7#07

7

I locked eyes with Lila, feeling my inner wolf stir uneasily. Despite her confident demeanor, I remained outwardly composed. "Is that right?" I replied calmly. "He sounds like quite the catch."

Her self-assured expression wavered momentarily before she regained her poise. "Oh, he certainly is," she said sweetly. "Dominant, authoritative, and with a commanding presence. One might even say he's alpha material."

I returned my attention to the ancient book in my hands, finding solace in its archaic text rather than her taunts. My wolf rumbled softly, sensing the underlying challenge, but I refused to take her bait.

The pack's staff bustled around us, unloading countless packages from the delivery vehicle. The room was quickly inundated with clothing in various shades of pink, from pale blush to vibrant fuchsia.

The subtle scent of the nearby woods couldn't mask Lila's overpowering perfume—a cloyingly sweet floral scent that seemed to envelop her in an aura of feigned innocence.

Lila lingered, her eyes darting between me and the busy attendants. She appeared to be waiting for a reaction—perhaps hoping I'd lose my composure or acknowledge her provocations.

When the silence stretched on, she tried again. "Luna, don't you ever wonder if men like Kade—strong, dominant alphas—get restless? Surely you've noticed their constant need for something new."

I kept my eyes on the tome, though my grip tightened imperceptibly. "I wouldn't know," I responded, feigning indifference. "Perhaps you should ask your mate about that."

Her smile grew strained, revealing cracks in her facade. "Maybe I will," she replied curtly. "It's interesting how bonds can change, isn't it? Even fated mates sometimes lose interest."

The page blurred before me as my wolf bristled at her insinuation. I closed the book deliberately and stood up. "Interesting indeed," I said evenly. "But I have responsibilities to attend to."

I left her standing there, her expression caught between satisfaction and irritation. As I walked inside, the weight of her words settled over me.

Once behind the closed door of the Pack house, I leaned against it, exhaling shakily. My wolf paced restlessly within, mirroring the anger simmering beneath my calm exterior.

The overwhelming piles of pink garments felt suffocating, each one mocking the carefully crafted image Kade presented to the pack. To outsiders, I was a beloved Luna, doted on by an attentive Alpha. They'd never know the truth—the lies whispered in dark corners, the betrayals disguised as gifts.

My wolf growled softly in my chest, eager to retaliate, but I took a steadying breath. Now wasn't the time to let emotions take over. Lila's words had struck a nerve, but I wouldn't let her know how deeply they affected me.

I made my way to the far side of the room, where the smallest packages lay unopened. Amidst the chaos of extravagant presents, I found the one that truly mattered—a simple journal. I had begun keeping it after realizing my precarious position in the pack. It was where I recorded thoughts I couldn't share with anyone else.

I flipped through its pages, scanning entries filled with frustration, hope, and resolve. Each word reminded me why I couldn't let people like Lila win. If Kade believed his charm and manipulations could silence me, he was gravely mistaken.

As dusk fell, I set the journal aside and approached the window. The forest loomed outside, its dense canopy whispering secrets only the wind could hear. Somewhere in those woods lay the answers I sought—the truths about Kade's deception, Lila's boldness, and the delicate balance of power within the pack.

Lila thought she could unsettle me, that her jabs would unravel my composure. But she underestimated the strength of a Luna who had been pushed to her limits.

I traced the edge of the windowsill, my wolf pacing restlessly within. She disliked the waiting, the endless charade we were forced to maintain. She craved action—retribution. And soon, she would have it.

Kade's schemes, Lila's interference—it was all building to something. The air felt heavy with tension, like the eerie calm before a storm. They thought they could play with fire, unaware that I was the flame they had ignited.

As the first stars appeared in the darkening sky, I whispered to myself, "Soon, all in good time."