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•Chapter 22•
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-04-23 20:52:55
Bab terkait
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 23•
ZaneThere was a certain kind of pain that came with seeing your own cowardice play out right before your very eyes. For once, I wanted to open up. To get her to see me for what I really was, but when it mattered the most, I clammed up and went silent. It didn't matter that I told myself that it was for the best. It just didn't feel right.On the way out of the Grove, I came across Alicia, who was busy crushing some seeds in a mortar with a pestle outside. She smiled when she looked up and saw me. “Oh, your Highness.”“You're the same age as my mother, Alicia. The honorifics aren't necessary,” I said to her. The muscles of my face felt too stiff for me to even attempt to smile. Alicia had been the healer who attended to me when I was younger, and up until Ashley came. It wasn't a surprise that I had grown to see her as a mother figure, especially during the times that my own mother had been so overcome with grief at my condition that she stayed away.“I can't bear to see you in so m
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-23The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 24•
AshleyThe exquisite stone carving must have taken months to complete because its delicate carving was unlike anything I had seen before. It told a story, without having to utter a word. “It's magnificent,” I said, unable to keep myself from running a hand over its surface. “This is the reason for our century old war for power,” said Gamma James, looking up at the statue himself with his hands clasped behind him. He looked regal in his embroidered matching two-piece. “The current Lycan King’s ancestor.”After he had come into the apothecary to see me, he asked to speak with me about something important, and since I'd heard enough about his family and their tendency for cruelty, I thought it better to avoid any issues and simply accept his offer.The first place he had taken me to was the heart of the tribe, which wasn't so far from the Grove. There, a huge statue rose from the centre of a circular platform, reaching for the sky. It was of a man in little clothing, focused on a targe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-25The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 25•
AshleyWe went down a familiar darkened path, our footsteps making echoes over the walls. A light chill hung in the air, and I pulled my jacket tighter around me to keep it out. “What are we doing here?” I asked, looking left and right for any sign of people. The path here was too secluded to have been open for just anyone to pass through, so either James had the right to be there, or we were doing something very dangerous.“This is the one place that I'm certain will make you understand just how dangerous your King is.” He glanced it me out of the corner of his sly eyes. “Telling you just wouldn't suffice.”I kept quiet and continued to follow along, wondering what he had to show me and why he was so hellbent on making me see Zane as a bad person.We reached the great silver doors, the same ones that I had followed Bryce to. How did James know about this place, or was it merely a secret amongst the high-ranking pack members?“It is such a shame that the Leventis family would rather
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-25The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 26•
Ashley“Now that you know all that you do now, I expect that you'll be more cautious, Ashley,” James said once we were out of the pack house’s hidden site. Zane’s cage. Silver moonlight slid through his hair, making him appear like an angel—but I knew better. Eager to get away from him, I nodded. “Yes, I understand now.” The coldness in my chest from Zane's behaviour still lingered, although I tried to tell myself otherwise. I wondered why I still kept holding on to hope that he would open up to me, even when he had shown me differently more than once.Thoughts of Zane abandoned my mind when James moved closer to me, clasping both of my hands protectively in his. It made me all the more aware of how taller he was, and bigger too. His attitude may have been off putting, but he was an undeniably attractive person. And he was very much aware of it from the way he looked at me with heavily-lidded eyes.“I regret to leave your side this evening, but I have important matters to attend to.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 27•
Jace“Elder Joseph!” I could barely mask the frustration in my voice as I knocked on the door of his home. “We have serious matters to discuss.” I knocked two more times before placing my hand on my hips and pacing back and forth by the door.Footsteps approached from the other side, and the door opened to reveal the Elder's wife. She mostly kept to herself, and was hardly seen around the pack. Slight surprise coated her face. She wrapped the shawl over her shoulders tighter, as though the air was chilly. Which I found funny because the heat growing inside of me was unbearable, or maybe it had been born as a result of my anger.“Where is your husband?” I asked her when she kept looking at me quietly. “He's not here,” she said in an almost perfect tone.Aa though she had practiced that line over and over in front of a mirror. “There where is he?”“I don't know. All I know is that he isn't home.” As she finished the sentence her eyes darted away. I probed deeper with my werewolf sense
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-05-01The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 28•
