Chapter 39
4.家:70%會
“Please be careful when delivering these letters,” I tell Fury in a serious tone. “Especially the one for my mother, I know I told you my adopted father is the beta but I also forgot to mention that he is holds the title for the world’s biggest asshole. His senses are sharp as hell. He practically keeps my mother on a leash.”
Fury gives me a slight bow, his hand pressed to his chest. “Of course, Luna, I’ll tell the men to be discreet about it. You have my word.”
But as he straightens, I notice it again–he scratches his nose. Not once, not twice. He’s been doing it from the moment he stepped back inside. My eyes narrow suspiciously.
“You good, Fury?” Task.
He freezes, his nostrils flaring as he sniffs the air. His face twists into a grimace, and he scratches his chin hard enough that I almost hear the scrape of nails against skin.
“Yeah, yeah….” he mutters, but then he sniffs again, looking almost embarrassed as frustration creeps into his voice. “It’s just–there’s this weird scent. I can’t explain it.” His eyes dart around like he’s searching for a ghost.
It hits me then, and I almost gag. I scrunch my nose and smirk. “I’m sure that ‘weird scent‘ you’re talking about belongs to Lady Celestia. God, I feel like vomiting too.”
I burst out laughing. Fury shakes his head, a rare smile tugging at his lips, though his hand still unconsciously rubs his nose like it’s driving him insane.
“I know, right?” he mutters gruffly. “But this is… different. The scent… it’s driving me-” His voice trails off again, and he shakes his head like he’s trying to clear it. “Forget it. Forget I said anything,” he mumbles, clearing his throat.
Before I can press him further, he snatches the letters from me and stuffs them into his jacket like they’re precious contraband. “Once I get their replies, I’ll reach out,” he promises.
“Thank you, Fury,” I say softly, watching him head for the door. Something still feels off about him, but I push the thought aside once he’s gone.
As the door clicks shut behind him, I let out a heavy sigh and lean back against it, sliding down until I’m sitting on the floor. Alone. Finally.
Relief bubbles out of me uncontrollably, and I end up laughing like a lunatic, clutching my stomach. God, I must look completely deranged—but I don’t care. The image of Celestia’s face when Jack told her to go make herself “comfortable” in the attic flashes through my mind, and I cackle even harder.
“Serves her right,” I mumble through giggles.
But before I get too comfortable, my wolf huffs in my head, dragging me back to reality.
“We still have to get rid of her,” she grumbles. “We can’t afford her hanging around our mate. We need Jack. His touch. His kisses-”
“Alright, alright!” I groan, throwing my head back against the door. “I get it! Shut up already.”
I’ve heard the same speech from her a thousand times. No way in hell was I about to let her start writing a whole romance novel in my head again.
“Let’s go for a run,” I mutter, pushing myself to my feet. “Clear our head.”
My wolf snorts but then howls in agreement. “Anything to get out of this house – it reeks of that bitch’s scent. “Hopefully, by the time we come back, the stench will be gone.”
Chuckling, I walk over to the windows, shoving them open wide and dramatically waving my hand through the air like a woman banishing a demon.
The cool breeze rushes in, taking the edge off the cloying, sickeningly sweet scent Celestia left behind. I smile grimly. Good riddance.
Slipping outside, I carefully scan the woods. No one in sight. Good.
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13:26 Sat, 21 Jun G
Chapter 39
The last thing I need is anyone catching me mid–shift–my wolf is massive. Bigger than any female wolf I’ve ever seen. Bigger than most males, too.
And honestly?
That still scares the shit out of me.
Closing my eyes, I feel the familiar, powerful pull ripple through my body- and shift. Bones stretch and pop, muscles ripple, fur replaces skin- and in seconds, I’m standing on four legs, almost the size of a damn tree. My paws sink deep into the soft soil.
“Let’s run,” my wolf growls impatiently.
Tobey, surging forward. Trees whip past me, the night air cool and freeing. I leap over fallen logs, my paws moving so fast the ground barely feels solid beneath me.
It feels incredible–until voices, human voices, reach my ears. I skid to a stop, panting, my ears swiveling toward the sound.
Shit. I’m way too close to the main pack grounds.
Without thinking twice, I shift back- my clothes staying intact and dart behind a massive oak tree.
Crouching low, I peek around the thick bark.
–
A crowd is gathered in front of the pack building – the same one where I’d had the unpleasant encounter with Beta Khaos earlier. They’re loud, their faces lit with excitement, chanting in one obnoxious voice:
“All hail Lady Celestia! Our future Luna!”
They sing her praises like she’s some goddess sent down to bless them.
Jealousy burns hot and furious in my chest, making me almost dizzy.
“You want that, don’t you?” my wolf purrs in my head, smug.
“No,” I whisper harshly, lying through my teeth. But the words taste bitter, and the truth claws at me, undeniable and raw.
