Chapter 9“What the fuck are you saying?” Logan was burning with anger as he stood right in front of me. I crossed my arms. “I don’t think I said anything wrong.” I nonchalantly reply. It was true. She was going to be the Luna soon.“You know fully well that you’re the only Luna of this pack.” He seethed, his jaw clenching as he glowered down at me.“Logan, we can’t do anything now that the Elders have announced her victory at the Luna Game. After all, that was held to determine who’s worthy of this position.” I massaged the bridge of my nose, feeling exhausted at this debate.“N-no, I’ll find a way to change this decision. They can’t take this away from you.” He paced around, running his hand through his locks in frustration.“After all, why did you even shift in the first place? This would have been less of a trouble if you simply—”“I’m more than willing to give up on this position.” I cut him off, leaning behind the door.“What?” He stopped walking around and turned to face me, his
Chapter 10“Are you done with the documents needed if I leave, Dad?” I mumbled as my father sat in front of me in my office.I continued signing papers about some renovations and constructions to be made in the Shadowridge Pack while he remained motionless ever since he arrived earlier. He simply stared at me with a glimpse of worry written in his expression.“Dad, please, what is it that’s making you look at me like this?” I finally found the guts to ask.He sighed before racking his eyes over the pile of work I had to do. “Do you really have to do this? Isn’t that Violet supposed to practice working on pack work now that she’s about to be appointed as Luna?”My eyes widened, and I looked down at the papers in front of me. Right, I’m no longer obligated to do all this, and yet I’m so familiar with it that it didn’t even feel like a responsibility anymore. Just all this — was a part of who I am. I never expected to let go of that routine I have.Thinking about it, I never expected I’d
Chapter 11I could hear my heart pounding beneath my chest. A knot was forming in my stomach as though tightening everything up.“G-George, I—” I slowly stood up from my chair, my hand trembling, anxious.“It’s fine, Morana,” he replied calmly before pulling Violet up as her blood continued to drip down her sleeves and onto the floor.No, no . . . Call me with that nickname again. That’s what you always call me, George.I look back at Violet, still clutching her arm. Where did she find herself to have a wound like that in the woods? There wasn’t that much hazard in that place. I know because I should have been the only person to know that spot.They both stood up, heading over to the door. “Let’s get you treated, Violet.” Was the last thing one of my best friends said before the door slammed closed. The silence lingered in the air, almost choking Me with its insufferable presence.For the first time, George looked at me with disappointment in his eyes, as though he could not believe I
Chapter 12“W-what are you saying?” My voice wavered as I looked up at Logan. He took hold of my shoulders, shaking me up to focus on what he’s about to say.“Morana, all this will be for the pack. A gift to recognize her as my mate,” he muttered, searching for my eyes.I swallowed the lump in my throat, “I-I thought you weren’t going to take the Luna position away . . . away from me?” The words left my mouth with fear.Insufferable and excruciating fear of being replaced one by one. I was fully aware that this would happen somehow, but he told me he would not let anyone take the position away from me.Perhaps I held onto his words tighter than I thought.“Of course, you’re still the Luna!” I look up at him, my gaze shaking. “You’re still my Luna, alright? This is just to assure Violet’s father isn’t going to be a threat now that his daughter was finally accepted into the pack.”Was that it? Was that really it? I couldn’t seem to trust any of the words he’s uttering right now. I didn’t
Chapter 13“W-what do you mean?” One of them pulled my trembling hand down, clutching onto it in a calming gesture. I look down at my friend. Her eyes searched mine, and the tension in the room rose with my very own anticipation as to why they were not acting like I thought they should be: hating me.They should hate me right now because of whatever Violet told them while I was away, yet they’re holding my hand and looking at me with a worried expression.“Are you okay, Morana?” I turned to my other friend, sitting on another couch. My ragged breaths gradually made its way into a calmer and slower pace. My knees gave in. I sank back to the cushion, placing my elbows on each side of my knees as I tried to take hold of my sanity.Violet’s arrival — no, Violet herself was slowly turning me insane.“W-what did she say to all of you?” I asked, turning to the three of them with bloodshot eyes. They all looked at each other and shared a knowing look before muttering. They look dubious of what
Chapter 14“I-I’m telling you, Violet crossed the line this time! And don’t use that tone on me, Logan!” I demanded before excessively pulling onto his hand, trying to yank it away from my collar.He pushed me even more onto the wall, and I instantly gasped for air when I felt the knuckles of his fist digging deep into my chest. This was no different from strangling me!“Lo-logan, she’s hurting. Please stop it. I-I’m okay . . .” Violet caressed her mate’s arms, clinging onto him with tears glistening in her eyes.I caught Violet’s look, and with a small smirk on her lips, she met my gaze before it quickly turned pitiful, as though she’s sympathetic to the situation I was in.“I-I have evidence, Logan! She really told everyone that—” My rambles were instantly halted when Logan spoke with a dangerous tone.“What the hell happened to your lips?” I was dropped onto the ground, clutching the fabric of my crumpled collar as I looked up at my husband, whose eyes were on one another.He held V
