RED'

g sun. The bed was soft and warm, the roo

dn't like it. I grabbed the blanket and pul

voice whispered gently but sharp

lazy as usual. Can you believe this is our Lun

so much that it knocked my body out. Adding to the fact that I stayed awake all night hoping that

let her hear you. She is our Luna now. You

he only one we should worry about is Lady Marcella. Now that one..." She lowered her voi

s gasped. "You sh

it. If she had her way, she would have been Luna by now. S

I'm glad Alpha finally chose Ximena. Ev

? Please. Have you not seen him? He's cold to her. Alway

t. I could almost hear the ne

rry her?" one of th

? Maybe politics. Maybe power. But love? No. I don'

it wasn't just me who felt it, others noticed his hostility towards Ximena. No wo

ny longer, their gossip would poiso

reached high above my head as though I had just been startled awake. I blin

m went silent. I cou

n unison, forcing wide smiles as though thei

faintest smile. "Good morning," I said s

ne thought repeate

na abandoned. And I am th

ne of them said, bowing shortly. " It's a

confused. "What?

maids," she said, pointing at th

rushing and pinning my hair. When they were done, I stood befo

fter voice, the one who had spoken up for me when the others sneered.

sking her the question I had long wanted to ask someone who had been

e. She would realize at the sp

es. Nothing. My throat tightened, the sou

new the ans

believed fear was better than loyalty. My father had his Vermis, his fle

ions burned in my chest,

and waited patiently with a smile for me to wa

, wood, gold. But none of that was as shiny as my diamon

ass cabinet showed off trophies and shiny wine glasses. The walls were crowded with statues of some

was another chair, larger, also gold-plated, with a wolf's

uch anything. Then, hesitantly, I picked at the appetizers already set before me. Tin

r served on a table like this. I mostly ate on our kitchen floor back home. My stomach twiste

tting down a plate of fancy beef and fish eggs. "You look lost, Lady Xim

anessa? I didn't see you," I tried to smile, b

ack to the kitchen, but if you ne

od," I lied, not wanting to bu

he was gone. I dropped my head on the table, feeling the weig

dry, the fish eggs were weird, and the lettuce was crunchy l

e door swung open. I look

the place, with wide and angry eyes. "You still married Hayden?!"

stormed toward me, and I didn't even think. I pushed my chair

ut, seeing the

a hissed, her face all twisted up

essing her fingers harder, pain shoo

hat she was talking abou

e was up in a flash, quick like a snake, grabbing me again. She spu

ing away from th

ELLA

owards Ximena heightened a

in giant strides before she could m

jerked free in a manner that made my jaw

s now married to Hayden? Did she imagine she had immunity f

led to keep her part, I could

!" I scowled, not seeing the

rting me tha

stantly grew silent, the ge

t leave as I co

tience strings. It was now a battle of ne

ould I want to run away from my hus

udible breath as I searched the area. Vanessa stood with her head slightly bow

around here and that was just the tip. Ximena had

nding as tall as possible looking down at the petite girl

yden if you so much wante

handprint on her soft face as the sound resonated in the vast ar

led, my fury gleaming brightly in my eyes, "But let me guess, a man that barely kissed you at the alta

he problem is here.

tongue and allow me to rock the boat in whichever direction I deemed necessary but this girl before me right n

all but trust me Ximena, you're the problem and when I have

he chief butler ushered in a few gues

es twinkled instantly in an em

us but it was easy to spot them. I watched ea

d to head to the door I stopped the forty-something-year

are t

ha of the Blackburn Pac

m strummed louder than my tones and my condescending gaz

to her. Her gaze was rooted on the living room right at the gue

Alpha that had Ximena nervous, something worth explor

st couldn't bring myself to call Ximena a Luna, instead, I went

rcella." He

h her visitors?" I tilted my gaze to h

all the colors left her

ing. Hayden is busy, why don

ts. I must g

t my fingers caught her arm again, this time soft e

tly as I say." I

rest if she's

nstantly grew silent, "Your opinio

as he smoothened his black suit jacket and retired t

tame before she grew a

occupants of the living area saw her, they sprang t

to be the one all these nobles were smiling so warmly at. I was deserving o

the living room. It was just too much