Candido’s voice pulled me out of my flashback.
I sucked in a sharp breath and looked up at him. He gazed at my face, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Don't be afraid."
My tears fell from my eyes at his words.
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. I leaned back and took a deep breath, trying to slow my racing heart. The sight and sounds of the banquet hall filled my senses, and I averted my gaze from my father.
Everything was fine.
Candido was here.
I would never have to go back.
I would never be abused again.
“Nothing,” I said, shaking off the scare and clenching my hand to hide my trembling. “I’m fine.”
“I’m not done—” Steven’s voice broke off. He stepped back and went a bit pale. I could only imagine Candido was glaring at him as he tightened his grip around my waist.
Silence filled the air again as they glared at each other. Lilian’s words came back to me, and I remembered the conversations Candido and I had over the years. Steven had reached out to try and get me back. He’d made visits, probably with the intention to drag me back, but I never saw him. Candido informed me after he left that he had come. He’d tell me some of the things that Steven said about taking me back, but I never had to see him.
Truth be told, my father didn’t care about me. He probably walked away frustrated every time, but he couldn’t do a thing about it. Candido was the Alpha King. He had no choice but to leave without me every time he came to play at being a concerned parent.
I could even believe that he, Bella, and Lilian were the source of the rumors about me and Candido. He had never said anything about giving me a title in the pack or made any public announcements about my position. Many people thought he was just a tyrant with a fetish for fat young girls, and I was just his toy.
“Your Majesty, it has been a long time,” Steven said tightly. “Clearly, Hedy has forgotten who her family is in your care.”
“No,” Candido said. “She hasn’t.”
Steven’s eyes widened. He glanced between us and shut his mouth before turning away and bringing Lilian along. Bella glared at me over her shoulder and followed her parents. I remained in place, grateful for Candido’s warmth and protection like always.
“We can go,” Candido said.
I shook my head and pulled away. “I’m fine. Besides, it will be good for you to mingle with the other alphas and get a sense of how their packs are doing.”
Candido narrowed his eyes at me, seemingly considering it. I stared back at him, hoping he would let it go. I didn’t want them to run me out of here. I had run once, but there was no reason to run from them any longer.
I wouldn’t just take their abuse and duck my head. I’d get the respect I deserved whether they wanted to give it to me or not. Candido didn’t suffer anyone to disrespect members of his pack and get away with it.
“Fine,” Candido said. “Come with me.”
I followed him to a group of alphas. They each glanced at me and gave me a tight and polite smile. They didn’t think much of me, but they were curious about our relationship. I tuned out of the conversation, just grateful to have a bit of cover. I glanced around, skimming my eyes over the crowd.
They were still staring, murmuring between themselves about the conversation I’d had with Bella and Lilian. I didn’t know how much they’d believe or wouldn’t believe, but I tried not to think about it.
I turned my head to find the bathroom. I had made it all of a few steps away from the hallway when Bella appeared holding a glass of red wine.
“You fat, useless thing,” she sneered. “You should have just died.”
I shook my head, realizing that there was no one in hearing range. It was only a matter of time before she showed her true colors. I could see the jealousy burning in her eyes.
“I’m younger, sexier, and more beautiful than you!” She hissed. “I should be on his arm, not you.”
“Shouldn’t you be speaking to him about that?” I quirked an eyebrow. “Maybe he doesn’t like skinny girls.”
I probably shouldn’t have said that, knowing that it would only feed the rumors, but I didn’t care. Seeing her burning with anger, seeing her helpless because her prettiness and our father weren’t getting her what she wanted, I felt like I was getting a little revenge for all the hell she’d put me through.
She growled, “You—”
People turned, and she seemed to catch herself. With a snide smile, she lifted her glass, mocking a toast to me. To anyone looking on, it was exactly what it would look like. I felt people turning back to their conversations.
“To you,” Bella said. “For being so persistent.”
