The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey (Thora and Darius) novel Chapter 17

**Shadows Hearts by Joseph King**
**Chapter 17: Little Game**

**Darius’s POV:**

“Thora, are you alright? I just heard that Caleb was bothering you. He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

A girl dashed toward Thora, her voice laced with genuine concern.

I recognized her immediately—Hazel, Thora’s half-sister.

During my investigation into Thora’s past, I had stumbled upon Hazel’s name as well. I even unearthed photographs of her mingling with rogues, which I had promptly sent to the Greens.

The incident where Thora plummeted from the cliff? I had no doubt that Hazel was entangled in that event. Yet here she was, feigning the role of the caring sister.

“If you could squeeze out a few more tears, maybe I’d actually believe you,” Thora retorted icily, her voice cutting through the atmosphere like a knife.

Her biting words sliced through the tension so swiftly that I nearly chuckled.

“And the whispers about me being involved with rogues—that came from you, didn’t it?” Thora asked, her tone blunt and unyielding.

Hazel’s expression darkened, and she quickly adopted a pitiful demeanor. “You… you think it was me?”

“What do you think?” Thora shot back, a smirk playing on her lips.

In that fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of the hatred that flickered in Hazel’s eyes. She concealed it almost immediately, reverting to her wounded act, casting furtive glances at me as if she expected me to leap to her defense.

I had witnessed that look too many times before. Female wolves often played the damsel in distress, hoping to awaken a male’s protective instincts.

Her performance wasn’t terrible, but it only served to repulse me.

I didn’t bother to glance her way. My focus remained firmly on Thora.

She regarded Hazel as if to say, Go ahead, keep acting. I’m watching every move you make.

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

Silence enveloped us, and Hazel struggled to maintain her pitiful façade. Finally, the question she had truly come to ask burst forth.

“Thora, who is this man? Do you know him well?”

“None of your business,” Thora replied flatly, her words landing like a slap across Hazel’s face.

I watched as Hazel’s eyes filled with unshed tears. She turned her gaze toward me, desperation etched across her features, silently pleading for me to take her side.

It was absurd. She should consider herself fortunate that I hadn’t already dealt with her for the pain she had caused Thora. And now, she dared to hope I would shield her?

“Thora, I thought of you as my sister! And this is how you treat me? Fine—I’ll never care about you again!”

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