Chapter 7: I Will Make Her Pay

FELDA

“Let me through,” I commanded the guards standing at King Rowan's chamber door, but instead of moving, they only bowed to me.

“I said, let me through,” I repeated, my voice louder this time, as if they hadn't heard me the first time.

The one on the right side bowed again. “I'm sorry, Queen Felda… the King instructed us not to allow anyone inside.”

The other three hefty men joined him, bowing their heads as if that would stop me.

“Including me?” I asked coldly.

He didn’t answer.

“Raise your head!” I snapped, forcing the words through clenched teeth.

He slowly raised his head, but avoided my eyes like I was a curse he didn’t want to catch. “Tell him it’s Felda. It's me. I need to see him.”

“We’re sorry…” another guard tried to chip in, but the moment his voice reached my ears, I turned to him with a glare that shut him up mid-sentence.

I hissed, lifting the hem of my dress to step forward, but they blocked me again.

What sort of nonsense was this?

Who the hell did they think they were?

Why would they block me?

Why couldn’t I see my husband?

And what the hell was happening?

Yes, he was grieving. Yes, he lost his only child, his heir. But that was why I was here. He shouldn’t be alone right now. He needed someone. Someone like me to help him.

“I will...” Before I could finish my sentence, the door clicked.

A woman walked out slowly, head bowed low. She was dressed in a long, flowing red-colored robe that trailed behind her like a ghost of nobility. Another cream fabric clung to her from head to back, almost making her disappear into the candlelight.

Her hands were clutched tightly to the fabric close to her chest, her shoulders trembling.

I stepped back instinctively, my eyes narrowing.

The guards bowed. “Your Highness,” they muttered.

Your what?

I had to fight the scream rising in my throat, the violent urge in my hands to grab her by her silky robe and slap the life out of her.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

She was crying, yes. But that didn’t stop the rage boiling inside of me. Her steps quickened as she passed me.

Coward.

Whore.

I clenched my fists under my dress, my cheeks hot with fury.

I turned sharply to face the door she’d just exited from...his door.

One of the guards tried to step in my path again.

Stupid guard.

I stretched out my hand, muttering a quick injuring spell. He flew backward, the door swinging open from the impact as his body crashed into the nearest wall with a sickening crack.

“Ahhh!” he screamed, writhing.

I stood there, daring the others to challenge me. No one moved. They knew better.

I stepped inside slowly, my royal heels clicking against the marble floor, my chest rising and falling heavily.

There he was.

King Rowan.

Shirtless. Dressed only in his black royal trousers, he stood like a statue of stone and sorrow. His gaze flicked to the injured guard, then back to me, expression unreadable.

The guard quietly crawled out of the room and shut the door.

“What do you want?” he asked, voice cold.

And just like that, the knot in my chest tightened even more.

“Really? I can’t see my own husband anymore? I can’t come here and help you grieve?” I began, my voice rising with each word, all my pain tumbling out of me at once.

He turned away, walking to his bed and sitting down as if I were nothing but a nuisance.

“Thanks for your concern. I’m fine now,” he muttered.

“Oh, you’re fine because of her,” I spat. “How could you? How could you sleep with her in this situation? How do you think your Luna would feel if she ever heard about this? How do you think I feel?”

Tears pressed at the backs of my eyes. I swallowed hard, but it didn’t help.

I thought he had moved on from her. I thought when I came into this pack, I was the only one in his heart. He made me believe that.

He used to whisper it like a prayer, “Felda, only you.”

But I was wrong.

Why else would he sleep with that barren witch, especially now?

“I don’t care how any one of you feels,” he replied bluntly, lying on his bed with his arms crossed behind his head.

The tears finally slipped free.

“You’re shameless, King Rowan. You’re heartless and...”

Before I could finish, he was in front of me...quickly.

Fast with his wolf's power.

His golden eyes flared, bright and blazing. I froze. He didn’t touch me, but the heat from his rage soaked into my skin.

“Kill me, then!” I shouted, touching his arm.

He snapped his arm away, jaw tightening as his golden eyes slowly faded back to deep, emotionless blue.

“Don’t insult me again, Felda,” he growled, voice low. “I’m letting this pass… because I love you.”

I let out a bitter, broken laugh.

“Liar!”

He turned, walking away from me, but I ran to stand in front of him instead.

“You love me, and still you sleep with her? Huh? What kind of love is that?!”

“I had to do what I needed to do,” he said, cutting me off.

I sobbed harder, hitting his chest with everything I had. He just stood there, letting me release my pain like he didn’t feel a thing.

“You’re a liar!”

“Enough!” he snapped, grabbing my wrist mid-hit.

I stopped, my heart eating fast. He looked into my hazel eyes, something flickering briefly in his gaze before he looked away.

He let go of my hand gently.

“Go and sleep, love. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

What?

“No,” I shook my head quickly. “I’m sleeping here. I won’t risk her coming back.”

His silence said everything.

Once King Rowan made a decision, it was final.

“Leave before I change my mind,” he said flatly.

More tears rushed down my face. It was like he didn’t even see them.

“My head will judge you,” I whispered. “The moon will judge you.”

"Guards!" He called and two guards stepped in immediately, keeping a safe distance from me.

I didn’t even glance at them. I didn’t have the strength to fight anymore. My heart was already in pieces.

I was pissed, shattered, and betrayed.

I hated her before, but now… now I wanted to strangle her. She had crossed a line.

She had to leave his life for good. She was his first love, yes, I agreed, but she dominated his life like she was the moon goddess.

She was even the one who begged him to marry his Luna, I mean who does that?

With all that power, she couldn't give birth.

Everything had to stop now that I was here. I wouldn't let her control him again. Not anymore.

I would make sure she disappeared.

"What are you waiting for? Bundle her outside now," his voice forced me out of my thoughts.

“Don’t touch me,” I warned the guards without looking up. “I’ll leave on my own.”

King Rowan didn’t even look in my direction.

I turned and ran out of his room.

Tears blinded my vision as I rushed through the halls, ignoring every curious gaze. My own guards moved aside quickly the moment they saw my face.

My eyes were red, and my lips were trembling. I was done pretending.

“Everyone should leave my chamber door tonight!” I barked as I approached my wing.

They froze in confusion.

“Don’t you hear words anymore?! I said leave!”

This time, they scrambled away like rats.

My two maids stepped out when they heard my voice. They had assumed I would sleep in the King’s chambers tonight.

“Welcome, Your Grace,” they greeted, bowing.

“You should leave too,” I said coldly.

They blinked at each other, then bowed and quickly obeyed.

Finally.

Silence.

I pushed the door open, walked in, and slammed it shut behind me. My back slid against the door, and the tears came crashing down again.

I couldn’t hold them anymore.

Knock. Knock.

Who the hell was that now?