Marked by fate

Diva's POV I was enjoying myself, smiling, basking in the spotlight of the ceremony, until I saw her. That wench. My heart stopped cold in my chest. Just one glance at her, and my entire mood soured like spoiled wine. How? How could she be here? How could she possibly have survived what I put her through? There was no one around to help her. It was a deserted place, I made sure of it. And the blood... I saw the blood pouring out of her like a broken dam. From every part of her body. There was no way, no damn way, she should have lived. My plan was flawless. My fists clenched at my sides, and I was trembling with rage. This couldn't be happening. I didn't just want her gone. . . I needed her erased. Then I saw Jackson heading toward me, and I forced the fury from my face, smoothing my expression into something sweet. He couldn't see me like this. "Hi, my love," I purred, pressing a kiss to his cheek. But he didn't smile. His eyes were searching for something else. "Have you seen Rose?" he asked, his voice laced with something I didn't like. Was that a concern? A wave of nausea and rage crashed through me, Why was he asking about her? Was he obsessed now? I forced a soft laugh and blinked innocently. "I. . .I have no idea where she is." I tilted my head, feigning confusion. "But... today's our coronation, Jackson. Why are you thinking about her?" His face hardened. "Never mind," he muttered, his tone cold as he turned and walked away. My smile cracked the moment his back turned. So this was what it had come to? The mere mention of her name on his lips made my skin crawl. It sealed what I already knew, I needed to finish what I started. Rose had to disappear permanently. I stood there with my heart pounding and my mind racing. What could I do? How could I silence her once and for all? Then, the idea struck me. Perfect. "Yes," I breathed, a twisted smile curling on my lips. She was a thorn in my side, just like a parasite. And it was time she learned what it meant to cross me. This time, there would be no mercy, and no escape from my wrath.. She wouldn't just die, she would suffer. I wanted her to feel every inch of pain, to rot from the inside out before the end came. I would watch as her hope faded from her eyes. She would beg and break but no one would save her. Her body would be a warning, her soul scattered, and her carcass picked apart by birds. That was what she deserved. Nothing less. "Carlene," I called sharply. My handmaid appeared almost instantly. I leaned in and whispered into her ear, Her eyes widened slightly, but she nodded without question and bowed deeply before leaving.. Then she was gone, off to set everything in motion. I wrapped my arms around myself, a wicked calm settling in my chest. "Farewell, Rose..." I whispered, my words laced with venom. I wanted to laugh so hard to show how excited I was but couldn't laugh here. There are too many eyes, and too many ears. But inside, I was already celebrating. It was a done deal. This time, the bitch dies. Rose's POV So it was Aiden. He was the Lycan Prince. I knew there was something different about him, his entire presence screamed authority. It clung to him like a second skin. But despite his status, despite the icy command in his voice when he addressed others, he had been nothing but kind to me. He saved me. He really didn't have to, but he did. A crowd surrounded him now, guests trying to pull at his attention, yet it was clear none of them truly held it. Several women draped themselves in front of him like offerings, hoping to catch even a sliver of his gaze. And still... his eyes were on me. The intensity of it made my stomach knot. Why was he looking at me like that? "Hello, Rose." The soft voice startled me. I turned to see Natasha, one of the palace servants. "Dorothy needs your help in the kitchen." "Oh. Alright." I nodded, brushing my palms down my skirt to ease my nerves. But when I arrived in the kitchen, the air felt off, too still and empty. "Dorothy?" I called out, peering around, but there was no response. I checked the pantry, still nothing. Just silence. Then, arms. Massive hands clamped around my neck from behind, yanking me backward so fast I barely had time to gasp. I tried to scream, but before I could even draw breath, something soaked in a harsh, chemical scent was shoved against my nose and mouth. I think it's a handkerchief. My lungs burned and my throat closed. The scent is so sharp and so overwhelming, it made my vision blur instantly. I thrashed, panic seizing my chest, every