Page 33 of Eclipsed Heart

Pearl scoffed, crossing her arms. “There’s no way you didn’t know you were queen. You might not smell of a lie, but I’m not buying it.”

Bodey pivoted to Pearl.

I didn’t want him to threaten her…at least not in front of Mom and Dad.It’s a legitimate concern.

Not the way she said it.

Under Bodey’s gaze, Pearl flinched, once again proving that she wasn’t an idiot.

“Tell me how I was supposed to know.” I lifted both hands. “I couldn’t shift, which resulted inhim,” I said, pointing at Charles, “giving me hell at every opportunity. When you all attacked me that night, if I could’ve shifted, don’t you think I would have instead of trying to fight in human form?”

For once, Pearl seemed speechless. Her mouth opened and closed, reminding me of a fish out of water. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if she started flopping around on the ground.

“Believe me. I wish I had known instead of Zeke being the only person who knew who I was and that I was alive.” Bitterness stung like razors against my throat. “Even now that my wolf is free, I still can’t remember my life prior to coming here. Apparently, some witch spelled me.” I gritted my teeth, trying to not let my pain and anger slip out more than it already had. I didn’t want them to know how much this affected me, certain it would get back to Zeke. I needed him to think I was taking this all in stride so he wouldn’t think he had power over me.

“But still. Your sister? She wouldn’t do anything to h…hurt our pack.” Mom’s voice broke as she placed a shaky hand on her stomach. “Zeke said you blocked the pack link, so she can’t communicate with us.”

I inhaled sharply. Good ol’ Zeke was already working on turning everyone against me. I should’ve known.

Bodey ran a hand through his hair and glanced at me. His brown hair settled back into his eyes, just the way I liked it.

Zeke’s a fucking prick,Bodey linked with me.

Oh, I’m well aware.I smoothed my expression. “She was feeding information to Queen Kel, Mom. I didn’t want to believe it either, but she admitted to us that she had, and there was no stench of a lie. I was attacked outside the real estate office because she informed the queen that I’d been with the advisors. I blocked her from pack linking in case she wasn’t working alone and could communicate information back to the queen. It wasn’t so that she couldn’t talk with you.”

Both Mom and Dad sniffed the air, clearly hoping to catch me in a lie. They’d rather I be the awful adopted daughter than have their youngest natural child turn out to be a traitor.

The biggest problem for us with Zeke’s strategy was that if we weren’t careful, it would be extremely effective. Most of the pack was indifferent to me, and a handful of them strongly disliked me. Even with the mark of a royal on my chest, this entire pack had disregarded me for nearly my whole life, and that would take time to change. It would be even harder with Zeke actively working against me.

“If you think I’m trying to cover up something, please ask more questions.” I dropped my hands to my sides. “I have no reason to lie to you. Get close enough so you can smell me right away.”

Bodey shook his head. “They're not getting anywhere near you with the way they’re acting. I won’t allow it.”

“Oh, so you’re the alpha in the relationship, despite her being the heir.” Charles snorted. “Thank gods. For a second—”

Heat blasting through our bond, Bodey spun and punched Charles in the jaw. Charles’s head snapped back as Mom and Pearl gasped.

Groaning, Charles lifted his head, eyes narrowed as he stared down my mate. Pearl scrambled to his side, trying to touch his jaw, but he pushed her away and snarled, “I’m fine.”

“Yeah, because I held back.” Bodey clenched and unclenched his fist. “Run your mouth again, and it’ll be worse. I’ll make sure I leave you worse off than you did Callie.”

My mate was dangerously close to losing it. I moved, so I stood behind him and placed my hands on his back. His muscles relaxed marginally, but the anger still roiled steadily inside him.

He cracked his neck, his attention never leaving Charles. “Let me be clear. I may be king, but Callie is the queen by birthright. She is stronger than any wolf I’ve ever encountered, and unlike you, I’m not threatened by it. Even when her wolf was trapped, there was strength in her, which is why your threatened ass always targeted her…always wanted to break her. That won’t be happening anymore.”

“Why is he even here?” I gestured to Charles, looking at my parents. “He’s not part of the family.”

“Because he’s myboyfriend.” Pearl wrinkled her nose. “Who your mate assaulted!”

I wanted to hang my head and cry. No matter what I did, even if I begged for their forgiveness, becoming the weak wolf they’d always desired, Pearl and Charles would still despise me. They would back whatever story Zeke concocted as long as I got harmed in the end. “Bodey punched him for talking ill of your queen. Shouldn’t you be happy about that?” I held my head higher, wanting her to know that the urge to cower wasn’t part of me.

“You aren’t my queen.” Pearl sneered as her body quivered. “And I don’t believe you. Stevie wouldneverdo something like that.”

“Pearl,” Dad warned as his eyes glowed, indicating that he was talking to her through their pack link.

Pearl’s hatred of me had been bottled up for so long; it was time for it to explode. I’d give her this one chance to let it out. I understood how resentment brewed because I felt similar things toward her.

“No.” I shook my head. “Stevie wouldn’t normally, but all the advisors, Samuel, the advisors’ parents,Theo,Zeke, and I heard her words. Didn’t you think it was odd the morning of the coronation when she ran off with the car? You can ask any of us who were there what happened.”

---