CHAPTER 131

CHAPTER 131
ANASTASIA

"This will fit you perfectly well, Luna," Sonia suggested, placing a nice red gown against my chest.

"I bet Alpha Diego will drool when he sees you in this," She giggled, planting a smile on my face.

Sonia and I came shopping, since my party was closer than ever.

The days went by in a flash, carrying us into the new month.

Honestly, it still feels like father and I had our conversation yesterday.

This is what we mean by 'how time flies.'

As for Alpha Woods and his Mafia goons, that crazy old wolf and his friends have been struggling to get their hands on the cure for days.

No matter how they try, they always fail to find the mastermind behind this masterpiece.

We now have eyes within their scrambled circle that shares all their details and plans to us. And that has helped my Alpha in attacking his enemies perfectly well, while using his weapons to push them off our tracks.

Also, I kept my words to my Diego and didn't see Woods again.

The Alpha has been trying hard to get me to visit him, and I always turn him down or use his hunger to play nasty games on the horny bastard.

When he gets mad at my actions, I'd dare him to come down to Crescent pack if he really wants me.

That's a big no for sure.

Now that my birthday party is in three days time, I'm hoping that Woods won't succeed in getting his hands on me.

Worse, he might end up kidnapping me for starving him like crazy!

"Yeah, I'll like to see him try with Diego around," I chuckled inwardly, letting out a grin.

"See, I told you you'll like it!" Sonia said, mistaking my smile for acceptance to the red dress.

Well, the dress isn't that bad. So, I didn't mind.

"I'll add this to the others," She decided, placing it on a chair, loaded with all the clothes she selected.

"I guess that's that. Any plans for new shoes?" She asked, getting ready to grab all the gowns.

Before I could respond or assist her, a familiar scent came flowing into my nostrils from behind, making the hair on my skin rise.

Not in fear, but in rage!

That got me pulling back from Sonia, as I carefully turned around and found an uninvited guest standing before me.

"Anna? Oh Goddess, I found you!" My step mom, Linda, called out my name with a smile, as she placed her hands on her chest emotionally.

She jumped straight at me, almost throwing her arms around for an embrace. But she was startled by my guards loud bark.

"Step away from the Luna!" They ordered, frightening my step mom as they stormed up to her.

She shivered at first then boldly said to them, "Do you even know who you're talking to? Tell them, my dear."

She turned to face me, waiting for me to defend her.

Trust me, I was itching to humiliate her publicly, but as a Luna that everyone adored, I had to hold back my hunger for now.

Looking at the guards, I said, "This is Mrs De Great. She's... family."

That got my guards stopping in their track, apologizing to Linda.

She was proud of herself.

"Enough with your apologies. You can leave," She ordered like she's their boss, rolling her eyes at them.

I could see the detest for her in my men's eyes. Probably wishing to drag and toss her out of this store. But I just signalled them to do as she said and let it go.

So they did, returning to their spot.

"Illiterates. I suggest you hire new guards who are smart and has an idea on who is superior to them. Change them," She suggested, thinking she can control me.

As a response, I said, narrowing my brows at her, "This isn't Wolf Blood were you're well known. This is my pack. The people will respect whoever they feel is worthy of it."

That left her staring in silence.

I know deep down she's boiling and hiding her bitterness behind her fake smile, wishing she could get her claws on me and strangle me for speaking that way to her.

"That's indeed true, my child. This is your pack," She agreed to my statement, her hands tightened hard against her purse, suppressing her anger.

A confused Sonia tapped me from behind and whispered into my ear, "Isn't that... You know who."

I hummed, using the side eye to look at Linda. She was staring at us, trying to figure out what we were saying.

Not wanting her to get a hint through her wolf hearings, I whispered back to Sonia just in case, "Yes, she's my stepmother. Do me a favor and search the shoe section for me. I'll join you when I'm free."

"Oh okay," Sonia nodded, walking away.

Once Linda and I were alone, my step mother asked curiously, "Is she a friend or..."

"How's that your business?" I squinted my gaze at her, giving her the unwelcomed vibe.

That's enough to let her know where she stands before me.

"What are you doing in my pack? How did you find me?" I questioned, walking over to the dresses on the chair.

"As far as I remember, I didn't give my location to anyone from the De Great family. Are you now a spy?"

"Anna my child, don't say that," She said, drawing closer to me.

"I didn't spy on you or anything. It was my motherly instincts that brought me here. Honestly, I didn't know you were here until I stepped in through that door and felt your presence."

"Is that so?" I scoffed, looking at her.

"And you expect me to believe your so-called motherly instincts brought you here into Crescent? Who are you fooling?"

"I know it's hard for you to believe, but that's the truth," She claimed, placing her hand on her chest.

"I really wanted to see you, so I came down to Crescent pack to find you. I don't know how the goddess did it, but here we are, talking to each other." She pointed at me with a light beam on her face.

"She heard a mother's cry and brought me to my daughter."

"Says the same mother who showed it to my face that I am not a part of my own father's surname."

"What?" She gasped, acting innocent.

"What are you saying my dear? I can never do such a thing to you," She denied to my face, thinking I am stupid.

"Look Anna. If you're referring to those times when I acted rude to you, it's because I was trying to get you back on track with your father," She claimed innocently.

