1

"She is a sight, isn't she?" Astrid's laughter was low and purposeful, and her voice dripped through the air like silk and poison.

Thalia felt the weight of the pack's stare on her as she stood next to Killian, her heart a stone in her chest. She had become all too familiar with the sensation. Her soul felt hollow and empty, but she forced herself to smile despite the fact that her breath caught in her throat. Whispered judgments and whispers of appreciation filled Thornwood's enormous hall. She was not particularly warmed by the moonlight that came in through the stained-glass windows.

Killian's voice was a chilly, uncaring whisper as he firmly held her hand, his hold more like a shackle than a tie. "She's perfect," he said.

With his lack of interest crushing down on her chest, Thalia's smile wavered. She had long since given up on trying to figure out why she was standing next to a man who couldn't look at her without contempt and why she was still here. Once kind and full of promise, his touch had turned into a continual reminder of what she would never have: a partner who loved her, a husband who adored her. Rather, his eyes were always looking for anything or someone else while he stood next to her like a stranger. For Astrid, always.

Wolves filled the hall, their gazes darting from her to Killian and back to the woman standing at the room's edge, observing with a calmness that bordered on cruelty. Smiling at her from the other side of the room was Astrid, Killian's real love and the one who still had a special place in his heart that Thalia could never have.

A familiar twinge of anger and resentment gnawed at Thalia's gut. To her breast, Astrid's presence felt like a dagger. The woman didn't have to pretend she didn't want to be in Thalia's position or conceal her contempt for her. Astrid was the one person who made Thalia feel like the shadow of the woman she had believed she might be; she was attractive and self-assured.

Astrid's lips curled into a derisive sneer as Thalia's attention was drawn to a brief movement. The sparkle of triumph in those eyes was unmistakable. She was fully aware of Thalia's reaction to her smile. Long before Thalia had ever been thrown into this world, Killian had been hers.

Astrid whispered, just loud enough for Thalia to hear, "I didn't expect her to make it this far." "I was afraid she would crack under the strain."

Thalia's throat constricted, and she unconsciously tightened her hold on Killian's hand, but he remained silent. He didn't. His gaze shifted momentarily to Astrid, a tense moment that was too brief for anyone to notice.

"Do you sense it?" Astrid's remarks were poisonous and intended to cause pain. "The weight of everything." How everyone is observing you and waiting for you to make a mistake.

Despite her racing heart, Thalia maintained as neutral an expression as she could. Her palm shook a little, and Killian's hold became more firm as his fingers dug into her skin, giving her an unspoken order to keep silent and motionless. She had ceased to be his wife ages ago. She served as a tool. A pawn.

She could still hear the pack muttering and passing judgment, but it was nothing new. Every moment of her life had been a show, and she had always been destined to be the supporting character rather than the main attraction. The pack was aware that her presence here was motivated by obligation rather than affection. They were all aware of it.

Astrid went on, her voice honey-sweet yet piercing, "I told you that you're nothing but a replacement."

The insult hurt much more than it should have, and Thalia swallowed hard. “I’ll never be her,” Thalia whispered under her breath, the words escaping before she could stop them.

"Is it okay?" Killian's tone had cooled down from the previous evening. His eyes jerked to her, warning and piercing.

Thalia straightened and repositioned herself, but the harm was already done as she hastily cleared her throat. She was aware that speaking out of turn was wrong. She had discovered that her only weapon was silence over the years she had been married to Killian.

As a nonverbal warning, Killian's hold on her hand became even more firm. With clipped and contemptuous words, he gave a silent command, "Behave."

Astrid's eyes flashed with laughter as her smirk grew wider. "Oh, don't be concerned. Killian, I have no doubt that she will be good for you. Finally.

Despite her desire to turn away, Thalia was unable to do so. Her gaze remained on the lady who had stolen everything from her, including her happiness, her dignity, and her position next to her husband. For Astrid, though, it was insufficient. No, she desired more. She desired to shatter Thalia. She desired to make her feel inconsequential and tiny. In her view, Thalia was only a pawn in a game.

Astrid went on, her voice now more piercing, "I don't think she'll ever be enough for you, but that's okay." We will all receive what is rightfully ours in due time.

At what she said, Thalia tensed up, a weird shiver going through her body. She had lost her sense of what she was supposed to feel and how to react. Hopelessness? Lose? Or was it worse, something she wasn't yet prepared to identify?

"Enough," Although there was no tenderness in Killian's order, his voice sliced through the tension like a blade. With an unblinkingly frigid look, he drew Thalia closer. "Astrid, don't try to test my patience."

But the brief tranquility was short-lived. Astrid remained silent despite her eyes narrowing with a menacing glint. She simply turned and made one final eye contact with Thalia before leaving, her presence lingering like the smell of smoke after a fire.

Thalia experienced a slight disorientation, and the evening's weight caused her vision to briefly blur. She felt a weird, gnawing weakness that seeped through her bones, but she couldn't place it. But it was nothing new. The poison had been persistent, silent, and slow. She had learnt to ignore and push aside this persistent presence. Or at least attempted to.

Killian took note. He did. His gaze briefly shifted to her, but he remained silent. He only tightened his hold on her arm instead, as if the weight of her existence—her sheer presence—were a burden he had to bear.

Still in shock from Astrid's comments, Thalia ventured to look at him. She had long since abandoned his love, his affection. There was a huge gap between them that neither of them could communicate.

He said, "Should we go?" but it wasn't a question. It was a directive. She nodded, the evening's weight like a thick shroud on her shoulders.

However, her legs briefly faltered as they turned to go. She tripped but immediately righted herself, dismissing the sudden attack of dizziness. She was forced to disregard it. She couldn’t afford to exhibit weakness—not here, not now.

With Astrid's comments still echoing in her ears, Thalia's heart pounded as she followed Killian. And she had a sudden, excruciating pull at her chest as the big hall's doors closed behind her.

The poison wasn't the cause.

It was far more risky.