Chapter 5 Secrets in the Shadows

Ravyn's POV

"What's your name?" I demanded, my voice trembling with fury as I stepped closer. "How dare you serve that filth to Prince Darius!"

The maid didn't even flinch. She crossed her arms and tilted her chin with smug arrogance. "Name's Flora," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "And that so-called 'filth' is all the kitchen had today. What exactly do you plan to do about it?"

Her insolence hit me like a slap. "He's royalty! You can't treat him like some beggar off the street!"

Flora's eyes raked over me like I was nothing more than a bothersome gnat. "Royalty?" she scoffed. "He's more of a corpse than prince. And you? You're just a placeholder."

Her words stung, but I held my ground. I had to. Darius's fragile life was tethered to mine until I became pregnant, if anything happened to him, I'm dead.

I steadied my voice. "As long as Prince Darius is breathing, you will show him respect," I said sharply. "Now get fresh ingredients and prepare him something that won't send us both to the grave."

She snorted and turned away, picking up the rotting plate like it was a delicacy. "You don't get to give orders," she sneered. "You're not in charge here."

I moved to block her, but in the sudden shuffle, my elbow bumped the dish.

Crash!

The plate hit the floor and shattered into glittering shards. The sound echoed in the cold stone corridor.

Flora gasped, her eyes lighting up with manufactured outrage. "You're done," she hissed gleefully. "Not only did you ruin the prince's meal, but you just broke a royal heirloom!"

My chest tightened. "I didn't mean to... it was an accident..."

"That plate had gold trim," she interrupted, voice rising in feigned horror. "It belonged to his mother! You'll be lucky if they don't lock in the dungeon for this."

I froze, panic clawing at my throat. What kind of punishment would that bring? I couldn't afford this, not when everything already felt so fragile.

Then, a deep voice cut through the tension like steel through silk.

"What's going on here?"

We both turned. Prince Darius sat in his wheelchair, shadows darkening his expression. His gaze pierced through us like twin blades.

"Your Highness," Flora said, her tone flipping into syrupy obedience. She pointed straight at me. "Your wife tried to sabotage your breakfast. When I tried to stop her, she threw the plate on the ground. The plate is your mother's!"

"That's a lie!" I cried, my voice cracking. "I didn't..."

"Did you or did you not break the plate?" Flora demanded with triumphant fury.

"I... I..." I looked down, the words caught in my throat like thorns. I couldn't explain fast enough.

Darius's gaze turned to me, unreadable, his face carved from stone. The silence stretched. My shame swelled.

"Get out," he said at last, his voice low and sharp.

I flinched, unsure if he meant me.

Flora smiled wickedly. "You heard him, Princess. The prince said..."

"I said you get out, Flora."

The silence turned brittle.

Her smile vanished. "What? But, Your Highness, she..."

"Enough," he snapped. "I heard everything. I heard your insults, your lies, and the rot you dared to serve me."

I looked up in shock.

He'd been listening... and he believed me.

Something warm unfurled in my chest, something I hadn't felt in a long time. Someone was defending me.

Flora's mouth opened, then closed. She looked like she wanted to argue, but his eyes left no room. She dipped her head in bitter silence. "Yes, Your Highness."

"Out," he repeated, and this time she fled.

I stared after her, the fire inside me still burning. "You should've done more," I said bitterly. "She deserves to be punished for how she treats you."

Darius shook his head with a tired breath. "And replace her with who? Another spy?"

I blinked. "A spy?"

I immediately regretted asking. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have..."

"There's no need to apologize." His tone had softened, like velvet draped over something broken.

He turned slightly, his voice quieter now. "There's no winning with them. They weren't hired to serve me. They were sent here to watch. I'm already dying. Why would they care what's on my plate?"

His words landed heavy. "They" could only mean the Alpha family, his own blood. I clenched my fists, heart aching at the idea of such betrayal.

Still, I couldn't afford to be paralyzed by emotion. If the palace wouldn't feed him properly, then I would.

The next morning, I left the estate before sunrise and made my way into the surrounding mountains. I had no wolf instincts, no enhanced strength, no speed, but I had determination.

Half an hour passed, and all I had were a few wild greens and herbs.

Still, I kept going.

Deeper into the forest, the canopy thickening above, I pressed on. Then... I heard voices.

Low, breathy. Intimate.

A woman's voice, uncertain but wanting:

"Are you sure about this? What if someone sees?"

It was unmistakable.

Flora.

I crouched behind a dense thicket, barely breathing.

A man answered her, eager and needy:

"Stop worrying. I haven't seen you in days. I've missed you."

"Josiah..." she breathed.

Then came the sounds, sloppy, urgent and shameless.

I covered my mouth to stifle the gasp. My face flushed, but I didn't move.

I couldn't.

Not yet.

If I burst out now, she'd spin another lie. My word wouldn't stand.

But this? This was proof.

This was leverage.

And Flora's secrets might just make things a bit easier for me.