LOGINShare
50. Defending
Last Updated:
2024-02-23 23:08:04
Related chapters
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 51. Revenge?
Callista.“Well, you must be well aware by now that your brother doesn’t have the best opinion of me. So, after you attacked us, Ruelle convinced Theon that I was trying to kill her.”“I presume it was the other way around, given how I remember her dragging you in here.” Elias muses.“I don’t think she wanted to kill me, but she wanted to do something. But Theon thought I was the villain in that situation as well. So he had me taken to the dungeons.” It takes considerable effort for me to sound nonchalant about this. Because the accusations are still fresh in my mind, and given what happened today, smarts like a newly inflicted wound. “But the dungeon master thought that I was sent down there to be tortured when in reality, he just wanted me to be held for interrogation.”For a moment there is silence. Elias blinks, looking like he’s having a problem believing what he’s hearing.“Oh, wow,” Elias sounds baffled. “I can’t believe he did that.”“Me neither, honestly.” A great sense of sa
Last Updated : 2024-02-25Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 52. Joke
Callista.So, life is a joke.I’m a maid once again. That is the thanks I get for going through a shitfest without losing my sanity. I’ve been kicked out from my safe room in the tower and had been thrust into the midst of the rest of the castle staff. Apparently, I had been pardoned for everything except for my fault of trying to get Ruelle killed the first time, because apparently, that was an actual punishment, not the Alpha King raging at me.The mental gymnastics everyone had to jump through to give that verdict were a mystery that I did not think I’d be able to solve.Not that his majesty comes up to tell me all this himself. He’d been missing in action since I ran from him. Haden acts as his mouthpiece, delivering all the orders and news, and commenting on them each and every time. From his mumblings, I gather that Theon is at least apologetic for what he did, and maybe he can’t face me just yet. It’s hard to believe that the Alpha King is shamed, although he ought to be given
Last Updated : 2024-02-25Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 53. Over
Callista.The maids still don’t like me, but it’s different. It had been less than three days when I noticed it, and more than five when I finally acknowledged it because I don’t let myself think things would get easy. Expecting disappointment is much easier than expecting success after all. But once I notice the difference, there is no going back.There isn’t any loathing towards me. There is dislike, certainly, because I’m the stealer after all. At this point it’s customary to be mad with the stealer, so it’s not bothering me as much as it should. But the general negativity is toned down to such a degree that I can afford to ignore it most of the time.Perhaps my sordid tale of being the Alpha King’s punching bag mellowed their attitudes towards me a little. Maybe Ruelle was being more of an influence than I thought, and not just with Helen. Not just the servant, but the entire castle seems different. Like after the sea after a storm, there is calmness in the air. Everyone seems t
Last Updated : 2024-02-25Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 54. Free
Callista.It takes a moment for the words to register. My feet remain planted to the ground, I don’t dare look, not yet. There are a lot of questions circling in my mind, it takes some time for me to settle on one.“So, I can go out?”For a moment, there was only silence. I don’t know why Theon hesitates to answer the question. It’s a simple yes or no.“Yes.” Finally. “You’ve finished your service for the crimes you’ve committed. Now, you can be a free member of the pack as our agreement states.”Oh, for the sake of the Goddess.“Agreement? Are we still working according to that?” I grip the edges of the sink, trying not to let the anger rise.“Look, I understand that there are some issues but there’s nothing I can do about it. It was sworn on the Moon Goddess. Such an agreement is binding until one of the parties mentioned dies.” He replies, still in that nearly apologetic voice.Not apologetic enough though.“My mother cursed me in front of the whole pack.” I snarl, gripping the sin
Last Updated : 2024-02-27Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 55. Escaped
Callista.Two weeks after the ankle monitor is removed, I decided that it is time.Kellin and Haden make noise about making me an official member of the pack, sending me to school again, and helping me graduate, so I can attend the Rexellen University, and maybe even get a job. I nod at them, agreeing with everything. At least their sentiments are nice. I wish I could expect to live that ideal life.But I can’t.My mind is set, and I have somehow talked myself into leaving Haden and Kellin. After all, without me around, even their lives would change for the better. There would be no tension between them and the Alpha King, and they would once again be able to run the pack like they’d done before.With no stealer polluting the passages of the Rexellen castle, everything will be right again.So, after my second plan is complete, I lock up everything that’s hurting my heart in my mind and start to act.At the very beginning, before my first attempt, I had only one plan, but now I have tw
Last Updated : 2024-02-27Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 56. Human City
Callista.The city is huge.I’ve seen them before, but only on TV or videos. Before escaping, I made sure to do as much research as possible into living as a human, especially a homeless human who had no identity outside the werewolf. There were so many articles and forums that gave me the information I wanted, and I noted them all in my head. I had somewhat of a foundation of knowledge of what I was getting myself into.But knowing facts about the human world and seeing it for the first time are different experiences.The moment I enter this place, that’s what I register. How damn gigantic it is. The buildings rise so much that they nearly touch the clouds, and the light…there is so much light. And vehicles. I’ve never seen so many vehicles before.Also, the people. Even at this time of the night, the streets are so busy.With normal humans, who didn’t believe in the Goddess or mates. Who didn’t care for stealers. Who weren’t in packs. No one spares me a second look, and all of them
