CHAPTER 9: Did She Just Slap Me?

“WHAT do you mean, Luna?” a curious tone from one of the pack members surrounding Raine asked. I crossed my arms against my chest to look at her. She was once my student in the training session I was doing a few moons ago.

“How do you see me, Sophia?” I called her by name and her eyes grew widen in determination. It shows respect as it was gazing up at me to answer my question. She was thinking hard before saying,

“Dark and . . . menacingly . . elegant?” she answered which everyone agreed upon. I then turned my gaze towards Raine who was already shaking in fear before a mocking smile unconsciously appeared on my face.

“What do you think, doesn’t this dress speak a lot like me, Ladies?” I pointed my closed fan up and down at Raine’s obstinate posture. The audience was hesitant, but after a few seconds of staring at the gown the star of today’s ball was wearing, they slowly saw the picture I was trying to tell and agreed, instantly murmuring to themselves.

The fun then began after that.

“The Alpha’s mate is a disgrace.”

“What a thief!”

“She’s supposed to be in prison, what a favored little lady.”

Those are the words that seemed music to my ears all the while an obnoxious sound to Raine. Her circle that was trying to kiss her feet with compliments was now staying at least ten meters away from her.

“It was given to me, Luna. P-please stop making jokes. Haha.” she forced a laugh out of her mouth, trying to lighten up the mood as she peers at everyone else’s reaction.

They were dubious though, much to the atmosphere she was expecting.

Just how fast five minutes of me simply talking bad about her has changed the entire pack’s side.

“Of course, it was given to you, Lady.” I smiled, a sinister one.

My words instantly made the crowd indecisive of what to believe and to make rumors from.

Is the Luna a vile story-maker?

Or is the Alpha’s mate a thief?

“I mean, the Alpha has literally threatened to slit my designer’s throat if she didn’t give any of her best designs that was supposed to be mine—to you.” I continued and before I knew it, her face was starting to warm up, on the verge of showing yet another session of her tearsto cover everything up.

“Maryna . . .” she lifted her chin at me, hands squeezed in a fist on the fabric of the gown. Her eyes were glossy for her yet-to-shed tears.

She was trying to warn me into not saying anymore.

What does she hold against me, though?

“That’s ‘Luna’ for you.” I arched a brow at how she suddenly called me. I seriously cannot take anymore of this bitch today.

“Worry not, Raine Avalon. I will surely let my designer know that she’s going to be making a section for you in her store, so you won’t have to convince any other Alphas to . . . give you a stolen dress.” I utter with a generous facade, and a mocking gaze.

She threw daggers at me and oh, goddess knows how much I enjoyed how her eyes are looking at me with hatred in it.

Because as much as I am aware, this will only be the beginning of her hellish life. It will continue more in the future that she’ll wish she’s never the Alpha’s mate.

My heart was swallowed with envy, and I know, I am practically aware that she was the rightful owner of everything that’s mine. Everything.

And yet I can’t bring myself to give all that away.

“Luna! Are you going to sing tonight?” one of the pack members shouted and everyone else followed in unison. I smiled before nodding. The elevated stage of the ballroom was instantly emptied with any other mess to welcome my presence.

The room was followed with the fruitful sound of palms clashing with one another as claps of excitement for this year’s song reigned the entire place.

I gave the pianist the paper and he accepted it with no hesitation, staring at the notes he’s supposed to play.

And I started singing every melody of the song. It was harmonious, far from the style I’m used to singing. I closed my eyes and let the words and the sound fall off my vocal chords and into the crowd.

Their eyes were wide in shock, yet one pair of orbs stood out from the rest. It was Raine’s.

I know why.

I am well aware—very, as to why she’s staring at me, dumbfounded.

It was because I sang her song, throwing mine in the trash can last night.

“And in the daytime, I shall worship no one but you, my dearest. I am bewitched in the hands of your romance.”

There were claps after I sang the last bit. I open my eyes, breathing ti the crowd. But their claps were . . . reluctant.

This was too inferior to the mass of audience that gave me all the love from last year’s song.

Were they not . . . impressed?

“I-this was a new style I’ve worked to try.” I confidently walked down the aisle to all the people and avoided Raine’s gaze at all cost.

“How did I do?” I told the women from earlier, they were now circling me.

“You-you were great.” one of them said and some agreed with the statement with a faltering voice and most avoided my eyes. I bite my lip when the looks on their faces say otherwise. Why? I thought Raine’s song was better.

I should have sang mine if I knew this would be the consequences of my actions.

“I—” everyone turned to the soft voice which loudly spoke. “—I will also sing.” Raine smiled at everyone who threw her a confused gaze. I balled my hand into a tight fist. What is she doing?

