LYDIA'S POV

　　Brandon looked like he wanted to say more, but he remained silent. Instead, he nodded and stepped back. "We'll always be here for you, Lydia. As your betas. We promise."

　　I took a deep breath, pushing aside the ache in my heart.

　　"Lydia, we—" Brandon began, but I cut him off.

　　"No! You both have said enough, mow let me speak," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I've been thinking a lot about what happened last night, about everything that's been happening between us."

　　They both looked at me, their expressions a mix of guilt and apprehension.

　　"You keep insisting that your duty to me as my betas is more important than anything else," I continued, my voice steady. "But that's just an excuse. It's a way for you to avoid admitting your true feelings for me."

　　Evan opened his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand to stop him. "No, let me finish. You say you care about me, that you love me, but you're too scared to admit it. You hide behind your sense of duty because it's easier than facing the truth."

　　Brandon looked down, his hands clenched into fists. "Lydia, it's not that simple."

　　"Yes, it is," I insisted. "You're using your duty as a shield to protect yourselves from the vulnerability of real emotions. You're afraid of what it means to truly commit, to be honest about how you feel."

　　Evan's jaw tightened, and he looked away, unable to meet my eyes. "We're not trying to hurt you."

　　"But you are," I said softly, the pain in my voice evident. "By refusing to be honest with me, you're hurting me more than you realize. You're making me feel like I'm not worth the risk like our bond doesn't matter."

　　When they didn't speak I continued.

　　"If this is what you both want, then I am ready to grant you both this freedom," I said, my voice shaking with a mixture of anger and hurt. "Our bond won't stop you from doing your duty anymore because I refuse to be your mate."

　　Evan and Brandon's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, but I didn't wait for their responses. I couldn't bear to see their faces or hear their excuses any longer. I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me.

　　Tears blurred my vision as I rushed down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. How could they be so blind? So afraid to admit their true feelings? The weight of their rejection pressed down on me, and I felt a deep, aching loneliness settle in my chest.

　　As I stumbled out into the cool night air, I almost collided with Alpha Chloe. She looked at me with concern, her brow furrowing as she took in my tear-streaked face.

　　"Lydia, what happened?" she asked gently, placing a hand on my shoulder to steady me.

　　I wiped my tears and turned to face her. "Um…nothing. I should go and change first," I excused myself, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

　　She stopped me with a gentle but firm hand on my arm. "Sure, but Lydia, I need to talk to you about last night," she said, her eyes filled with concern and curiosity.

　　I took a deep breath, knowing exactly what she wanted to discuss. "Okay, let me go and freshen up, then I'll come and find you," I replied. She nodded, releasing me, and walked away.

　　I went back to my room, the emptiness of it echoing my tumultuous emotions. As soon as I stepped into the shower, the hot water cascaded over me, mixing with my tears. I was mad, upset, and felt like a fool. I shouldn't have let it happen. If only I had stopped myself, I wouldn't be feeling this way now.

　　"Oh my Goddess," I whispered, the weight of my regret pressing down on me. My heart felt like it was being crushed from the inside, and it was as if the air refused to reach my lungs. The emotional pain was so intense, it was almost physical.

　　I had never felt so much pain and hurt in my life. Every sob that escaped my lips echoed in the small bathroom, amplifying my sense of isolation. I leaned against the cool tiles, my legs barely holding me up as I struggled to breathe through the suffocating ache in my chest.

　　After what felt like an eternity, I managed to compose myself enough to step out of the shower. I wrapped myself in a towel and stared at my reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at me seemed like a stranger, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her expression haunted.

　　I dressed quickly, trying to push away the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. I needed to pull myself together. There were important matters to discuss, and I couldn't afford to fall apart now.

　　As I made my way to find Alpha Chloe, I felt a sense of dread building inside me. Last night had been a disaster, and I feared the consequences of my actions. But I knew I couldn't avoid this conversation any longer.

　　When I found Chloe, she was waiting for me in her study, a cup of tea in her hand. She looked up as I entered, her expression softening when she saw my face.

　　"Lydia, come in," she said gently. "Let's talk."

　　I took a deep breath and entered, trying to steady my racing heart. "Alpha Chloe, before you start, I would really like to apologize for ruining your birthday banquet. Trust me when I say this, it wasn't my intention," I said, my voice shaking slightly.

　　She smiled warmly, a reassuring gesture that made me feel a bit more at ease. "I wasn't expecting an apology, especially from you, since it was not your fault. I investigated the matter, and I deeply regret that it was my son and husband who were the real reason behind your condition."

　　I frowned, trying to piece together her words. "Um… I think I am missing something here. What does that mean? I do remember Heckim entering my room, but—"

　　"Princess Lydia," Alpha Chloe interrupted gently, "it was my husband who spiked your drink. Today, they are here with us to confess their crimes. Since they are answerable to you, I want you to decide their punishment." She declared this with a firmness that left no room for doubt.

　　She stood up, her eyes changing colour as she mind-linked someone. Moments later, both Heckim and Beta Joey entered the room, their expressions somber and filled with remorse.