Last Updated : 2024-02-28Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 57. Bus
Callista.There are two transportation options I can take because I do not have enough cash to rent a car.So, train or bus. Train or bus?I decide on the bus.I march straight into the terminal and ask the lady behind the counter for a ticket. This is my first interaction with a human, and I try my damndest to be natural. I don’t want to look like a scared teenager out here, that’s bound to backfire on me. I already look bad, don’t need to add more to the story and make them think I’m a runaway. I don’t know enough about humans to wonder if they’d take me straight to the police if they think I’m running away because I do look a bit young. But in my state of being essentially a ghost in the human system, I refuse to take the risk.She looks at me, surprise evident on her face. My stomach drops. Did I do something wrong? Is that now how people ask for things around here?“Um, hello. May I ask to where you want a ticket to?” And then she rattles off a bunch of questions with ticket type
Last Updated : 2024-02-28Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 58. Interlude
Interlude.Four days later.“I found a human,” A man said with his head held high above his shoulders. He stood facing the window that looked into the far city, its light pollution preventing him from seeing the stars. “A very strange smelling one.”He was a large man, at least seven feet tall with a broad muscular frame. He was clean-shaven with russet brown hair that grew past his ears, brushing the top of his shoulders. All in all, he looked like a man who’d seen much in life, and who’d done much as well. There was a scar running down his cheek, from his eye to his jaw like a tear track. He wore only a pair of pants, standing barefoot on the plush carpet of the office.Another man sat behind a desk facing the same window. He was as big as the other one, but with dark blond hair, dressed in a casual outfit. His face was covered in a thick beard, and he wore an expression of interest.“What kind of a smell?”“Beautiful, really. Enticing.” He shook his head, “It smelled like her.”“He
Last Updated : 2024-02-29
Latest chapter
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 240. Eliana Auclair
Callista“So, you wanted me dead from the start, huh?” I say, not even looking at the ceiling before. “Should've known.”I'm lying on the bed on my stomach, my face half-buried in the pillow. I've been lying in the same position for a while, ever since Alpha Edwin Teller left my room after threatening my life as well as Theon’s life.Moments ago, my only wish was for Theon to find me, but now, knowing what Edwin was planning I pray that Theon does not fall into his trap. But that's just wishful thinking. I know that Theon has already started his search for me. Unless he'd found my ring and somehow tracked it to me. I don't even know if it's possible, but a girl can hope, right? Especially when she was kidnapped by supernatural creatures who eventually wanted her dead.I don't know if I'm actually sad or depressed about this new development. I feel conflicted. My emotions are all over the place. This isn't the first time my life has been threatened. Given how my life has been going,
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 239. Cloak
TheonI entered the room that contained Kellin, Haden, Alan, and Terrel, all sitting and muttering at one another. As soon as I entered the room they died down and all of them stared at me eagerly.“So, Master Tsertinand found where Callista is,” I got straight to the point. “And guess what, she's being held by the bears from the Teller pack along with the devil, and the two of them seem to be allied.”My colleagues gape at me, and I don't blame them for being surprised at the news. No one saw this one coming.“How?” asks Haden, his voice high-pitched. “Why?!”“I don't know, but that's the situation,” I look at each of them. “So, I'm going to go rescue her.”“Alone?” Kellin questions but I shake my head.“The witches would join me. I don't want to risk any of you, especially against the Teller pack and the devil,” I say. “We need to have a small group because we have to be shielded from the devil. We got a plan that has the potential to work.”“You're going there alone?” Haden exclaim
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 238. Trap
Theon“She's with the bears? The Brekett pack has her?” I utter, disbelief ringing in my tone. “How...?”“I think this devil fellow allied with the bears,” Master Tsertinand replies, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “The other man who I saw was someone dressed in black with red eyes standing next to Callista, who pretty much looked like what a devil would. The other man was blonde and big, not unlike me. Callista screamed the name Edwin at him, and when I told the Headmistress she clarified who he was.”“But why?” I question, trying to wrap my head around it. “Why are they allied?”“Alpha, that should not be your concern right now,” Kiran says. “We should move out immediately to find Callista! We've got a location already, what are we waiting for?”“But what if we're walking into a trap?” Ophelia protests. “Theon is right to ask questions regarding the presence of the werebears. Why have they allied with Xaveraq?”“Revenge, probably,” the Headmistress chimes in, taking a seat on a pl
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 237. Lure
