Chapter 18
ISABEL’S POV
“I have not had the opportunity to meet someone as nice as you for a long time, if they’re this nice, they want something,” 1 revealed as she helped me zip up my dress.
“Oh dear, that’s how the world works,” she declared, and I sat down as she combed my hair.
“You have such beautiful hair. She complimented, as my cheek heated in a blush.
Thank you.” I acknowledged, taking a deep breath in and out.
“What is on your mind?” she inquired after some time. I stared at her curious eyes from the mirror and she gestured toward the mirror.
“Lady Lucia does not like me. If she had her way, she would pull me by the hair and throw me out of this house,” I explained worriedly.
She commented, “Lady Lucia cares about nobody else but herself. She treats the wolves of lower ranks like dirt under her feet.”
“Now I understand why she treats me like that, she believes a wolfless person or a wolf of lower rank does not have a place in the pack I murmured curiously.
And you will be Luna right before her eyes, Gina encouraged as she dropped the comb back on the table.
“Thank you, Gina, we will be such good friends,” I said, and she smiled.
Something about the way she treated me made me feel so safe around her. If this continues, I might just confide in her about my recurring nightmare. We talked about random stuff before she saw me back to the sitting room to join the family for breakfast.
Tonight is the party at school, Amelia’s special invitation made me smile. “Good morning, Isabel, Hayden greeted with a small smile on his face, and I returned his smile.
“Good morning, Hayden, good morning, Hector, I greened as I sat down directly opposite them.
“Amelia’s party will be taking place today at the school garden…I mentioned, and Hayden’s eyes met mine. I smiled in his direction, and he sighed.
“We will not stop you from attending the party, Isabel. In fact, we will go with you,” he declared, and Hector stared at him, then back at me.
“Fine,” Hector mumbled softly and focused on his meal. Yes, he hated my presence in the pack house, but it’s so obvious his will to break the curse was stronger than his obvious dislike towards me.
“Have you met Gina? She will be your handmaid from now onwards. On no account will you leave the pack house without informing her. You are soon to be Luna of this pack, Isabel. There is a lot at stake if you get hurt,” he added, and an uncomfortable silence filled the dining table.
I understand, I responded. We ate the rest of the food in silence.
I did not have any classes for the day. Attending Amelia’s party later in the evening happens to be the only thing on my schedule.
“Hey Gina, you promised me a tour of the pack house,” I reminded her, and she turned to me, then smiled.
1/4
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Chapter 18
“Oh, I remember. Give me–aminute, dear,” she said and hurried to the maids‘ quarters, returning with a neat apron around
her waist.
“All the maids live in the maids‘ quarters. We are not allowed to associate with the family if it’s not work–related, Gina explained, and 1 took a deep breathi
“You don’t live in the pack house too?” I asked curiously.
“We don’t leave the pack house unless it’s work–related, she repaited
“How are you supposed to find the happiness you deserve If all they’ve ever done is make you guys work?” I exclaimed in horror
“This is the life of every maid, Miss Isabel. Maids are not allowed to have wants, desires, or dreams. We face the reality. Once you are chosen to serve the family, you do that with joy in your heart,” she explained.
“Please! Please don’t hurt me… I beg of you, Lady Lucia. Please please,” we heard the distant cry of a young girl, and my eyes snapped toward their direction. In the middle of the pack house, where they assembled the maids, one of them was being punished by the Head Maid.
She watched with a sinister smile on her face as they flogged the young girl to a pulp.
“Oh my goodness!” I gasped and tried to take a step towards them, but Gina held me back and shook her head telling me not to go closer.
“You can’t go close to the scene, Miss Isabel. Until you become the Luna of the pack, you do not possess the rights whatsoever to save the maid. In this pack house, power is a game changer, Gina explained, and my heart bled in pain for the young girl.
“How can Lady Lucia be so cruel towards her? She has done nothing to deserve such ill–treatment from the lady. I don’t even understand why anyone would treat someone like that,” I expressed, and she sighed softly.
This is reality, but we don’t know what the girl did,” Gina replied
“She must have committed a back offence,” she added, and I shook my head as she led me on
She showed me different parts of the mansion until we arrived at a dark corner. “That is the Royal Library. I have heard the books go way back in ancient history,” she revealed, and my eyes sparked with curiosity.
“Can I see it?” I inquired curiously.
The lady Lucia has forbidden anyone except the Princes. No one else has the right to enter the library. Sometimes I can’t help but feel she hides something deep and horrible inside there she whispered, making me more curious.
“You’re right, Gina, I can’t help but feel the same,” I replied.
