THIRD PERSON POV:
The Lunar Shadow pack hasn't been the same since Kiara left. Although people try to find joy in their new Luna, she is quite different from Kiara. She never attends to their needs as Kiara would, and all she does is walk alongside Alpha Blake, refusing to take any responsibilities.
"I really miss Luna Kiara, and I wonder if she is alright," Isabella says, coming to a halt with the long broom in hand.
Her friend Ursula sighs too.
"I wish I could find my way out of this pack without being punished or hunted by rogue wolves," she whispers to Isabella as she continues sweeping near the gate of the Alpha's mansion.
"If she were here, I wouldn't have to labor under the sun, but I'd choose this over serving that imposter," Isabella scoffs.
"Oh, don't we just miss Kiara," someone says, and they both stop talking, turning to see Mindy, dressed in a red flare gown.
They both stare at her like they've seen a ghost, causing her to roll her eyes.
"Where is your Luna?" Mindy asks, and they do not answer.
She softens her expression. "I am a friend of hers. Tell her that Mindy wants to see her, and she will understand," she adds, and Isabella glances at Ursula.
"Ursula, bring her in, and I'll meet with Luna Veronica."
"Luna Veronica," Mindy mouths, letting out a brief chuckle while both women stare at her like she is a maniac.
She stops laughing abruptly, aware she is losing her composure. It amuses her she helped someone rise to the top while she remains stuck, trying to reclaim her man.
Isabella walks away at once, heading into the mansion while Ursula escorts Mindy into the compound and waits by the door.
Veronica is lying on her bed reading a book while her trusted servant, Ruby, sits beside her, painting her nails.
"Add more glitter," she says, staring down at her index finger, freshly colored pink. "Blake likes the glitters," she adds, and Ruby forces a smile.
She too misses Kiara, but working for Veronica pays well, and she can't miss the opportunity.
As Isabella steps into the house, she heads to Veronica's chamber, knocking on the of her chambers. The knock startles Veronica, who groans.
"Who is that?" she yells, and Isabella takes a deep breath.
Veronica dislikes her for refusing to work for her after Kiara was banished.
"Luna Veronica, it's Isabella," she says in a low tone, and Isabella feels anger rise within her.
"Why does Kiara's loyal dog want me?" she asks Ruby, who shrugs, and Veronica furrows her brows.
"Perhaps she wants a second chance with the mighty queen," Ruby says at once, and a smile spreads across Veronica's lips.
"Come in, you filthy slave!" she yells, and Isabella's trembling fingers reach the handle, pulling it open.
She steps into the room, meeting Ruby's eyes first, and holds Ruby's gaze to show her disappointment, causing Ruby to look away at once.
"What have I done to deserve a visit from Kiara's dog?" Veronica asks, and Isabella bows her head.
"You have a visitor," she begins, then glances up to catch Veronica's expression. "Her name is Mindy."
At the mention of Mindy's name, Veronica withdraws her hand from Ruby abruptly, smearing the paint on her fingertips.
"Damn it!" she groans, looking at her nails.
A smile spreads across Isabella's face as she watches Veronica, who quickly diverts her gaze to her, causing Isabella to straighten her expression.
"What do I tell her, ma'am?" she asks, and Veronica sizes her up.
"Who says you can speak, slave?" she asks loudly, prompting Isabella to give a slight bow, hiding her laughter.
Veronica straightens her face at once.
"Direct her to this room," she says, and Isabella nods, leaving the room.
Veronica's heart pounds in her chest. She knows that when you take something from an evil witch; you owe them a favor. She hadn't given Mindy anything in return, so she was nervous.
Shortly, a knock comes at the door, and she yells for them to come in. When her gaze meets Mindy's, her heart races faster.
"Leave!" she says to Ruby, who nods and leaves the room, leaving her alone with Mindy.
Mindy looks around, admiring the room's beauty. A part of her feels pride in what she has done-giving someone a good life, something her mother says she isn't capable of-and she doesn't care if it was achieved by hurting someone.
"What do you want?" Veronica asks in a tone with a hint of anger. This throws Mindy off balance, and she turns to look at Veronica, fluttering her lashes.
She wants to ask why she deserves this coldness after giving her a good life, instead; she smiles.
"You are living quite the life, Luna Veronica," Mindy says, giving a slight bow, which only irritates Veronica.
"I know dark witches don't give things free, so I won't ask again: what do you want?"
Mindy stares at her and then lets out a cackle.
"Fine. Since you want to get to business, I will," she says with a straight face. "I did you a favor, and now I need my favor back."
Veronica raises an eyebrow.
"It's Kiara," Mindy says, and Veronica frowns.
"What about her? Did she send you here to take me down?"
"You're jumping to conclusions, Ron, and that's not my style." Veronica falls silent when Mindy calls her "Ron."
Mindy continues, "Kiara has something of mine, and I want it back." She pauses, facing Veronica.
"And how am I supposed to help you get back whatever it is she has?" Veronica asks, and a smile creeps onto Mindy's lips.
"She will have to die, and there's no better person to do it than you."
Veronica stares at her, mouth agape.
"I don't understand."
"I want you to kill Kiara. What don't you understand?" Veronica swallows hard.
"You can't be serious," she says, and Mindy glares at her. "How can you ask me to kill someone?"
Mindy's lips curl into a smile.
"But you would go to any length to get Blake, according to your own words," Mindy says, and Veronica shakes her head. "Those were your exact words."
"Then I lied," she says with a straight face.
"Oh." Mindy's face straightens, her lips pressed together.
"I don't know what your problem is with Kiara, but I'm sorry, I can't kill someone-especially not Kiara."
"I see." Mindy struggles to keep her composure, not wanting to do something she'll regret.
"If you have nothing else to say to me, Mindy, then I'd politely ask you to leave my house, or the guards will throw you out," she says, and Mindy lets out a short laugh, holding her belly.
Veronica's face tightens, and her hands curl into fists, gripping the bedding.
"You were-people are so selfish and quick to forget who put you on top. You claim humans are vile, but you… your hearts are so dark," Mindy says, her gaze locked on Veronica.
"But let me remind you that the life you have now belongs to me. I gave it to you, and I can take it back."
Veronica scoffs, rising from the bed and stepping closer to Mindy.
"Is that a threat?" she asks, moving in on Mindy, who only smiles, further irritating Veronica.
"We'll find out soon enough," Mindy replies, and Veronica forces a smile, hiding the fear in her chest.
"I'll also remind you I am the Luna, and you're in my kingdom. If you don't watch your steps, you could be beheaded or burned at the stake." She inches closer. "What's it gonna be, witch?" she whispers in Mindy's ear.
Mindy can smell her fear, knowing Veronica is trying to keep up a tough facade, which makes her laugh. Slowly, she pulls back and turns around.
"Watch your back, Veronica. Remember, you don't throw stones in a glass house," Mindy says, then leaves.
As soon as Mindy opens the door, Isabella, who is eavesdropping, quickly hides behind a statue. When Mindy leaves the hall, she acts like she's going about her duties, following her until she reaches the gates.
"Wait!" she calls out, and Mindy turns, raising her eyebrows.
"What?"
"I… I overheard you with the Luna, and I know what she's done. You're desperate, and so am I, so I'm willing to do anything to get you what you want if you take her away and bring back Luna Kiara," Isabella says, and Mindy chuckles.
"A slave thinks I need her help? Pathetic. I don't care about your Luna Kiara either, and I want nothing more than to see her in misery," she says, then leaves.