Faunee's POV
"Dear Moon Goddess, thank you so much for putting us in this formerly jeopardizing situation," Thalora muttered, sinking deeper into the steaming tub until only her chin broke the surface.
A puff of breath escaped her lips as mist. The air in the bathing wing shimmered, thick with humidity and the faint sound of dripping water.
Fuck, this feels so good.
The almost scalding water enveloped our bare skin, turning it a deep flushed red. Lavender floated in the air, weaving through the flicker of candles. The whole room smelled like a dream — a fragile kind of peace I hadn't felt in years.
I looked around, unable to stop myself from admiring the place. Whoever designed this room was a gifted artist. Sage-green ceramic leaves hung from the ceiling like enchanted vines, catching the warm glow of the low amber lights. Gold trays displayed folded towels and scented powders, their reflections shimmering on the tiled walls.
I could get used to this.
"I wonder how Ziko's doing," Thalora said, voice almost swallowed by the water.
I turned to her — only her eyes and the crown of her head were visible. A quiet laugh escaped me. "He's fine, I guess. How are the cuts on your wrist? Healed up yet?"
She met my gaze. "Elora's a little weak, but the cuts healed a long time ago."
A frown pulled at my face before I could stop it. Delane's been quiet inside me too. That uneasy silence wasn't normal. I'll have to shift soon.
"I'm sorry."
My attention snapped back to her. "What?"
She smiled faintly at my confusion. "Before your mother died, I promised her I'd take care of you. You were all she had. Even after Red convinced us to become pack soldiers, I gave in — and look what we became. Slaves scraping at the bottom."
Her voice wavered, eyes glistening under the warm light.
"I had one goal: protect you and Ziko. That's all I ever wanted. I can't believe we came so close to dying right before freedom. If you weren't Ingrid's mate…" She hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. "We'd be dead."
The air thickened — steam, sorrow, and realization swirling together.
My throat tightened. I swallowed hard. She's right. Without Ingrid, we'd have been nothing but headless bodies tossed into an incinerator.
Damn.
I pushed myself through the water toward her, every movement slow, heavy. Ripples fanned out between us until I wrapped my arms around her.
She let out a small, cracked laugh against my shoulder, her arms circling me tightly.
"Hugging your best friend naked is a very gay thing to do, Faunee," she teased.
I scoffed. "Like we haven't slept naked together before."
Thalora pulled back, making a face. "I didn't mean like that. Ew."
Her disgust only lasted a heartbeat before it melted into laughter. Real laughter. I couldn't help it — I joined in, and for the first time in weeks, the sound of our joy filled the air.
Gods, I loved her. I loved both of them — Thalora and Ziko. My family in all the ways that mattered.
My mind drifted to the night we escaped: Thalora hunched over a map, tracing out blind spots and traps she'd learned from her contacts. Ziko, distracting that drunk fool Thomas outside the Omega house.
We shouldn't have made it out. But we did.
And I'd do anything — absolutely anything — to keep them safe.
"You're gay now," Thalora mused.
I raised a brow. "And what's funny about that?"
"The Moon Goddess pairing the straightest people with same-sex mates? That's hilarious."
I giggled. "I was never straight, I was bi, and I always liked girls better anyway. besides, Ingrid is a walking sex dream."
Thalora's jaw dropped. "I hope I get a girl too. Mother Celestè, please!"
"Get over yourself."
"Yeah, says the girl with the agonizingly sexy mate who's—ARE YOU BLUSHING!?"
My eyes widened. "What?! Am—No—am I?!"
Thalora burst into laughter so loud it echoed against the marble walls. "Just look at yourself."
"Shut. Up."
Our laughter tangled with the steam, soft and sweet — a sound of survival, of friendship that had outlasted pain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ingrid's POV
"Your meal has been prepared, Alpha."
My eyes opened to the soft light filtering through the curtains. A yawn tore from my throat as I sat up, stretching beneath the weight of silk sheets.
Jaena stood by the bed — crisp dark suit, impossibly short skirt, and that ever-present tension in her stance.
I blinked, still half-asleep. "Huh?"
A blush crept onto her cheeks. "Breakfast is ready."
I waved a hand lazily.
"Sure. What's on my schedule today?"
She shifted her tablet in her grip, scrolling. "A few alliance confirmations, a meeting with Alpha Red, and—"
"What the hell?" I cut her off, eyes snapping to the clock on the far wall.
How the fuck did I sleep this late?
I swung my legs out of bed, the floor cool beneath my bare feet, and made for the bathing wing.
"Ingrid!—uh, I mean Alpha—"
I froze mid-step.
Then, in the space of a heartbeat, I was standing right in front of her.
"What did you just call me?" My voice dropped low, quiet enough to chill the air between us.
Jaena's head bowed instantly. Whether it was fear or shame, I didn't care — but it better be fear.
I took a long breath, trying to steady my wolf. "Raise your head."
She obeyed, trembling. In her wide eyes, I saw the reflection of the woman I'd become — cold, commanding, terrifying.
Would my parents be proud? Of the blood I've spilled? The power I've taken? The fear I've carved into others?
I doubt it.
And yet… I can't stop.
"I am your Alpha," I said, every word slow, deliberate. "Your leader. I am above you — and I always will be. You are nothing but an omega. A servant to my command. You will obey. You will respect. You will serve me without error."
I took a step closer. My aura flooded the room, pressing down on her like a weight.
"Do you understand, Jaena?"
She nodded quickly, sweat pearling on her forehead before she dropped to her knees.
"Yes, Alpha Ingrid Malum."
A smirk curved my lips — one part pride, one part disgust. "Good girl."
But as she trembled before me, the words tasted like ash.
Because deep down, I knew this wasn't strength.
It was the cage I'd built for myself.