We turned around and left the dark corner back to the pack house, where I got ready for the party with Gina’s help. Having her around was fun and helpful. She assisted me with my hair, and I wore the dress Amelia’s gifted fie for the party. It complimented my skin and made me look royal and elegant.
“Your sister must love you a lot to get you a dress this beautiful, Gina commented, and we both chuckled
“Amelia and I are only getting to know each other now. We lost a lot of sibling bonding time due to the way they treated me in the past, I admitted, and her eyes softened in my direction.
“That’s just so sad. With everything you have been through, having the support of your family members should have helped you overcome the trauma,” she remarked, her eyes filled with sympathy.
“The reverse was the case, though. Mom and Dad loved my sisters the most. They used every single opportunity to rub it on
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Chapter 18
my face.”
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“I’ve been humiliated, laughed at, scorned, and rejected. If anything, that has only moulded the girl I am today. It has made me realize the need to find happiness in the little things of life.”
“Being mated to the princes gives me joy, Luttered truthfully, and she smiled. So far, they haven’t rejected me, but that still gives me more hope.
“Indeed,” she replied, and we both chuckled. When I got to the ring room, Hayden and Hector were waiting for me, they were clad in black suits that made them look like a demi–god.
“You look stunning, Isabel, Hayden complimented, and I smiled
“Thank you, Hayden,” I replied as a blush spread across my cheeks.
“Beautiful, Hector commented, and my eyes widened for a second.
“Th…ank you,” I stuttered while trying to wrap my head around the fact that he complimented me.
They walked side by side with me in the middle. The ride to school was a quiet one. When we got there, the place was filled with members of the pack, not just students, which was quite unusual.
“You didn’t tell me it was a pack party,” Hector mentioned, and Hayden turned his eyes toward me.
I didn’t know it was the whole pack that would be in attendance Amelia said it was her party, I explained, suddenly feeling uncomfortable by the whole arrangement.
“That Amelia chick shouldn’t be trusted in the first place,” Hector spat in disgust. I felt bad that they did not like her.
She is only trying to mend things between us and accept me as her family. In a real sense, all I’ve ever wanted was to gain acceptance and be loved, which has never ended in my favour.
Look who we have here, the girl of the moment! Amelia teased as she catwalked toward my direction, clad in a black strapless dress that complimented her skin and made her look radiant.
“Amelia…” I called as my eyes moved toward the stage where Evelyn stood with a smile that made me feel uncomfortable.
At this point, everyone else was staring at me and whispering amongst themselves.
“What’s going on?” Hector inquired while standing next to me.
“Amelia, is everything okay?” I questioned, and she chuckled softly.
“Of course, dear sister, everything is fine. What could possibly go wrong when we have the cursed Luna of the pack among us?” she asked, and my heart squeezed in unbearable pain. I shouldn’t have trusted her so fast, I should have believed she wanted to fix up our sister’s bond.
“The dirty, backstabbing, and weak Isabel! A round of applause!” Evelyn declared, and from a distance, I caught sight of my parents in the crowd, yet they did nothing to stop the situation. In fact, they seemed to be enjoying the whole scenario.
“You invited me to the party to humiliate me…” I whispered, as my eyes stung with unshed tears. My hope of having a family member on my side shattered to pieces almost instantly,
“We would rather die than watch you become the next Luna of the pack. You will stain the reputation of the pack!” Evelyn spat with hatred, as she walked closer to me.
That’s enough! Enough of this madness, Evelyn,” Hector roared
Yes, he did not like me. But I believe the whole invitation to humiliate me in the presence of the pack members did not sit
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Chapter 18
well with him.
1 bowed my head in shame, unable to raise it. I could not face the truth in front of me.
“Hello members of the Moon Stone Pack, should we stand by and watch Isabel lead the pack to its doom? She is cursed?”
“I said that’s enough!” Hayden growled, and silence filled the place.
Evelyn cowered in fear, and Amelia moved away from us. The whole party came to an abrupt end. They had set up the party to humiliate me, with Amelia even giving me her favourite dress to increase the blow of my embarrassment.
“Let’s go, Isabel,” Hayden ordered as he grabbed me by the hand. We left the event together. I was still in shock as we drove back toward the pack house,
“Stay away from your sisters, they w
never change!” Hector barked angrily as he stormed upstairs..
“Isabel… Hayden called, and I burst into tears. I felt so weak and betrayed, the humiliation would have been worse than this if Hayden and Hector hadn’t stood up for me.
“It’s not your fault. You trusted the wrong people, and it’s time you learn to live without them. Hoping they’ll accept you who you are will only bring more heartbreaks in the long run,” he consoled me softly as I cried.
for
“Come here, Isabel,” he beckoned, and I walked into his arms. He gently rubbed my back as I let the tears fall uncontrollably.
