chapter 16 Betrayal and rescue

Calista's trembling hands reached for the maid pulling her hair, desperate to lessen the pain. She could feel her scalp screaming in agony, certain she'd go bald if this continued.

Emily crouched in front of her, her grip firm on Calista's jaw. Her amber eyes glinted with rage, jealousy dripping from every word. "Then tell me," she hissed, "why does the prince want you as his Luna Queen?"

Calista's voice shook as she answered, her breath uneven from fear. "That's not true! I've never even met him," she stammered, tears forming in her wide green eyes. Fear clouded her entire being.

"Lies!" Emily's shout rang through the room, cutting through any ounce of Calista's courage. Without warning, Emily flung her across the room with a force that made the walls shake.

Calista's fragile body collided with the wardrobe, the wood splintering on impact. Pain shot through her like lightning, and a wet cough escaped her lips as blood trickled down her chin. Her trembling fingers tried to push herself upright, but the ache radiating through her bones kept her paralyzed on the floor.

Emily's footsteps echoed ominously as she approached, her heels clicking against the polished wood. "You were at the party last night, weren't you, Cal?" Emily spat, her voice laced with malicious satisfaction. Her lips twisted into a smile, but her eyes burned with hatred.

Calista's pale face froze in horror. She tried to crawl backward, away from the storm of anger headed her way. "Sister, please… have mercy," she begged, her voice cracking. She dragged herself across the floor, but her strength was waning.

Emily's wicked smirk widened. "Mercy?" she mocked, crouching down. Her claws extended from her fingers with a sickening sound, glinting in the dim light. "I'm sorry, Cal, but mercy doesn't exist in my world."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the Beta's mansion, a luxurious brown carriage came to a stop. Prince Ezekiel emerged, his regal posture matched by the striking sharpness in his blue eyes. He walked inside with a purposeful stride, paying no mind to the guards who respectfully bowed as he passed. He knew the mansion well enough to find his way without assistance.

In the sitting room, Rachel sat leisurely sipping her tea, her face calm and composed. At the sight of the prince, she rose to greet him, her smile polite but lacking genuine warmth.

"Prince Ezekiel," she greeted with a slight bow. He returned the courtesy with a brief nod.

"Rachel," he replied, his tone flat. "I've come to see Calista."

Rachel hesitated before responding, masking her displeasure with a soft chuckle. "Ah, Calista… I'm afraid I wasn't expecting you today, or I would've prepared tea."

Ezekiel raised a brow, unimpressed. "Where is she? Could you inform her that I'm here?" he asked, ignoring her attempt at small talk.

Rachel placed her cup down, her fingers tightening around the handle. "I'm afraid she isn't available. She's in seclusion, resting to recover from her illness," she lied smoothly, her expression unwavering.

Before Ezekiel could respond, a loud crash echoed from upstairs. He stiffened, his heart pounding as an unfamiliar dread washed over him. "What was that?" he demanded.

Rachel's face remained composed, though her eyes darted toward the ceiling. "It's nothing to concern yourself with," she said, stepping in front of him. "These things happen in a large household."

But then came the sound of a growl, followed by a blood-curdling scream. Ezekiel's face hardened, his jaw tightening as he pushed Rachel's hand away. Without another word, he bolted toward the commotion.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Calista's cries pierced the air as Emily's claws raked down her back. Pain erupted through her body, and blood gushed from the fresh wounds, staining the floor beneath her. Stars danced in her vision, and her breaths came in ragged gasps.

The maids in the room gasped, some covering their mouths in shock. Others turned their heads away, unable to bear the gruesome sight of Emily's cruelty.

Emily stood over her sister, her chest heaving with exhilaration. She reveled in the sound of Calista's screams, a twisted satisfaction lighting her face. "You think you can steal what's mine, Cal?" she sneered, raising her claws again for another strike.

But her hand froze mid-air.

"HOW DARE YOU?" A thunderous voice echoed through the room, its authority shaking everyone to their core.

Emily turned, her face pale as Prince Ezekiel stormed in, his piercing gaze burning with fury. His fists clenched at his sides, and his aura radiated an intensity that made the air feel thick and suffocating.

Calista barely registered his presence. Her vision blurred, and the pain threatened to consume her. She felt a gentle hand on her cheek and heard his worried voice. "Are you okay?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.

Emily stammered, "P-Prince Ezekiel? I… I can explain!" But her words fell on deaf ears. He ignored her completely, his attention solely on the broken figure of Calista.

Tears streamed down Calista's face, not just from the pain but from the realization that someone—someone—cared enough to worry about her. It was a foreign feeling, one that overwhelmed her fragile heart. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, the darkness consumed her, and she fell unconscious.

Ezekiel's face darkened further as he gently picked her up, cradling her limp body in his arms. Without sparing Emily another glance, he turned and stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

Emily dropped to her knees, her mind spinning with disbelief. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of her actions—and their consequences—sank in. "He'll never forgive me," she whispered brokenly, clutching her head in her hands. "He'll never see me the same way again."

Rachel watched from the doorway, her face grim. She said nothing as she turned away, leaving her daughter to wallow in her shame.

~~~~~~~

Outside, Ezekiel transformed into a massive white wolf with piercing blue eyes. He placed Calista gently on his back, ensuring she wouldn't fall. Then, with a powerful push of his legs, he took off at a breathtaking speed, the world blurring around him.

The wolf dashed through the woods, his paws thundering against the earth. His heart raced with worry as he felt the faint rise and fall of Calista's chest. He couldn't let her die. He wouldn't let her die.

Minutes later, he reached his private residence at the palace, rushing inside without hesitation. His trusted maids scrambled to their feet as the massive wolf entered, carefully lowering the unconscious girl onto a soft bed.

"Do whatever it takes to save her," he ordered them after shifting back into his human form. His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed his desperation.

The maids immediately set to work, cleaning her wounds and applying healing balms. They whispered among themselves, noting how deep the claw marks were. "Who could be so cruel?" one muttered, shaking her head as she cleaned the bloodied wounds.

Another maid frowned. "Her wolf hasn't awakened yet," she said softly. "That's why she isn't healing."

Ezekiel's hands tightened into fists as he watched from the doorway. His eyes burned with a determination that could rival the fiercest storm. "I won't let anyone hurt you again, Calista," he vowed under his breath. "Never again."