That truth was almost as empowering as when I said it to Nolan. Their apologies meant nothing to me, they wouldn’t change anything, and I didn’t need the validation.
“He deserved to die,” She said, her lips pulled over her teeth.
I closed the space that I created between us. I looked up at her, not breaking eye c.ontact. Now I was mad. Really mad, but it fueled me.
She glared smugly down at me.
“He didn’t die,” I whispered, the recent memory still piercing me, “I’m choosing your fate. Let’s call this a trial of sorts.”My voice was harder now, “I’m trying to be fair, wait. No, I was trying to be fair. But you made it really difficult.” I tilted my head and fixed her with a sick smile Cali would have been proud of.
Her eyes widened, “They can’t, you can’t.”
“We can,” I leaned forward as close to the door separating us, “Strike two, Camilla.” I turned on my heel and walked away.
There was so much I wanted to say, but I couldn’t get through to her. I wanted her to understand, to get it through her thick skull that what she did to Caspien wasn’t justified. But I understood now that there was no talking to people like that. We were just talking at each other, and it wasn’t worth my time.
Griffen held the door open, his face neutral.
“How did it go?”
“As expected,” I grumbled.
I wanted her to be human, apologetic, and show some sign of remorse for what she almost did to Caspien.
Not because her fate was because of it but to show that she wasn’t a completely horrible person. But maybe some people weren’t redeemable.
“She seems really dense,” Griffen admitted, “The little I saw of her. No moral compass.”
“Not that I’ve seen, at least.” I unclenched my fist when I realized my nails were digging into my palm.
She wasn’t making this easy. Now I needed to decide if she was enough of a threat to be able to walk out of here alive.
“It doesn’t get easier. I wish I could say it does.” Griffen said when we got back to the elevator. His voice was brittle, emotionless, and yet filled with bottled pain.
“What part of it?” I asked.
“All of it,” He sighed, “But especially the decisions like this. Nothing is as black and white as you would hope for, and you will have death on your hands whether their blood actually stains you or not.” He looked forward.
His words weighed on me, and I felt myself starting to crumble under them.
I wasn’t even officially Luna yet, and the title felt heavy.
I wanted this, though. I didn’t want to be in the other room party planning when my mate made decisions. I had to accept the raw, real parts of this, not just the conferences and parties. Before becoming Luna, I think I had my fair share of hardships at this pack and knew I would be well-equipped with all of them by my side.
“I’m lucky to have you,” I nudged Griffen, and he smiled widely nudging me back.
“The feeling is mutual, Luna.”
(Willa)
“It’s not a big deal, Mom.” She wiped tears from her eyes with a handkerchief Grace produced for her from Goddess knew where.
“It is; my baby girl, is going to become a Luna.” I sighed and looked at my dad for support, but his eyes were misting too.
I was already supposed to be a Luna previously, and they never acted like this.
I really didn’t feel like I was doing anything different besides officially taking the title. As Caspien reminded me, I was already doing Luna duties and showing up as a leader of the pack.
“Thank you for putting this together so last minute,” I looked at Grace, and she waved a hand.
“I had a lot of help, and it’s just something simple.” She shook her head.
“Perfect,” I smiled at her.
Caspien came up and took my hand in his. He in a black suit and matching tie would never not take my breath away.
“Ready?” He asked, giving me a smile that reached his eyes.
“Ready,” I answered, and I was.
I chose a simple dress, long and white, that hugged me in a cool fabric. It had thick straps and a low back pinned my hair back in the comb that my mom produced, an heirloom that I last wore on Nolan’s birthday.
My hair was lightly curled and pulled back to one side, and I felt good. Comfortable, not overly showy, and myself. I presented myself how I wanted to, not once thinking about others, and that was a freeing thought. “There is a small party afterward, but we don’t have to stay long.” Caspien leaned down and whispered into my ear. His hand came up and brushed my back where the fabric dipped low.
“We should stay. My first official duties as Luna, I could hardly leave.”
Caspien frowned slightly, “Maybe we should re-think this Luna thing if I have to share you.”
“Maybe we just take Emmett and run so I don’t have to share you.” I raised an eyebrow, a challenge.
“Now that I could get behind.”
“No one is taking my grandbaby.” Grace looked offended.
“How dare you suggest that,” My dad added.
I gave them a tight smile, completely forgetting that they were there.
Caspien had that effect on me when he looked at me as if I was the only person in the room – I believed it.
“Duty calls,” I signed.
“Doesn’t it always,” Caspien grumbled, leading us all to the elevator.
We picked up Griffen, Loreli, and Holden on their floor. Griffen looked agitated, shifting from foot to foot.
“You have to be there for maybe ten minutes,” Caspien told Griffen.
“I wish Nora could have come,” I said.
“Me too,” Griffen said, “She’s in a lot of pain. It’s hard for her even to walk.” He looked worried, almost pained.
“Just means she’s close,” I said to him, trying to make my voice soft but confident.
“Come on,” Caspien held the elevator door open.
“Wait for a second; we have a surprise.” Cali smiled at me and took a step to the right.
Emmett stood behind her, his hair slicked over, in a little black suit and matching tie. Tears pricked my eyes, and I clasped my hands, kneeling to his level.
“Emmett, oh my Goddess, you are incredible.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.