CHAPTER 31-The List

***Juno’s POV***

“Don’t be dramatic, Hazel. This is an official meeting, not a party! Why are you making such a big deal out of this?” Loki’s voice was firm, dismissive, and he didn’t even look up as he sipped from his whiskey glass, clearly unfazed by the tension in the room.

“I won’t let you do this! Don’t make it sound like I’m crazy! You know very well that I’m supposed to be on that list. You posted the announcement on the board without my name on it and added Juno’s name instead!” Hazel’s voice was a mix of frustration and disbelief, rising with every word.

Loki’s face remained neutral, but his gaze flicked toward her, his expression unbothered. "That’s because it was Juno’s idea that we go with three people. Four is too many. You can’t have two women and a man together; it just wouldn’t be appropriate. Two men and one woman is the right balance. I don’t see why this should be an issue for you."

Hazel’s jaw tightened, and she took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "Juno is a novice. I’ve been here from the start. You should have at least respected that. You can’t put her ahead of me. I won’t allow it."

Loki put down his glass, his tone soft but sharp. "For the umpteenth time, Hazel, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and this camp, but Juno is a better leader than you’ll ever be. For years, I’ve tried to teach you how to lead, how to command respect. But you’ve always chosen to do things your own way. You act arrogantly towards everyone. You don't even see it. You’re not welcoming, Hazel. You scare people off. Do you have any idea how many people have left War Camp because of your attitude?" He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. "The first day Juno arrived, you fought with her. You sent your girls after her, had them beat her up. Do you remember that?"

“But I told you I would change! I am trying to be a better person,” Hazel shot back, her voice shaking slightly, but still defiant.

“You’ve been saying that for years. And yet, here we are, and you’re still the same. If it weren’t for Lyla and Collins, no one would even want to be around you,” Loki responded, his voice laced with disappointment. "If you’re supervising a task, people scatter. They don’t want to be near you. But with Juno, it’s different. She’s soft-spoken, caring. People already love her. They were chanting her name just a few minutes ago. Do you realize that? They were chanting her name. Something that’s never happened here, not even for me, not for you, not for Collins or Lyla. Juno is different. She’s like a savior to them. The sooner you accept that, the better it’ll be for you."

Hazel’s face twisted in anger, her hands balled into fists by her sides. She could feel the power slipping away from her, the control she once held over her position in the camp slipping through her fingers like sand. She hated me even more now, and the venom in her voice was palpable.

"I’ve worked too hard to be humiliated like this," she spat, her eyes narrowing. "Even when we started receiving funds from the council, I was the one who made it possible. I convinced my uncle to approve our appeal for funding. If it weren’t for me, none of this would even exist. I worked my ass off to make sure you had everything you needed." Her voice quivered, but she stood her ground, as though her pride was all that was left.

"And of course, it wasn’t for free," Loki said, his voice cold and biting. "You think I don’t know that you and your uncle diverted our funds and only gave us fifty percent of what the King allocated to us? Don’t think I’m blind to that."

Hazel’s face paled, and she stammered, "I wasn’t aware of that."

"Of course you were," Loki countered, his tone sharp. "The last time you went on a trip with Lyla, do you think I didn’t know you bought properties outside Azura? I know everything, Hazel. But I chose not to say anything before. You’ve been standing by my side, pretending to console me about the council rejecting my request, when you knew all along that your uncle took the money we were supposed to get and bought a mansion in the outskirts of town. I tried to trust you, Hazel. But every time I do, you give me more reasons to push you away. While everyone here is starving, you and your uncle are out buying houses and cars. You think I don’t know about these things?"

Tears welled up in Hazel’s eyes. She could feel the weight of her actions crashing down on her. There was no defense left. Loki knew everything. What they had, whatever bond had once existed, was now broken. All that held them together was the camp, and Hazel was losing even that. Her lips trembled, and without saying another word, she turned and walked out, unable to face him any longer.

She made her way to Lyla’s room, each step heavy with the burden of her failure. When Lyla saw her, she immediately knew something was wrong. The concern on Lyla's face was evident.

"I’m sorry it didn’t go well," Lyla said gently, stepping toward Hazel.

"He knows," Hazel’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and raw.

"He knows what?" Lyla’s voice was thick with curiosity, her eyes wide as she tried to process Hazel’s words. "What are you talking about?"

Hazel took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as the tears began to fall. "He knows about the diverted funds with my uncle. He knows about the mansion and the properties." She sobbed, her voice breaking.

"Oh my god!" Lyla’s eyes widened in disbelief. "This is bad. I see why he chose her over you now. What are we going to do?"

Hazel’s shoulders shook with the force of her emotion. She had no answers. No plan. Just fear. "I don’t know. I fear that someday, Juno will take my position."

Lyla walked over to her, placing a hand on Hazel’s shoulder, her voice filled with a mix of empathy and determination. "I think I have an idea for tomorrow. We can do something that will make you feel better. But about the meeting, leave that to me."

Hazel looked up, her eyes searching Lyla’s face. "What do you mean? What are you going to do?" Her voice was tinged with soft desperation.

Lyla’s lips curled into a sly smile. "Since everyone’s still out, we’ll take care of Juno’s clothes. We’ll soak everything she owns in bleach. By the time she wakes up tomorrow, she’ll have nothing to wear, and you’ll have your chance to replace her." The gleam in Lyla’s eyes was cold, calculated, and filled with malicious intent.

Hazel’s heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t the solution she wanted, but it was a solution. She just wasn’t sure if it would destroy everything in the process.