Chapter 15“Stress is like a revolving door. Just when you think you’ve escaped, another wave comes crashing in.”I haven’t found that statement of my dad so agreeable until now.For three days after the racking episode of “How to kill Morana Griffin through an invisible three-degree burn,” I was cooped up in my bed, basically surviving and regenerating the wilted strength the fire had left me with.Much to my expectations, Neither Logan nor any sight of Violet knocked on my door for the last seventy-two hours to bother visiting and give me at least an apology bouquet that would make up for the shit they’ve put me through.Not that it would have earned them my forgiveness.I didn’t think I’d ever feel something other than disappointment for the two of them anymore. The only resentment left in me was channeled toward the Moon Goddess for this sick love triangle she’s put me through.If it wasn’t meant to be in the first place, why would she even let Logan and I have it for three years s
Chapter 16Omegas and pack officials squandered around carrying all kinds of stuff that would be needed in an office renovation as though redoing the entire place off any visible remnants that I ever once ruled this place.Books, new shelves — they even added a brand spanking fresh table coated in vibrant pink paint. I’m sure Violet ordered that.My brows furrowed, and I could feel my entire face creasing at the sight of everyone hustling around to attend to the most useless orders. What the hell was Violet doing?I avoided going into this wing for a few weeks now, thinking they’d probably do a good job introducing what needs to be done toward Violet.They looked determined, kicking me out of my place, completely devoting themselves to the thought that Violet would take over soon, and that would be beneficial to the pack.I stopped one of the Omegas who was about to walk past me. Despite myself being the only one who was standing still, they were still too busy to notice who they were
Morana’s POVAs if a bucket of freezing water was dumped on me, I froze in the doorway, staring blankly at the body in front of me that was clenching in pain.My heart throbbed in an unexplainable way as I watched my own body curled in a ball, eyes closed, and writhing.I wasn’t the one feeling that pain… that heat. It’s him. Logan’s the one feeling all the kickback of the mate’s betrayal, just like how I wished it to me.But there’s a string in my heart that’s pulling me in the other direction. Was it conscience? Love? Sympathy? I didn’t know.And before I could make amends to myself what it was I was feeling, my feet started moving on their own accord. Crouching down, I slowly placed my hand on Logan’s shoulder, letting his callous hands touch my smooth and fair-skinned shoulder.But as soon as I touched him, I was jolted back by a current that brought tingles all over my body.My eyes widened. “What was that?”“Morana?” Logan finally opened his eyelids and looked up at me.Delight
Morana’s POVThere came a time when we’d vow never to do something in our lives, but fate would likely throw us a bone and turn us crazy until we broke that promise ourselves.Boredom filled me while I sat in the front row, waiting for Logan and Violet to reach the third stage, where I could watch them through the feed. Indeed, as much as I hate this game, participating was a whole lot more exciting than sitting here.Did he see her true color yet? What’s happening there now?Questions filled my mind as I anxiously tapped my fingers on the armrest. Meanwhile, while the game continued, the cheers of my warriors didn’t go down despite knowing that the participants inside couldn’t hear them.In fact, they got louder.What made me smile, though, was when they jumped when they heard Logan won the first round. I furrowed my brows at that announcement, though.How in the world did he win that stage?Logan was strategically smart and physically powerful, but he could not have won the stage of
Logan’s POVViolet sent me a mocking smirk before she entered the combat arena, rejoicing as she heard Finely proudly announce her as a winner for the second stage of the game.Unfazed by her cheating schemes, I swayed with the veins and jumped. But as soon as I landed on my feet at the ground, I uncontrollably fell on my knee, feeling weak.Gritting my teeth, I whispered, “Wolfsbane…”My chest rose and fell heavily, feeling the burning sensation cursing through my veins. I coughed in shock as I felt the poison hitting my heart.Clanching my chest, I looked up and saw her victoriously standing in the middle of the arena.Taking deep breaths, I momentarily closed my eyes, calling my inner wolf to fasten our adopting skills.Though Morana’s body wasn’t built as strong and adaptable as an Alpha, she was a warrior and a gamma before she became a Luna. Her body was strong enough to withhold the wolfsbane in her veins.But that didn’t change the fact that I’d feel weaker and… Shit!Realizat
Logan’s POVViolet was unharmed, but the two of us would probably not survive if we didn’t do anything.Right in front of us was a river that separated us from the next land. What’s more, there’s no way to walk around it. The only way was to cross the river… but it’s not any ordinary river.Its width was probably a kilometer, and the fluid flowing in it was not water but magma!Despite standing a few feet away from it, Violet and I were already murderously sweating from the heat it was exuding.“Is that what I think it is?” she asked, and I could only nod in silence.Scoffing, she asked, “What, do the elders want us to cross it and burn ourselves to death?”She looked at me in exasperation. “We’ll be cooked halfway in there even if we’re stupid enough to cross it by foot!”“Or by some miracle, we could fly, which is far from possible!” By now, she’s just rumbling from nervousness.Fly… That’s right! We would surely die if we touched the magma. And since we couldn’t walk around it, we
Logan’s POVUltimate silence surrounded the air between us while my handprint was marked on her arm. She squirmed for freedom, but I only let her go after sending a death glare at her.“That’s uncalled for,” she remarked before she massaged her arm and took a few steps back from me.I scoffed and nodded toward the sign. “If you’re so smart, do it yourself.” With that, I went to the seats in the middle of the room and made myself comfortable.She threw me a look as she stomped her way toward me, the bruise already healed. “This is a competition.”Raising my brow, I nonchalantly replied, “I never said it wasn’t.”After a moment’s time, she finally let it go and angrily went her way. She stopped a few feet away from the sign.Arrogantly, she lectured me by pointing out the numbers. “See that? Those are call numbers! It's used in the library, attached to each spine. There’s either a clue or answer in books corresponding to that!”She smugly smirked as she went to get the first book, 065.
