Mira’s mouth went dry. She took a shaky breath, trying to hold her ground. “Liana, I… I don’t know what happened. I’m as confused as you are. I never meant for any of this—”
“Oh, don’t play innocent with me!” Liana hissed, advancing toward her. Her voice was dangerously low, almost a growl. “You seduced him, didn’t you? Used some trick or spell to make him think you’re his mate. Tell me, Mira—what did you do? What did you use?” She was so close now that Mira could feel the heat of her rage.
“I… I didn’t do anything! I swear,” Mira pleaded, the sting of her sister’s words cutting deeper than she’d expected. “I was just as shocked as everyone else. I never wanted to be… to be in this position.”
“Lies! Didn’t I tell you not to come out, why did you disobey me?” Liana spat, her eyes gleaming with contempt. Without warning, she slapped Mira across the face, her hand striking hard and swift. Mira gasped, stumbling back, her cheek stinging with pain. Liana’s face twisted further as she stepped closer, her voice shaking with fury. “Tell me the truth, or so help me, I’ll make you regret this.”
“Liana, please… I’m telling you the truth,” Mira whispered, tears stinging her eyes. She wanted to escape, to hide, to disappear, but her sister’s gaze held her captive. Just as she tried to find the words to calm Liana, their father appeared in the doorway, his face a mask of disappointment.
“So, it’s true,” he said coldly, looking at Mira with an expression that made her heart sink. “You… you’ve done something, haven’t you? To steal what was supposed to be Liana’s.” His voice was low, but the accusation hit like a slap. “I never thought you’d stoop so low, Mira. After everything we’ve done for you, and you repay us like this?”
Mira’s vision blurred with tears, her throat closing up as she tried to find the words to defend herself. But nothing she could say would make a difference. They had already decided she was guilty.
“Father, I swear… I didn’t do anything. I would never…” Mira’s voice broke, and she struggled to hold back a sob. But her father’s expression remained hard, unmoved.
“Enough.” His voice was a sharp cut, final and absolute. “You’ve caused enough damage. If you had any respect, you’d do the right thing and refuse the Alpha’s bond. Liana was meant for this role, not you.”
Mira bit her lip, her whole body shaking as she felt the weight of their anger pressing down on her. It was as if every unspoken disappointment, every ignored slight, was now being cast upon her all at once.
Gareth, who had been silently watching the scene unfold, took a step forward, his face showing a hint of concern. “Perhaps we should speak to the Alpha in private,” he suggested cautiously, looking between the three of them. “Maybe… maybe he’s under some misunderstanding.”
But Liana wasn’t ready to let go. Her face twisted with frustration and raw pain, and she blinked back furious tears. “Misunderstanding? The only misunderstanding here is that Mira has somehow convinced everyone she’s innocent!”
Mira, gathering her strength, took a step back, needing to put distance between herself and her family’s wrath. She straightened, wiping a tear from her cheek as she moved toward the door. She needed air, space—anything to escape this nightmare.
But just as she turned to leave, Liana lunged forward, her face livid with rage. “Where do you think you’re going?” she snarled, reaching out to grab Mira’s arm. Mira flinched, her instinct to cower taking hold. But something inside her snapped. For the first time in years, she didn’t pull away in silence. She held her ground.
Mira’s fingers wrapped around Liana’s wrist, stopping her mid-swing. Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, Mira saw the shock flicker in Liana’s gaze. She had never stood up to her sister before. But this time was different.
Liana yanked her arm back in disbelief, her face twisted in anger. “You dare—” she started, raising her hand again. But before she could land another blow, Mira reacted on instinct, her own hand rising and connecting with Liana’s cheek.
A sharp crack echoed through the room, and for a moment, everything was still. Liana’s mouth fell open, stunned silence filling the space. Their father looked equally shocked, his face darkening with fury.
“You insolent girl!” he roared, charging toward Mira, his hand raised to strike. “How dare you?”
Mira froze, her breath caught in her chest as he closed the distance, his expression a mixture of rage and disbelief. She braced herself, expecting the worst. Her heart raced, her body tense.
But before he could take another step, a powerful voice rang out from the doorway, filled with a quiet, deadly command. “Touch her, and you’ll answer to me.”
The room fell silent as Alpha Kaelan entered, his presence filling the space with a power that was both calming and fierce. His dark eyes, filled with a cold fury, fixed on Mira’s father. There was no mistaking the threat in his tone.