Masuk"…You are not going to touch up your makeup?" she asked.Leah blinked once, "I did." Clara's brows drew together faintly. "No, I mean it's not your usual style. You look…" She hesitated, searching for the right word, though her expression already said enough. "Bare."Leah tilted her head slightly. "Oh, why? Don't I look pretty like that?"Pretty? You look human now, unlike the walking disaster she usually looks, but this was irritating Clara. Though this orphan could never compare to her, the contrast wouldn't be obvious if Leah weren't a freakshow. She found it entertaining when people laughed behind the illiterate idiot.Clara let out a small laugh, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's not about pretty, it's just—" She gestured vaguely. "People are used to your usual style, and you look great in it. That's like your personal style, why would you change it to look just like everyone else?"Leah's gaze dropped briefly, her lashes lowering to hide the quiet shift in her eyes.
Pleased, he patted her head. "That's good. Is anyone giving you trouble?"Leah slowly looked at the Lunas holding their breaths before shaking her head."If anyone bullies me, I will just bully them back." Leah shrugged, pointedly looking at Clara and Luna Laurent, who were still kneeling on the cold floor."Good attitude." The Alpha King nodded with a satisfied smile. "This is the best way to deal with flies. If anyone under my rule bullies you, just tell Grandpa, and I will bully them."Leah nodded.Everyone pointedly looked at the mother-daughter pair.Luna Laurent became even paler, but Clara quickly smiled. "Your Majesty, you can leave it to me. I always take care of Leah as her big sister."The Alpha King glanced at her and chuckled. "Just come to Grandpa even if a room fly is buzzing around you."Clara's smile froze, her lips parting to address Leah instead, when the Alpha King suddenly turned to Damon, who was frowning at his phone."Damon."Clara bitterly swallowed her words.
"No." Leah’s eyes blazed, all hints of a smile gone. "It may be simple for you, but I don’t deserve the unwarranted hostility I was served with the moment I stepped out of my bedroom.”Her cold eyes fell on Luna Camille and Luna Vivienne, who quickly averted their gazes.“I’m still Princess Varkos, and your mother has crossed a line, so if I’m proven correct, I deserve an apology."Clara pursed her lips, throwing a blaming glance at her mother. Everyone heard what Luna Laurent said. Even Silver Luna felt pissed. No matter how much she disliked Leah, insulting Leah was insolence against the Royal House of Varkos.“Huh.” Luna Laurent felt upset. "You would dare call Prince Varkos for a ladies’ banter?"Clicking her tongue, Leah leaned back. "Ladies’ banter? You insulted and ridiculed me in front of a crowd. Do you know I can press charges against you for breach of dignity under Act 5 of the Lycan Law?"All the Lunas gasped.Shocked, Silver Luna Selene sat up straight. The law was indeed
With a smile, Leah did not immediately reply. Instead, putting her spoon down, she picked up a plate and, seemingly surprised, asked, “Clara, did you receive this gift of honor yourself?”“...Yes, I did. Why?”“Which chapter?”The pavilion quieted.Clara blinked. “Sorry?”“The Veterans’ Relief Chapter,” Leah repeated calmly. “Which branch did you donate to?”Clara hesitated only briefly. “The Eastern Chapter.”“There are three Eastern branches,” Leah said. “Volkov Central, Kirov Rehabilitation, and the Border Recovery Wing. Where did you donate?”Clara furrowed her brows. She did not expect Leah to make such a lame attempt to change the subject.Luna Laurent, though, didn’t hide her sneer. "What would you even understand? I wish my Clara could be as idle as to nitpick at others' gifts. She just returned after studying abroad a few days ago, and I have to see her run around for the Traditional Hunt in someone’s place."Leah just smiled knowingly at Clara before placing the plate back.
Damon didn’t spare Clara another glance. Averting his eyes, he coldly said, "Leave for now. This is a matter between us." Despite the icy tone, it was a marked improvement over his treatment of Leah.Clara’s heart soared—she wondered if he was trying to protect her reputation. Flooded with affection, she glanced gleefully at Leah, who was still glaring at Damon.Chirping an obedient "yes," she made a slow exit, keeping eye contact with Damon until she finally had to shut the door.With water still dripping from Damon’s curly blonde hair, he cast an emotionless look at Leah before turning his back. Leah remained frozen at the door, staring at the glass in her hand.'Clara, Damon... I'll destroy you both for what you've done to me.'After Leah washed the glass, her body collapsed in exhaustion as the tension left her body.When she woke up again at ten, her body was still wrecked. The aftermath of the night's intensity left her sore, her legs trembling with every step.She quickly went
"Do you need something?" Damon repeated his question.Clara was smiling reluctantly, bashfully hiding a shopping bag behind her. She shook her head. "It's nothing... Lee just left some of her things in my room.""What did I leave in your room?" Leah walked up from behind and opened the door wider, still only clutching the sheet.Clara's smile faltered, looking at all the marks on her body, but she was quick to mask her expression.Damon's brow hiked up.He had told her to dress up, but somehow she looked more disheveled... Shaking his head, he let the women be as he went into the closet.Clara smiled sweetly, tilting her head. "It’s just... didn't you say you were gonna wear this dress for Daye? I really wanted to help you in."Leah pursed her lips before smiling. "Yeah, sure, come in."After all, Clara deserved a good view of Damon's artwork on her body.In her last lifetime, Clara had come when he was in the walk-in closet getting ready. Clueless and nervous, Leah had happily invite







