Chapter 103 NOTHING GOOD

Chapter 103 NOTHING GOOD
Kali's POV 

I was restless, and while that wasn't one of the emotions I liked being locked up inside of me, nothing was more infuriating than the fact that I didn't have too much control over it. No, scratch that, I didn't have any control whatsoever over it, and it was driving me crazy. 

In fact, the word crazy couldn't adequately cover how I was feeling. I'd tried everything, I'd thought about every solution possible, but nothing, nothing good seemed to be coming out of it. 

A small sigh slid past my lips as I ran my fingers through my hair. I'd lost count of the number of times I'd done that in the past hour, but now, I didn't exactly feel okay, if I didn't do it. 

Did that make sense? No. 

Leo’s words had been clawing at my head since last night, sharper than I wanted to admit. 

You’re not trying hard enough. He'd said. We don't have much time. The fate of this pack lies in your hands Kali, that's all I'll say, and if you don't act fast, the council will appoint a new Luna. 

The council, a new Luna, were the only words swirling around my head. It was almost unbelievable, and fit a momentp, I almost didn't see it as the truth, but all it took to make me reconsider was the seriousness in Leo's tone. I'd seen him bit back a number of times at Diego, and whenever he did, there was a clear difference between when he was joking and when he was actually serious. 

I paced the length of my room, arms folded tight, and my lips pressed into a thin line. What more did he want from me? I’d faced Diego’s temper, his punishments, his impossible demands, and yet nothing I did ever seemed enough to break through him. It was as if Diego's heart and mind was made up of impervious stone and had been fortified with impenetrable magic. That was the only explanation as to why he was so damn stubborn. 

“You’ve tried everything,” I muttered to myself, spinning on my heel. “Every angle, every word, and yet I can't still break through to him.” 

If there was anything I hated alongside this, it was the frustration that slowly creeped into my bones. It gnawed at my skin and I just knew it was going to coil tighter around me if I didn't find a solution. 

“What do I do?” I muttered to no one but my wolf. “I've done everything I could.”

“Not everything” Venus chimed, her tone sly.  I should have taken that as her sign that she was up to something diabolical, but no, just this once, I decided to trust her blindly, and I regretted it. Almost instantly. “There’s one card you haven’t played.

“Which is?” I groaned. “If you’re about to suggest what I think you are..”

“Seduce him.” Her words were final and almost casual, like she'd asked me to steal candy from a baby, not make a groan fall for me. 

“No.” I shook my head furiously. “No Venus. You can't be serious now, can you?”

“Yes.” she let out again. “You're open to suggestions right, and this is one. So why don't you go for it?” 

“Absolutely not.” I mused. “There's no way in hell I'm doing that.” 

“Why not?”Her laugh curled in my chest, wicked and knowing. “You’ve thought about it. His hands, his mouth, the way he kissed you….”

“Stop.” Heat rushed to my cheeks, traitorous and hot, but that only spurred her to continue. “Venus please.”

“He did all of that willingly.” She continued. “And you were in what? A plain dress. If he could kiss you like his life depended on it in nothing but a dress, what do you think he'd do if you really dress the part?” 

“I don't care because I'm not doing that.” I hissed. “End of discussion. 

“Admit it, you want him. And he wants you.” Venus only purred. “If words won’t sway him, then let your body speak instead”

“That’s reckless.” I squeezed my eyes shut, dragging a shaky breath. “It’ll only make things worse.”

“Or it could make everything fall into place.” her voice crept everywhere and all around me at once. “One kiss, and you already lost yourself. Imagine what would happen if you gave him more.” 

I hated her for knowing me so well, for prying open the cracks I kept trying to seal shut. My silence was answer enough, and Venus seized it.

“Dress up for him”, she whispered. “Make him see what he’s trying so hard to ignore.”

Before I could argue further, I found myself yanking open my wardrobe, fingers skimming fabric after fabric. Each piece I stumbled upon was either dull., plain, or just wrong. Nothing came close to what Venus demanded, and I let out a frustrated groan.

“I don’t have anything that’ll work.” I mused. “I shouldn't have listened to you in the first. Now, I've listened and I have nothing to wear.”