AshleyDeep breaths. All I had to do, was simply put my knuckles against his door, and I was going to be fine. I told myself over and over again that it was nothing, and that I simply wanted answers.“But who are you to demand answers from him, Ashley?” The sound of my own criticism muttered hung in the air around me. Did I really have that right to question him? The Lycan King? I rapped gently against the door of his room, and took a single step back. I just hoped that he hadn't gone to that dungeon to stay the night.As my mind started to wander off in a complex web of thoughts, the door unlocked, and Zane stepped between the door and the wall. He looked mildly surprised. “Ashley? Is there something wrong?”It took a long time for my brain to process his question, because he just happened to step into virw without a shirt. His muscles rippled with every breath, reminding me of the strength he carried. I shook my head a little and blinked, hoping that he didn't catch me putting as
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-05-02The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 29•
Ashley“Zane? Are you in there?” Clara kept knocking. “Look, I know you don't like visitors at this time but this is very important.”I stared at him, at a loss on what to actually do. The only saving grace was the fact that Zane had locked the door before we started talking, so at least we could buy ourselves some time.“Should I leave?” I whispered, inching towards his window, which I was glad was quite open. A cool breeze slipped in, gently playing with the thin curtains. “You could get hurt,” he whispered back, casting a disdainful look at the window. “I know Clara can be . . . Tough, but she's a rational woman. She can be trusted.”“It didn't seem that way when she nearly threw me into the dungeons.”We must have looked hilarious, arguing with whispers while there was someone knocking outside and trying to get in.He gave me one of those his trademark sighs and pointed to his walk-in wardrobe. “Go in there, stay quiet, don't make any noises. I'll go let her in now before she bre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-05-03The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 30•
AshleyZane's smirk told me all I needed to know concerning his thoughts on my question. My eyes went to his lips, as I was pleasantly surprised by his sudden reaction. “Why do you want to know our connection, Ashley?” he asked, eyes burning into my forehead as we stood close to each other, bodies almost pressing together. I became hyoer aware of his presence, remembering that we were very much alone once again.The kiss we shared burned through my mind like it had only happened the day before.“I just, want to know. You two seem very close.”“We are. We've been friends since childhood.”“Oh.” I chewed on my lower lip. “Alright then.” Bonds childhood friends had were usually very powerful that an outsider couldn't just come between.Zane's brow quirked up, and using my arm as leverage, he brought me closer to him. “Did you perhaps think we had another kind of relationship?”I shook my head, also trying to remove my intrusive thoughts. I could feel the hard muscles of his body through
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-05-05
Bab terbaru
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 31•
AshleyZane's request had me staring at him in shock, with my jaw slack. “Spend the night with y-you?” The very notion of it sent a barrage of thoughts too scandalous for my liking through my mind. The heat in my cheeks didn't make matters easier. I must have looked like a tomato.He seemed to find my embarrassment amusing, because his lips twitched in that very familiar way, curving as though he was fighting a smile.“Yes, I believe that's what I said.”“Why? I mean . . . You said you spend time away from people at night, because of your powers . . .”“Are you scared I'll hurt you?”I shook my head. That was the last thing I wanted him to think. I might not have known him as long as the people of his land, but I knew enough to know that he wouldn't do such to me—not on purpose anyway. I already trusted him that much.The reason for my hesitance wasn't him, exactly. “No, not at all. It's just that . . . I'm not sure if I'm ready for that.”“Ready for . . . sharing the same space with
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 30•
AshleyZane's smirk told me all I needed to know concerning his thoughts on my question. My eyes went to his lips, as I was pleasantly surprised by his sudden reaction. “Why do you want to know our connection, Ashley?” he asked, eyes burning into my forehead as we stood close to each other, bodies almost pressing together. I became hyoer aware of his presence, remembering that we were very much alone once again.The kiss we shared burned through my mind like it had only happened the day before.“I just, want to know. You two seem very close.”“We are. We've been friends since childhood.”“Oh.” I chewed on my lower lip. “Alright then.” Bonds childhood friends had were usually very powerful that an outsider couldn't just come between.Zane's brow quirked up, and using my arm as leverage, he brought me closer to him. “Did you perhaps think we had another kind of relationship?”I shook my head, also trying to remove my intrusive thoughts. I could feel the hard muscles of his body through
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 29•
Ashley“Zane? Are you in there?” Clara kept knocking. “Look, I know you don't like visitors at this time but this is very important.”I stared at him, at a loss on what to actually do. The only saving grace was the fact that Zane had locked the door before we started talking, so at least we could buy ourselves some time.“Should I leave?” I whispered, inching towards his window, which I was glad was quite open. A cool breeze slipped in, gently playing with the thin curtains. “You could get hurt,” he whispered back, casting a disdainful look at the window. “I know Clara can be . . . Tough, but she's a rational woman. She can be trusted.”“It didn't seem that way when she nearly threw me into the dungeons.”We must have looked hilarious, arguing with whispers while there was someone knocking outside and trying to get in.He gave me one of those his trademark sighs and pointed to his walk-in wardrobe. “Go in there, stay quiet, don't make any noises. I'll go let her in now before she bre
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 28•
