Chapter 14
The dawn of my last day here arrived quietly, wrapping everything in a soft, almost sacred silence. I stepped out into the crisp morning, my breath misting in the cool air as I opened the door. And then -I froze, completely stunned by the sight before me.
A mountain of gifts stretched across the path, glittering under the pale morning light. Crates overflowing with jewels, silks that looked softer than a whisper, and velvet–wrapped boxes stacked high enough to obscure parts of the horizon. My heart thumped in my chest, equal parts wonder and disbelief. No name was needed. I knew who they were from.
The Alpha King.
I took a step forward, reaching out to trace the edge of one of the boxes. The richness of it all was overwhelming, almost surreal. Before I could even fully process it, the
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attendants unloading the last of the crates gave a respectful nod and disappeared down the path, leaving me standing alone in front of a fortune at my feet.
My wolf stirred, unsettled by the extravagance. This much attention could draw… complications. As if on cue, whispers began to drift through the pack, carried by curious glances that seemed to come from every direction.
“Malinda, what is all of this?” someone
murmured, their voice tinged with awe as they took in the treasure trove spread out around me.
I forced a small smile, feeling a strange mix. of excitement and apprehension. “Just… a few gifts,” I replied, knowing how
inadequate that sounded. But the murmurs continued, growing louder, questions and comments swirling around me like a storm
of unwanted attention.
My gaze darted around, searching for an escape. Across the way, I caught sight of my
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father watching quietly, his expression unreadable as he gave a subtle nod before slipping back inside, distancing himself from the spectacle.
I bent down, beginning to gather some of the boxes to bring them inside, when a familiar, unsettling figure caught my eye— Sharon. She was making her way toward me, and her gaze was locked on the jewelry as though she’d never seen anything so beautiful in her life. And right behind her were Kayden and Francis, both of them looking just as curious and wary.
“Malinda!” Sharon’s voice was breathy with excitement, her eyes widening as she took in an ornate necklace glistening with diamonds. Her hand reached out, fingers grazing a sapphire ring set in a band of gleaming white gold.
“Where did all this come from?” she asked, voice dripping with envy. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so… luxurious.”
I swallowed back the urge to pull the
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jewelry out of her grasp, instead forcing a polite smile. “Just some gifts,” I replied, hoping my tone stayed light. Gods, why couldn’t she just leave it alone?
“A few?” Sharon laughed, her fingers still brushing over the treasures like she couldn’t help herself. “Half the city‘ s wealth must be right here in front of your door!”
I kept silent, nudging her hand away from a delicate diadem with as much patience as I could muster. But I saw the gleam of jealousy flash in her eyes, a greedy look that sharpened with each piece she inspected. Her gaze finally flicked back to me, her lips curving into a false, syrupy smile.
“Oh, but you don’t really need all of this, do you?” Sharon asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “It’s so much. Maybe you’d consider donating some? I mean, there’s more here than one person could ever possibly wear.”
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I felt my jaw clench, the possessiveness of my wolf rising to the surface. This isn’t for sharing. I met her gaze, my voice cold and unwavering. “No, Sharon. These aren’t for… sharing.”
Her face faltered, fingers slipping from the necklace as she took a step back. “Well,” she sniffed, her tone brimming with frustration, “seems like a waste to keep it all for yourself. Not that it’s any of my business, of course.”
I turned away, hoping she’d take the hint, but Kayden stepped forward, his brow furrowing as he took in the lavish display. “Malinda, where did all this come from?”
he asked, voice low, his expression a blend
of confusion and concern.
I kept my face neutral, refusing to give in to the curiosity blazing in his eyes. “They‘ re just gifts, Kayden,” I replied, hoping he‘ d let it go. You don’t need to know more
than that.
But Francis’s gaze remained fixed on me,
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unrelenting. “Gifts? From who?” he pressed, his voice heavy with suspicion.
A flicker of irritation tightened in my chest. I didn’t owe them an explanation, not now–not after they’d made their choice to spend more time with Sharon, to treat me like an afterthought. Now, they suddenly deserve answers? My patience was wearing thin, but I forced a calm expression, though my voice cooled noticeably. “It‘ s… private.”
Kayden‘ s face darkened, his stance firm as he crossed his arms over his chest, unwilling to let the matter drop. “Malinda, come on. This isn’t like you. You‘ ve never been one to accept gifts, much less… whatever this is. Don‘ t we deserve to
know?”
The words struck a nerve, and I felt the anger simmering under my skin, my wolf pacing, pushing to the surface. Deserve? They’d chosen Sharon’s company, her sweet and shallow smiles, over any loyalty
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to me. And now, here they were, expecting answers as though they had any right to them.
I met Kayden’s gaze with a defiant glare, my tone icy. “This has nothing to do with you, Kayden. It’s none of your business.”
An awkward silence settled over the group, and I could see the hint of surprise in his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected me to push back. But it felt good–strong, even–to remind him that my life wasn‘ t theirs to pry into.