nerve flaring as I clawed at the hands of the person holding me. But they were too strong. Thick fingers dug into my skin, dragging me across the floor like I was nothing but trash. No. No. No! My arms flailed, my fists pounding against their grip. I couldn't breathe, I was choking, gagging, vision was swimming in black spots. My legs kicked but hit nothing. My lungs screamed for air. I felt myself slipping, my limbs turning to lead. Then... darkness. I gasped awake, choking on a silent scream. My body jerked upward, but I was drenched in sweat, and everything ached. My head throbbed, and my muscles felt like they had been through a war. I was lying under a thick bedcover, in a room I didn't recognize. Where... Where am I? I tried to sit up, but the room spun around me, and my throat burned. My lips were dry and cracked. Then I noticed that something terrifyingly wrong had happened to me, my thighs were touching... bare skin. No fabric. A spike of dread rushed through me as I yanked the bedcover aside, only to find my worst fear confirmed. I was completely naked. Before I could hold it in, tears spilled down my cheeks, and I began to sob uncontrollably. My chest ached with every breath, my cries echoing in the unfamiliar room. Why was I brought here? What kind of twisted game was this? Was this all part of some cruel conspiracy? The memory of being attacked, dragged, suffocated, stripped of everything, kept playing in my mind like a nightmare in a circle. My head throbbed, but the ache in my heart was worse. Why me? Why was I always the one fate decided to punish? I glanced down at myself, still hidden beneath the bedcover, fear twisting in my gut as I examined my body for signs of something worse. But... thankfully, I hadn't been violated. Still, the horror of what almost happened was enough to paralyze me. They had seen my private body. I looked around the room, desperate for my clothes, for anything that could give me a shred of dignity, but there was nothing. I clutched the bedcover tighter around myself and forced my legs to move, trembling as I made my way to the door. My heart raced with hope, maybe I could escape. But the door wouldn't budge. I yanked the handle again and again, but it was locked. No one was coming. Defeated, I stumbled back toward the bed, collapsing onto it with a strangled sob. I buried my face in my hands, my body shaking as I cried my eyes out. Then I heard footsteps approaching the door. My breath caught in my throat. No. Not again. I froze, panic seized my whole body again.. The steps grew louder and closer. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might break through my ribs. I curled up tighter on the bed, my hands clenched in fear. Then, Creak... The door opened. I didn't dare lift my head. I sat there, trembling, fingers twisting in the fabric of the bedcover, tears still streaming down my cheeks, blurring everything. The footsteps entered the room, and I braced myself. A gentle hand brushed against my face, wiping away my tears. The touch, warm, and careful, sent a strange jolt through me. It was familiar. "Open your eyes..." That voice. My breath hitched and slowly, I lifted my gaze. It's Aiden, The Lycan Prince. His expression was unreadable but cold, like a storm just barely restrained. "I... I'm s-sorry... I didn't mean to. . ." I started to talk, "What happened to you?" he asked, his voice low and hard. "How did you get here?" "I... During the ceremony, Natasha came to me. She said Dorothy needed help in the kitchen." My voice cracked as I spoke, barely a whisper. "I went... but no one was there. Then someone grabbed me... covered my face... I couldn't breathe..." I trailed off, swallowing the sob threatening to rise again. I couldn't look him in the eye. My fingers clutched the bedcover like it was my lifeline. "I didn't mean to cause trouble. Please. . ." "Shhh..." His voice softened as he reached beside him, handing me a folded dress. "Put this on." He turned away, giving me privacy. My fingers fumbled with the fabric, but I managed to slip into the dress quickly, still feeling like my skin wasn't mine. "Thank you," I whispered, nibbling on my bottom lip. My voice was almost too quiet to hear. He didn't say anything. He just reached for my hand. "Come." His fingers wrapped around mine and together, we walked out of the room. His face gave nothing away, yet the way he held onto me told a different story. I didn't know where we were going. I didn't know what would happen next. All I knew was that, for now... I wasn't alone.