"I have been working hard to make him accept you and Alpha Diego, but whenever he sees you acting out of order, he gets mad. That makes me angry as well. But trust me child, my love for you never died."

She placed her hand on my shoulder, with her eyes twinkling with dramatic tears.

"I never stopped fighting for you, Anna. And thanks to the goddess, your father has changed. He wants you back," She smiled, cupping my face.

"I'm sure Alpha Diego must have told you about your father's plan to throw you a party. That was my idea to bring the family together again. I suggested this to your father and he agreed!"

Bloody liar. She thinks I don't know she's against this idea?

I haven't forgotten all her attempts to make sure father doesn't accept me. If she thinks she's playing games with a child, then she's in for a surprise.

Linda went on lying about her effort and even shared an idea which she claimed was father's wish.

"I told him to redecorate your room for your visit. We want you to come and stay with us before the party. It'll be like old times. Isn't that exciting?" She smiled, taking hold of my hands.

This idea is clearly a trap, and I know for a fact that father won't agree to this. Linda planned this herself. She wants to do something to me.

But to make her think I'm warmly accepting her, I sighed and said, "Fine, I'll think about it."

"No need to think, my dear. You must come. Your father won't chase you away, I promise. He wants you home. We all do," She said, her desperation visible.

I forced out a smile and accepted, pleasing Linda's desire.

Then she suggested we go and see Sonia, indirectly asking, "Is she a relation of your Alpha or a friend you met here in crescent?"

"She's a maid," I lied, pushing her off track.

That stopped Linda from asking any further questions about her.

"Oh a maid? And you're being friendly with... Anyways, I guess I'll be heading home now. Your father can't find out that I came down to Crescent to see you. He's still trying to process the changes I'm making."

"I can understand," I nodded, playing along.

Linda soon left the store after taking my number. Then I went to meet Sonia, who was waiting in the shoe section, and said, being cautious of our environment, "You'll have to stay low for now. I already told Linda you're my maid to hide our friendship. I can't allow anything bad happening to you."

"She's the one who has a connection with the Mafias, right?" Sonia asked, looking worried.

I confirmed, assuring her that she'll be fine.

That did the trick.

"You know, this shoe will go well with that red dress," I said, picking a black heels from the shelf, changing the atmosphere.

Sonia agreed and even showed me another shoe she selected for a different dress she picked for me earlier.

"Alpha Diego won't hesitate to sweep you off your feet."

"Point of correction..." I took the shoe from her hand and said, smirking, "Arnold won't hesitate to sweep you off your feet."

"What?" Sonia blushed, her cheeks burning red.

"You think I don't know about your crush for the Beta?"

"Crush?! No, it's nothing like that. We're just friends. I was only teaching him how to find the right lady and..."

"And thanks to your teaching..." I placed the shoes on the shelf, poking her on the nose, "Arnold now has a thing for you."

"Really?!" She gasped, her eyes popping wide.

I didn't want her hearing this from me, but I was curious to see her expression.

Arnold came to me recently to share his feelings for Sonia.

He said he has been sensing a strong connection with Sonia from the first day he laid eyes on her, but didn't want to misinterpret the meaning.

Now he knows his heart is hitting in the right direction and wants to know if Sonia feels the same for him.

Instead of giving him a direct answer, I told him to set a date with her and confess his feelings.

"You're lying! Please, tell me you're lying!" Sonia begged, about to explode.

That's when she got her answer through a phone call from Arnold.

That got her screaming!

"He's calling! What should I do?!" She panicked, tossing her phone into my hands.

I laughed and managed to calm her worry, telling her to pick the call and speak to him.

"This is what you've been waiting for. Talk to him. You can do it," I winked, giving her the phone.

Sonia was shaking, but soon composed herself and pick the phone, ending up in a conversation with Arnold which left her turning red.

"Um, yeah. Tonight is fine. Oh, you want to know my choice? Um... How about we hold it at your place? I think that's much better," She chatted, leaning against the wall with a big grin on her face.

I decided to give her some privacy, returning to the section were I left my dresses.

Just then, one of my guards came over with my phone and said, "The Alpha wants to speak to you."

"Thank you," I appreciated, taking the phone to answer it.

That's when I heard Diego's voice asking, "She came by, didn't she?"

"Yep, she did. It's like you said. Linda is cooking up something," I said, taking my seat.

I wasn't surprised when I picked my stepmother's scent. I was aware of her coming even before she stepped into Crescent pack.

That's because father had contacted Diego about her sudden interest in me. She has been following him around like a fly, suggesting they bring me back home to stay with the family before the party.

This got father feeling uncomfortable. He wanted to confront her about this, but Diego advised him not to do so, to avoid Linda suspecting him.

Instead, he told father to note down the address of this boutique on a card, and place it where Linda would see it.

And as suspected, she saw the card and didn't hesitate to leave the mansion to find me.

"Motherly instincts my ass. Are you sure you want me to accept her request? It's clear she wants to harm me. Worse, Woods is always paying them a visit. When he sees me, he'll go crazy and refuse to leave!"

"And you have done wonderfully well by making him dumb," Diego joked, making me laugh.

"You will accept Linda's request, Anna. Don't worry, I'll be with you. She wants a family reunion, and we'll give it to her," Diego said, sounding devious.

Now I can't wait to head back to father's mansion and see how everything will unfold.