Chapter 24
ISABEL’S POINT OF VIEW
“Is she awake?” I heard Hayden’s voice faintly from my sleep.
“The pack doctor has instructed me to stay by her side, at least until she opens her eyes,” Gina’s worried voice reached my
ears.
“I’m fine, Hayden,” I whispered as my eyes fluttered open. I saw Hector standing by the door, and his eyes softened in my direction.
“What happened to me?” I asked as Gina helped me sit up.
“You fainted, I guess you could not keep up with the accusations from your parents. It got worse with time and you could not withstand the pressure, ” Hector explained, and tears rolled out of my eyes, as I remembered everything that happened.
“It pains me that my family, Wished me nothing but unending sorrow. “I mumbled softly.
“You must stay away from them and try to get some rest. Hector and I are trying to find out who sent them invitations to the party. The last time I checked, they weren’t on the list,” Hayden disclosed.
Why did the whole thing scream Lady Lucia? That woman would do anything to prove she hated me with every fibre in her body. Inviting my family to humiliate me was just one of her many actions.
“Thank you,” I appreciated, and they both nodded before making their way out of the room.
“I’m sorry about last night, Luna. But I think it’s high time we find answers to our questions,” Gina began after Hayden and Hector had walked out of the room.
“I don’t understand. We already met Grandma Shu, and she hasn’t given us feedback until now,” I replied, fighting the urge
to cry.
I was vulnerable and frustrated, with my birthday drawing close I needed answers to the curse on my head before I completely lost it.
“Grandma Shu revealed that her home used to be a safe place for witches. Don’t you think those journals should have contained clues as to where they went or where we could find one of their kind?” she suggested.
“You’re a genius!” I
Claimed, my eyes widening as I got down from the bed.
“Luna, you need to rest for a while, at least try to lie down like the doctor instructed,” she advised, and I shook tying my hair into a bun.
my
head,
might just
“Gina, I need answers. There are so many people plotting against me right now. If I don’t get the answers i need, get into more trouble and die as the curse predicted,” I voiced, and she nodded as I rushed to the bathroom to freshen up.
After changing into comfortable clothes, Gina and I made our way out of the pack house and toward Grandma Shu’s. When we arrived at her place, she welcomed us with open arms but had a worried expression on her face.
“Is everything alright, Grandma Shu?” I questioned, and she nodded.
“Everything is quite alright, but we have a problem. The nightmares you’ve been having look quite familiar to one of the cases in the journals,” she revealed.
“We finally found a solution then!” Cina exclaimed, excitement radiating from her, and a smile graced my lips.
“The journal belonged to a young foreign witch in the pack at the time, with a similar curse as yours. Cursed by the moon
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goddess, she doesn’t provide many details aside from the fact that the curse was only broken when she met and fell in love with her mate from our pack. They got married and left the pack shortly after, I assume due to the massacre,” she explained.
“True love?” I echoed, my heart pounding against my chest.
“Isabel, you need to calm down and think about it,” she urged.
“Calm down? Six times I faced disappointment because I tried to hope for the best. I don’t think I’m capable of loving anyone other than myself at this point,” I declared as tears streamed down my face.
“You’re panicking, and that’s not good, dear,” she called out.
“Grandma Shu, I can’t. Loving someone means opening my heart once again, embracing vulnerability, and strongly believing that things will turn in my favor. With the number of people trying to send me out of the pack house, I wouldn’t be surprised if that hope is what leads to my end,” I said in one breath.
“That’s where you’re mistaken. Maybe you should talk to the princes. That’s where communication comes in. Love isn’t something you force; it comes naturally. Before you know it, they’ve made a home in your heart, and the curse is broken. Love will break the curse,” Grandma Shu reassured me.
“I love you too much to sit back and watch this curse become the end of you,” she continued, her words making me emotional.
“Thank you so much, Grandma Shu, for everything, for the love you’ve shown me without wanting anything in return…” I trailed off, and she pulled me into her arms.
“There’s something else I found in the journal that has me suspicious,” she noted, and I raised an eyebrow.
“It’s about Celeste,” she disclosed, and Gina and I glanced at each other, then back at her.
