Rejected by Him, Claimed by His Father

to run, to get as far away from this place

steps. Slow, steady fo

She flattened herself against t

ation?" the second voic

order stands. Once the celebrati

anic rising in her throat. They had mentioned h

ded to

un around and stumbled down the hallway, her vision blurry with tears. Sh

mian wouldn't... He wouldn'

her mind. The way he had announced Bianca as his futu

Greta, one of the head cooks. She had always been kind to Catherine, offeri

when she saw her pale face and sha

her mouth, but

and pulled her into the kitchen. She shut the door

soft tone. "The guards. They said... they

st stared at her. Then, her

spered, her eyes filling with

fear was too much. "But... why?" she c

w this-if you stay, you won

h to the stomach. She couldn'

and began stuffing it with bread and cheese. "You'll nee

ut

. "You listen to me, Catherine. The moment you step b

rd she thought it might burst.

ds and hugged her tight. "Stay saf

ond, there was a knoc

one of the maids announced as they stepped ins

into the hall. She couldn't risk seeing Damian's face

." she whispered, trying

ng aside to allow her a clear

hesi

report her. And then they w

ngers to wrap around the glass of wine, her heart pounding as she t

ded to

it was

speaking with them. Bianca was beside him, her hands wrapped possessively around his arm. W

choice. She approached them slowly, her body still trembling. Wh

k at her, his ey

arted-as if he was about to tell her something importa

quickly

e she could give it to him. The glass shattered against the floor,

illed t

linked, fro

e horror. "Catherine poisoned the wine, Alpha!" she screa

t skippe

fell deat

turned to

anca had just screamed out. She would never poison Damian. She

t sent shivers down her spine-D

ne's he

is couldn't

pposed to be

like

t even loo

t asking h

ed, but no wo

staring at him, hoping he was considering the fac

ked back at her...

h tears in her eyes, her voice barely holdin

t answer

, she wished he

he didn't believe the words coming out

rine

room

inside he

ieved Bian