KEEGAN O'LEARYMadeleine left my arm as Mr Kim, the chauffeur, pulled the back door of the car open for the girls.I waited until Gia joined them before moving to my position behind Mr Kim in the front seat.I peeked into the rearview mirror, and I caught sight of Gia picking on her nails at the deep end of the long jalopy, reserved and quiet as usual. As it should be.All I could think about was the evil crescent mark imprinted at the back of her shoulder. She had gotten to the most critical part of her fate. The part where her life was at the peek of a stake.I'd done my part. I'd done my best trying to pr
MADDISON SNOWI ruffled my hair roughly, moving the hand dryer over the areas I hadn't blown. Once I was done, I took out my towel and threw on a big polo with denim shorts.I bent to take a look at myself in the mirror, and I was satisfied with the image staring back at me, but my mind kept tugging me back.Levi's reaction from yesterday when I tried calling him out for our therapy session was totally unnerving. I feared trying again today. Who knows, he might throw a fist at my nose this time.“Gosh!’’ I collapsed back on the chair in front of the mirror.Sitting here wouldn't
GIA O'LEARYI decided to read a book today. Maybe it would help sway my thoughts a bit from reflecting over Keegan's words.He went asking me how it was at the mansion and if Alpha Levi was making any advances to me, which I found totally uncomfortable. He got pissed when I reacted awkwardly to him and lashed out;“Listen up, you dense brat. You can't go there and misbehave, or you'll never expect what comes to you. The fact that you have the Luna title now doesn't make you any more than you have always been. The cursed little runt no one would want to rub themselves with. You wouldn't want the alpha to discover what you really are, so avoid him like a plague for the next three months if you don't want your head
ALAN WOODSHer expression melted from feisty to stunned and helpless. She stepped back in an attempt to move away from me and almost stumbled against the table. She rested against it for support, obviously whelmed by my unseemly outburst.“W-what was that?’’ She breathed.“You heard me right.’’ I inched closer, and her gaze darted to my feet, her lips acting immediately.“Don't come any closer. It's a request.”Yeah, sure, because I wasn't Levi. For two whole years, I had to deal with my feelings for her and watched her cruise the world with Levi. How could s
LEVI ELDERMANThings grew a bit awkward. Actually, she made things seem awkward by her unpleasant silence.“You have a problem?’’ I raised a brow.Her mouth finally closed, and she breathed. “You should have your medication. We can't keep it any longer.’’“It's almost past dinner time. I don't see the point.’’ I said sincerely.“Well, I see the point. Who knows, you might pull a stunt after dinner and make me skip the medication again.’’ She implied.“And by that, you mean?’’“You s
MADDISON SNOWI traced his gaze to meet Gia by the door. She had a jar of some weird-looking liquid in her grip while her eyes scanned us.‘‘Gia?’’ Levi called. He seemed dumbstruck. I could swear I heard his heartbeat.“I'm sorry. I didn't realise you'd be busy.’’ She turned and left.“Gia!’’ Levi called after her, pulling away from me to go after her.I couldn't believe my world. Levi had never resisted my nakedness, he always went crazy at the mere sight. But he was pulling away now, and because of what, that little girl?&n
MADDISON SNOWHer face fell, and she instantly went quiet, as if I'd asked the most difficult question ever.“Spill. Now.’’ I commanded.“Um…she is the Luna.’’ She blurted out.‘‘Are you crazy?’’“I'm sorry, my lady. Please specify what exactly you want to know about her.’’ She lowered her head.“Obviously, she's not Levi's mate. What exactly is her deal with him?’’&ld
GIA O'LEARY“Helloo! Are you even hearing me?’’ Camela snapped her fingers to my face.“I'm listening,’’ I grumbled.“So why ain't you responding then?” Her aging face folded into a displeased scowl.“Shouldn't we wrap up for the day? All these are just so frustrating.’’ I whined, flipping the pages of the annals before slapping the whole book shut.I shoved my fingers into my hair frustratedly, resting my forehead against my palm.‘‘We have barely even started&helli
