My head whipped sideways, the taste of blood bursting across my tongue. The room spun as my ears rang from the force.
For half a second, Zyan gaze faltered when he saw my state before Victoria’s cry echoed, making his guilt disappear completely.
"You have crossed every limit, Lianna! " Zyan snapped, his eyes burning with rage.
“ Victoria was perfectly fine until you brought that food! What the hell did you mix in it? ! "
"Nothing "I said hoarsely. "It was her who mixed the peanuts-"
"Nothing? " His eyes darkened, voice dropping to ice. "You still dare lie!"
"Today I will teach you a lesson you will never forget, I, Alpha Zyan Gray strip you, Lianna Rose of your luna title!
From now onwards your status will be reduced to an omega unworthy to lead the pack.
Apologise or else this won't be it!” he commanded.
"No!" I spat.
"What did you say? "His eyes sharpened into ice, a tinge of shock at my calmness.
"I said no! I will not-"
He reached into his pocket.
And the world…stopped.
Hanging between his fingers was a small, tarnished locket belonging to my mother. The very locket I had given Zyan as a promise when we were thirteen-’If you keep this, you keep me.’
"You shouldn’t be so stubborn Lianna. "His thumb traced it lazily.
"Apologize now or this disappears for ever." A chill crept into his eyes, his tone leaving no room for refusal."
My vision blurred. Not from weakness, but from grief so sharp that it crushed me.
I got up with the last of my breaths, my knees hitting the cold floor. Pain ricocheted up my spine.
I could barely breathe, barely stay upright.
Slowly…painfully…I lowered myself until my forehead touched the cold floor.
"I am sorry" I whispered before looking up at Zyan, and the moment our eyes met, his entire being faltered.
Broken, destroyed and utterly ruined.
The red-rimmed eyes that once held an ocean of love looked at him with raw despair…empty.
This time, he hesitated, his expression complicated.
It was then Victoria sniffled delicately, wiping a perfectly timed tear.
"Oh sister…I didn’t want this." It was then she gently took the pendant from Zyan.
"Here, sister…I will give it to you."she murmured, stepping toward me with a gentle, angelic smile.
My fingers shook as I reached out, bloodshot eyes only focused on it, but before I could grasp it…the pendant fell.
Clink.
The glass center shattered like a small, dying cry, breaking into millions of pieces.