After spending almost the entire early evening in the garden chatting with my cousin, I felt more relaxed. When we entered the house, I decided to show her my room before finally going down to dinner.
It was the first time I could hear the house filled with laughter and joy, a warm feeling in my chest, and when I opened the door, revealing my room and the expansive window, Daphne was the first to barge in and leap onto the bed, allowing her body to relish the mattress's soft embrace.
"By the goddess, you are blessed! This mattress could easily replace Lucian," her comment made me snicker, a sound that quickly faded as an unfamiliar scent invaded my nostrils. My eyes widened while something churned inside me, Daphne must have noticed because she hopped off the bed, holding my hands gently, leading me to the window.
"Looks like your little wolf is starting to awaken!" With some difficulty, I sat beneath the window while everything around me began growing louder, even the faint clink of glasses downstairs seemed to disturb me, and my breath grew ragged. A wave of panic filled my chest while my cousin knelt before me, coaching me to control it all with the simple act of inhaling slowly and exhaling calmly.
A bath might help, that's what she said before flinging me into the bathroom, and in a matter of minutes, I was ready to head down for dinner. The box she had brought indeed contained a beautiful royal blue satin dress, and as I put it on and saw my reflection, I felt out of place.
The bedroom door flung open as Lucian, followed by Daphne and my mother, came in, all three looking at me admirably and cautiously approaching.
"I heard my little one has finally received her wolf," Lucian said slowly, scrutinizing my figure, his fingers on his chin indicating he was about to say more before Daphne silenced him with a slap.
"Don't even think about playing the protector!" Daphne growled while my mother pulled me into her arms and tenderly kissed my forehead.
"You look stunning, who would have thought my baby, upon turning sixteen and gaining her wolf, would turn into such a beautiful woman?" A solitary tear rolled down her cheek, causing me to smile and my own eyes to well up.
"You're going to make her smudge her makeup, Auntie!" Daphne protested, finishing a small braid in my hair, and they said they would wait for me in the dining room.
Once alone in the room again, I stood before the mirror, examining the curves of my body, the dress truly marked a rite of passage and frankly, it revealed too much. The same scent from earlier once again invaded the hall as I began walking towards the stairs, and without Daphne to distract me, I decided to follow the nauseating scent trail.
The door to Zedekiah's room was ajar, and before I could reach it, I was met with a sight I'd never forget. Zed lay in his bed with Safira naked atop him, and the two were intimately entangled. My legs shook, and I was engulfed by the urge to vomit; I didn't want to stand there a moment longer, watching the boy who was supposed to be my fiance in the arms of another, whispering declarations of love meant for me, his mate.
Fury was the feeling that swelled in my chest as I strode towards the stairs. Once I arrived at the dining room, everyone waited expectantly, and I couldn't hide the anger I felt when minutes later, Safira's laughter echoed down the stairs alongside Zed.
Many would say my subsequent actions were petty, but they were merely the result of a teenager with a newly-found wolf and heightened emotions.
"I don't want her here," I declared as I turned, my gaze landing on Zed and then casting toward Safira.
The entire dining room fell silent as Aunt Lydia stepped beside me, attempting to grasp the unfolding situation.
"This is my house, Cassandra, and Safira stays. You don't have the say here, know your place," Zed spoke with such disregard, forgetting my parents, Daphne, and her partner were present, his facade slipping.
"You're mistaken, it's my birthday, the dinner here is in my honor, therefore I choose who I share the room with. And Safira is leaving - she can choose to leave amicably or be dragged out," Rage heaved in my chest as my green eyes burned into every inch of Safira's face until they landed on the love bite on her neck. My father and Aunt Lydia noticed where I was looking, and before Zed could retort, Lydia stepped in with her mask of indifference.
"Leave my home, Safira. I've already told you you're not welcome here. I'm not asking, I'm commanding as the Luna of the tribe," Lydia's voice altered, becoming more beast-like than usual, and in that moment, I realized she was using her commanding voice, one no wolf could defy.
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