<i>Zephyrine </i>
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I stood still, my heart sinking. Before, I couldn’t pinpoint why I hated it, why it brought me a sadness so deep I had never felt before when Lycannar rejected me but now I knew.
The weight settling on my shoulders, the ache in my chest, all stemmed from the simple truth that I am hopelessly in love with him.
I blinked, trying to steady my emotions. Only the Moon Goddess knew what was going through his mind now, what he might be thinking or feeling.
Slowly, I turned toward the White Pack and walked inside, each step heavier than thest. I pushed open the door just in time to see Kai giving Blue an order.
“Hey, you there! Come pour me a drink.”
I froze at the doorway, unnoticed by everyone, and watched as Blue moved to obey.
“Let me,” I said softly from the doorway, striding toward the far end where the dining hally. I took the jug from Blue’s hands and poured water into Kai’s cup, meeting his smirk with icy patience.
“You should have let the maid do it, Zeph. Isn’t that what she’s for? ving and…”
Smashed!
He hadn’t finished, hadn’t registered my movement, when I mmed the jug into his head. Hard. Sudden. He crumpled from the chair, dazed, stunned.
The room went silent. Everyone froze, stunned by the audacity of it, but I wasn’t done. I reached for the bowl of boiling soup on the table and handed it to Blue. I stepped aside, folding my hands across my chest.
“Pour it on him,” I ordered.
Ever loyal, Blue obeyed instantly, as if expecting themand. The scalding soup spilled over the Beta of the Hue Pack, and Nyroth sat there, jaw dropping, eyes wide. I turned to him, my re sharp and unwavering.
“Lycannar said your stupid, rude Beta wouldn’t live long. Maybe it’s me who will be his executioner. See thisdy of mine?” I pointed at Blue. “She is only a maid to me, only to me. Tell your Beta to be rude to her again, and he’ll know the exact time of his death.”
His face flushed pale. He was stunned, forced to nce at Kai writhing in pain, then back to me.
“Zeph…”
“I wasn’t the one who called this dinner, Nyroth,” I said, my voice cold. “But I am d you’re here because I have a question. I will let you live, I swear, if you are honest with me.”
He stared, a crease forming on his brow.
“Tell me… do you know it was Ka who poisoned me?”
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**Finished
“Zephyr…” Dessyn’s voice whispered in awe, but I ignored her. I kept my gaze locked on Nyroth, reading the guilt etched into his face.
“Answer me, Nyroth. You knew she poisoned me, and yet you stayed with her. You let it happen, right?”
He swallowed hard, lowering his gaze.
“You make it sound like you would plead for my life if you were in my shoes,” he said softly.
I stiffened. He knew… and he let it happen. Left me for dead while I had stood against Lycannar’s opinion of killing him countless times. Death… that was the height of it.
I lowered my gaze, clearly shaken, but he continued.<fn07fb> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find·novel</fn07fb>
“I wanted to tell you, Zeph. I wanted to save you, but… Apex beat me to it many times. Listen, I apologize, and now I am ready to be yours. I will leave Ka alone. Forget that you stole her hairpin and lied about saving me years ago. I will forget your ‘promiscuous‘ attitude, that you are a Rogue. I will wee you back. Let me mark you, Zeph.”
My shoulders sagged at his words. Instead of forgiveness, I felt only disgust.
The hairpin my brother gifted me, he believed I stole it. He made it sound like being a Rogue was the greatest crime, calling me promiscuous, as though he had been faithful all along.
“I want you to fix the date and time, Nyroth. Rejection. Do it or I will.”
He frowned at that, gradually, uprehending.
“Zeph…”
“Get out.” Nathan’s voice rang sharp now. “Your mistress poisoned your mate, and you let it happen. Kept it secret. Slept at night! Get out of my house!”
Nyroth’s jaw tightened as he rose, Kai following, humiliated and enraged. Both cast furious res at Blue and me as they left. The door closed, the sound of their carriage fading into the night.
“Zephyr.” Dessyn rushed to hug me tightly. “My gods, I’m so sorry. How did you find out? I’m sorry you have to go through that.”
I hugged her back, steadying my emotions. A mate who never cared, who ignored me even as I was dying… it was a bitter, hollow feeling.
Silence fell heavily until Morwen’s voice cut through.
“Zephyr? You should let him mark you.”
Everyone turned to stare, shocked at her words, as though she had lost her mind.
“Mother! You saw what happened! Nyroth wanted to kill his own mate. If he’s rotten to that extent, what more is left?” Dessyn gasped.
“It was his mistress who tried to kill her, not him,” Morwen countered calmly.
“His silence also meant death. For five years, Zephyr ved for him. Compensation for her parents‘ deaths
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was used to build Hue Pack, and in return, he humiliated her, kept their mate bond secret, and cheated with his foolish first love, thinking she saved him, not knowing it was Zephyr. What else must happen for you to understand rejecting Nyroth is best?” Dessyn questioned.
“Loving Lycannar Blood is not the best either,” Morwen gritted her teeth, then turned <i>to </i>me. “Zephyr, follow me to the coven tonight for cleansing. Lycannar Blood has left a part of himself inside you. We must remove it.”
I stared in silence, and Nathan stepped forward, blocking his wife.
“You forget who she is. A woman like you has no right to tell her how to live her life. You, who left your husband and children behind, think you canmand a woman bound to rule? Go to the coven yourself. Zephyr will do as she pleases, and we will all support her.”
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The Rogue Is A Female Alpha