GIA O’LEARYI stared at her for a long time, trying to understand what she was doing.Something was wrong. I could feel it deep in my gut.“Stand up,” I said firmly.She looked up at me with wide, nervous eyes, but she didn’t argue.She got up slowly, dusting her palms against her dress like it could hide her guilt.I turned sharply and started walking toward my room, not even checking if she was following, even though I already knew she would.Inside my room, I shut the door behind us and turned to face her.“Talk,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “What are you up to?”Mia bit her bottom lip hard, her hands twisting together in front of her like she was barely holding herself together.For a second, she didn’t say anything. She just looked at me, her eyes filling up with something that almost looked like regret.“I didn’t mean for it to go this far,” she said, her voice shaking. “I swear.” Her voice cracked. I stared at her, my heart beating harder. I refused to reply to her
GIA O’LEARY The way Alan reacted when the herbs fell… it didn’t match. He got so angry, like he couldn’t control it. But when my herbs went missing, he barely reacted. He was too calm.I wasn’t a fool. I could feel it; something was wrong.Maybe Alan wasn’t as clean as everyone thought.I didn’t know what exactly he was hiding yet, but one thing was clear to me now.I couldn’t let Levi hand over his position to Alan.No matter what, he seems suspicious, and something must be wrong somewhere. That thought stayed in my mind the whole night.Even when I lay down, pulled the blanket over myself, and tried to close my eyes, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.I turned on the bed again and again, my pillow feeling too hard under my head. My heart kept beating fast, almost painfully, like it was warning me.You have to stop it, I told myself. No matter what it takes.I stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours.Sometimes I closed my eyes, hoping to fall asleep, but the moment I did, Al
ALAN WOODS I walked straight toward her and grabbed her arm, pulling her close before she could even think to run.She gasped and tried to pull back, but I didn’t let her. I tightened my grip, pulling her body harder against mine. I didn’t care how much she fought.I pressed her closer, grinding her soft ass against me.Her body stiffened right away, like she couldn’t believe what I was doing.“Let go,” she snapped, pushing against me with both hands, her voice sharp and angry.I loosened my hold just a little… but I didn’t really let go.I kept my hand wrapped around her wrist, feeling her pulse race under my fingers.She glared up at me, her chest rising and falling fast.I could see the fire in her eyes, the wildness that always drove me crazy.“You need to hear this,” I said, my voice low and rough. “Gia is up to something.” Her eyes narrowed, sharp like a blade.“You’re just noticing that now?” she said, almost laughing but with no humor in her voice. “That girl is a witch.” I
ALAN WOODSI could feel it. Gia was up to something.Either her sweet, innocent face, I could tell she was up to something. But I wasn’t going to confront her just yet. I needed to figure out what exactly she was planning.What really bothered me, though, was Levi, he was defending her, and that… pissed me off.“Are you really doing this?” I questioned, my eyes held his. “Just accept the fact that you’re wrong.” He replied coldly. I couldn’t recall the last time Levi pulled this cold attitude toward me. Was all this because of that Gia of a girl? My eyes darted to her, still crawling beside the broken cup, blinking eyes repeatedly. How I wish this little thing would not get on my tail? It won’t take more than a slip of a finger to get rid of her. But now, let's just go with the flow. “I need to speak with you,” I said, the words calm but firm, as I turned to face Levi. “Alone.”I could feel Gia's gaze on me, but I wasn’t ready to give her the satisfaction of what she wanted.