“Never say never. You need help,” Venus taunted. “And lucky for you…”

As if summoned by her words, a knock sounded at the door.

I froze. At the same time, I counted to ten to make sure I wasn't imagining things. When the knock came the second time, and louder than the last, I knew there was no way I could have imagined it. Slowly, I padded towards it, and then opened it to find Amber standing there, bright, eyed and graceful as ever.

“Kali,” she breathed, slipping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by in a while. Things have been, busy.”

“Oh.” I waved her off quickly. “It’s fine, don't worry about it. I'm much better now.”.”

“Still.” Amber’s gaze softened, like she really felt guilty about not coming to check in on me. “If you ever need anything, you can ask me.”

“Actually…” I hesitated, then with my heart hammering, I blurted out the words before I could second guess myself. “ I do need something.”

“Oh really?” Her brows lifted. “I guess I popped in at the right time then. What do you need?

“Something… different to wear.” 
I bit my lip, nerves tangling with desperation. “Something that isn’t too much, but, just enough to make an impression.”

“Ah.” Amber studied me, and then a slow, knowing smile spread across her lips. “So that's what it's about.”

“No.” I flushed, and it didn't help that my response tumbled out faster than I could catch it. “It’s not—”

“Say no more.” She looped her arm through mine and tugged me toward the bed. “You’re lucky I came prepared. Wait here, I'll be back.”

Amber didn't give me a chance to speak, or to even process what had just happened here. One minute I was sitting on the bed waiting for her like some kind of loyal puppy, and the next, she was barreling into my room again with a huge pile of clothes you could easily consider as my treats. 

I watched her separate them into smaller different piles, and I just knew they could never be mistaken for mine. Each clothing piece she pulled aside were either made of soft colors, shapes or silk that hinted rather than screamed, and I couldn't help but think that it was just the right thing I needed. 

She rummaged through her smaller piles, before she held one up against me, tilting her head thoughtfully.

“This one,” she said, almost certain.

“It’s too…” I trailed off, not knowing the right words to use for it. It was a cotton dress that could pass as a normal day wear, except for the deep neckline that left more than a little bit of my cleavage to the public eye. 

“It’s perfect.” she cut me off with a grin, one I knew would be hard to wipe off her face. “This would suit you perfectly. Come on, you have to try it on.”

I didn't say nothing as she helped me into it, her hands deft as she pinned my hair. Her touch was light as she brushed a stray curl back, and for a moment, the air softened between us, almost like sisters sharing secrets.

As she finished, Amber caught my reflection in the mirror.

“Diego isn’t as free as he looks, Kali.” Her voice lowered, and my ears perked up at her words. “Don’t lose yourself trying to hold on to him.”

“What?” My chest tightened. “What do you mean?”

“I understand, Kali.” She smiled faintly, but her eyes flickered with something I couldn’t name. “You’ll see.”

Before I could blink, she kissed my cheek, and just like that, she was gone.

Venus hummed with approval as I stared at the girl in the mirror who looked like me, but sharper, bolder, braver. 

“Now go to him,” she urged. “Claim what you want.”

So I did. I made sure to inhale and exhale and unhealthy amount of times before heading past my bedroom door.b

Each step I took down the hall sent my heart into a louder drumbeat. My palms were damp, and even though my throat was pressed tight, I tried to ignore it. When I reached his door, I pressed my hand against the wood, summoning every ounce of courage.

“Come on, Kali.” I muttered to myself. “You can do this. What's there in the act of seduction? He'd already kissed me once,so what was the big deal about the second one?”

I stretched my hand forward, but the door  opened before I could knock.

I didn't know what I expecting, judging from the fact that I had no idea what to say to him. 

There was no way I could Walk up to him and ask as men always did, but even in a million years, I didn't see the scene in front of me coming 

One minute I was summoning the courage to knock, and the next someone else was standing in front of me. If I was being honest, this had to be the biggest surprise yet, and trust me when I said it wasn't a pleasant one. 

A woman stepped out, draped in silk that clung like water, her hand curling around her arm as though she belonged there. Her lips curved in triumph, eyes flicking over me like I was nothing but a nuisance.

“Who are you and what do you want from my husband?” 

Wait, husband? What the hell was going on here?