I stood there, confused and still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Aston was my second chance mate. It felt like a scene from a horror novel. How could I possibly be mates with the man who wanted my head on a tray for the sin of someone I used to be mated to?
What other tormenting ordeal did the goddess want to throw my way? I didn’t get it, I’d done nothing terrible enough to receive the kind of punishment that I was currently facing. First, replaceing myself in this stupid pack, losing my child and now getting mated to this jerk? Where did it all end?!
“You mind telling me where you’re heading with this goddess?” I yelled in my head and did my best not to scream and pull out my own hair even though that’s what I wanted to do.
My mind was reeling with emotions, and I couldn’t seem to focus on anything except the fact that Mara was now standing next to Aston, her arm wrapped around his shoulder like she owned him. I literally almost got molested by men who intended to kill me when they were done but all I could think about was why the instigator of my sufferings had her wrapped around the man that I was supposed to hate but couldn’t.
How was I going to figure out my life when I couldn’t even figure out how my mind worked?! Why did he give me his shirt if he was just going to let another woman wrap her hand around his chest? He was the last person I was expecting to show up and save me, in fact, if the maids hadn’t confessed that it was Mara that sent them, it wouldn’t be far fetched to think that Aston sent the guards to kill me so Mara or anyone else wouldn’t replace out about our steamy night together.
I tried to rid my head my of thoughts of Aston. The matter on ground was much bigger than whatever the hell I thought was going on between us. The two maids and the three men were still kneeling on the ground and getting yelled at by both Aston and Brax. I was so grateful for Brax, that he was right here at this moment. It made me feel like I had an ally in the midst of enemies.
“I’m sure you lots know the consequences of what you did, it’s inevitable so the earlier you tell me who sent you the better for you. I don’t think you want to suffer anymore than you need to but if that’s what you lots want then I can arrange for that to happen.” Aston threatened and the maids continued to weep like they’d given them the beatings of their life when all they had done since we got back was kneel.
He caught them in the act and yet he was giving them the chance to explain themselves meanwhile I was reported to him. through hearsay and I was brutally punished before I got the chance to explain myself, how could this man possibly be my mate and where did he get the guts to utter it? How dare him even call me that?!
As I watched, Mara began to speak, her voice dripping with fake innocence. “What’s going on here, Aston? What’s happening?” She sounded so genuine, so concerned, but I knew better, every one that wasn’t blinded by stupid emotions knew better, everyone that had a fair sense of judgement knew! I knew she was just acting, trying to cover her own tracks, it was as obvious as a blue chair in the midst of green ones, anyone whose judgement wasn’t clouded would be able to see that she was lying.
Aston carefully, without hesitation or even the slightest hint of annoyance explained how he had caught the maids and men, and Mara’s expression changed to one of shock. Her acting was impeccable and I felt like punching her until every stupid tooth in her mouth fell off but I was sure if I did that, I would even get more punishment than the people who tried to kill me so I kept my mouth shut.
“What I’m trying to get out of them now is who made them do this. They’re palace workers, if someone from the palace sent them on this kind of errand then it means that we have a serious betrayal problem.” He explained to her like she was his most trusted subject and she was completely out of the list of people that needed to be suspected.
“For the last time, who put you up to this?!” Aston growled at them and Brax was getting pretty frustrated.
Why are we wasting so much time when we can just whip the truth we already know out of them?”
“Maral Mara made us do this one of the maids finally screamed and one of the guards nodded in agreement. I’d never seen Mara look so shocked since I met her! Her eye balls were practically bulging out of their socket.
“I had no idea. Aston! I swear, I had nothing to do with this!” She sounded so convincing, but I knew she was lying. I knew she was behind this, and she was just trying to save herself.
But as began to question the maids, it became clear that they were not planning to take the fall alone. They mentioned Mara’s name for the umpteenth time, and she reacted with anger, slapping one of them and denying any involvement. The three men also spoke up, claiming they were sent by Mara, and the continued to deny it.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Mara was trying to save herself by throwing her own maids under the bus. And Aston….Aston seemed to be buying it. Why was I shocked that he would believe her words over that of anyone else’s? Why did it annoy me that he wasn’t reacting the way he should when he gets we reacting exactly the way I knew he would.
But Brax, at least, seemed sceptical. He asked the maids if they had any proof of Mara’s involvement, and they sadly shook their heads. Ur wasn’t shocking that Mara would keep her tracks clean but I really expected more from the maids. I didn’t think they would trust Mara so blindly, enough not to keep the kind of evidence that could save them at a time like to this.
Mara must have really made them trust her the same way she made Aston trust her enough to ignore everyone else and only listen what she had to say. Was she some sort of siren?!
Brax was going to continue questioning them when Mara’s third maid walked in, carrying a bunch of notes. And that’s when everything changed. The notes revealed that the maids had been planning this for a while, and they had been motivated by jealousy. They hated me, and they wanted to serve Aston personally.
Mara’s expression changed from innocence to anger, and she demanded that Aston dealt with the maids and men. But I knew she was just trying to cover her own tracks. And Brax seemed to agree with me, his eyes narrowing as he watched Mara’s antics.
The maids were sobbing silently, pleading for mercy, but Mara was unsympathetic. She slapped them again, warning them not to call her name again. I felt a surge of anger, but I knew I had to stay calm.
Now, I wondered what Aston’s verdict would be. Would he believe Mara’s lies, or would he see through them? And what would happen to me, stuck in the middle of all this? I couldn’t shake off the feeling that my life was in danger, and I didn’t know who to trust. If Mara tried to kill me once, what was to say that she wouldn’t do it again this time? She could even plan it more meticulously so there would be no chance of saving me.
Although, I still don’t know how I scaled through this one. I didn’t know how Aston managed to replace me when even I didn’t know where the hell I was.
As I looked at Aston, I saw him watching Mara with a mixture of confusion and anger. I knew he was trying to make sense of everything, but I also knew he was torn. He didn’t want to believe that his beloved was capable of such betrayal, and to top it off, there was no evidence that she was
“I swear I had nothing to do with this. I would never do such a monstrous thing.” She claimed with the most pitiful look on
her face
“I know.” Aston responded and ordered that the maids and guards all be thrown into a dungeon. Fury pulsed through my veins.
“What do you mean? What the hell are you doing? There’s obviously still one more culprit.” Brax yelled and Aston told him off telling him not question his decision.
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