Emilia

I opened my eyes slowly, as if waking up would somehow make it all untrue.

But it wasn't a dream.

Lorenzo was still gone.

I sat up, the heavy silk sheets sliding off me. The room was quiet, dim, as if mourning with me. My chest ached, not just from grief, but from the weight of everything I couldn't say out loud. The silence made it worse. I felt like screaming, but all I could was breathe.

Xavier was seated in the arm hair by the window, his long legs crossed, reading a book I was sure he had no interest in.

He looked up. “You're awake.”

I nodded slowly.

“Come on. Breakfast's ready. You need to eat.”

I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to move. But I nodded again, mostly because I didn't want to be alone.

We walked together, and I tried not to notice how everyone we passed started a little too long. As if I had grown horns overnight.

The dining hall was filled with morning chatter. My father sat at the head of the table, reading the paper like he always did. Ariel sat beside him in her usual silk robe, a glass of red juice by hand. Xavier held the chair beside me out, and I sat, hands folded in my lap.

My father looked up first. “Emilia, how are you doing?”

“Better,” I lied softly. “Thank you, father.”

Ariel didn't look at me. “Better?” She repeated with a sneer. “Why wouldn't she be? She still has blood in her eyes.”

The whole table froze.

My father frowned. “Ariel not now.”

“Oh, I think now is exactly the time,” she snapped, turning to face him. “She's sitting there like one innocent lamb when her mate is in the ground.”

“She didn't kill him,” Xavier said, his voice flat.

Ariel ignored him. “I refuse to sit here and eat beside a murderer.”

“I'm not —” my voice cracked. “I didn't —”

“Don't talk to me!” Ariel hissed. “Don't you dare to speak to me with that cursed mouth. You bring death wherever you go. Your mother. Now, Lorenzo. Who's next, your father?”

“Enough!” My father roared, standing up.

But Ariel was already on her feet, her chair screeching backward. “You can all sit here and play pretend, but I won't. That girl has death wrapped around her like a veil. And I will not eat in the same room as her!”

She stormed out, heels clicking furiously.

My father glanced between me and the door. “I'll … talk to her,” he muttered, and followed.

Silence fell like a blanket.

I looked down at my untouched plate. My hands were shaking.

Xavier leaned in, his voice quiet. “Don't let her words touch you.”

But they already had.

I stood up quickly, murmured a soft “excuse me,” and left the table. My footsteps felt numb, like I wasn't quite connected to my body.

I stopped by the stairs and sat, clutching the edge of my dress. The silk wrinkled in my fist, and I let the tears fall, hot and fast.

“I didn't do anything wrong,” I whispered to no one. “I just wanted a happy life. With Lorenzo.”

That was all I'd ever wanted. Not power. Not glory. Just peace. A quiet life with the boy who made me laugh who promised to keep me safe.

Xavier appeared beside me like a shadow. He didn't say anything. Just sank down and sat next to me.

I wiped my face, embarrassed. “I'm cursed, aren't I?”

“No,” he said simply. “You're not.”

“Then why does everything I love… disappear?”

Xavier turned to me. His eyes were sharp, but his voice was soft. “I don't know. But I do know you didn't cause it. And I won't let anyone hurt you again.”

I looked at him, unsure of how to respond.

He gently pulled me into his arms. I stiffened at first, but then I let go. I clung to him like a child, and he held me like a statue, strong and unmoving.

“It's not going to be okay,” I whispered.

“It will,” he said, resting his chin lightly on my head. “Even if it doesn't feel like it now.”

A guard appeared in the hall. “Alpha Xavier,” he said, bowing slightly. “Your attention is needed in the court.”

Xavier glanced at me.

“Go,” I said. “It's okay.”

“I don't want to leave you.”

“I'll be fine,” I lied again.

He hesitated, then stood. “I'll come back for you.”

I gave him a small nod, and he followed that guard down the hall.

I didn't want to go back to my room. Instead, I wandered. The garden was quiet, but even the roses looked dull. I tried reading one of the books from the library, but my eyes couldn't hold the words. I heard whispers as I walked through the halls.

“She's the cursed one…”

“Did you hear what happened to her mate? Dead. Just like her mother.”

“She should be locked away. For everyone's safety.”

Each word sliced deeper.

I ended up in the living room, curled on the edge of the couch, trying to block them all out.

A soft knock echoed through the space.

A maid peeked in. “My lady… the royal guard is here for you.”

I stood slowly. “Let him in.”

A tall man I'm deep green armour entered, bowing slightly. “Lady Emilia, Alpha Dominic has urgent news. He requests your presence immediately.”

I swallowed. “Thank you. I'll go with you.”

Before I could step out, the front doors opened and in walked Alpha Dominic himself.

His face was tired, but there was fire in hair eyes.

“Emilia,” he said, nodding respectfully. “I'm sorry to disturb you.”

“It's okay. What happened?”

“We've captured one of the rogues,” he said. “He confessed. They were hired to kill Lorenzo. It wasn't random.”

My heart dropped. “Who hired them?”

“He doesn't know. Only the leader knows, and we're tracking them now.”

I closed my eyes, shaking slightly. “So someone wanted him dead? On purpose?”

Alpha Dominic nodded grimly. “Yes and I swear to you, Emilia. We will find out who. And when we do, they will answer for what they've done. You can help us.”

“How?”

“You'll know that when we arrive the pack.”