Chapter 18 Poisoned
Zoe's POV
Sierra sat there. Looking at me.
Her eyes were sharp. Calculating. Cold.
The silence stretched. Heavy. Dangerous.
Then... her face changed.
Softened.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Olivia." Her voice broke. "I'm so sorry."
I blinked. Confused. "What?"
"I'm sorry. For everything." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "For what I did to you. To Ryan. For all the pain I caused."
Is she being real now? Because she looked like it but from what I've heard... I doubt that . And I knew when someone is pretending they can go to any length.
"I was terrible. Selfish. Cruel." She wiped her eyes. "But I've changed. I really have. The Northern Pack... it taught me so much. About myself. About what really matters in life."
I didn't say anything. Just watched her.
"I know you have no reason to trust me. I know I hurt you so badly." She leaned forward. "But I want to make it right. I want to be your friend again. If... if you'll let me."
Her voice sounded so genuine. So sincere.
But something felt wrong. Off.
"I don't know, Sierra..."
"Please." She reached for my hand. "Just give me a chance. One chance to prove I've changed. That's all I'm asking."
What would Olivia do? What should I do?
I had no idea.
"If you've really changed..." I said slowly. "Then... I'm cool with it."
Sierra's face lit up. "Really? You mean it?"
"Yes."
She squeezed my hand. "Thank you. Thank you so much. You won't regret this. I promise."
Then her voice got softer. Sweeter.
"And I want to help you. With your memory loss." She smiled. "I know so much about you. About us. About everything. I can help you remember."
"You would do that?" I asked softly, searching her voice for anything...anything that might give her away.
"Of course. That's what friends do." She stood up. "We'll start tomorrow. I'll tell you everything about the pack and about us as teenagers."
After she left, I sat there.
Wondering if I just made a huge mistake.
...
The next morning, I was reading in the garden when Scarlett found me.
Her face was white. Angry.
"What were you thinking?" She grabbed my arm. Pulled me behind a tree. Away from others.
"What?"
"Sierra. I saw her coming into your room yesterday. I moved closer and heard you guys Talking. Smiling." Her voice was harsh. "Are you insane?"
"She apologized. She said she changed..."
"She didn't change. She never changes." Scarlett's hands shook. "Do you know what she did to Olivia? What she put her through?"
"Ryan told me some things..."
"Not everything. He doesn't know everything." Scarlett moved closer. Whispered urgently. "After Ryan and Olivia started dating, Sierra came back. She said she made a mistake. That she wanted Ryan back."
"I know..."
"But do you know what she really did?" Scarlett's eyes filled with tears. "She followed Ryan everywhere. Touched him. Cornered him in empty hallways. Pressed herself against him. Tried to kiss him when no one was watching."
My stomach twisted.
"She would wait until Olivia left the room. Then she'd sit next to Ryan. Put her hand on his leg. Whisper in his ear." Scarlett's voice cracked. "Ryan pushed her away every time. But Sierra was smart. She only did it when others couldn't see. When she could deny it later."
"That's horrible..."
"And when Olivia confronted her, Sierra laughed. Called her jealous. Paranoid. Made everyone think Olivia was the crazy one." Scarlett grabbed my shoulders. "She made Olivia's life hell. Complete hell. For months."
"Why didn't anyone stop her?"
"No one believed Olivia. Sierra was too good at playing innocent." Scarlett's tears fell. "Until one day, Olivia caught her. Caught Sierra trying to kiss Ryan in his office. Olivia walked in and saw everything."
"What happened?"
"Olivia challenged her. Right there. Said if Sierra ever touched Ryan again, she'd fight her. Luna against pack member." Scarlett smiled sadly. "That's when Sierra finally left. Because she knew Olivia would kill her."
I couldn't breathe.
"You need to stay away from her." Scarlett shook me slightly. "Promise me. Promise me you won't trust her."
"I promise."
But Scarlett's eyes said she didn't believe me.
...
Three days later, the pack held the Harvest Moon Celebration.
Everyone came. The entire pack. Dressed in their finest clothes.
I wore a green dress. One of Olivia's favorites, Scarlett told me.
Ryan took my arm as we entered the great hall.
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
The hall was packed. Music played. People danced. Laughed. Celebrated the full moon.
Pack members came up to us. One after another.
"Luna Olivia, you look wonderful."
"Welcome back, Luna."
"We're so blessed to have you home."
I smiled. Nodded. Said thank you over and over. I don't know when they'd stop welcoming me.
My face hurt from smiling.
Then I saw her.
Sierra.
She wore red. Bright red. Everyone turned to look at her.
She walked straight to us.
"Olivia!" She hugged me. "You look amazing."
"Thank you. So do you."
Ryan nodded at her. Polite but cold. "Sierra."
"Alpha Ryan." She smiled sweetly. Then turned back to me. "Come. Let's get something to drink. All this talking must be making you thirsty."
She pulled me away. Toward the long table with food and drinks.
Servers stood there. Holding trays.
"Two soft drinks, please," Sierra said to a server.
The young man handed us glasses. Clear bubbly liquid. Ice. Lemon slices floating on top.
"To friendship," Sierra said. Raising her glass. Her eyes locked on mine.
"To friendship."
We both drank.
It was cold. Sweet. Fizzy.
I drank half the glass.
Then... something strange happened.
My head felt light. Fuzzy.
The room tilted slightly.
"Are you okay?" Sierra asked. But her smile was too wide. Too bright.
"I feel... strange..."
My legs wobbled.
I grabbed the table edge. Tried to steady myself.
But everything was spinning. The lights. The people. The music.
All spinning.
I looked at Sierra.
She wasn't worried. Wasn't concerned.
She was smiling.
No... laughing.
Softly. Triumphantly.
She leaned close. So close her lips touched my ear.
And she whispered something.