SamuelI was staring dumbfoundedly at Clara waiting for her response. My mind was in a deep haze that I failed to get a clear understanding of what this happening is all about. Alice remained kneeling on the floor, crying so bad. While Clara was sneeringly watching Alice beg for forgiveness, I tried to understand what Clara just said, but none of that makes sense. She’s accusing my Luna of embezzling money from the pack! And that is not something that is easy to absorb. “Answer me,” I demanded, my teeth gritting in frustration. “Why do you think she is kneeling in front of you, crying, and asking you to just puni—” “Just give me a damn straight answer!” I cut Clara off. Clara inhaled a deep breath, crossing her arms. “Well, then, you heard me right, Alpha, your Luna, Alice has been stealing money from the pack for a while now.” I knew that I asked her, and she just gave me a simple answer. But getting that answer from Clara only made me believe one thing. “How dare you tarnish
SamuelI watched Alice’s face turn pale, her lips quivering and her eyes too afraid to even stick with my stare. “Do you have an idea of what you have done—” “I didn’t do it,” she shakily inhaled. “I had no idea about what Maya nor Via did. Believe me, Samuel.” Her hands clutched the edge of my shirt, making me as weak as I could ever be. My grasp on her shoulders then loosened. Hence before my hands fully slid off, Alice held me tight as she leaned in closer to me. “You’ve got to believe me, Samuel. I could never do these things to your pack—to our pack!” Cupping my cheeks with her cold and shaky hands, I even felt more guilty to know how easier it was for me to believe Clara and go against Alice. But could I really blame myself? Everything was pointing out on her, and that is something I have no control over. “Of course, you cannot ever do such things,” Clara laughingly chimed in. “No criminal admits to their doings.” I couldn’t deny that Clara made a point, so moving my face
Alice“Oh, yes, I do have a say in this!” Clara shrieked, her face fuming in anger. “Punish that Omega, whether your wicked Luna agreed or not.” Samuel will fold for me, every single time, and that is something I shouldn’t doubt. If it weren’t for Clara, I could have already made my way out of this mess. But just as how she always brings me nothing but trouble, here she is, consuming my remaining patience with her. However, I must admit that she surprised the hell out of me. When she got the Luna ring from me, I’d never thought she'd use it and actually go deeper—deep, to the point where she finds out about all these. “This is my decision, Clara and it won’t matter if you’ve got the Luna ring now. You can never go against me—your Alpha!” My embrace to Samuel from behind went tighter as I peeked through Clara from behind him. I was mockingly smiling at her while I watched her nose flare in irritation. She turned ahead of me and faced Samuel. Sometimes, Clara got me wondering wher
ClaraI already did everything I could on my part to push Samuel not to make the wrong decision in favoring Alice once again. But when he decided not to let me interfere with it anymore in return that he will do the same, I knew I had just accepted it. I won’t even have any reason to go against it anymore. Though I failed to prove that Alice was the big mind behind all of that money embezzling her two Omegas did, my instincts will remain the same. No Omega would have the courage to do such things without any bigger person backing them up. It’s just so unfortunate that I couldn't find more tangible proof to support my claim. Knowing how unjust Samuel can get just to protect his Luna, all of my hunch will only sound like I am tarnishing Alice’s name in Samuel's ears. He would never have believed me in the first place if his Beta, Carter, didn't find the receipts and checks. “Luna?” Donna’s voice echoed behind the door. Sitting upright by the mattress, I answered, “Come on in.” Don
Samuel“Alpha can’t see you right now. He’s busy dealing with a lot of matters.” “It will be very quick, Beta, please.” Whatever commotion happening right outside my office has been going on for a while now. I had no idea who Carter was talking to, but I strictly ordered him not to let anyone in until I said so. After what happened, I don't even have the deep need to to see Alice. What more in dealing with other people? Letting myself drown with the pack’s work is the only thing I am yearning for. “No, you have to leave now. For the meantime, just keep whatever it is that you need to tell Alpha and come back some other day,” Carter’s voice was pleading as if he was truly running out exhausted talking to the woman. “Please, Beta—” “Just not now, Donna,” Carter sighed. Getting my eyes off the pile of papers before me, they landed right to where the door was. Donna. Clara’s Omega. I stood up from my swivel chair, making my way towards the door to settle whatever was happening ou
