Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman
1273 Words
"Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?"
Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones.
She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message.
I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me."
“It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in.
I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth.
"Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked.
"Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down.
"Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh.
Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled.
The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him.
The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me.
Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers.
Breanne played the confused card.
That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers.
After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me.
Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error.
I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates?
Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it.
I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond.
I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal.
With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack.
But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago.
His lack of consideration over that confused me.
Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end.
"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want."
I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse.
Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?”
"You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully."
Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—"
The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon.
I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood.
A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny.
Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her.
My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion.
And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head.
My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be.
"Mirage?" My voice cracked.
The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me.
"Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!"
I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion.
I had summoned him.
My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home.
Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused.
Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions.
He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was.
Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home?
Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him.
"Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached.
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