Lyra's Pov

My stomach grumbled loudly, the hungry sounds echoing hurting everyone of my intestines.

And only then did I perceive the scent of the delicious meal my mother had prepared for Devlin. I had thought it was just fruits, but I was wrong.

A flask was beneath the basket, and she carefully covered it up with fruits.

It's delicious scent taunting me mercilessly.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the reality of my hunger set in. I had been working tirelessly, completing my chores without complaint, yet there was nothing for me to eat.

I mustered up the courage to approach my mother, my voice filled with desperation. "Mother, I've been working all day, and now there's nothing for me to eat. Please, I'm starving."

She turned to me, her expression filled with disdain. "Starving? You dare complain after all the trouble you've caused? You should be grateful for the scraps that fall from the table of Devlin."

"But Mother, I-"

"Silence!" she bellowed, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "Did I ask you to speak? Did I give you permission to question me?"

Tears streamed down my face as I realized the futility of my pleas. I had hoped for compassion, for a mother's love, but all I received was a harsh slap across my cheek.

Her handprint burned on my skin, a physical reminder of my perceived insolence. I stood there, stunned and defeated, the pain throbbing in my cheek matching the ache in my heart.

"Disrespectful child! How dare you raise your voice to me?" she spat, her voice dripping with anger. "You think you deserve special treatment? You are nothing more than a servant, a lowly member of this pack. Remember your place."

Her words crushed me, and I could only nod, my voice choked with sobs. My hunger gnawed at my insides, but it was the ache of rejection and abandonment that hurt the most.

As the weight of my mother's slap still stung on my cheek, Steven's voice broke through the heavy silence of the room. "I'm here to accompany Lyra for the hunt," he announced.

I quickly wiped away the tears that still streamed down my face, hoping that Steven hadn't witnessed the confrontation between my mother and me.

My eyes were reddened.. I tried to compose myself, to hide the pain that lingered within but I failed.

There was no controlling the tears, as every pain in my stomach made me shuddered.

My mother's smile was saccharine sweet, a façade of kindness masking her true intentions. "Of course, Steven. Lyra will be responsible for carrying the basket and ensuring that Devlin receives it."

Steven's eyes flickered from the basket to my trembling hands, and for a brief moment, our gazes locked.

It was as though he could hear the thumping sound of my heart.

And suddenly without missing a beat, Steven stepped forward and reached for the handle of the basket.

His hand closed around it, he noticed the moisture on the handle, the tears that had fallen from my eyes staining the surface.

His smile never wavered as he turned to my mother. "Thank you. We'll make sure Devlin receives it."

My mother nodded, her eyes narrowing for a moment, "Very well. You two may leave now."

...

The moon cast its silvery glow over the gathering, illuminating the faces of the slaves who had gathered at the hunt.

As I approached the area where the tools were kept, whispers floated through the air.

"If we make it through the night, maybe Devlin will choose us to serve the Luna and Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack."

"Or perhaps we'll be selected to join Devlin at the Blood River Pack."

The hushed voices were filled with anticipation and longing, as if the mere thought of being chosen offered a glimmer of hope in their otherwise bleak existence.

I couldn't help but scoff...

Did they truly know what Devlin was like? Did they understand the depths of her cruelty and manipulation?

Im just a day, I knew what she was like. The nature of her character, and I couldn't fathom why anyone would yearn to be under her control.

As the murmurs continued, a presence cut through the air like a sharp gust of wind. Devlin appeared before us, her posture exuding authority and arrogance. The murmurs died down.

"We leave now," Devlin declared.

Suddenly, Devlin's grip tightened around my arm, her nails digging into my skin as she pulled me closer to her. The force of her grip sent a jolt of pain through me, but I bit my lip to stifle any sound.

"Stay close to me,"

I nodded silently, my eyes downcast, unsure of what to say.

As we walked through the dense forest, the rustling of leaves filled the air. My heart pounded in my chest, at every stops of Devlin's.

Suddenly, Devlin's voice broke the silence, slicing through my thoughts like a blade. "Why did you bring so much food?" she sneered, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the basket I had been carrying.

I hesitated for a moment, "They are yours, my mother prepared the basket for you."

Devlin let out a cold, humorless laugh as she searched the basket.

"The apples might come in handy for the hunt, but the rest of the food is useless. You can throw them out."

Her words cut through me like a knife, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. My mother had gone through the trouble of preparing food for her, but she didn't need it.

I was rooted to a spot in a moment, staring at the basket. My body shuddering as I realized,

' I'm still very much hungry.' But then-

"Do you like Asher?"

Devlin's sudden question caught me off guard, my heart skipping a beat as fear surged through my veins.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered, my voice trembling.

Devlin's lips curled into a wicked smile, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, Lyra, don't be coy. I've seen the way you look at him. The longing in your eyes whenever he's near. You can't hide it from me."

The basket suddenly dropped from my hand. My whole body trembling as I stammered,

"I... couldn't....I wouldn't..."

But Devlin scoffed, and walked a distance.

In an instant, she haf drawn her bow and let loose an arrow, aimed directly at me.

Time seemed to slow as the arrow sliced through the air, aimed at my heart.