Clara“You’re not my daughter.” The same words from my father echoed through my ears continuously. There were no words that got out of my parted lips while hot drops of tears unendingly streamed down my cheeks. I was suddenly oblivious to the reason for my tears. Is it to know I’ll die right here, right now. Or knowing the father I’d known since I grew up wasn’t actually my father? “N-no,” I mumbled, aggressively wiping my tears off my face. “You’re lying.” I was shaking my head rigorously. “You just—” “Which part of it you don’t get, huh?!” Leaping our distance, I felt his rough hands clasping my both wrists. “Is it the fact you’re going to die tonight or the fact that you’re adopted and probably an Omega’s child?” he snickered. “You’ve got to help me,” I whispered, looking at him through my blurry vision, hoping I’ll be able to change his mind. After all, he still raised me. He must have even just an ounce of love for me. “I’ve got to help my Alpha, Clara.” I shrieked when he
ClaraSeeing blood wasn’t something new to me, but seeing it gushing down from Samuel made me tremble. It was as if my mind completely shut down. I failed to think straight, my eyes just staring at how profusely Samuel was bleeding. His heavyweight created a thudding noise as his body reached the ground. Being left stunned, I only watched Henry flashed a grim grin before me. Clicking his tongue, he spat, “So, what now Clara? It’s just you and I.” “You’re out of your mind, Henry,” I was heavily breathing, shifting my gaze up on him before looking back down at Samuel. “Am I?” Henry took another step forward, aiming his dagger on me. “This wouldn’t have to end up this way only if your loyalty belongs to us. Why would you turn your back on us? Do you really think Samuel sees you as his beloved fated mate? He’s just using—” “I don’t care!” I screamed on top of my lungs. “ I am no one’s pet. I do not serve anybody! Not Samuel and definitely not yours and your brother’s greedy whims! If y
ClaraThree guards were struggling to keep Alice’s distance from the double doors of the infirmary because of the way she was insisting. Her shrill voice caught everyone’s attention and the look of pity along with irritation were thrown at her. “You can’t stop me from seeing Samuel! He needs me!” Alice shouted as soon as seeing me. “Why? Are you a doctor or something?” I chuckled.“Are you?!” Alice questioned me back. “You can’t possibly consider yourself a doctor just because you believe you are!” “I don’t take a word from a woman who knows nothing but to steal money from the pack for her whims.”The hallway was shortly filled with murmuring voices from the Omegas and other pack members that were obviously after the gossip. “N-no,” Alice bitterly chuckled in disbelief with my words. “Take that back, Clara! You know that’s not true!” “I know what’s true,” I sneeringly intertwined. Just seeing Alice’s face becomes filled with shame as her gaze lowered before her breathing turned
Clara When the dawn had fully broken, I was exhausted. I’m trying to conserve my remaining energy by not resting hoping it would be better and of course I’ll save more time. But when I felt my vision spinning, I had no choice but to stop for a while. I tied the horse’s leash on a small
SamuelI don’t know what’s gotten to me. I wanted to tell Clara about how the pack elders had already turned their backs on me because as much as possible, I don’t want to hide anything from her. I trust her so much, but I don’t want to add more burden onto her shoulders. She’s already doing too much for the pack. But the guilt that I was having for not telling her is getting far more question
ClaraThe night had already set so deep, the moon was up high and looming bright into the window of my room that I left open. The cold breeze outside blew so hard that all of the papers I had sitting on my table for a while now flew. I sighed, watching all of them scatter onto the floor while I rested my back on the chair’s backrest. I yawned, my eyes getting heavier each second and my head aching.
