Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle-Chapter 34: Full Moon.

In a forest with thick towering trees, their branches intertwining to form a natural canopy that shielded those beneath them from the harsh sunlight. The wind howled through the dense foliage, making the leaves rustle. Birds chirped in the distance, their songs an opposition to the heavy sorrow weighing on Sorayah's heart.

Lady Arata had asked Liam to escort her to the place of Lily's burial, but Sorayah hadn't expected it to be in such a wild and untamed forest. It wasn't just a secluded grove, it was a hunting ground for beasts. The guards had already fought off several creatures that lurked in the shadows, and now they stood at full alert, weapons ready, eyes scanning the dense vegetation for any sign of movement.

Sorayah barely noticed them. She knelt on the cold, damp earth, her hands trembling as she gripped a set of thick branches she had scavenged from the undergrowth. Lily's lifeless body lay beside her, wrapped in a simple mat, her face forever frozen in a silent plea for the life she had lost.

No burial tools had been provided, and the guards showed no interest in helping her dig the grave. Whether out of indifference or silent contempt, they merely stood inches away, watching, but offering no assistance.

So, she did it alone.

With her enhanced strength, she tore at the soil, clawing and digging with the makeshift tools until a shallow grave began to take shape. It wasn't deep, she lacked the time and resources to make it so but it would be enough to grant Lily a resting place, away from scavengers, away from further humiliation.

Once she finished, Sorayah carefully laid Lily inside, adjusting her position with the gentleness of a grieving mother laying her child to sleep. With a deep breath, she reached for the loose soil and began covering the body, her fingers shaking as each handful concealed more of the girl who had once been full of life.

When the last bit of earth was in place, she rose on unsteady legs and gathered a pile of rocks, stacking them high to form a grave marker. As a final tribute, she removed the delicate bracelet from her wrist, the same one she had once gifted Lily and placed it atop the stones.

A painful silence settled over the clearing.

"I'm so sorry it had to come to this, Lily," Sorayah whispered, her voice raw with grief. Tears blurred her vision, rolling down her cheeks unchecked. "I'm a failure. A weak, incompetent princess. A joke. All these titles, 'royalty,' 'gifted one' they mean nothing. They were never a blessing, just a curse that follows me everywhere."

Her shoulders trembled, her fists clenching at her sides.

"I failed you," she continued, voice breaking. "I failed everyone. I promised I'd get you out of that wretched mansion. I swore I'd protect you... But in the end, I couldn't even keep that one promise."

She swallowed, her throat tight with rage and despair.

"But I will make it right. I will make them pay, every single one of them. I swear on everything I have left."

She inhaled sharply, her gaze hardening.

"I'll erase my magical scent completely, even if it kills me. Even if suppressing my magical scent means my life slowly withers away, I don't care. Let my existence be cut short if it means I can strike them down before I go. Let my own power consume me if it means I can spill their blood the way they spilled ours."

A bitter smile ghosted her lips, her eyes dark and full of vengeance.

"I'll make them kneel. I'll make them beg at my feet before I carve their throats open."

A sharp gust of wind rustled the trees, as if the very forest responded to her fury.

Then, as if summoned by her rage, Dimitri's face flashed through her mind.

Did he actually send her outside on purpose, knowing she would stop at the well? The same well where she found Lily's lifeless body floating, her once-warm smile stolen forever.

Dimitri owned that well. No one else used it.

Had he done this to punish her? To make good on his threats?

Her breathing turned ragged, her nails digging into her palms as white-hot hatred coiled within her.

I'll make him pay.

"Hey! It's time to go," Liam's voice rang out behind her, cutting through the storm raging in her thoughts.

Sorayah slowly turned, her tear-streaked face devoid of emotion now, hardened into something colder, deadlier.

"Let's go," she said, her tone flat, almost hollow.

The two guards stepped forward, gripping her arms, but she didn't resist.

With Liam leading the way, they left the grave behind, the makeshift stones standing as the only testament to Lily's short and tragic life.

_________

The full moon hung high in the night sky, its silvery glow illuminating the vast expanse of stars scattered across the heavens. The air was thick with the energy of the full moon ritual, but unlike in other packs where the night was celebrated with joy and new bonds, only a few wolves gathered for the ceremony here. Most had no reason to attend.

