Chapter 4: I deserve a reward for breaking that ugly thing
Iris’s POV
Letting them see my weakness was never going to happen.
Without saying a word, I walked out on them as I headed out. My cheek still stung from Liora’s slap as my wolf, growling low in my head in fury, angered that I didn’t return the slap to Liora. I am still clutching the cleaning items in my hands as I make my way through the corridors of the packhouse.
I reached my maid’s room. I entered and shut the door as I dropped the cleaning supplies in the corner, the broom clattering against the ground. My body is consumed with fury, not knowing how to calm my anger, I headed into the bathroom, letting the water run on me as it soaks my hair and drips down my face. My nerves started to calm. Today was my birthday, a fact no one in this pack seemed to remember, and I refused to let it be ruined by Liora’s cruelty or the triplets’ indifference.
Soon, I was done and I changed into something better and sat at the wooden table. My stomach growling in hunger. Then my eyes landed on a slice of stale bread and a small bowl of vegetable broth I found on my table. It’s half eaten andI wondered how it got there. Trying not to stress my head, I pushed down the worries and grabbed the meal even though it didn’t look like a fresh meal. It wasn’t much, but after hours of cleaning without food, it felt like a feast. I was about to take my first bite when the door to my room slammed open, the force of it rattling the walls. Liora stormed in, her eyes blazing with fury at me. Two male guards flanked beside her, their broad shoulders filling the doorway, their faces cold and emotionless.
Before I could react, she yanked me from the chair, her nails digging into my arm as she pulled me over, the wooden chair tipped over, crashing to the floor with a hollow thud. "How dare you walk out on me, your future Luna?" Then she grabbed the cup of water on my table and emptied it on me.
Catching myself against the table, my wet hair clinging to my face. Lyra roared in my head again, urging me to fight back, to grab the remaining cup of water on the table and fling it in Liora’s smug face but I swallowed hard, forcing the impulse down. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of a scene, not today, not on my birthday. I stayed silent, my eyes locked coldly on hers.
"No apologies for breaking my vase?" she taunted, stepping closer. "You think you can just walk away?"
Lyra’s never stopped growling through me, urging me to show Liora the strength she didn’t know I had. But I waved the voice again. I wouldn’t ruin this day. "I have nothing to say," I muttered.