Chapter 3 Slow Poisoning

Mira's POV

My heart is racing when I wake up. I can still hear the whisper from last night: "Mira...." Even though I'm afraid, my small room feels safer now that the sun has come up. In this large palace, my name is Mira, and I am an Omega. Despite my diminutive stature and calm demeanor, I feel uneasy. My stomach twists like it has knots in it, and my head hurts all the time. But I don't tell anyone. All they'll say is that I'm weak.

I tie my silver hair back and put on my old dress, the one with the patches. My legs feel shaky, like a baby deer's, and my hands shake. I inhale deeply before making my way to the kitchen. Pots clanging and people shouting fill the castle with noise. I want to have a great day, but I feel like I'm carrying a large boulder in my body.

Lila is stirring a pot in the kitchen. Her eyes are keen, and her face is flushed. "Mira! "You're running late again!" she screams. I take a basket of carrots and nod. The knife feels slick, and my fingers move slowly. As I attempt to peel the carrots, I drop one because my head is spinning. It moves on the floor.

Lila grabs hold of it. "What a useless girl!" she yells. "Is there nothing you can do correctly?" I keep my head down, even though her comments hurt. I don't want her to notice how watery my eyes are. I try again with another carrot, but my hands are shaking so much that I can hardly hold the knife.

Tora, the older gray-haired wolf, remarks, "Mira, you seem pale." Nearby, she is peeling onions. Her eyes are troubled, but her voice is softer than Lila's. "Are you ill?"

I quickly shake my head. I say, "I'm alright," but my voice is not that loud. I want no one to know that I'm feeling sorry. Dane will be furious when they laugh or inform him. My husband, the Alpha, is named Dane. He should adore me, but he's always with Selina, the red-haired woman who smiles cruelly.

I take a platter of bread to the great hall after finishing the vegetables. I nearly drop the tray because it's so heavy and my arms feel like jello. Wolves are eating and chatting in the hall. Dane's dark hair shines in the torches as he sits at the large table. Beside him, Selina is wearing a red dress that is as vibrant as a flower. Her hand is back on his arm as she laughs. When I see them, my stomach aches even more.

Taking care not to spill anything, I put down the tray. I want Dane to give me a kind glance and say something. However, he doesn't. "Mira," he adds in a harsh tone. "This bread is chilly. Are you not able to perform better?

My cheeks are burning. "I apologize," I mumble. The words won't come out, but I want to express that I tried.

Selina's blue eyes sparkle as she giggles. "She has no hope, Dane. You keep her around, but why? I can hear the other wolves laughing loudly in my ears. I turn to face Dane in the hopes that he will defend me, but all he does is wave his hand. "Mira, go. Avoid creating a scene.

My bare feet feel cold on the stone floor as I turn and leave. My eyes prickle with tears, but I suppress them. I do not wish for anyone to witness my tears. I duck behind a pile of flour sacks back in the kitchen. I try to breathe while embracing my knees. It seems like someone is pounding my head with a stick right now. I feel as though I might puke up as my stomach turns over.

Lila discovers me. "Mira! Get out of hiding! I fumble as she pulls me up. My legs aren't cooperating. She thrusts a broom into my grasp. "Now sweep the floor!" I nod and begin sweeping, but the room spins and the broom seems heavy. To remain up, I hold the wall.

I work all day. I clean tables, bring water, and scrub pots. Every step I take makes my body feel worse. My skin is hot, then cold, and my head is hazy. A plate breaks on the floor when I drop it. Lila shouts, but it sounds far. I apologize, but I'm having trouble speaking.

I have to offer soup for lunch. My arms tremble so much that I nearly spill the large pot I'm carrying to the hallway. The large wolf, Tor, takes the pot away from me. Omega, be careful!" he growls. I quickly back off because his eyes are cruel. I do not wish for him to strike me.

I arrive at Dane's table and fill his bowl with soup. A small amount spills on the table as my hands shake. Like I did something terrible, Selina gasps. She exclaims, "Mira, you're so awkward!" loudly. "Take a look at this mess!"

Dane gives me a scowl. "Tidy it up," he commands. Like a stormy sky, his gray eyes are icy. My face is burning with embarrassment as I pick up a cloth and wash the table. Some of them whisper as the rest of the pack looks on. One says, "Weak." Another says, "Useless." I wish to vanish.

I dash back to the kitchen after finishing. I had to sit down because my head is spinning so much. When Tora sees me, she kneels next to me. "You're not okay, Mira," she says. She's quiet now. "You must take a break."

I say, "I can't." "They will become enraged." My eyes are heavy, and my speech is wobbly.

Tora gives a headshake. "You're ill. I'm telling Lila. Before I can stop her, she leaves. I'm afraid. They will tell Dane if they believe I'm weak, which will make him despise me even more.

It is my responsibility to assist with the feast at night. I feel like my legs are melting as I hold a tray of cups. I lean against the wall and put the tray down. The torches hurt my eyes, and the room is noisy. Dane is conversing with Selina at the head table. He smiles in return for her smile. I can't breathe properly because my heart hurts so terribly.

My hands shake as I pour water into cups, causing some to spill. Kael, a wolf, snatches my arm. "Impetuous Omega!" he yells. "You're destroying everything!" I nearly drop the tray as I pull free from his painful hold.

Dane gets to his feet, his expression irate. "Mira!" he exclaims. The hall becomes silent. "Why are you unable to accomplish anything correctly? You're making me look foolish in front of the group!

Now, tears stream down my cheeks. I am unable to stop them. I apologize, but no one can hear me because my voice is so tiny. When Selina laughs, the sound is sharp.

Dane tells them to go to their room. "I'd rather not see you." His remarks are weighing me down like a boulder. I give a nod and dash, stumbling on the ground. When I reach my room, I collapse on my bed. I can't think because I'm so hot and my entire body hurts. I cover myself with the blanket and weep till my eyes are dry.

I feel worse than before. I'm curling up tight because my stomach is twisting so much and my head is hammering. I remember the whisper that called my name, the shadow with the shining eyes, and the roar from the forest. Was it authentic? Or am I simply ill?

Then, directly outside my window, I hear it once more: a deep growl. My heart stops. I sit up, trembling all over. Moonlight streams in through the window, yet the chamber is dark. I approach stealthily and peek out. Once more, the shadow appears, large and menacing, with fiery eyes. It's closer this time, though. It is looking directly at me from the wall of the castle. Then I notice something worse-a dark, blood-like shape in its mouth.