Chapter 7

• Elara’s POV
• As the car smoothly passed through the palace gates, I couldn't help but steal glances at King Holden. His lips were pressed into a tight line, and his jaw was tense.
• How could someone be so heartless? It was as if he lacked any sense of morality, unable to distinguish right from wrong.
• I couldn't simply remain silent just because he demanded it.
• Odessa's parents were middle-aged, and I had no idea what kind of torment he intended to inflict on them.
• If he could hurl Odessa off a cliff, he was certainly capable of even worse to her family.
• I had come to understand that he despised being challenged.
• He thrived on having the last word in every discussion, and even when you attempted to clarify or defend your position, he interpreted it as a sign of disrespect.
• “Holden, please. You're complicating things unnecessarily. My parents haven't done anything wrong; if anyone owes an apology, it's you, Holden…”
• He turned to face me, sending a shiver down my spine. I might not know him well, but I recognized that menacing glare—this was a man who could take a life without a second thought.
• He stepped out of the car, and I trailed closely behind, noticing how everyone seemed to steer clear of him.
• I was too intimidated to even greet the others, uncertain of where he was leading me.
• We arrived at a door, and he swung it open.
• I barely had a moment to collect my thoughts before he whirled me around, and I caught a glimpse of the room, which had a distinctly feminine touch.
• It dawned on me that he and Odessa must have separate spaces.
• Did they truly despise each other that much? I thought mates were meant to be inseparable, sharing everything to strengthen their bond.
• “How could you, Odessa? What was that nonsense you pulled out there?”
• He demanded, his grip on my arm tightening with each word.
• The fury in his eyes left me speechless, my mind blank as I struggled to find the right words.
• “Holden…” I started, my voice quaking. “I just wanted to…”
• “Enough!” he bellowed, cutting me off, and I flinched in fear.
• “Listen here, you lowlife. I don’t know if being thrown off a cliff scrambled your brains, but you should understand that I don’t air my personal matters in front of my subordinates!”
• “I’m sorry… I didn’t…”
• “I don’t want to hear any more of your foolish apologies! You have no authority over me; my actions are none of your concern! I could easily decide to eliminate your parents for their misdeeds, and there’s nothing you could do about it! Let this be a warning—never let it happen again…”
• “You're so cold-hearted, Holden! Seriously, what kind of man are you? What kind of man finds joy in hurting a woman? The very woman you claim to be mated to! I swear by the moon goddess, when the time comes, I will reject you, and I’ll be there to watch you suffer for the rest of your life!”
• A deep growl cut through the air, instantly silencing me.
• I darted to the far side of the room, instinctively shielding my face as the weight of my words sank in.
• Tears streamed down my cheeks, and in my panic, I felt myself lifted off the ground as if I were weightless.
• He slammed me against the wall, pinning me down with his body while his grip tightened around my throat.
• In that moment, I truly felt my life flash before my eyes.
• “Listen up, you worthless scum. Just because I pulled you out of the depths and crowned you as my queen doesn’t mean you can spew nonsense! Do you really think you can turn your back on me and make a fool of me in front of my own people?”
• He let out a low, menacing laugh, emphasizing the gravity of his words as I fought against his grip, gasping for air.
• “I swear, I’ll end you before that ever happens. You belong to me, Odessa, and you will learn to follow my commands, whether you want to or not!”
• With a forceful shove, he sent me crashing onto the bed, the impact knocking the breath out of me as I coughed violently, clutching my throat.
• What if I died again? How would I ever explain that to the moon goddess who had granted me a second chance?
• Why did she even let me walk this path? In a world full of darkness, Holden stands out as the most malevolent of them all.
• From what I can see, escaping his grasp will be nearly impossible, as he is hell-bent on making sure Odessa submits to him, whether by choice or by force.
• Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I struggled to hold them back, overwhelmed by the realization that my current situation was even more dire than what I had endured in my previous life.
• Why did everything have to be such a struggle for me?
• If just a few hours in Holden's presence could bring me to this point, I could only imagine the torment that awaited me in the months to come.
• How had Odessa managed to endure this kind of suffering for so long? I felt like I was on the brink of losing my sanity.
• “You're a disgrace! I can't fathom why I ever chose you to be my queen; you're utterly useless! Clean yourself up right now! I refuse to let the omegas see you like this; I won’t give anyone a reason to gossip! You are not to leave this room until I say
• so…”
• With a final scornful glance, he turned and slammed the door behind him.