“Are you sure?” Calvin who was now beside her asked, evidently running his hand up and down his back. The two of them stared lovingly at each other as Raine nodded with affection glinting in her icy blue eyes, matching Calvin’s Sea Green ones.

“Come on then.” Calvin led her to the stage and all I could do was scowl at them, unable to even protest about this as the Alpha himself has already escorted her.

“Please play this song.” Raine took out a paper from her sleeve, giving it to the pianist. For a moment—for an entire moment, I saw the pianist’s eyes stare at the paper with pure familiarity before his eyes raised towards me.

As though he’s trying to send a message.

“Is there anything wrong, Sir?” Raine asked and with Calvin’s gaze glaring impatiently at the pianist, he scurries to play the notes written on the paper.

The moment Raine opened her mouth, there I knew. My ears knew. My entire body shook and every hair in my skin stood up. She closed her eyes as she sang the high notes and the triggering curves on the song.

I know that.

I memorize the entire song.

Because it’s mine.

I grip the fan even tighter in my hand when everyone turns to look at Raine with more attention than my performance.

“Wow, she’s amazing.” A girl from behind me muttered to themselves.

“She is.” The other pack members responded.

That’s my song. I knew it was so much better than hers yet I doubted it. I gnashed on the insides of my cheek so hard until it bled, the regret and frustration seeped through me as I stared at Raine singing my song.

I sang hers as well. We switched.

She stole mine, and I stole hers.

One cannot accuse the other.

“Damn hell of a fucking thief.” the words came out of nowhere in my mouth, not knowing who it was pertaining to. I am a thief and so is Raine. I sucked in a huge amount of breath as she sang the last line.

“The moon remained fading in the darkness as the sun once more arose.

With her last breath she stared directly at its light and off to death she dozed . . .”

Everyone instantly clapped their hands at the performance. It took me a great amount of strength to stop myself from doing exactly that.

she’s good, really good.

I nibbled on my teeth, taking a glass of champagne from the waiter that was lurking

around the ballroom to distribute and offer drinks.

I glanced at Calvin and she stared at his mate with astonishment, eyes stuck in a daze before hastily coming over to escort her to the stairs.

“That song was beautiful!” the people uttered, throwing praises at her. Raine looked at me and for a moment, I saw her eyes turn from joy to mockery and in an instant came back to its innocent state.

“Isn’t the song one of the many styles of your singing, Luna?” one of the pack members asked. I gritted my teeth, plastering a forced smile on my face before nodding.

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

“Then I guess she is working to be on the same path as you are.” she said before excusing herself.

I ropp my eyes, and muttered small curses under my breath. Same path, my arse. She will never be on the same path as me. And will never be the same as me.

I play with the champagne glass in my hand before turning to Raine who was once more earning even more attention that she already has.

The ones who exited the circle earlier from what I said now came back clinging onto her like monkeys.

I walked over to them, the atmosphere that was filled with warmth and gentle smiles turned upside down in my presence.

“Raine Avalon.” I gave her a half-smile and even if she likes it or not, if the Luna herself calls upon her, there’s nothing more to do than smile and acknowledge such a call.

“Luna.” the corner of her lips quirked up. Calvin pulled her even closer to his side which resulted in her cheeks turning red. This earned even more praise that I almost laughed about it. Almost, but not quite. They look as though they’re trying hard to be romantic.

“You performed very well.” I complimented, taking a sip from the champagne. Its golden liquid bubbling inside the thin glass, penetrating through Raine who was looking at me with a suspicious gaze.

She squinted her eyes to look through my facade. “You are too kind, Luna.” She forced the words out, before bowing her head.

Calvin was about to protest at her mate bowing to another woman, when he was taken away by the senior werewolf council and they walked off talking about pack-related business.

I took the chance to lean closer over Raine’s bowed posture to whisper just beside her hair. “You did pretty great stealing my song.” I smirked and she turned to me. “And you did great with mine.” She responded.

I dropped every emotion I had on my face and like how I swore to give her a life of a living hell, the glass of champagne in my hand emptied.

Its content dripping on her hair.

A deja vu.

This will be her daily routine, she should already be used to it by now that I’m spoon feeding her future to her.

“Next time, try the shampoo I’m usi—” my head quickly turned to the side.

Seconds dashed off the clock before I realized what just happened with my cheeks.

It was stinging.

And I turn to see the cost.

At the thought of Calvin—her knight-in-shining armor, I was already prepared to say something.

But when I turned to look, there was no Calvin around. It was only Raine and her loathful stare.

Did this bitch just . . . slap me?