Semua Bab The Luna Queen : Bab 41 - Bab 50

_Leah's POV_I noticed the slight frown creasing my forehead the moment Tariq returned to the table. He sat down. His gaze was soft with concern and he reached out to take my hand again. “Leah? Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice gentle.My heart hammered in my chest. I tried to compose myself, but my thoughts were spinning too fast, still consumed by the message I had just seen. I forced a small smile, my voice betraying none of the turmoil inside me. “Yeah, everything is fine. Just… a little tired,” I lied and lowered my gaze to avoid his penetrating stare.Tariq studied me for a moment, then shrugged. He seemed to be satisfied with my answer. He began talking again, his tone light and playful. “You know, I’ve been thinking about taking you on a weekend trip. Just the two of us. Maybe up to the mountains? I heard there’s a place with hot springs. What do you think?”I tried to focus on his words, but my mind was elsewhere, consumed by the words I had read on his phone. “I need

_Leah's POV_The next morning, I was startled awake by a soft kiss on my forehead. I blinked, feeling the warmth of Tariq’s breath as he leaned closer. He whispered in my ear.“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured. “I want you… right now.”My heart raced, though not with excitement. Fear twisted inside me, and I forced a soft smile, fighting the instinct to push him away. His touch felt tainted now, heavy with secrets I wished I didn’t know. I had to find an excuse, anything to keep him at a distance.“Oh… don’t you have a lot of work to catch up on?” I asked, my voice soft. “Maybe later?”But Tariq only grinned and wrapped his arms tighter around me. “No. I cleared my schedule for you today. All day, Leah. I’m all yours.”My pulse quickened as I struggled to keep my composure. I felt trapped under his possessive gaze, my mind racing for any way out. “Um… I actually haven’t showered yet, so maybe…”Before I could finish, a sudden knock echoed through the room, breaking the tense sile

_Leah's POV_My heart pounded as I moved back to the closet. I felt like I was playing with fire, but I needed answers. I took a breath, sliding the closet door open and carefully moving the shelf that hid the secret entrance. Darkness met me again, and I flicked on my phone flashlight and slipped inside the hidden room.Once inside, I turned to shut the closet door. I pushed the shelf back into place. If anyone opened the closet from outside, they would see nothing unusual. The hidden room was small and still, with a silence that felt almost heavy. My hands shook slightly as I located the light switch, filling the space with a dim and pale glow. My gaze quickly found the chest on the table. It was the very thing I had come back for.The chest was even more intricate up close, covered in dark wood carvings that felt both beautiful and ominous. I reached out, fingers grazing the cool surface as my eyes caught a symbol in the center of the lid. It was a triangle with three circles insid

_Leah's POV_After breakfast the next day, I followed Susan out of the packhouse and into the bustling heart of town. As we walked along the wide streets lined with high-end shops, my eyes took in the displays through large windows. My unease was growing. The gowns and dresses behind the glass sparkled under bright lights, and every item screamed luxury.I hesitated and glanced at Susan. "Are you sure we’re in the right place? These shops look… expensive. Maybe we should look somewhere else."Susan only laughed and waved off my concern. "Oh, don’t worry about the price, dear. It’s all covered. This wedding is important for the entire pack and you should look the part."I nodded, though I felt my stomach tighten. I forced a small smile, hiding the real reason for my nerves. It wasn’t the cost of the dresses, but the key hanging around Susan’s neck. As much as I wanted to slip away from this outing, I needed to keep my focus on that necklace and on how to get it.Susan led me into one o

_Leah's POV_I felt a thrill of excitement mixed with fear as I slid the key into the lock of the chest. The heavy, ancient metal felt cold and solid in my hand, and I took a deep breath, steadying myself. With a slight twist, I felt the lock give way, and the lid creaked as I slowly lifted it open. My eyes widened with anticipation, but inside, I found only a thick, leather-bound book.The cover was faded and worn, with the strange symbol embossed on it; a triangle with three circles inside. I ran my fingers over the symbol, a chill creeping up my spine. I had no idea what it meant, but it seemed significant, almost sacred. With hands that trembled, I lifted the book from the chest. The pages were thick and yellowed, and an old, musky smell filled the air as I carefully opened it.The first page held strange symbols and intricate drawings that looked almost like a map or code. I squinted, trying to make sense of them, but they were unlike anything I had ever seen. I flipped the page,