Because… I do.
A part of me wants them to chant my name instead. I want to belong somewhere.
I flash back to Fury earlier – how naturally the word had rolled off his tongue when he called me “Luna.” And how it had sent a stupid, secret thrill through me that I couldn’t shake, no matter how hard I tried… It had felt good.
Too good.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turn away from the crowd, pressing my back against the rough bark of the tree.
“I don’t care,” I whisper to myself.
But the ache inside says otherwise. Still, I refuse to stand here like some pathetic girl crying over something that was never mine.
Yet.
I just needed to figure out how to send that bitch packing without starting a war–and then…
Maybe, just maybe, the chants would be for me.
I’m still trying to breathe through the ache in my chest when the voice I hate most shatters my thoughts.
“Why are you hiding behind the tree like some thief?”
2/4
22
tet, spoing round start my heart nearly to be out of my chest
As there to
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elestia, smeking lãe the devil herself in a flowing white dress.
3 grit my teeth so hard fry jaw aches.
right,” she says, voice dripping fake tweetness. “You don’t belong here?”
1 don’t even think before I snap back, “Better to hide than to parade myself around like a desperate, attention–starved hag”
Celestia’s eyes flash with anger, but she covers it quickly with a snide little laugh. She lifts her hand, scratching her nose dramatically, like she smells something retten.
“You smell weird,” she says, wrinkling her nose in mock disgust as she sniffs the air around me. “Like you were with another man. It’s definitely not
Jack
Her smile turns sly. “Are you cheating on him already?”
I stare at her like she’s grown two heads. What the hell is she even talking about?
Just like Fury earlier, she keeps scratching her nose like something’s driving her mad.
“You know,” Celestia hums, stepping closer until the sickeningly sweet scent of hers invades my senses, “you could just hand him over to me. Save yourself the heartbreak.”
I clench my fists, feeling my nails dig crescent moons into my palms. But I force a smile- the kind that feels more like baring my teeth.
“You see, Lady Celestia,” I say sweetly, “I’ve dealt with bitches like you before. Bitches obsessed with owning what the Moon Goddess gave me. But you?”
I step closer, close enough to see her pupils sharpen dangerously. “You’re one unlucky bitch….because I actually want to keep this one.”
Her eyes flicker dangerously, but before I can walk away with whatever dignity I have left-
A brutal shove slams into my back.
1 gasp, my body pitching forward. I hit the ground, face–first, hard enough to taste blood.
Pain explodes through my palms and knees. The world spins for a second.
And then-
Silence
Followed by the sudden, unmistakable prickle of every damn eye turning to stare at me.
Mortified, I scramble to get up, my hands scraping at the dirt. But before I can fully lift myself, a sharp kick slams into my side, knocking me down again, pinning me there like I’m nothing
My wolf growls low in my head, ready to tear, but force her down.
I watch from the dirt as Lady Celestia saunters past me like she hasn’t just humiliated me in front of everyone. She lifts her arms theatrically, turning to
the small crowd.
“Thank you, everyone, for your warm welcome,” she says, her voice smooth and sugary, dripping with fake humility.
The crowd roars louder, clapping, some even throwing flowers at her damn feet.
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13:26 Sat, 21 Jun GB G
Chapter 39
I glare at the back of her head, wishing I could burn a hole straight through it.
But then-
She turns.
Looks right at me, still crumpled on the ground like trash.
Her lips curl into a cruel smile.
“Oh, look, everyone,” she announces, loud enough for the whole damn pack to hear.
“It’s Alpha Jacks… mate
The way she spits the word “mate” makes it sound dirty, like an insult
The crowd quiets, I can feel their eyes crawling over e–judging, whispering
I want the ground to open up and suxations mive watche
force myself to move, to stand but may body hests let’s turned to stone
Frozen there, helpless
Celestia saunters back over to me, all grance and malice. She bends down, offering me her hand like she’s being merciful,
Her nails, sharp and manucurent, get my simman she leans in stone, her breath hot against my wat
“You said you’ve dealt with diets like me? site whispers, just for me. “That’s impossible, Kal. I’m the Alpha King’s daughter which makes me so different”
I suck a breath, my heart hammaning faster at that word.
“You stand no chance seanut me,” she continues, her unce almost priying, “Unless, of course, you die and are reborn into my bloodline.”
She chuckles darkly
“But we both know that’s impossible to be a good inte gut gue up lack and walk away while I’m still feeling generous.”
She pulls back, stranghoosing up, smiling sweety for the crowed as if she’s just helped a wounded puppy.
My hands cut into the dirt, rage and humiliation bubbling so high almost choke on it but then… a dangerous smile curls across my lips.
Because an idea–dark, during, and deliciously reckless–forms we may feed,
Andready know exactly who need to make it happen.
Jack
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