Chapter 23
ISABEL’S POINT OF VIEW
“The mating season is fast approaching. It’s only a matter of time before you are coronated as Luna of the pack, before everyone,” Gina beamed happily.
“Gina, you’ve been counting down since, and it’s so beautiful to see someone anticipating the coronation with such joy,” I responded, and she chuckled softly.
“You deserve all the happiness in the world, Luna,” she teased, making a blush spread across my cheeks.
“Have you heard from Grandma Shu?” Gina inquired as she brought out the dress for the event.
“Not yet. I think she hasn’t come up with anything. If she had, she’d call us up and inform us firsthand,” I replied, and she nodded.
“About the event, their mother was known to be the wisest in her council. She was a lover, a mom, and more. She defied all odds, even when it came to having a say in what goes on around the pack. I was very young, but I remember everything she did for the pack,” Gina explained, and I listened with keen interest.
Hayden nor Hector have ever told me about their mother before, so I’m willing to know every detail about her.
“You can do better. If there’s one thing I believe, it’s the fact that you can’t hurt a fly. The brothers are nothing like their father and will treat you right.” She assured me, and I felt emotional at that point.
“Stay cl
to me, Gina. I want you there with me tonight,” I requested, and her eyes widened.
“Really? Handmaids aren’t allowed at the remembrance ceremony. It’s a celebration of their mother and her good deeds…” Gina trailed off.
“And you are my family. If anything, I want you by my side,” I stated, watching her eyes moisten with emotion.
“Thank you so much for the way you’ve treated me, Isabel. I pray you get all the happiness you deserve,” she appreciated me once more, and we checked my closet for a suitable dress.
She picked the dress, and I chose another one for her. “You’re going to be the most beautiful girl at the party,” she uttered with a serious expression on her face, and a smile appeared on my face.
Later that evening, Gina helped me prepare for the party. I was very aware that most pack members didn’t like me. If anything, I wanted to just blend into the party and not be seen by anyone. But Gina had another plan, she picked an emerald green dress that complemented my skin, giving me a different glow.
We
“You look beautiful, Isabel,” Hayden complimented me as he extended his hand to me. joined hands and walked out of my room. Hector waited by the stairs.
“Don’t mingle too much. Stick with both of us,” Hector instructed, and I nodded.
The room was filled with werewolves, elders, and other Alphas from different packs
“We have gathered to celebrate my lovely sister’s memory. She was a good woman, one who loved each and every one of us and stood by her love for the Alpha even when things went wrong. A strong and deserving Luna,” Lady Lucia proclaimed, and the guests gave a round of applause, pride was evident on their faces.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Evelyn and Amelia with some guests. Then I saw my parents, and I felt uncomfortable almost instantly.
Hayden and Hector stood next to me, so I couldn’t leave. Staying at the party was a way to honour the memory of their
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mother. If I leave, people might think I don’t respect the dead.
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After her long speech, which seemed to throw jabs at me and suggest that I wasn’t fit to be Luna, Lady Lucia walked across the room to where the brothers were.
“My lady,” I bowed as her
eyes scanned my outfit.
“Isabel,” she nodded, and the Alphas went with her to greet some guests. Hector gave me a knowing look and signalled Gina to stay close.
They didn’t seem to mind that I brought my handmaid to the party, and that made my heart flutter.
“Breathe, Luna. You look stressed out. You should breathe,” Gina advised, giving me confidence. Yet, I had this bad feeling that something was about to go wrong.
As if confirming my thoughts, I saw Amelia walking toward me. “Your sister is coming our way. Who even invited her to the party?” Gina asked in surprise.
They were the last people I expected to see at a royal event, especially after the humiliation they caused at the school party.
“My beautiful sister Isabel,” she called my name with disgust, and a smile on her face that made me look away.
She questioned,“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you’re still holding a grudge against me from our last encounter at the school party?”
“At least not after I tried to be nice to you. I put aside my resentment and attempted to be friendly,” she remarked sarcastically.
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“There’s nothing nice about the way you and Evelyn treated me, Amelia. You deceived me into thinking we could be one big family again when it was only a ploy to discredit me in front of everyone.”
“Why does your hatred for me run so deep?” I asked as my blood boiled in anger, and my heart ached.
“You’ve only been lucky to be mated to the princes. It’s only a matter of time before the truth is revealed to everyone,” she announced loudly, causing everyone at the party to turn toward us.
Right then, I realized that this was her plan for the night, to humiliate me again.
“Amelia, I’m too tired for this right now!” I retorted angrily.
I was exhausted from the constant humiliation and betrayal. How could my family always find a means to drag and disgrace me? It was clear that even my parents were in on it.
“You’ve been hiding dark secrets about your life, secrets that will lead the pack to ruin,” Amelia declared, and whispers filled the room. The temperature in the room grew thick.
“What’s going on? We’re hosting this party to honour our deceased mother, Amelia. This is not the time to attack your sister!” Hector raged in angrily, and everywhere became silent.
“Alpha Hector, this isn’t about playing hate games with my sister. She knows there’s more to being cursed by the moon goddess than she lets people see.” Amelia spoke, even though there was fear in her eyes as she talked to Hector.
“Why do you think she was rejected by six mates before the two of you?” Evelyn chimed in, making the situation worse than the day I failed to shift in front of the entire pack.
“Enough! We’ve heard this countless times and don’t enjoy listening to the two of you sound like a broken record,” Hayden spat angrily.
“This isn’t about our daughters, Alpha Hayden. There’s a more dangerous aspect to Isabel’s curse than we’ve revealed,” my
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Chapter 23
mother interjected as she stepped forward. Everyone’s attention turned to her, eager to hear the details.
HAYDEN’S POINT OF VIEW
“We don’t want to hear about it. Leave!” I commanded angrily.
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“Hayden, these people are her family members. If they believe there’s more to her curse, we shouldn’t be dismissing them like this. It’s only fair to hear them out,” Aunt Lucie chipped in.
“Their hatred for Isabel has never been hidden. I’m not about to listen to some fake stories,” I snapped, and she looked away.
“Your mother was strong enough to lead this prestigious pack. Yes, she left us early, but we still feel her impact to this day. What does Isabel have to offer?” Aunt Lucie raised her voice, while Isabel looked away as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“The reason Isabel has been rejected six times is because the curse will affect any mate she bonds with, leading to chaos and destruction,” her father declared, and silence filled the room, as everyone looked shocked by the revelation.
My eyes shifted to Isabel, who was silently crying. “That’s not true…” she tried to defend herself, and Hector glared at her family in disgust.
“It’s safer for everyone if she’s rejected. The pack deserves peace Amelia added.
“Isabel!” I heard Gina’s voice, and our eyes darted toward her. Isabel had collapsed. The weight of everything must have overwhelmed her.
“Isabel!” Hector and I called out in panic as he rushed over to her.
“The party is over!” I declared furiously. After what they just pulled, there was no way we would let them set foot in the royal palace again.
Those people are nothing but trouble. The more we interact with them, the more danger we expose her to.
