Chapter 6

I stumbled into the room, propelled by the girl's shove. My body collided with a random chair, jarring my senses.

Caitlin's grip on my hair was like a vice, yanking my head back until our eyes met. "Don't you dare think you've won just because you've got Alpha Timothee on your side! You're nothing but trash that he picked up off the street!"

I cried out in pain, struggling to free myself from her grasp. "Let go of me! I haven't done anything to you!"

"Are you still so deluded that you can't see you've stolen what rightfully belongs to me?" she hissed, her venomous words spewing like acid. "You dare to parade yourself in front of Alpha Timothee, flaunting your pitiful brood like bait. You think you can trap him with those two mewling brats?"

I recoiled from her touch, the pain in my jaw eclipsed by the agony of her betrayal.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "I haven't done anything to you. I don't parade myself before him!"

A humorless laugh erupted from her lips, a cruel sound that sent chills racing down my spine. "Oh, you're so naive, it's almost endearing. Do you really think I haven't seen the way you look at him? The way you hang on his every word, like he's some kind of god? You think you can just waltz in here and take what's mine?"

Her grip tightened, and I felt my jaw begin to throb. "I'm warning you, sl*t. Stay away from Timothee. He's mine, and I'll do anything to keep him."

With that, she released me and stormed off, her heels clicking furiously against the marble floor. I stood there for a long time, frozen in shock, my hand pressed to my aching jaw. The words she had spoken echoed in my mind, each one a dagger piercing my heart.

"Mommy!" Sawyer and Asher rushed to me, their faces etched with worry.

"Are you okay?" I cupped their cheeks, my own heart racing with fear. Those cruel women could have hurt my children.

"What did she do to you, Mom?" Asher clutched my hand tightly, his eyes glistening with tears. "Can we go home now?"

I took a deep breath and stroked his head gently. "Sweetheart…"

"Why wasn't Dad here when they did this to us?" Sawyer whispered. "Why do they hate us, Mom?"

"No, Sawyer. No one hates us," I assured him.

Caitlin stormed back into the room, carrying a mop and bucket. She slammed them down in front of me, making my sons flinch in fear.

"Get to work cleaning these rooms if you don't want me to do it for you!" she barked.

I reluctantly sent Sawyer and Asher back to their room to rest, but they refused. They insisted on helping me clean the mansion, and so we spent the entire morning scrubbing floors, dusting furniture, and polishing windows.

My heart ached as I watched my sons toil away. They were too young to be subjected to such cruelty.

As we worked, I couldn't help but wonder how things had come to this. Just a few months ago, we had been a happy family, living in a beautiful home and enjoying a comfortable life. But now, everything was gone slowly. Many groups targeted us, and we ended up at Timothee's mansion.

I felt a wave of despair wash over me. How would I ever escape this nightmare?

But then I looked at Sawyer and Asher, and I knew that I had to be strong. For them, I would find a way to survive. I would find a way to get us out of this hellhole.

I would never give up hope.

"You should be licking that marble floor until it shines!" Caitlin stormed in and, without any reason, promptly spilled a glass of coffee.

"Why are you dirtying it again?" I asked, my voice rising slightly.

Caitlin snorted and slapped me without saying a word.

I felt a surge of pain and anger as Caitlin's hand hit my cheek. I stumbled back and dropped the mop I was holding. She smirked and kicked the bucket of water, splashing it all over me and the floor.

"What are you going to do, huh? Cry to your Alpha?" she taunted. "You're nothing but a pathetic maid. You don't belong here. You don't deserve anything."

I clenched my fists and tried to control my breathing.

"Don't you dare scream at my mom!" Sawyer yelled. "You wicked old witch!" His words echoed with raw fury, the anger palpable in the air.

Caitlin's eyes flashed with fury as she screamed at Sawyer, her voice laced with venom.

"You little brat! How dare you say such a thing!" She grabbed his ear and twisted it viciously, causing him to cry out in pain.

I rushed over, horrified by the way she was treating my son.

"Caitlin, stop!" I demanded. "You're hurting him!"

But she just glared at me, her face twisted with rage. "This is none of your business," she spat. "Get out of my way!"

She shoved me hard, sending me sprawling to the ground. I landed with a jarring thud, the air knocked out of my lungs.

As I lay there, dazed and gasping for breath, I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Timothee, his face dark with anger.

"Don't you ever touch her again," he said to Caitlin, his voice low and dangerous.

She took a step back, her eyes widening in fear.

"I-I didn't mean to..." she stammered.

"You meant to hurt my Luna and heirs," he said, his eyes cutting through her like a knife. "And you're going to pay for it."

"L-Luna?" Caitlin gagged.

He turned to me and helped me to my feet. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I nodded, still shaken by what had just happened. "I'm fine," I said. "Thank you."

He looked at Caitlin again, his eyes full of fury.

"Get out of here," he said. "And don't ever come near us again."

"But I can explain everything, Alpha. I-I–"

Timothee, his face flushed with emotion, rubbed my back. Then he grabbed Caitlin's arm without mercy and dragged her out of the room.

I followed him, worried that he would kill Caitlin right then and there.

"Timmy! What are you going to do?" I asked, struggling to keep up with him.