r’s POV

    It was just as I’d expected

    The next day, a maid arrived at my room with an invitation from Mi.

    “And what exactly is this gathering for?” basked/b, not even ncing up

    a brush through my long hair.

    The maid hesitated, clearly ufortable with what she was about to say. “M Miss M said it’s a beautiful day outside she hoped you could join them at the canal for a cruise tour. The weather’s perfect, she says”

    bI /bcouldn’t help the sneer that curled my lips. “And what if I don’t want to go?”

    The maid’s hands shook slightly. She lowered her gaze and spoke in a voiceced with desperation, “Please, Miss ra… Miss Mi really wants you there. She said she’d be… truly disappointed if you don’t show up

    “bThose /bwere her exact words?” I cut in sharply, turning to face her.

    The mald froze, her eyes wide. “…I’d rather not say, Miss bra/b…”

    I ced theb down slowly on the dresser, my eyes narrowing. “It’s fine. Tell me exactly what she said.”

    The maid gulped, clearly torn, but finally, she murmured in a near–whisper,

    Miss Mi bsaid/b… “If that bitch ra refuses toe, send a group of

    guards to her room.. Strip her, tie her up, and throw her into the canal. Then she’ll know who’s breally /bin charge here.”

    I couldn’t help the bitterugh that escaped me

    y said that?” came ba /blow voice from behind me

    “She really s

    Ispun around. Thorne had just stepped out of the bathroom, his expression uhreadable as he absorbed the maid’s words.

    “A–Alpha Thorne!” the maid stammered, her face pale.

    Thorne’s handnded on my shoulder in aforting yet possessive gesture. His voice dropped to a dangerous tone. “Tell your master that Gamma ra is too busy for her little bgames/bb./b”

    The maid quickly nodded, terrified. b“/bYes, Alpha.”

    Thome’s voice turned cold now. “And tell her to watch her bmouth/b. If she doesn’t, I’ll make sure her btongue /bgets pulled out.”

    The maid nodded again, trembling

    I bnced /bbat /bThome and, to his surprise, smiled. “Actually, I think I’ll go.”

    Thorne frownedb, /bclearly not understanding “Why waste your time on that woman?”

    I shrugged, casually smoothing down the folds of my dress. “I’ve got nothing else going on here. Might as well see what Mi’s up to. It’s a bgood /bopportunity to gather more information about the/rogues. We could use that.”

    Thome gave me along, assessing look before he kissed bmy /bforehead. “You want me toe with you?”

    I shook my head, shing him a grin. “It’s fine, bI /bbcan /bhandle this on my own.”

    He seemed to hesitate, but ultimately nodded. “Alright. Be carefulb./bb” /b

    I followed the maid out of the room and toward the bcanal/b.

    When we barrived/bb, /ba wooden boat was already waiting on the water. Miels and a few girls stood waiting for me.

    Mi’s eyes bnarrowed /bthe moment she saw me approach, and she was quick to stand with her hands on her hips. “What took you so long?” bshe /bbsnapped/b.

    bI /bcrossed my arms, giving her pointed look. “Next time you invite me to something, try asking more nicely

    “didn’t invite you. I ordered you toe!” she spat, a petnt edge in her voice. “I’m the Queen. You have to do whatever I want

    She stomped her foot, but the boat rocked violently in response. Everyone gasped as Mi iled to regain her bnced, arms iling wildly like a panicked goose

    I grabbed her wrist and shoved her back into the boat with little effort. “If you want me here, I’m here. But don’t regret itter.”

    “Of course I won’t!” Mi squeaked, her voice high–pitched in panic, “Boatman, get us moving!”

    As the boat began to drift from the shore, a voice called out from behind us

    “Hey, got room for one more?”

    We all turnedb, /bsurprised to see Kimberly standing at the edge of the water.

    Mi’s face twisted in irritation. “Not” she snapped before quickly adding, “The boat’s full!”

    I stepped aside, offering a smirk. “Here’s a seat for you, Kimberly.”

    Mi whipped around, eyes shing with fury, but before she could object, Kimberly had already nimbly jumped onto the boat.

    “Thanks” Kimberly said with a beaming smile.

    Mi clenched her fists, her face turning red. She opened her mouth to say something, but then the boat had already drited too far. Her words werest

    the sound of the water.

    “What the hell are you doing here?” she hissed at Kimberly, clearly rate. b“/bYou’re not invited! This is a private event!”

    Kimberly gave a nonchnt shrug, ying with a strand of her hair. “I invited myself. The King made it clear that no one should treat Miss ra rudely. I’m just here to make sure you’re not going against his bwishes/b.”

    A few of the rogue girls murmured their displeasure, hissing under their breath.

    “The King is too soft on them” one girl spat. “She killed so many of our brothers and sisters! We should take bher /bdown!”

    I leaned forward, my voice ice–cold. “Only because you attacked us first. And feel free to try taking me down, I’m waiting.”

    The girl red at me, but she didn’t move. I could see the conflict in her eyes. She wasn’t brave enough to challenge me, and it bwas /bclear the others

    weren’t either.

    “Don’t be afraidb,/b” Mi interjected, trying to sound reassuring. “ra’s not that strong. The rumors about her are exaggerated. When we were kids, I used to use her like a punching bagb. /bShe was nothing”

    “Is that so?” Kimberly raised an eyebrow, looking amused. “Then how did she be Gamma?”

    Mi’s eyes narrowed, a scornful sneer twisting her lips. “By spreading her legs, obviously. She slept bwith /bevery man in the Blood Moon Pack to get that title, including her brother, Alpha Cael. It’s disgusting. Incestuous.”

    The words hit like a p, but before I could even process it, I had already moved

    In one swift motion, I grabbed Mi by the hair and yanked her toward me, anger and disgust burning in my chest. “Take it back,” I growled through gritted teeth.

    Mi winced, her bface /bcontorted with pain. “N NO” she shrieked, refusing to back down. “You’re a filthy whore, ral A whore who spread her legs for her brother! You should beg for mercy from me–beg you filthy slut!”

    That was thest straw.

    mit to my ears.

    With a sharp shoveb, /bI pushed her all the boat. The shrill scream she let out as she fell into the water was music

    But she wasn’t done yet. She managed to grab my wrist just before I could turn away

    We both went down with a huge ssh. The cold water hit me like a shock to the system, and the boat rocked violently from the sudden impact

    As I resurfaced, gasping for air, I saw Mi iling beside me. Her fury was palpable

    And in that moment, I realized this bwasn’t /bjust about a power struggle. It was about survival.