SamuelWhen the outbreak happened, I was determined not to tell Clara and bring her closer to another danger just after she almost died. Not for her, but for me because I don’t want to go through the same exact situation where I hold her in my arms as she bleeds to the brink of death. Having that kind of fear is something I would avoid for the rest of my life. But, things didn’t go according to my plan. The disease got worse and half of our population were infected. I never knew I’d need her much as I depend on her now. That first night, just right after she recovered, when she found out about the disease outbreak, I’ve never seen her sleep anymore. Every single night, I would watch her drown herself into the endless bunch of papers, studying how to end this virus. On mornings, she takes rounds into the area we isolated only for members who have the disease. Seeing her trying her best to prolong each person’s life while risking her’s made me accept one thing: she’s not the Clara I
ClaraI spent another day lying on the mattress as if I was a disabled person. Boredom was slowly filling me as time went by. My routine seems static: I will wake up, get checked by the pack doctor, eat, drink my medicines and go back to sleep.“Why is Donna not visiting me?” I asked out of pure wonder. For sure, she was the first to realize I left the pack that night. She was probably the one who informed Samuel about it. I just couldn’t help but to wonder that it’s been days since I woke up and she never bothered to show up…not even once. “She’s busy,” Samuel briefly answered. Aside from the pack doctor, only him regularly visited me every single day. It’s not like I was expecting more people to come by, but the only person I expected to be with me at times like these vanish like a dust into thin air. “Busy? How?” I sat down on the mattress, my brows shot up at Samuel. “Who would she be busy with? I’m right here, so Do–” “She’s got other work to do, okay?” Samuel abruptly cuts
Clara Just as what the old lady promised, she accompanied me to the peak of the Valley to get the plant I needed. Being with her made my way a lot easier. With her expertise with medicine, she got everything we needed to outplay the monsters blocking our way. I’ve never had the chance to a
SamuelIn the middle of the deep night, where everyone is definitely resting, Carter came banging my door, telling me Clara left. The news was so sudden that I was immediately awakened from my sleep. “Left? Why? Where did she go?” Carter was lost for words on how to respond to my unending questions. “How long has she been gone?” I kept on asking as we made our way down the pack mansion’s lobby. “Donna said the last time she got to see Luna Clara was before dinner.” I asked Clara to join me for dinner and this is what she did? Left?“Ask one set of our warriors to track her down immediately,” I ordered, but as if I said nothing Carter just stood before me, confused. “What? That’s an order. Move!” Probably because of the urgency in my head-splitting voice, Carter then moved. Donna, Clara’s personal servant was by the pack’s veranda, anxiously pacing back and forth. “Out of everyone here, you should know where Clara is planning on going.” “Alpha,” she exhaled, bowing her head.
ClaraMy steps were big and rapid as I made sure my sight was fixed ahead of me. I overheard Samuel calling for me. I know he’s just behind me, probably running after me. So as if I heard nothing, I kept on striding forward. It wasn’t so long when Samuel gave up. His voice eventually fades and my will to look back at him is growing bigger but I fight that urge and walk back straight to the packhouse until I get myself inside my room. I feel bad about leaving so abruptly because I know what it takes for him to push himself to say those words—to actually thank me. But I was just as well caught off guard at the moment. Blowing out a sigh to remove those thoughts building up in my head, I didn’t waste any more time and began packing up. I need to have a clear head, not to think about this twice but to make sure I am in the right mind to decide things. I am leaving. And I need to leave before tomorrow. After making sure I’ve got everything I will be needing for my trip, I hid the bag
Samuel“Are you really fit to work, Alpha?” My sharp stare shifted back to Carter who remained standing in front of my table. “I was stabbed, not paralyzed.” Clicking his tongue was the only thing he could do before he ended up nodding. I drifted my focus back onto the papers before me. “There’s actually nothing to work with, Alpha. Luna Clara made sure everything was settled. She handled the pack too—” “So you’re now her Beta?” I bitterly chuckled. “I’m just saying that she did more than enough. Treating you and managing the pack? That’s a lot to do.” Blowing out a deep sigh, I cleared out every piece of paper on top of my table and faced Carter with the back of my palm supporting my chin. “It seems like you and Clara were such good friends now, huh?” His brows furrowed until he nodded. “Then, why don’t you, as my Beta, ask her to talk to me. How does it sound to you?” “I’m on it.” “Just tell her I’m conducting a meeting with the pack elders so she won’t think I need her th