The Lost Queen

Chapter Five

Daya's P.O.V.

That voice. That screeching, grating voice. It belongs to her—the blonde bimbo with her legs and arms clinging to my mate. My mate. The sight of her makes my blood boil.

"Babbbbyyyy! Where have you been?" she squeals, leaping into Kaden's arms like a lovesick puppy.

I whip my head toward her, my expression hardening into a deep scowl.

What I want to say—no, what I burn to say—is:

"Umm... Excuse me. But I would really like it if you got your fake Barbie ass off of my mate, before I do it myself. Like, did you not just see us walk in here hand in hand, or were you too stupid to notice."

And that's what I really really want to say, but I reframe from doing so. I dont want to make enemy's already. But, I can tell she is going to be my number one. So instead I did this...

I snapped my head to her and a frown immediately took it's place on my face. I could feel the jealousy seeping into every pour in my body. Her face is so close to his and I'm about one second from ripping all of her hair blond curls out. I know I don't usually fight or have never been in a fight but I have watched my pack train so much that I have picked up on some moves. Hell, enough moves to knock her out. I would not have someone so easily take what is mine after just coming from a place where I was constantly abused and looked down upon. Its time to change. To start a new chapter of my life. I cleared my throat and said,

"Umm... Not sorry to interrupt what ever this is but I would like for it to stop. By the way I'm his mate."

Her head snaps toward me, and for the first time, she acknowledges my presence. A scowl mars her otherwise pretty face, making her look as unattractive as her personality. Kaden gently pushes her off him, though she remains unfazed, as if she's accustomed to being dismissed.

"Mate? You're his mate?" she asks incredulously before bursting into laughter—a shrill, mocking sound that grates on my nerves.

"Yes, I am," I reply smoothly, flashing her a saccharine smile. "I could've sworn I just said that. Or are you too dense to comprehend?"

Her smirk falters, but only for a moment. She flips her blonde hair over her shoulder, her brown eyes narrowing.

"Watch who you're talking to, bitch," she spits. "I'm his mate. We've already slept together, so—"

A feral growl rumbles through the room, cutting her off mid-sentence. Kaden's growl.

"That's enough!" he snaps, his voice commanding and furious.

Her words sting like a whip. He slept with her? My stomach churns, a cocktail of anger and hurt swirling inside me. Before I can stop myself, my hand flies out, connecting with her face in a sharp slap.

The force of the impact sends her stumbling to the floor, clutching her cheek in shock. The room falls silent, her stunned expression etched into my mind.

Without another word, I turn and bolt. I can't stay here. Not now. Not with him. I hear Kaden calling after me, his heavy footsteps pounding the ground as he chases me. But I don't stop.

The forest looms ahead, and I plunge into it, branches tearing at my arms as I sprint through the trees. My legs burn, my lungs scream for air, but I push on.

"Daya, stop! Please!" Kaden's voice echoes behind me, closer now.

"Let me explain!" he shouts, and I feel his hand clamp around my arm, yanking me back.

The momentum sends us tumbling to the ground. I scream, startled by the sudden fall, but Kaden twists mid-air, shielding me with his body as we roll to a stop against a tree.

For a moment, we lie there, tangled together, his arms still wrapped protectively around me. My heart pounds in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I push away from him, wincing as I stand.

My right leg aches, a sharp, throbbing pain radiating from my foot. When I glance down, my eyes widen in horror.

"Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no..."

My foot is bent at an unnatural angle, twisted toward my left. Panic floods my system, and a scream tears from my throat.

"What happened? Are you okay?!" Kaden's voice is frantic as he examines me, his eyes darting to my injury.

"Look at my foot!" I cry, my voice cracking with pain.

He flinches at the sight, his jaw tightening.

"You should be healing. Why aren't you healing?" he demands, his frustration mounting.

"I don't know! Just help me!" I sob, clutching at him.

He scoops me into his arms, cradling me against his chest as if I weigh nothing. My legs dangle, and every movement sends a fresh wave of agony through me. I bite down on his shoulder to stifle my screams, tears streaming down my face.

After what feels like an eternity, we reach the pack house. Relief washes over me as Kaden carries me upstairs, bursting into a room where the pack doctor waits.

"Dr. Scott!" Kaden barks.

The doctor rushes to my side, his eyes narrowing as he assesses my twisted foot.

"This is going to hurt, Luna," he warns softly, his hands hovering over my injury.

I barely register his words before he twists my foot back into place. The pain is blinding, an explosion of white-hot agony that rips a scream from my throat. My vision blurs, and darkness creeps in at the edges.

"Did you kill her?!" James's voice breaks through the haze, panicked and loud.

"Shut up, James!" Kaden snaps.

I feel his hand slip into mine, his touch grounding me even as I drift toward unconsciousness.

"Look at the mark on her arm," Kaden murmurs, his voice tinged with awe. "Is she who I think she is?"

Those are the last words I hear before the darkness pulls me under.