“She spoke about a royal so powerful, someone the Alpha at that time was trying to protect with everything in him. Yes, he killed the other witches, but she was exempted. They never spoke of her again.” Grandma Shu revealed, and I looked at her inquisitively.
“I think I’m losing my mind with every single detail,” Gina muttered, and if this wasn’t a more serious situation, I would have laughed at the look on her face.
“Is there something I should know?” I inquired, and she nodded.
“Savannah was the name in the journal. She was said to be a seer with a curse from the moon goddess,” Grandma Shu shared.
“Another cursed one?” I gasped in shock.
She answered, “She is locked up in the East wing of the mansion where she’s not allowed to leave.”
“Celeste mentioned she was the king’s younger sister, with a curse that prevented her from ageing. She’s been 16 her entire life, even at the time the journal was written,” Grandma Shu explained, and I sat down on the couch with a thud.
“Talk to the brothers. Maybe a visit to Savannah might give you the answers you’re seeking,” Grandma Shu suggested, and I
nodded.
“You can take the books with you,” she offered.
“No, keep them with you. It’s best they stay with you until we reveal this whole mystery,” I replied, and she nodded.
“Have a lovely day ahead, dear,” she added, and 1 nodded as Gina and I walked out of her cottage and toward our house.
AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW
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Lady Lucia paced back and forth, her gaze locking onto Evelyn with anger. “What was that foolish move at the party? You were supposed to be the hero, not your sister Amelia.”
“I thought you assured me you had a plan in mind. Yet, you let Amelia take the lead while you stood in the corner!” she fumed, while Evelyn looked back at her with a bored expression.
Evelyn raised the corner of her lips and asked, “What should I have done? Join her in confronting Isabel to drive her out of the mansion? How well did your talk go?”
“Isabel is still in the mansion, enjoying her position as Luna, while you stand here complaining. We both want the same thing, Lady Lucia, but that doesn’t give you the right to speak to me in that tone,” Evelyn snapped, sipping her glass of wine.
“I see you’ve accepted defeat and are ready to watch her take over as pack Luna. It embarrasses me that you’re just an empty drum making the loudest noise,” Lady Lucia mocked.
“Don’t you dare!” Evelyn hissed, her anger rising as they stared each other down.
“I’m not your enemy. Perhaps you should direct that energy toward your foolish sister,” Lady Lucia retorted.
“I have a plan, but it can’t happen if you keep interrupting and trying to pressure me. Stop it,” Evelyn demanded, and Lady Lucia nodded.
“Fine, take your time,” she responded and then left the room.
Lisa, Evelyn mother waited until Lady Lucia was out of sight before hurrying into her daughter’s room. “What’s going on, dear? I saw Lady Lucia leaving your room,” she asked excitedly.
“Lady Lucia is an ally, someone who wants me to replace Isabel as Luna. She’s supporting my next move,” Evelyn disclosed “What does she gain if Isabel leaves the mansion? It can’t be just because she dislikes her. Have you thought about why she holds that grudge?” Lisa questioned, sparking Evelyn’s curiosity.
“Mother, we have a bigger problem,” Amelia interrupted as she entered the room, tossing a letter onto the table.
“I don’t understand. What could be worse than watching Isabel rule beside the princes?” Evelyn demanded, her frustration
clear.
“Spare the attitude, sister. We’ve been blacklisted by the Royal princes. We’re banned from attending high–profile events. They accused us of attempting to harm their mate. I’m speechless,” Amelia revealed, sinking into a chair with a heavy sigh.
“That Isabel is the smartest snake I’ve ever met. She plays the victim and still manages to get everything in her favour every single time,” Evelyn fumed.
“Isn’t there a way we can appeal to the pack elders?” Amelia wondered.
“Not that I know of. Once you’re on the blacklist, especially with an official letter like this, you have to stay clear of those events until things settle down or they retract the announcement,” Lisa explained.
“I want to destroy Isabel! She deserves to pay for everything she’s put us through,” Evelyn seethed.
“You’re furious. Calm down, dear,” Lisa consoled, and Evelyn let out a sigh.
Amelia clenched her fists in frustration. Viktor had promised to come up with a solution, but maybe she needed an even bigger ally to defeat Isabel.
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