Chapter 26 - giant wolf

Chapter 26: 26 - giant wolf 26 ~Lisa’s POV Just when I thought it was over, I heard Kael’s voice. "You did enjoy it, right?" he said lazily, his tone dripping with mockery. My heart dropped. Then Damon added, "Yeah. You didn’t push him away." Laughter followed, low, amused, cruel. My hands trembled. I stared at the floor, hoping it would just swallow me whole. Rowan smirked. "Isn’t this what you wanted, little mate? A little attention from your Alphas?" I couldn’t take it. The heat in my face wasn’t from embarrassment anymore, it was shame, thick and heavy. My chest tightened, and my eyes burned. I held back the tears with everything I had, but when Kael chuckled again, I broke. I couldn’t stand there one more second. I turned and ran, out of the room, down the hall, my footsteps echoing behind me. I didn’t know where I was going. I just needed to get away. Away from their eyes. Their voices. Their laughter.free\novelhall.c o(m) Tears streamed down my face as I clutched the hem of my dress, lifting it just enough not to trip. My lungs burned with every breath. I wasn’t even sure what hurt more, the slap, the teasing, or the fact that they enjoyed watching me fall apart. I finally found a corner near the garden and collapsed to the ground, pulling my knees to my chest. I sat there for a long time, my back against the cold stone wall, arms wrapped tightly around my legs like it could somehow hold me together. But I was already broken. Their words kept echoing in my mind, louder than anything else. "Don’t act like you didn’t like it." "Isn’t this what you wanted?" A sharp ache tugged at my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was anger or sadness, or both. My tears kept falling, soaking into the fabric of my dress. It clung to my skin, just like the shame. How did everything go so wrong? I never asked for this. I didn’t beg to be their mate. I didn’t even want to be in that palace. I just wanted peace, a small place to breathe, to care for my father, to be free from the taunts and cruelty I’d lived with all my life. But now I was a prisoner of fate. Not just by the mark the Moon Goddess put on me, but by the way they looked at me, like I was nothing. Just a toy to mock, a thing to humiliate. I pressed a trembling hand to my chest. The pain there wasn’t just emotional. It felt like my heart was physically bruised, like something inside me was bruised. Why me? Why did they have to be my mates? I hated the pull I felt toward them. The confusing heat in my stomach every time they were near. It was like being chained to something that only brought me pain. And worse, being punished for not smiling through it. I closed my eyes tightly, biting my bottom lip to keep another sob from escaping. I felt small. Invisible. I didn’t even realize when my mind began to wander, when my thoughts drifted away from the pain in my chest a long time ago. A memory I hadn’t touched in years. Maybe because it was the only one that didn’t hurt. I must have been seven or eight. Papa and I were walking home from the village. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky had turned a soft orange, like it was dipped in honey. It had rained the day before, and the path under our feet was still damp. Our sandals made soft squishing sounds as we walked along the muddy trail, the smell of wet earth filling the air. He held my hand tightly, just like he always did. His hand was rough from years of hard work, but it was warm and steady. I always felt safe when Papa held my hand. Like nothing bad could ever touch me. I was swinging our hands back and forth, trying to match his long steps with my little ones. He didn’t talk much, but I liked being beside him in silence. It was peaceful. It was home. Then suddenly, I stopped, pulling his hand to make him look at me. "Papa," I said, bouncing a little from one foot to the other, "I need to pee. You don’t have to follow me because I’m now a big girl," He looked down at me, and the corner of his eyes crinkled as he chuckled. "Alright, big girl. There’s a bush just ahead. Be quick." I nodded proudly, puffing out my chest. "I can go alone. I’m not a baby." Papa chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Alright then, big girl. Go on. I’ll wait right here." I laughed, my little feet splashing in a shallow puddle as I ran ahead, weaving between the tall grass and bushes. I felt so grown, so sure of myself. I even turned around once to shout, "Don’t follow me, Papa! I can do it myself!" I meant it too. I didn’t want him hovering or holding my hand. I wanted to prove that I was strong and brave, just like he always said I could be. But the trees were thicker than I thought. Branches hung low, scratching against my arms as I passed. Leaves rustled high above, blocking out most of the sky. The sound of the wind through the trees made it hard to hear anything else. Even my own footsteps felt muffled. I found a small clearing and quickly did what I came to do. But when I turned to go back, I stopped. The path was gone. At least, it looked gone. Every direction seemed to have the same trees, the same bushes. I spun around slowly, my heart beginning to race. I took a few steps to the left. No sign of Papa. I turned right, nothing. "Papa?" I called softly, suddenly unsure. No answer. I swallowed hard, trying not to panic. I wasn’t far. I couldn’t be far. But everything looked different now, twisted somehow. Bigger. Deeper. "Papa?" I called again, spinning slowly in place. "Papa!" My voice trembled a little. I tried to stay calm. "Papa!" No answer. That was when I heard it, the crunch of something heavy on the ground behind me. I turned. And there it was. A giant wolf. Silver-gray fur. Piercing golden eyes. Taller than anything I’d ever seen. I froze. My little heart beat so fast I thought I would faint. My legs wouldn’t move. My voice wouldn’t come out. I just stood there, staring at death, or what I thought was death.