Chapter Three

Nora's Pov.

The room I was in wasn’t nearly as grand as the one I had back in the palace. It was smaller, with walls painted in muted shades of white and gray, and a bed that, while soft, lacked the opulence I had grown used to except everywhere glittered.

I sat at the edge of it, staring at the strange, glowing device on the nightstand. The buttons and lights made no sense to me. Nothing here did.

The food they served me earlier was even stranger, some soft, white bread that felt lifeless in my hands, paired with a bitter black liquid they called coffee. I never got to have that, except black tea. I took a sip and promptly decided I wouldn’t be drinking it again.

I ran my fingers over my stomach, my constant anchor in this unfamiliar world. The child was still here, still growing. That was all that mattered. Whatever twist of fate had brought me to this strange place, it didn't take that away from me.

I couldn't think more of all the weird things going on around here, when the door swung open, and two women strode in without so much as a glance at me.

“Do people not knock here?” I asked sharply, standing up.

The women paused, their eyes narrowed at me. They were the same ones who followed Alexander around the day before. Both were impeccably dressed, their faces painted with sharp, mocking expressions.

“We don’t need to knock,” the blonde said with a sneer. “This used to be our house before you showed up.”

I folded my arms, glaring at them. “Used to be, yes. But it’s not anymore. And if you have any respect, you’ll announce yourselves before barging in like untrained dogs.”

Their eyes widened, their shock plain. Clearly, they hadn’t expected me to talk back. Perhaps the old Nora had been more submissive, more eager to please. But I wasn’t her. I was their queen.

“Excuse me?” the brunette snapped, stepping closer. “What’s wrong with you? Ever since you woke up, you’ve been acting like a complete psycho.”

I raised an eyebrow. “How I act is none of your business. If you have nothing better to do, why don’t you clean this house? And when you’re done, perhaps you can help me call my husband, without the crown, of course.”

The blonde’s jaw dropped, and for a moment, I thought she might actually listen. But then she stepped forward, her hand reaching for my hair.

Big mistake.

I caught her wrist mid-air, twisting it just enough to make her gasp. Then, with one quick shove, I sent her stumbling backward onto the floor.

“Touch me again,” I said coldly, “and I’ll lock you up. Show some respect, or you’ll regret it.”

The two women exchanged nervous glances, clearly unsure of what to make of this new version of me. The blonde scrambled to her feet, her face was red with anger and embarrassment.

“You’re insane!” she spat. “We’re telling Alexander that he married a psycho.”

“Go ahead,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear your complaints.”

They stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind them. I exhaled slowly, sitting back down on the bed.

Not long after, the door opened again. This time, it was Alexander. He walked in with the same commanding presence as before, his sharp suit tailored to perfection. I wondered if they were wearing scarves. He was my husband for heaven’s sake. His eyes were cold, though I set them to the right place just by smiling at him except that didn't work. It usually worked on Samael before he turned on me.

“What did you do this time?” he asked, he and this aura I couldn't compare to Samael’s.

I met his gaze without flinching. “They barged into my room uninvited. I simply reminded them of their manners. Why would you think it's my fault? I'm the queen, the woman of the house, they should show some respect.”

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “What is wrong with you? Stop pretending, Nora. You’ve been acting like this since you woke up. It’s not you. What are you trying to prove? Uh? Tell me what you're trying to do, frustrate me? Because if that's it, I'm definitely not getting frustrated.”

“I’m not pretending,” I said firmly. “And I don’t need to prove anything. Like I said, I. Am. The. Queen.”

He stepped closer, his smell had the best scent I've ever gotten, it was better than the cologne I used to use. “If this is some attempt to get pity out of me, it’s not going to work. Stop playing games.”

“I’m not playing games,” I said. “I just wanted to see if there’s any pity left in you at all. Why is it taking you so long to see that I'm not pretending?”

His jaw tightened, and he leaned in slightly, his tone dropping. “If you pull another stunt, I’ll have no choice but to divorce you.”

I stiffened at his words, but it was a surprise I didn't care.

“The only reason you’re still here is because of my father. He insisted I take care of you,” he said, his voice sharp and deliberate. “And because of the baby. Otherwise, you’d be gone. We shouldn't have had a mating ceremony either”

My hands curled into fists. “Is that so?” I asked, my voice calm but laced with anger. “It seems my baby scares everyone.”

His eyes flickered, but before he could respond, I spoke again. “But if you so much as think of harming this child, I will make you regret it. I’ll kill you myself, Alexander Smith, and I’ll make sure there’s not a single bone left in your body.”

He didn’t look shocked or threatened. If anything, a small, amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“There it is,” he said softly. “That fire. That’s what I was expecting, Nora. Not the dumb, spineless woman I was forced to marry. Carrying around your feet trying to please everyone”

My stomach twisted at his words. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, expecting some more explanation than the words he said.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he straightened his jacket and changed the subject entirely.

“There’s a party tomorrow in honour of the new members we took in. So, as the Alpha king, I have to show up,” he said. “It’s a must I show up, it wouldn't be too hard when we get there. So, I hope you'll stop with your acts and pretence and get it all together. I don't want you embarrassing me in front of Samael”

“Samael?” I asked, my voice tight.

He glanced at me briefly, raising an eyebrow. “Yes, Samael. Why?”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “No reason,” I said quickly.