Callista“You're...you're that werebear!” I stammer as I stare at the blond man with cold eyes whose face is more than familiar in my nightmares.I remember him from that fateful night when he carried me through a forest under the light of the full moon only to lay me on a stone slab that was meant to be my deathbed. I remember him standing next to his Alpha in his office room as they watched me squirm on a chair, bound to it as I gave them a fake name and lied about my identity. I remember him carrying me into a room that was so full of darkness that it shattered my mind. I don't remember his surname; it has been purged away with the darkness that the Chamber of Despair instilled in my mind. I don't even remember his Alpha's name. But I do remember how cruel they were to me.“And you're actually a werewolf whose name isn't ‘Sharon’,” Edwin snaps taking a step toward me. I take a couple of steps back and feel the bedframe hit the back of my legs. Crap, I'm trapped here with a bear
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 236. Werebears
TheonWe literally raced to the Rexellen pack town, breaking dozens of road laws in the process, almost summoning the human police and nearly running off a ditch more than three times. But none of that really matters to me or Terrel because the witches have found where Callista is!We're still on the road, driving as fast as we can when Haden calls me from the back of the truck fleet.“What the actual fuck are you doing? Did Terrel pass out with his foot on the pedal or something?!” Haden screams through the phone, “You're going two hundred miles per hour, you lunatic!”“The witches called,” I answer his shrieking/ “They'd found her!”“Callista?”“Yeah, they've found where Callista is!” “Okay, that’s good news. That’s the best news, but Theon, slow down before you kill yourself, you moron, you're no good for her if you're dead! We can't even catch up with you and I will not be bailing you out of a human police station!” With that, he ends the phone call, and Terrel slows the truck do
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 235. Mother
CallistaWho the hell was the woman in my dreams? She's familiar to me, but I've never seen her before. Yet I feel like I should know her. I drag my hand down my face with a groan. Goddess, why was this happening to me? Seriously, wasn't one problem at a time enough? I already got that crazy devil Xaveraq to deal with, I don't have time for oddly specific mystery women talking to me in my dreams!I get off the bed and stretch. Goddess, I need to use the toilet so bad. But this damn chain is too short for me to even reach the door that leads to the bathroom.“Xaveraq, you bastard!” I shout out crankily. “I need to use the freaking bathroom! But how am I supposed to use the freaking bathroom when I can't even reach it?!”No answer comes from the ceiling, and that pisses me up more.“Xaveraq!” I yell. “Now you choose to go MIA. Of all the fucking time-”“Geez, I'm here, stop yelling,” Xaveraq's voice comes, and I nearly sigh in relief. “What did I tell you about blood pressure before? I
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 234. Foster
Theon“This is so confusing,” I say, looking between the women. “Why would you lie about her origins? Why did you say she was found in a forest when she wasn’t?”“Because the truth was hard to tell,” Maddy reveals. “Especially to her family, because the way we acquired Callista wasn’t exactly legal.”We were not expecting that kind of a bombshell to be dropped on us.“I think you better start from the beginning,” Haden chimes when I continue having a mini meltdown.“One of our wolves went into the human city for a private matter,” Maddy explains, pulling out a file from the cabinet. “While she was there, she felt the scent of a werewolf within all the humans. At first, she was afraid it was a criminal because it's the criminals and exiles who normally tend to live with humans, but when she traced the scent, it ended up in a human foster home. There, she found a little girl who wasn't older than nine months, who smelled like a werewolf.”“Because it's not safe for wolves to be raised b
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 233. Orphanage
TheonI'm flabbergasted by this sudden change of subjects. I take a few moments to collect myself before answering his bizarre question. “I don't know anything, and neither does Callista,” I say. “Why are you asking about them all of a sudden?”Haden tilts his head. “Okay, so I’ve been thinking and I’m well aware that this is a reach, but what if her parents have something to do with her disappearance?”“Huh?” I question, not completely understanding what he's saying. “Look, I can't quite articulate it. It's just a random thought but we know nothing about her parents, and the Leighwen-sorry, Kennedy pack supposedly found her in a forest. And then she turns out to be the stealer, someone from whom the devil wants something from. Doesn't it all sound fishy to you?” he asks. “I just wonder if whatever this is has something to do with her birth family.”I think his words through carefully. Often, children get their special abilities from their parents in the supernatural world. If your
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 232. Real
TheonAs soon as I step down from the pedestal, the members of the pack swarm their new Alpha, shouting their questions at him. I let them have their discussions and step away from the crowd. My work here is done, and I don't want to wait a second longer than necessary. The people give me a wide berth as I walk away, still looking at me with fear. They must see me as a ruthless man now, someone who lives up to the rumors about him, despite how I actually showed Leighwen more kindness than he deserved. Oh, well, I could live with that. But before I can escape the town square, I hear a loathsome but familiar voice call out my name. “Theon! Theon, please wait.”I bite back a sigh of frustration and turn in the direction of the scream. Callista's mother comes running towards me, followed by Callista's father. “Yes?” I ask, my voice as calm as I can make it. “What do you want?”They look shocked as I say it as if they weren't expecting me to be like that. “We just want to check on y