Dimitri had forbidden anyone from his mansion from participating. Mates were not needed in his domain. That was the rule.

Only he owned the maidservants, and if he did not take them to his bed, they remained single for the rest of their lives, both werewolves and humans alike. The eunuchs, whether werewolves or humans had been stripped of their ability to reproduce, their bodies mutilated to ensure their loyalty. In Dimitri's household, mating was not a right. It was a privilege dictated by him alone.

Inside the dimly lit chamber of Concubine Arata, the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken thoughts. The scent of herbs and perfumed incense lingered in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of the shadowmint herb she held in her hands. Dressed in layers of exquisite silk, adorned with golden jewelry that shimmered under the candlelight, Arata sat on a feathered chair, her expression unreadable.

She lifted the delicate porcelain cup to her lips, sipping slowly, exhaling heavily after each taste, as if burdened by something far greater than she was willing to admit.

Her personal maid, who had served her for years, observed her mistress's troubled state. A slow, victorious smile curled her lips as she stepped forward.

"What's wrong, my lady? What are you still worrying about when your plan was successful?" the maid asked, her voice laced with satisfaction.

Arata sighed deeply and set her teacup down with a soft clink. "Nothing was successful," she murmured.

The maid's smile faltered. "What do you mean, my lady?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion. "Didn't we get rid of that maid sister?"

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Arata stood abruptly, brushing the wrinkles from her gown before turning to face her maid. "That maid's death... it wasn't my doing," she admitted in a hushed voice.

The maid gasped. "What?" she exclaimed, stepping closer in disbelief. "Then who? Who killed her?"

Arata shook her head, her mind still racing to piece together the truth. "I don't know. Ramsey told me he couldn't even find her in her room when he went to kidnap her. Someone else got to her first."

She paused, biting her lower lip as a thought crossed her mind. "Could it have been Mira?"

The maid frowned. "Lady Mira?" she echoed. "Do you really think she would do something so reckless? She may be desperate, but she's not foolish."

Arata exhaled sharply. "She was faster than us in eliminating that maid. I never expected her to act so swiftly."

The maid crossed her arms, pondering. "Well, she could have done it. It was just a maid, after all. But if that's the case, she's done well to avoid suspicion as even the dead girl's sister believes the Beta Lord is responsible for her death."

Arata smirked, her mind already weaving the next steps of her scheme. "Then let her continue believing that for now but I'm sure she'll discover the real killer soon. I don't believe she's dumb."

She turned toward a small wooden chest by her bedside and retrieved a vial filled with a dark, shimmering liquid. Holding it up to the candlelight, she examined its contents with satisfaction.

"Is the aphrodisiac ready?" she asked, her tone brisk.

The maid nodded. "Yes, my lady. Everything is prepared."

Arata's smirk deepened. "Good. That foolish girl has avoided me all afternoon, even after I summoned her. But it doesn't matter as I understand she was grieving her dead sister. I've already sent someone to fetch her tonight. She will come whether she wants to or not."

The maid hesitated, concern flashing across her face. "But, my lady... are you certain the Beta Lord won't kill her? You know what happens every full moon night. His personal maids never survive until morning. If we push her toward him, she may not live through the night."

Arata laughed softly, a cruel glint in her eyes. "Oh, tonight will be different."

She took slow, deliberate steps across the room, her golden bracelets jingling with every movement. "No one not even Mira or I dares to approach the Beta Lord's quarters on a full moon night. His bloodlust during these nights is terrifying. We don't know why, and we don't dare ask."

She stopped pacing and turned to face her maid with a knowing smile. "But tonight... I don't think he will be in the mood for killing."

The maid tilted her head. "Why do you say that?"

Arata's fingers tightened around the vial. "Because even if he doesn't attend the ritual, he still feels the full moon's effects. The need to mate will consume him. He left the mansion this afternoon to supervise the ceremony from a distance, but he will return tonight... and when he does, the urge will be unbearable as I've prepared something in his room for that."

She chuckled, shaking the vial lightly. "Once I make sure that foolish girl drinks this before Dimitri gets back. And when she learns he's back, she won't hesitate to go to him and confront him about her sister. The drug will take care of the rest. If all goes well, his desire will overpower his instinct to kill."

The maid's eyes gleamed with admiration. "You are truly brilliant, my lady. Everything is falling into place."