Lahat ng Kabanata ng Stolen Luna By The Rival Alpha: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

SeraphinaI tried to shift the conversation, my voice soft as I said, “No, I’m fine,” mustering a half-smile. I couldn’t help but watch, feeling a mix of guilt and unease, as the cashier meticulously folded each item into the bags. Pajamas, shorts, t-shirts, and pants—simple essentials now bundled with a price tag that made my stomach turn.“652 dollars and 80 cents,” the cashier stated matter-of-factly, handing Margo a sleek black credit card. My heart sank. How could she be so nonchalant about spending such a staggering amount? And most of it was for me, a thought that weighed heavily on my conscience.“Are you crazy? Six hundred dollars?” I blurted out, unable to contain my worry. Margo’s carefree demeanor only heightened my concern as she continued to add more items to our already overflowing cart. What seemed like a shopping spree to her felt like financial recklessness to me.“Have a wonderful day!” The cashier’s cheery farewell felt surreal, especially as she added a satin bow

SeraphinaMy response came out sharp, a hiss escaping my lips. "Forget your apology." The words carried not just frustration towards Talia, but a deeper resentment towards Xandriel and the looming threat of his return."Um, excuse me, but I'm a bit disoriented. I'm not familiar with this location. Can you please tell me where we are?" My voice faltered slightly, betraying the unease gnawing at me."Devil's Pond," Talia answered, her tone apologetic yet tinged with a loyalty that seemed to tether her more to Xandriel's commands than to any solidarity with me."Well, isn't that just typical." I took a deep breath, attempting to quell the rising tide of frustration. Being brought back here was a cruel twist of fate, sparking a surge of defiance as I mentally strategized potential escape routes. Despite my lack of swimming skills, the thought of being taken to an island in the middle of a lake rankled me. "Oh, for goodness sake.""I advise against using her name disrespectfully, Seraphina

Seraphina"Sorry, Seraphina, but I can't do that," he said, his eyes barely flicking in my direction. He mentioned that he’s married now. A sharp pang of disappointment twisted in my chest. I couldn't shake the thought of Xandriel torturing Alden. The image haunted me, making my stomach churn. Alden had to look out for his partner, who happened to be a woman.He let out a weary sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, same here. I should probably go back to him."Alden interrupted with a hesitant, "You—," as if he had more to say but couldn't find the words. Maybe Xandriel had toughened him up since I left. If Talia had mentioned to Xandriel that Alden was assisting us, he wouldn't be able to lend me a hand at the moment. "Just head out through this side door and you'll find yourself in the garden," he said, his voice wavering. I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, the way his shoulders slumped. He looked older, worn out, the years and stress having taken their toll on him."Ju

Seraphina"Are you doing okay?" His voice was surprisingly gentle—no impatience, no harshness. It was genuine and full of concern. I was taken aback; his tone was a stark contrast to our last encounter on the dock of his estate. Alexander was incredibly intelligent, but he often focused on the negatives, starting with the letdown. I got the sense he’d had a rough past and hadn’t fully bounced back, despite the years. His approach was a world apart from Margo’s."Hey, Seraphina!" His voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.I took a deep breath, bracing myself. "Hey, why don’t you take me instead of Margo? She doesn’t deserve to be punished." My voice wavered with fear. I owed everything to Margo—without her, I’d probably still be trapped on that island with Xandriel. The thought of facing Alexander’s punishment was chilling. He was far stronger than Xandriel, all muscle and battle-hardened. His pack members were always well-behaved, and I knew why—Alexander was

Seraphina "Yeah, I know," he sighed, brushing off my need for answers. "Got any other questions for me?" I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. I sank into the small chair in front of his desk, resting my hands on my lap, one hand gripping the other tightly."About Margo, what did you tell her when you guys were at the motel?" I asked, recalling how shaken Margo had been. She rarely showed fear, but she couldn’t hide it from her brother. It had been quite an adventure, battling on an island in the middle of a lake with dogs chasing us. What Alexander had reminded her of—revisiting past events—really freaked her out. "It felt like history repeating itself between the two of you.""Eh, it was no big deal." Alexander glanced at me, getting up from his desk chair and weaving through the scattered piles of paperwork on the floor. He plopped down on the front of his desk, casually leaning against it with his arms crossed. His proximity made my heart race, craving his touch."You