Startled by the sharpness of her outburst, Leo fell silent. He stood rooted in place, lips parted slightly, watching as she marched past him toward the bathroom. His usual smirk never surfaced; instead, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his eyes.
Her eyes flicked toward Mirabel, who still wore that sa gentle smile on her face.
"If she wishes to play the role of the fragile victim, then let her. She may have the sympathy she craves, but she will never be loved for it. Instead, she will taste the sa ridicule I once endured. She will suffer in the role she has chosen, and every step of her sche will backfire. She will reveal her true colors soon enough... and when she does, her brothers will finally see her for what she truly is."
Leo’s grin widened, his eyes glittering with amusent as he leaned back slightly, almost savoring the thought. "You’re sharp, my lady. Very sharp indeed. Then let’s do it your way. I cannot wait for the second moon ceremony. Oh, the drama that will unfold..." His chuckle slipped from his lips, light yet mischievous, carrying a dark eagerness that lingered in the air.
Victoria’s lips curled upward once more, but this ti the smile carried a solemn, steely edge. "I can’t wait either," she whispered, her voice low and laced with quiet fire.
Then, raising her chin with sudden resolve, Victoria spoke more boldly. "I’ll protect Mirabel!" she declared, her words startling even herself. Moving toward her sister, she placed a hand firmly on Mirabel’s shoulder. "She’s right. The competition is drawing near. Even if we’re not training directly under the two Alphas we’ve been assigned to, we can still support each other. We can et up at school, share what we learn, and train together before our nightly sessions. That way, we’ll sharpen our focus and not allow ourselves to be distracted by anything or anyone."
Theo raised an eyebrow, his arms folding tightly across his chest as his expression hardened. "Are you sure about that? Right now?" he asked, his voice carrying suspicion. "Maybe it would be wiser for both of you to remain ho together. There’s no real need for you to attend school tomorrow, Victoria. I can easily obtain a sick leave on your behalf." His tone was clipped, but there was seriousness in the way his gaze lingered on her, as if searching for cracks in her determination.
"That won’t be necessary, brother," Victoria replied firmly, though her tone softened slightly at the edges. "I truly want to go to school. Besides, we might even postpone our training tonight until tomorrow night. You should allow Mirabel and the chance to speak privately and, of course, to use this evening to ready ourselves, to prepare our minds for what is to co."
Mirabel then chid in, her voice smooth yet tinged with an odd seriousness that seed almost rehearsed. "Victoria is right. It’s important for us to have this ti. Give us this mont, brothers."
Callum, Theo, and Lucian exchanged puzzled glances before turning their eyes back to the two girls. Their silence was heavy with unspoken doubts.
They couldn’t quite explain the sudden shift in behavior. They had never once believed Mirabel capable of genuine kindness. From the ti they could rember, their sister had been ruthless, sharp-tongued, and vicious. When she had begun displaying gestures of warmth toward Victoria, they had been shocked, though suspicion had gnawed at them all the while. When Mirabel had gone so far as to accuse Victoria of losing her virginity, they had sighed in bitter recognition believing the sister they knew, the ruthless one, had returned. Yet here she was, acting kind again, extending compassion, and Victoria, of all people, was willingly accepting it. The contradictions were maddening.
"Yes, please," Victoria added softly, her voice breaking through their thoughts. "I’d love to discuss things with Mirabel. That way I can better understand how to care for her at school." Her words were tender, almost too tender, and the sincerity in her tone brought the brothers back to reality with a start.
Theo finally exhaled heavily, rubbing a hand over his face as though he had grown weary of the endless gas. "It’s fine then. Since that is what you both wish," he muttered. "But do not stay out here too long. The night air is cold. Return to bed soon."
"We won’t, brother," Mirabel replied with a warm smile, though the sadness in her eyes betrayed the expression.
Callum and Lucian then stepped forward. With careful, almost protective gestures, they each placed a hand on Victoria’s and Mirabel’s shoulders before turning to take their leave. Theo followed close behind, his steps slower, more reluctant, until the three brothers finally disappeared, leaving Victoria and Mirabel alone upon the training ground.
The silence that followed was tense, a stillness that seed to thrum with unspoken truths.
"You can drop the act now, Mirabel," Victoria said suddenly, her lips curving into a smirk. Her voice was sharp, taunting, as she tilted her head and studied her sister. "I’m certain even your brothers aren’t so foolish as to believe this little charade you’ve been playing. And tell , how did you beco so desperate? So... dumb? You’d go as far as hurting yourself just to drag down?"
Mirabel’s lips twisted into a smirk of her own, her eyes gleaming with quiet malice. "You can never be too sure, Victoria," she murmured, her tone soft but venomous. "And yes.....I’ll do anything, absolutely anything, as long as it ensures your downfall. You don’t belong here, and sooner or later, you’ll have to leave."
"Bravo!" Victoria voiced out, her palms coming together as she gave Mirabel a slow, deliberate round of applause. Her smirk widened as her eyes glead with both mockery and challenge. "I didn’t know I had such a loyal fan, the biggest fan, apparently, soone so desperate for my attention and reaction at all costs. I must say, I love it." She leaned forward slightly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Keep trying, Mirabel. Keep plotting. We’ll see soon enough whether you’re able to bring down... or if I’ll be the one to bring you down."
With that sharp declaration, Victoria spun on her heel, storming away and leaving Mirabel standing in the training ground.
The mont Victoria’s footsteps faded, however, a figure slipped from the shadows. Ariana, Mirabel’s personal maid, erged from her hiding space, her expression twisted into one of pure fury. Her brows furrowed, her lips pulled tight, and her whole face seed etched with venom.
"That bitch is getting more and more annoying by the day!" Ariana barked, her tone laced with anger so deep it trembled in the night air.
Mirabel did not flinch. Instead, her lips curved into that familiar calculating smirk. "Have you prepared our surprise for her tomorrow?" she asked, her voice calm, smooth, and filled with quiet nace.
"Of course, my lady," Ariana answered imdiately, her eyes lighting up with a dangerous gleam. "Everything has been set in place. Her days at school are far from being peaceful now. That girl will regret ever daring to cross you." An evil grin stretched across Ariana’s lips, sharp and vicious, as though she could already see Victoria’s downfall.
Mirabel’s smirk deepened, satisfaction glimring in her eyes. She gave a single nod, elegant yet chilling, before she and Ariana turned and left the training ground, retreating into the night to retire until morning.
****
The next day arrived swiftly, the first golden rays of dawn slipping through the curtains and spilling across Victoria’s face. The warmth stirred her awake, and she blinked drowsily only for her breath to hitch in shock as she realized another face was far too close to hers.
"Leo?!" she gasped, her eyes widening as she pulled the duvet tighter around her body. Her voice quivered with both confusion and disbelief. "What are you doing?! Have you been staring at like that all this ti?"
"Yes. And so what?" Leo replied casually, his tone almost lazy. He straightened, stepping back from the bed before turning toward the door. His movents were unhurried, his expression unreadable. He walked with an almost careless sway of his hips, his flat backside shifting with each step until he paused near the doorway. Spinning around, he fixed his gaze on Victoria once more. "Why are you so scared of just looking at you?"
Victoria’s brows knitted together, her suspicion deepening. "Did sothing happen?" she asked, her voice cautious as her eyes searched his face for any hidden aning.
"Of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?" Leo let out a heavy sigh, his chest rising and falling as he crossed his arms tightly over it.
"Then why were you staring at like that?!" Victoria burst out, her tone rising as frustration mingled with unease. She flung the covers aside and got off the bed, her steps hurried. "You almost gave a heart attack!" she snapped, glaring at him.
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