GIA O’LEARYAlan’s eyes flickered when I spoke. He didn’t expect me to say such, I could tell by the flicker in his eyes. But he quickly masked it up, clearing his throat. “The herbs are working,” he said. Calm. Too calm, which tells me something is wrong. “You’re just not paying attention.”I stared at him, so that was all he could come up with?I tilted my head slightly, watching him. He was avoiding eye contact now, his eyes darting to the back of me like he was looking for something. But I wasn’t fooled. My gut was screaming. Something wasn’t right. The herbs hadn’t changed a thing, and I wasn’t the one who was blind here.Still, I didn’t argue. I could’ve called him out, could’ve pushed, asked questions, demanded answers. But I didn’t. Because Alan was lying, and when someone lies, it means there’s something worth hiding. I just needed to wait. So instead of pressing, I gave a soft nod, playing along. “Maybe you’re right,” I said quietly, forcing a smile. “Maybe I just didn’t
GIA O'LEARY I was pacing the length of my room, my fists clenched, my jaw tight, the heat in my chest refusing to cool down, not even for a bit minutes. I wasn’t angry at Levi. Not really, it was Alan.How dare he? How dare he talk to me like that in front of everyone? How dare he talk to me like I was the one causing trouble?I let out a frustrated breath and threw the nearest pillow at the wall. It hit with a soft thud and dropped to the floor.The sound of it was followed by a gentle knock on the door. “Come in.” My voice was barely above a whisper. The door creaked open, and Maddison walked in like she owned the room, closing the door behind her as if that would trap me inside with her nonsense.“Not now,” I said sharply. “I’m not in the mood.”She didn’t move. She just stood with her arms folded, eyes fixed on me.“I won’t take long,” she said. “I just want to ask you something.”“Maddison, I said not now.” I rolled my eyes.“Respect yourself when I’m being respectful,” she
ALAN I didn’t understand it either.The ring… I saw Maddison wearing it just yesterday. It was on her finger the whole time. I remember because she kept fidgeting with it while we were talking. So how the hell did it end up inside the storeroom?I stood there for a moment, stunned. The pieces weren’t adding up. My heart was still pounding from everything. And Maddison? I turned slowly to her, already seeing the fire in her eyes.“You planned this?” she yelled, her voice shaking. “Did you plant it there? Did you do this to me on purpose?!”“What? No!” I said quickly, my hands up. “Maddison, I swear….I have no idea how that ring got there.”She was breathing hard now, her chest rising and falling like she was about to explode. “Don’t lie to me! Maybe this is your way of finally getting rid of me!”“For Goddess’ sake, listen to yourself….” “I am listening!” she shouted. “And everything sounds like a trap!”Her voice was too loud. Loud enough for anyone outside to hear.“Shut up,” I
MADDISONRedrine looked like she’d seen a ghost immediately she stepped inside. She hesitated before moving closer, like she was being dragged forward by some invisible force. She stood in the middle of the room, her eyes wide, hands clutched together. Her gaze flicked from Mia to Levi… then to me. And when her eyes finally met mine, I knew she was scared. Good. She should be. Because I was scared too.“Redrine,” Levi said, holding up the ring. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough to grasp. “Have you ever seen this ring?” He questioned. Redrine shook her head quickly, like her life depended on it. “No, Alpha. I’ve never seen it before.”If Redrine hadn’t seen the ring, then who could’ve put it in the Storeroom? I know for sure I wasn’t the one. I didn’t go to the storeroom with the ring. Levi’s face darkened. He took one step closer to her and lowered his voice, but somehow made it feel even colder. “If you’re lying to me, Redrine… I will not hesitate to kill you. Is th
GIA O'LEARY“Why are you asking such a question? I just told you I clearly don’t know what you’re talking about!” Maddison denies again. “I’m asking because this ring… It’s yours?” Levi’s voice was calm, but I could feel the tension in his shoulders. He was trying not to jump to conclusions, but even he looked like he already had one.Maddison didn’t answer. She just stared at the ring in his hand, frozen like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.I stepped forward. “Don’t waste your breath, Levi,” I snapped, not even bothering to hide the heat in my voice. “She’s the one who stole the herbs. That ring is proof.”“Gia, calm down. Let her speak.” He frowned at me, his voice soft but firm. I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to breathe through the anger rising in my chest. Maddison had played us all for fools. I knew it in my gut. She stood there, pretending like she didn’t understand anything. Pretending like the ring wasn’t hers.“Let me see the ring clearly,” Maddison final