Chapter 5 INTENTIONAL HUMILIATION

Lacy's POV

"You're not going to eat?"

I glance up from my untouched plate, my grip tightening on the fork.

Across from me, Mira, I think that's what her name is, one of the women who had made it her mission to get under my skin, leans her chin on her hand, smirking.

"I-" I stop myself before I say something that would have them pressing their hands deeper on my throat.

I needed to compose myself and not forget Vincent's rules.

They stare at me intently, waiting for my response, but I look down at the table, ignoring them instead.

Whispers. Soft snickers.

The food tasted awful, but with how the others were enjoying their meal, it was obvious that this plate was made especially for me.

How low would they go?

"She's still here?"

"Poor thing doesn't even know she's just a decoration, an arm candy even."

"Bet he already regrets bringing her."

"I haven't seen them together since she arrived. Some wife she is."

"Is she supposed to be our Luna? Pathetic."

My hands clench under the table. It's been weeks. Weeks since Vincent threw me into this world and disappeared. Not a word, not a glance. Just silence.

All I know is that I was dumped here and told I was their Luna.

A Luna with no wedding. No husband in sight.

Just a signature on papers.

Mira twirls a loose strand of hair between her fingers. "You know, we were expecting something a little more... grand. A wedding. A ceremony. Something worthy of a Lycan's mate." Her lips curve into a smirk. "Instead, we got you."

The others chuckle, some barely hiding their amusement.

"I heard she didn't even know what she was signing up for." A woman further down the table whispers loudly. "Imagine being so desperate for power and, I'm sure, money that you don't even check the fine print."

A guy snickers. "Bet she thought she was marrying a regular rich guy. Poor human."

My stomach knots. I press my lips together, forcing myself to stay silent.

Don't react. Don't let them get to you.

Mira hums, tilting her head. "Maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he took one look at you and thought... nah."

The laughter is instant, a ripple of cruel amusement.

"Or maybe he's keeping her around for entertainment," another one chimes in. "You know, like a pet."

My jaw tightens. "I'm his wife."

More laughter. Some scoff, some roll their eyes, and one guy actually chokes on his drink.

"Right," Mira drawls. "His wife...ha! Really? That explains why he hasn't looked at you since you got here."

I push the chair back and stand up.

"I'm not hungry."

I turn and leave, ignoring the murmured comments behind me as I walk toward the door.

"Guess she lost her appetite."

"Maybe she finally realized her place."

I grit my teeth and push forward.

The hallway feels suffocating.

I hate it here; at least at home, I could just ignore one person's snide remarks. Now I have to deal with multiple people.

I keep my head down as I walk, my hands trembling at my sides.

The entire pack treats me like a joke. A pathetic little human is thrown into a world she doesn't belong in.

And Vincent?

He's nowhere. No explanation, no appearance, just silence.

The only proof that I'm still his wife is the ridiculous amount of money that lands in my account like clockwork.

Like I'm just another transaction. I mean...that's what I wanted.

Right?

Every week, I have been receiving money in my account. The first day I received it, I was in shock. I couldn't believe that he actually followed through.

Mother was also taken care of. All my worries were gone.

Totally.

A small part of me thought he was bluffing before. And I secretly hoped he was so I could have an upper hand against him.

I take a slow breath, trying to calm myself from all the nasty words they threw at me.

I need to get out of these clothes, out of this suffocating house...

CRASH!

Something cold splashes against my legs. Then my arms. My hair.

Gasping, I jerk back. My eyes dart down, horror filling my chest. Milk. Flour. Eggs.

The sticky mixture clings to my skin, soaking into my clothes and hair

Choked back laughter rings out.

"Oh...ohh no," one of the maids gasps with a smile. She presses a hand to her lips.

"I'm so sorry, Luna. My hands must have slipped."

Her companion barely holds in a snort.

My jaw clenches.

I stare at them, my hands trembling madly. I fumble with my dress.

It wasn't an accident.

They had been waiting for me.

I can see it in their eyes- the joy they just got from doing this.

"You should clean yourself up, Luna," the first maid says, feigning concern.

"Wouldn't want Alpha Vincent to see you like this."

More laughter.

I don't respond. I can't.

Instead, I walk away and ignore how ashamed I am.

Back in my room, I scrub at my skin, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts.

This isn't working.

No matter how hard I try, I can't shake off their words.

I'm nothing here. A joke. A human playing pretend in a world that doesn't want me.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, my wet hair clinging to my skin. My chest tightens.

Why the hell did Vincent even bring me here?

Why did he marry me just to leave me like this?

I swallow hard, my fingers curling into fists.

If he thinks he can just throw me into this world and abandon me, he's wrong.

I'm not going to sit here and take it.

I'm going to find him.

And I'm going to demand answers.

The small talk works for a while but as I continue to try to get the egg smell off my hair, I break down in tears.

Slowly falling to the floor, I crawl into a ball and cry my eyes out. I have never been this humiliated before in my life but I signed myself up for it.

The stupidest decision I have ever made.

I am drying myself up when I spot a shadow from under the door.

What do they want this time?