down. She walked forward, one hand pressed to her chest. “What on earth—where have you been?"

In Daisy's head the men's voices overlapped.

Our employer only wants one thing: you not marrying Charles.

You won't be his Luna after tonight.

Her fingers dug into the torn fabric at her waist.

“You sent them," she said.

Her voice was rough, but the hall was so quiet that every word carried.

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Amanda stopped. “What?" she asked softly. “Daisy, what are you talking about?"

“You sent them," Daisy repeated. “The men in black. They were waiting for me in the alley. They said their employer didn't want me to marry Charles. You're the one who sent me out alone. You told me to use the back street."

The murmurs sharpened.

“Men in black?"

“Waiting in the back street…"

“On the night Thunder Storm visits?"

Amanda's eyes filled with tears.

“Daisy," she whispered. “I only asked you to buy wine. The back street is what the servants use every day. How could I know someone was there? I was worried when you didn't come back. I thought you'd run off because you were upset…"

“I was attacked," Daisy cut in. “They beat me. They tried to—"

The rest stuck in her throat.

Rosalie's skirts rustled as she took a tiny step forward. “Who?" she asked, eyes shining. “Who attacked you?"

“Six men in black," Daisy said. “They dragged me into a warehouse and tied my hands. They said someone hired them to ruin me so I couldn't become Luna of Thunder Storm."

Murmurs rose again as heads turned toward Charles standing stiffly beside Rosalie, jaw clenched.

Alpha Green strode forward, cutting through the crowd, expression like carved stone.

He stopped between Daisy and Amanda.

“What are you doing?" he demanded. “Look at yourself. Do you know what you've done?"

“I told you," Daisy said. “I was attacked."

“And I'm sure that frightened you," he said coldly. “But instead of going to the infirmary, you burst into the hall in front of two packs? Dressed like this? Throwing accusations?"

His gaze ran over her torn dress, bruises and bare feet, then flicked toward the Thunder Storm elders.

“You disgrace yourself and Green Forest," Alpha Green said. “And now you stand here and accuse your stepmother?"

“It isn't an accusation," Daisy replied. “It's the truth. She forced me out when I should have been here. She told me to use that alley. They were waiting. They knew I was coming."

A heavy‑set elder snorted. “Convenient," he muttered. “Disappear for hours, come back like that, blame the Luna."

“Exactly," a jeweled woman agreed. “She was probably out doing something shameful. Now she needs someone to carry it."

“This is the girl who's supposed to be Thunder Storm's Luna?" another voice said. “Both packs' faces are on the floor tonight."

Rosalie looked between Daisy and Amanda, tears trembling on her lashes.

“Please don't say that," Rosalie whispered. “Daisy would never mean to hurt anyone. She must be confused. She looks like she's in shock. Don't blame Mother."

Daisy let out a short, broken laugh.

“Confused?" she asked. “Do you think I imagined being dragged off the street, or these bruises?"

Rosalie's lower lip shook. “I don't know what happened," she said softly. “But you've been gone for so long. She's scared and saying strange things. Just… don't accuse Mother."

“My wife has always treated you like her own," Alpha Green said. “Even now, Rosalie speaks up for you. That is kindness. That is what a Luna should be. You"—his eyes swept her again, cold—“only bring trouble."

The words hit harder than any punch.

“I didn't lie," Daisy whispered.

“Enough," Alpha Green snapped. “Go to your room. Get cleaned up. We'll discuss your behavior later. For now, you will not ruin Rosalie's birthday or this alliance any further."

Charles cleared his throat.

“Alpha Green," he said. “If I may."

The room turned toward him.

He looked at Daisy again. For a heartbeat, something like concern crossed his face.

“Whatever happened," he said slowly, “you're injured. You shouldn't be standing here. Daisy, go upstairs, change your clothes, let the healer see you. We can talk after the party."

“I'm not trying to ruin your party," she said. “Someone tried to ruin me. If they'd finished, I wouldn't be standing here at all."

Rosalie gave a little sob. “Please don't talk like that," she whispered.

Amanda dabbed at her eyes. “Daisy, you're frightening everyone."

Daisy dragged her gaze back to the one person she had still hoped would stand with her.

“Those men said someone sent them," she said. Her voice dropped. “They said it was to stop our wedding. I was dragged off the street on my birthday, Charles. I almost—" Her throat tightened. “Do you believe me?"

The hall went silent again.

For a second, anger crossed Charles's face. Then his gaze slid to the elders of Thunder Storm, to Rosalie trembling beside him.

When he looked back at Daisy, his eyes had cooled.

“I think," he said carefully, “that you've been through a shock. You're exhausted and in pain. You might not remember everything clearly."

Daisy stared at him.

“So you don't believe me," she said.

“I believe you were attacked," Charles answered. “But right now isn't the time to accuse anyone. Go and rest. When you've calmed down, we'll talk."

Something inside her snapped. The mate bond between them tugged once, sharp with hurt.

“Rest," she repeated. “Right."

She looked from Charles to her father, to Amanda, to Rosalie.

No one moved toward her.

They only wanted her gone so the music could start again and the alliance could shine untarnished.

Daisy straightened.

“Fine," she said. “I'll rest."

She turned on her bruised heel and walked out under the chandeliers, beneath the bright banner that shouted Rosalie's name and not her own.