Logan’s POVJealousy crept into me like a curse when she tried to protect those warriors. I know it sounded shit, but I couldn’t help but feel that way.It’s still vivid in my mind how close she was with them, and it still irritates the heck out of me whenever I remember how their loyalty to her was much greater than their loyalty to me when I was the pack’s alpha.They’d cheer for her and would even look passed me like I didn’t exist during the Luna’s game.She’s the one who trained them tirelessly all day and night, and I’m aware of how close she was to them, but it still infuriated me, especially when I saw how close and at ease she was with them while she ignored me before.I closed my eyes and cursed, “This is all Vioelt’s fault.”With that in thought, I couldn’t stop myself from throwing a glare at Violet, who was beside me and only a few feet away.I scoffed. It’s funny how the undying extensive feeling I had for her before was all gone now. It’s as if it never existed, and all
Morana’s POV“Tell me,” he insisted while still sitting on my bed.I solemnly looked into his eyes as if seeing the past scenes in the orbs of his eyes.Bitterly smiling, I shook my head and replied coldly, “It’s not just a nightmare. It’s a memory.”His eyebrows furrowed; he shifted and tried to get closer to me, but I immediately raised my palm up. “Stay right there,” I said.And so, he did.“What memory is it about? Tell me. Maybe I can help,” he persisted, testing my patience.Momentarily closing my eyes, I took a deep breath before looking at him again. Pointing at the couch, I gritted my teeth and said, “Get back where you belong and get off my back!”Pain crossed his eyes before he slowly stood up. Looking right into my eyes, he said with longing, “But where you are is where I belong.”For a moment, I was moved, and my heart felt swayed.But then, I scoffed. “Stop the nonsense already, and get back to sleep. And if I were you, instead of wasting your time messing around, you mi
Morana’s POV“Yeah, how so?” I crossed my arms and scrutinizingly looked at him.“What I did before–” he started, but I cut him off.I exaggeratedly clapped my hand and looked at him with wide eyes. “You’re right, and it’s different because you knocked her off.”Gritting my teeth, I made it clear. “Don’t put us on the same page, Logan. We’re not the same.”Leaning in, I added, “Unlike you, I am fighting hard against this bullshit mate pull.”As I turned to grab the towel from the rack, I heard him say, “Oh, yeah? Then why haven’t you rejected her yet?”“Aww! What the hell, Morana?”“Stop yelping like a girl!” I annoyingly remarked while blindfolding him with a towel.He laughed. “Well, did you think for a second that it’s maybe because I’m in your body, which, by the way, is a woman’s body if you forget?”“Stop talking, you annoying!” I remarked before pushing him toward the tub. Holding both his hands, I raised them and made him hold them against the wall.“Oh, kinky! What did you do
Morana’s POVSometimes, life tests us, but it's up to us how long and how strong we’ll hold to our principles and willpower so that we do not take the other path.That’s why when my lips landed on Violet’s voluptuous and soft lips, despite the incredible tingling and desire rushing up in every inch of my bones, I still managed to push her away.My eyes were wide open, as shocked as Violet at what I had just done. But of course, while I was mortified, Violet was feeling the opposite. She’s looking ecstatic, rather.“Logan, I know you feel it, too.” She’s smiling so wide while looking at me like she just won the lottery. Goddess, I hate her, and I couldn’t wait for me to get back in my own body.“Don’t ever, ever, get near me again!” I threatened while pointing a finger at her before I turned around. This time, I walked as fast as I could away from her.Lost the feeling of roaming around, I decided to just get back at the pack house.“I can’t believe I kiss her! That’s disgusting and aw