"Lily’s birthday is in three days," she said, her voice devoid of warmth. "You’ll kneel at her empty grave and tell us where you hid her body. If you confess, maybe we can start to heal from the pain you caused." She took a breath, her eyes flickering with something unreadable. "If Kian were still alive, he would’ve killed you himself. And he would never have forgiven you—just like we never will."
The door shut behind her.
My tears fall as my knees gave out, and I crumpled onto the cold floor. Silent sobs wracked my body as grief and betrayal ripped through me, clawing at my soul.
I had no more family.
No more love.
Nothing.
But my wolf refused to give in. She wanted to fight. She wanted the truth.
I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on.
The damage was already done.
Soon, I’d lose my sight completely. The trauma of that day—the acid thrown at my face, the way my skull cracked against the stone floor—had left wounds my wolf couldn't heal.
And Marcus… If he had truly been loyal to me, maybe I wouldn't be this broken.
They put me in a small room near the servants’ quarters. I almost laughed. This was how much they despised me. They never saw me as their daughter.
At least it had a bed.
Unlike the freezing prison cell where I had to sleep on the floor, waiting for death. Not even my parents had sent me a blanket during those brutal winters.
The only warmth I ever received came from an unknown person. A thick coat. A heavy blanket.
"A murderer doesn’t deserve comfort," the guards had sneered.
A murderer.
Was I?
There were nights I almost believed it—almost wished it was true, just so the pain could end.
But it wouldn’t.
I barely slept. This new room was just another prison.
What was the point of staying here?
No one wanted me.
I stared at my reflection in the small, cracked mirror. My lips twisted into a bitter smile.
Tomorrow was Lily’s birthday.
I missed her.
That sweet, bubbly little girl.
Who did this to you, Lily?
Who?
The question had haunted me since the day she disappeared. Since the day we saw the pictur of her lifeless, bloodied body—though no one had ever found it who had sent it and then I was accused of it.
Who could do something so cruel to an innocent child?
I needed to get out of that suffocating room.
The whispers of the servants followed me as I walked through the halls. The murderer. The monster.