Roxellena POV
The journey to Alpha Pascal’s territory dragged on far longer than I had expected. Hour after hour, the same endless line of trees blurred past the car windows, their green monotony pressing down on me like a weight. But the real torture wasn’t the road,it was sitting in silence while my own family laughed and chatted just inches away, as if I were invisible.
Lady Gerty dominated the conversation, her voice sharp and relentless. “Remember, girl, at that training camp you will speak only when spoken to. Keep your head down and your mouth shut. We’ve had enough of your nonsense.” She and Rosa exchanged knowing glances before launching into a string of lies about me, how I was lazy, disrespectful, ungrateful. Dad nodded along without a word.
“At least you’ll finally have some
