Chapter 3
She studied Hazel as Ethan introduced the both of them. In front of her stood an attractive and ravishingly beautiful she–wolf, and Bella couldn’t help but compare herself to her. Bella knew she was no match, physically or in status, and that she could never compete with Hazel. She was merely an ordinary gamma, not fit to become Luna. The only confidence she had stemmed from the mate bond she shared with Ethan.
Determined to secure Ethan as her mate and husband, Bella knew she had to get rid of Hazel. She needed the Luna position for herself Ethan kindly offered to take Hazel back to the hospital and asked her to wait for him to finish some business. This provided Bella with an opportunity to carry out her plan.
As she pondered how to remove Hazel from the picture, Bella realized the challenge she faced. Hazel was a reliable and beloved Luna; the pack spoke highly of her, making it almost impossible to win their acceptance, Frustration and self–hatred overwhelmed Bella, fueling her determination to find a way to claim Ethan as her own.
Instead of waiting for Ethan, Bella decided to follow Hazel as she headed for the stairs. Seizing the moment, she approached her, calling out to her in a cold and unfriendly tone. With no one else around, Bella dropped the act of being sick and fragile, revealing her true
self.
“Don’t be shameless, Hazel,” Bella retorted sharply. “His mate is back now; shouldn’t you leave? The only reason he hasn’t offered to divorce you is because he pities you. You should take the initiative to end things. I am his mate, not you. Stop hoarding what’s not yours,” she spat, her anger and jealousy evident in her words.
Hazel looked taken aback by Bella’s sudden change in demeanor.
HAZEL
Frustrated and fed up with Bella’s smug smile and public display of affection with Ethan, I walked away, hoping to escape her taunts and irritation that now fueled me. However, she relentlessly followed me, seemingly intent on provoking a reaction. My initial sadness turned to a surge of irritation; how dare she talk to me this way?
Unable to bear her presence any longer, I turned to face her, my head held high and my fists clenched in an attempt to appear brave and resolute. “I am still his lawful wife. You may be his mate, but not everyone gets married to their mates. You can remain his mistress. I didn’t hoard nor did I steal. I’ll remain Luna, doing what’s right for the pack,” I asserted firmly, determined to stand my ground.
Her once beautiful face contorted into a mask of bitter anger and rage. Deep down, she knew I was right; Ethan may shower her with love and emotions, but I was still his wife, the Luna. She wasn’t fit to be Luna, fully aware of her ordinary gamma status and the vast difference in our wolf bloodlines. My parents possessed a strong and noble wolf lineage, making me a perfect fit for the role of Luna, a position of royalty. On the other hand, she was an ordinary gamma, the weakest in the wolf hierarchy.
You’re a mistress, that’s all.” With that I turned to leave.
She walked faster stood in front of me blocking my way to the stairs, then she started backing off slowly, heading towards the stairs.
“What are you doing?” I snapped in frustration, witnessing her sly smile as she continually walked backwards until she reached the edge of the stairs.
Suddenly, she let out a chilling scream and allowed herself to fall, dramatically rolling down the staircase. I stood stunned
couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. She had fallen, and the chaos that ensued was overwhelming.
She threw herself down the stairs and fell. She lay at the end of the stairs writhing in pain. “Help, she pushed me.” She cried.
“What?!” I snapped, feeling my frustration and irritation intensify.
Upon closer observation, I noticed that Bella wasn’t badly hurt; she had taken care not to fall in a way that would cause serious injury. Ethan rushed out to her side, his concern evident, and I felt a pang of jealousy that he was giving her all his attention. He threw an angry gaze in my direction.
Bella was carried out of the building and into a car to be rushed to a hospital. I followed behind, instructing Adam to follow Ethan’s car. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and amazement; just what was she up to? I knew I hadn’t touched her. The smug smile she gave me before releasing herself to fall from the stairs flashed before my eyes, and suddenly it all became clear – she did it on purpose to make me seem evil and make Ethan hate me. At the hospital, I waited in the waiting room while Bella was taken to the emergency ward. She had badly bruised her calf, but she concealed a smile in my direction, mocking and taunting me. Enraged, I couldn’t hold back any longer and walked into her room. “You did it on purpose! I never pushed you. Admit it!” I yelled, my anger boiling over. Before I could reach her, Ethan stepped in, grabbing and shoving me away. The betrayal and disbelief in his eyes cut deep. “How could you hurt her?” he growled. The hospital belonged to the pack, and people were all around, witnessing this confrontation.
“Not only did you push her, but you’re also denying it! Have you always been this way? Cold–hearted and wicked? You could have killed her!” Ethan’s words echoed in my ears, and my heart shattered at his accusations.
Sitting on the cold hospital floor, I felt humiliated and lost, while people peered through the doors to see what was happening. The pack, who once respected and admired me as Luna, now saw me as a spiteful woman trying to harm my husband’s mate.
“Get out. Right now,” Ethan ordered, his voice filled with anger and disappointment. I stumbled off the floor, shock and confusion overwhelming me. “Ethan, believe me, I didn’t do it. I never pushed her,” I pleaded desperately, but he seemed unwilling to listen. “Go home and wait for me,” he instructed, and with a heavy heart, I obeyed, walking away stunned and unsure of how to salvage my relationship and reputation.
I truge down the stairs still in a daze, I couldn’t believe what had just happened.
As Adam pulled into the driveway of our gated mansion, my mind was still in turmoil. I exited the car almost robotically, my heart heavy with the burden of the truth that had been twisted against me.
As I passed the servants, I couldn’t even hear their greetings. The whispers about the incident followed me like a dark cloud, painting me as a villain in the eyes of the pack.
In the solitude of my dark bedroom, I grappled with my emotions, trying to make sense of
the situation. I knew I had to explain everything to Ethan, to make him understand the truth. Bella, just what was she up to? Framing me up like this wasn’t necessary.
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