I rolled my eyes at her ridiculousness and turned to return to Candido’s side. She stepped in front of me. I tried to dodge around her, but it was too late. She let out a scream as she crumpled to the ground. Glass shattered as I looked down at her, and people gasped, looking at us. The wine stained her blue dress. She sniffled as she dragged her hand through the glass and started bleeding. She clutched her bleeding hand and looked up at me like a bullied girl in a movie.
It seemed that Bella wasn’t just a vicious, spoiled brat, but she had learned some cunning from her mother over the years.
“Why did you push me?” Bella asked, her eyes growing glossy. She sniffled. “Do you really hate me that much, Hedy?”
The simple answer was yes, but I didn’t have to say that as she started to weep like a damsel. She looked pathetic, and it was so fake that I wanted to clap at her performance.
Then, people started whispering.
“How could she do that?”
“Honestly, it’s clear she’s just jealous.”
“The poor girl. Her dress is ruined….”
“How could she do that?”
I clenched my hands and glared down at Bella. She peeked through her blood and wine-stained hands with a small cruel smile.
“Poor girl.” “Honestly, she shouldn’t have been allowed to come if she was going to act like that.” No one would believe me now. I turned, looking for Candido. Yet, Bella had grabbed my dress with her bleeding hand. “Trying to run away again, Hedy? Like every time you’ve done bad things to me?” Bella asked, her voice just loud enough to be heard by everyone and stir up more whispers. “Haven’t you learned anything?” I looked at her bloody hand and then at the sneer in her eyes. I knew her well enough to know that the moment she saw me in this dress, she wanted to take it from me or destroy it. It wasn’t the first time she’d taken or destroyed something of mine because she wanted and couldn’t happen. All the memories of my mother I should have had after her death, keepsakes and mementos, had been lost to Bella’s jealousy and selfishness. I dropped my gaze to her neck, where my mother’s necklace hung, gleaming on her collar. Bella tugged at my dress and grabbed another fis
I turned, relieved to see Candido coming through the crowd. They parted and bowed their heads. No one said a thing, probably quaking at the thought they might have been heard bad-mouthing me and agreeing with Eric. “You must be, speaking to anyone in my pack that way. Perhaps you’d like your pack to pay the price for your idiocy?” His eyes narrowed. “Penance is owed, isn’t it?” Eric paled and stepped back, glancing at me and then dropping his gaze. Candido glared at him, daring him to say anything as the raw power of his presence loomed over Eric. Bella shifted the top of her dress down, just enough to reveal more of her cleavage. She looked ridiculous, but Candido didn’t even glance at her. His gaze swept past Bella and Lilian down to the blood-stained corner of my dress. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “Hedy,” he said. “Are you alright?” I swallowed and gave him a trembling smile as I nodded. It wasn’t a lie. Now that he was here, I was just fine. I stepped closer to
I closed my eyes, bracing for pain or more yelling. I heard a loud crack and a shriek of pain as I tried to get my heart to calm down. Candido’s scent filled my nose as I buried my face in the fabric of the back of his suit and breathed. Candido was here. I was safe. I would always be safe if he was here. When I opened my eyes, a security officer of Team Gamma was standing between Candido and Bella. She was crumpled on the ground, holding her wrist and wailing in agony. Tears rolled down her face as she gasped and shuddered on the ground. The officer turned his head just slightly, never turning his gaze from Bella. “Will that be sufficient, Your Majesty?” Bella shuddered and lifted her head. She glared at me through the curtain of her hair that was still a bit wet from the wine she’d spilled on herself. My mother’s necklace glinted in the low light as it swung, and she heaved. “I’m going to make your life a living hell, Hedy!” She shrieked. “For now,” Candido sai
