Beyond The Empty Altar, My Reign

Burn It Down

Vera POV:

I reached the heavy oak front doors. The "WELCOME HOME" banner mocked me one last time.

I reached for the handle.

"You think you can just walk out?"

Dax blocked the door. He held an ice pack to his head. He looked at my bag, then my boots.

"Playing soldier again?" he sneered. "You look ridiculous. Go upstairs and apologize to Mom."

"Move, Dax."

"Or what?" He stepped closer, looming. "You'll hit me? You're an Omega, Vera. Weak. Without this family, you're nothing but Rogue bait."

"I am leaving. Get out of my way."

"No." He crossed his arms. "You're acting out because you're jealous. Because Cain loves Eris. Admit it."

Servants gathered in the hallway, whispering. Guards watched, unsure.

"Cain doesn't love her," I said. "He loves the lie she built."

"He's with her right now!" Dax laughed. "Holding her hand. Praying to the Goddess for her."

I pulled my smartphone out.

"Let's see."

I dialed Eris.

Dax frowned. "She won't answer you."

But she did. Eris loved drama too much to ignore a call from the sister she was framing.

"Hello?" Her voice was weak, breathy.

I hit speakerphone. Held it high.

"Eris. Dax says Cain is praying for you."

A giggle. Then a wet, smacking sound. A kiss.

"Oh, he's doing more than praying," Eris purred. Her voice suddenly stronger, the 'dying' act dropped for a moment of gloating. "He's peeling me an apple. Aren't you, baby?"

Cain's voice rumbled in the background. "Here, open up. You need your strength."

The servants gasped.

"Vera," Eris continued, tone dripping with poison. "Don't be mad. I told you, he needs a real woman. A Luna. You can still live in the attic if you want. I'll need someone to wash my silk robes."

Dax's face went white.

"Did you hear that, Dax?" I asked, voice echoing in the marble foyer. "Did you hear the 'dying' Alpha female?"

"Eris..." Dax whispered.

"Oops," Eris laughed. "Is Dax there? Tell him to bring more wine. The doctor left."

I ended the call.

The silence was deafening. The servants stared at the floor, embarrassed to witness the naked cruelty of their masters.

Dax looked like he'd been slapped. The illusion of the "tragic emergency" was shattered. Eris wasn't dying; she was flirting and drinking wine while her sister was accused of attempted murder.

"She... she's delirious," Dax stammered, unconvincing.

"She is a fraud," I said. "And you are a fool."

I stepped forward. Dax instinctively stepped back.

"I am leaving the Asheville Pack," I announced to the room. To the witnesses.

"But... you can't," Dax said. "Where will you go?"

"Home."

"This is your home!"

"No. This is a cage."

I pushed past him. He didn't stop me. He was too busy processing the humiliation of his precious sister exposing herself on speakerphone.

I pushed the doors open. The night air rushed in, smelling of pine and rain.

I walked down the steps to my battered jeep—bought with my own wages from the Outpost.

As I reached the driveway, my phone buzzed. A text from my mother.

Get back inside now. You are embarrassing us.

I threw the phone onto the gravel.

I lifted my boot and brought it down hard. Screen shattered. Metal crunched.

I got into my jeep, throwing the tactical bag onto the passenger seat.

I started the engine. It roared to life—a rough, mechanical beast.

I didn't look in the rearview mirror. I hit the highway and turned North.

Vespa threw back her head in my mind and howled.

Free, she sang. We are free.