AshleyDeep breaths. All I had to do, was simply put my knuckles against his door, and I was going to be fine. I told myself over and over again that it was nothing, and that I simply wanted answers.“But who are you to demand answers from him, Ashley?” The sound of my own criticism muttered hung in the air around me. Did I really have that right to question him? The Lycan King? I rapped gently against the door of his room, and took a single step back. I just hoped that he hadn't gone to that dungeon to stay the night.As my mind started to wander off in a complex web of thoughts, the door unlocked, and Zane stepped between the door and the wall. He looked mildly surprised. “Ashley? Is there something wrong?”It took a long time for my brain to process his question, because he just happened to step into virw without a shirt. His muscles rippled with every breath, reminding me of the strength he carried. I shook my head a little and blinked, hoping that he didn't catch me putting as
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 27•
Jace“Elder Joseph!” I could barely mask the frustration in my voice as I knocked on the door of his home. “We have serious matters to discuss.” I knocked two more times before placing my hand on my hips and pacing back and forth by the door.Footsteps approached from the other side, and the door opened to reveal the Elder's wife. She mostly kept to herself, and was hardly seen around the pack. Slight surprise coated her face. She wrapped the shawl over her shoulders tighter, as though the air was chilly. Which I found funny because the heat growing inside of me was unbearable, or maybe it had been born as a result of my anger.“Where is your husband?” I asked her when she kept looking at me quietly. “He's not here,” she said in an almost perfect tone.Aa though she had practiced that line over and over in front of a mirror. “There where is he?”“I don't know. All I know is that he isn't home.” As she finished the sentence her eyes darted away. I probed deeper with my werewolf sense
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 26•
Ashley“Now that you know all that you do now, I expect that you'll be more cautious, Ashley,” James said once we were out of the pack house’s hidden site. Zane’s cage. Silver moonlight slid through his hair, making him appear like an angel—but I knew better. Eager to get away from him, I nodded. “Yes, I understand now.” The coldness in my chest from Zane's behaviour still lingered, although I tried to tell myself otherwise. I wondered why I still kept holding on to hope that he would open up to me, even when he had shown me differently more than once.Thoughts of Zane abandoned my mind when James moved closer to me, clasping both of my hands protectively in his. It made me all the more aware of how taller he was, and bigger too. His attitude may have been off putting, but he was an undeniably attractive person. And he was very much aware of it from the way he looked at me with heavily-lidded eyes.“I regret to leave your side this evening, but I have important matters to attend to.
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 25•
AshleyWe went down a familiar darkened path, our footsteps making echoes over the walls. A light chill hung in the air, and I pulled my jacket tighter around me to keep it out. “What are we doing here?” I asked, looking left and right for any sign of people. The path here was too secluded to have been open for just anyone to pass through, so either James had the right to be there, or we were doing something very dangerous.“This is the one place that I'm certain will make you understand just how dangerous your King is.” He glanced it me out of the corner of his sly eyes. “Telling you just wouldn't suffice.”I kept quiet and continued to follow along, wondering what he had to show me and why he was so hellbent on making me see Zane as a bad person.We reached the great silver doors, the same ones that I had followed Bryce to. How did James know about this place, or was it merely a secret amongst the high-ranking pack members?“It is such a shame that the Leventis family would rather
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 24•
AshleyThe exquisite stone carving must have taken months to complete because its delicate carving was unlike anything I had seen before. It told a story, without having to utter a word. “It's magnificent,” I said, unable to keep myself from running a hand over its surface. “This is the reason for our century old war for power,” said Gamma James, looking up at the statue himself with his hands clasped behind him. He looked regal in his embroidered matching two-piece. “The current Lycan King’s ancestor.”After he had come into the apothecary to see me, he asked to speak with me about something important, and since I'd heard enough about his family and their tendency for cruelty, I thought it better to avoid any issues and simply accept his offer.The first place he had taken me to was the heart of the tribe, which wasn't so far from the Grove. There, a huge statue rose from the centre of a circular platform, reaching for the sky. It was of a man in little clothing, focused on a targe
The Stand-In Luna •Chapter 23•
ZaneThere was a certain kind of pain that came with seeing your own cowardice play out right before your very eyes. For once, I wanted to open up. To get her to see me for what I really was, but when it mattered the most, I clammed up and went silent. It didn't matter that I told myself that it was for the best. It just didn't feel right.On the way out of the Grove, I came across Alicia, who was busy crushing some seeds in a mortar with a pestle outside. She smiled when she looked up and saw me. “Oh, your Highness.”“You're the same age as my mother, Alicia. The honorifics aren't necessary,” I said to her. The muscles of my face felt too stiff for me to even attempt to smile. Alicia had been the healer who attended to me when I was younger, and up until Ashley came. It wasn't a surprise that I had grown to see her as a mother figure, especially during the times that my own mother had been so overcome with grief at my condition that she stayed away.“I can't bear to see you in so m
