<h4>Chapter 151: _No Power Over Me</h4>


    Odessa’s POV


    *****


    "L– Lucinda?"


    I tensed up when I turned my head around and spotted her. The most powerful young witch of the Luminari Coven and a rising prodigy.


    But she was also the one at the forefront of most of the bullying I had to endure all my life. Ever since we were kids, she’s managed to steal the spotlight in everything, with her beauty and her power.


    What the fuck was she doing here?


    "Odessa," Lucinda called my name with disdain as she finally got in front of me, sping her hands together as she scrutinized me. "Who would’ve thought that your weak ass would end up standing here as the Alpha king’s wife after years of serving at the bottom?"


    I clenched my jaw, ring at her as I did everything in my power to hold myself fromshing out at her. As much as I wanted to, I was attending this Charity Ball as Kaelos’ bride.


    I couldn’t do anything that would indirectly stain his image.


    ’Fuck that, Odessa!’ Sirena snapped in my mind just then. ’I may have been locked away all your life, but I witnessed all the things this bitch put you through.’


    My shoulders slouched as my eyes quivered when I stared back at Lucinda.


    She was elegant, wearing a beautiful sleeved white robe with fur linings, and had her Chestnut hair flowing like a waterfall down her body.


    The sly smirk on her face was intimidating, bringing back memories that I would rather keep buried.


    ’You’re no longer the powerless witch that she remembers you as. Show her that tonight. Show them all!’ Sirena urged me mentally, giving me a confidence boost.


    Drawing in a deep breath, I finally spoke. "Wee, Lucinda. You can go inside and—"


    "Who gave you the right to speak to me, reject?" She interrupted, eyeing me with even more disgust.


    The smile that I had stered on my face dissolved instantly and got reced by a scowl as I clenched my fists beside me.


    "You’re in MY husband’s territory, Lucinda. This isn’t the Luminari Coven where you could exercise your fragile ego by bullying those beneath you." I said coldly, ignoring the curious nces from wolves who went up the stairs.


    <fnae0f> The source of th?s content is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnae0f>


    Lucinda’s eyes widened with surprise at first, her lips also parting. But soon, she scoffed, shaking her head with amusement.


    "It seems the short time you’ve spent here has made you forget your ce in the supernatural hierarchy." She muttered with a cruel smirk as a light shed in her eyes. "Let me give you a reminder."


    My body tensed up as her hair blew slightly in the wind while her gaze locked on my eyes.


    ’She’s trying to infiltrate your mind!’ Sirena alerted me, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    And then I felt it... Her encroaching presence in my mind was followed by a simple telepathicmand.


    ’<i>Kneel and apologize for your disrespect.’</i>


    Her voice in my head was like a whisper, luring and calm like a luby, but firm and filled with her will and magic.


    Meanwhile, physically, she had a smirk on her face as she waited for me to carry out her telepathic order.


    My eyes twitched as I red at her, my fingers wiggling as well. She wanted me to kneel? To KNEEL? In MY husband’s territory in the presence of these guests?


    Oh, the audacity!


    ’<i>You have no power over me anymore, bitch</i>.’ I managed to reach out to her mind and spoke telepathically, gritting my teeth as I fought back her presence in my mind.


    I watched as her eyes fluttered with confusion as if she was trying to gaslight herself into thinking that it wasn’t my voice she heard in her head.


    That caused me to smile as I locked my eyes on hers, revelling in the disbelief in them.


    Fortunately, before things could escte further than that, my eyes spotted Kaelos approaching, causing my shoulders to rx in relief.


    I may have magic now, but I didn’t have the seamless control that Lucinda had.


    When Kaelos arrived, he surprised me by talking down to Lucinda, belittling all her attempts to insult me and turning her words against her.


    He didn’t end there and wrapped his arm around my waist, forcing me to stare at his face.


    "If you ever insult my bride again, no spell, no High Priestess, no power in this continent and beyond will protect you from me."


    Those were hisst words to her before he dragged me into the event hall. I nced back at Lucinda and saw the hidden anger and embarrassment on her face as she gazed at us.


    ’<i>Girl, our mate stood on business!’ </i>Sirena howled excitedly in my head, causing me to smirk to myself as I took in the grandeur of the ball.


    After a brief interaction with Celine, Kaelos led us to the gallery upstairs, where we were given reserved VIP seats, alongside Marcellus.


    I smiled at the Beta as Kaelos and I satfortably, staring at the ballroom below us.


    "Thank you," I whispered to Kaelos as slow dance music began ying.


    He furrowed his eyebrows before turning his gaze to me, his silver eyes glinting with genuine confusion.


    "What are you thanking me for?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.


    My face heated up as I parted my lips, my heart racing.


    I nced at Marcellus, who sat at the Kaelos’ other side, and saw him giving us a mischievous side eye as he took a sip from a ss of wine.


    That only increased my embarrassment as I finally found words to say. "Y– You defended me against Lucinda out there. I know it might’ve been nothing to you, but I—"


    Before I couldplete that sentence, Kaelos grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss that stole my breath.


    I blinked in shock for a second before I instantly reciprocated, my beating heart slowing down to a calmer pace as I rxed in the presence of my mate.


    The music seemed to be distant, and I forgot everything else.


    Eventually, he pulled away from the kiss and stared into my eyes with a possessiveness that I’d never get used to but always managed to make me weak in the knees.


    "You’re mine. I wouldn’t let anybody touch or belittle what’s mine." He blurted, caressing my face with his thumb. "Not anymore."


    My face lit up with a warm smile, but before I could think about what to say, Marcellus cleared his throat beside us.


    "Why don’t you two lovebirds go down there and dance? Almost everyone has their eyes on you anyway." He remarked, winking at me when I nced at him.


    My face flushed, but to my surprise, Kaelos got on his feet and grabbed my hand, forcing me to get up as well. My eyes were on him as he pulled me away, leading me downstairs.


    However, as we got to the stairs and I trailed my hand down the rails, I turned my gaze and spotted Celine staring at us through the crowd with a cold smile.


    My heart sank to my stomach as my mind raced with one thought:


    <i>’What is she up to?’ </i>