He winced. “His Majesty has asked not to be disturbed. He’s reviewing documents.” I nodded. “Well, make sure he eats something. He gets cranky when he’s hungry.” Allen chuckled. “Of course, Miss Hedy.” When the house was quiet, and I was certain that no one would hear me, I locked the door to my bedroom and closed the thick curtains around my bed. I pulled the hidden panel in the headboard out and put on my headset. “Pandora to Moon Shadow, online,” I said. The screen of the computer shifted as the computer recognized my voice and initialized the unlocking protocols to the private messaging board of Moon Shadow. In the wake of the chaos that had started to infect werewolf society after the rise of the vampire king, Moon Shadow was formed to help combat it. The organization was made up of only werewolves with awakened bloodlines. No one knew anyone’s real name, faces, or voices, but we all shared a common vision: bringing about the unity and peace of the werewolf world, f
It was a weird question, but it wasn’t the first time that Candido had started a strange conversation with me. I thought about it and answered, “People say he’s the most handsome guy at school, and he receives a lot of love letters in pink envelopes every day.” Then I laughed. “Ohh Claire thinks his eyes are very charming.” Candido clenched his fists at his sides as I frowned at the glass I had been offering to him for the past few moments. Why wasn’t he taking it back? Candido took a deep breath. “You think his eyes are charming?” “Not me. Claire.” “I don’t care.” He said stiffly. “I’m asking what you think.” Candido looked so serious. More serious than I had ever seen him. It wasn’t like him to fixate on something so trivial. I usually told him all about my day, but there hadn’t been much to say today, and my mind wasn’t on my day at the Academy, let alone Francium. Maybe there was something going on with the New Moon Pack. Was he in negotiations with them about someth
“His Majesty left early into the city for a meeting.” That was odd. Candido was an early riser, but he rarely missed breakfast with me. He pretended like it was just to check up on me, but I think he enjoyed our quiet time together. This morning had been the first time I’d eaten breakfast without him in a long time. It wasn’t completely out of the ordinary alone, but in relation to that conversation we had last night and the way he’d evaded my questions about the party, it was odd. I slipped out of the car when we arrived, waved most of the team goodbye, and headed into the Academy. People were milling about on the front lawn and in the hallway. Some gave me wide-eyed glances, but I ignored them. “Hedy!” Claire called, rushing down the hall towards me. People parted for her, but they were still staring at me. Maybe it was because of Francium’s confession yesterday? Or had they heard about Bella’s engagement disaster? Whatever the reason, I ignored them as Claire reached me.
She blinked for a few moments. Linda was quiet, and I continued to stare at her and wait for her to answer. Bella passed exams because the young men she attended classes with gave her the answers to be closer to her. I knew from high school that she never did any homework. Lilian and Steven were preparing her to be a trophy wife, not someone to help run a pack, so they paid people or forced me to do her homework.I doubted anything had changed in the last four years. Seeing the way Bella stared at me told me I was right.“That’s such an easy question,” someone said from nearby. “If she needs help with that, it’s obvious that she doesn’t belong here.”It was a high school algebra problem. I was taking Calculus this year.“Do you need me to repeat the question?” I asked.“Of course not,” Bella said though she glanced at Linda nervously. “Linda? Why don’t you give her the answer, and I’ll explain it.”I looked at Linda, waiting for her to stumble and pull a bullshit answer out of nowhere
If vampires and werewolves shared a cult, what else did werewolves and vampires share? More than that, if we had inherited the cult from them, what else had we inherited? Were we once truly at peace? How had we become enemies?Was there even a chance that we could go back to being somewhat at peace? If there was a way to do so, it would make Moon Shadow’s mission easier, but I wasn’t sure that it was possible. The list of questions seemed to grow longer the more I thought about it. As I turned the corner and headed towards my next class, a bit of bright yellow tape caught my eye. Three workers had sectioned off part of the hallway.“What happened?”The worker shrugged. “Some youngest probably lost control and damaged the wall. Nothing much to worry about.”I nodded but scanned the claw marks. They were oddly made, deeper in some places than in others. It was pretty characteristic of someone with super strength not quite controlling their strength. When their strength waxed and waned l