Chapter 19 Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Chapter 19
Amira's POV

Three months later ~

Time had a strange way of slipping by unnoticed. In the blink of an eye, three whole months had passed, three months since the truth came out and cleared my name, and five months since I was brought into this house and pack.

Sometimes, when I pause to think about it, I can’t help but feel speechless. Wasn’t I the same girl who once believed I wouldn’t survive even a week in the triplets’ territory? I was so certain I’d die here, yet here I am, still breathing, still standing, still alive.

And what’s more surprising? I no longer walk through these halls alone. Unlike before, when not a single maid dared to speak to me, now almost two-thirds of them call me their friend. We talk, laugh, and share stories like ordinary people.

That morning, I woke up early, washed up, and went downstairs, hoping to see one of the girls so we could chat a bit. But instead, the first person I saw was Lily.

Her radiant smile greeted me, and I couldn’t help but return it as I walked toward her.

“Good morning,” I said softly, my tone warm and steady.

I had changed a lot these past months. My words no longer trembled the way they used to. I wasn’t constantly afraid of saying the wrong thing. I spoke with calmness now, though I wasn’t sure I’d still manage that composure if I were to face the three men again.

It had been exactly three months since I last saw them, and I couldn’t tell whether I’d still freeze in fear or finally be able to look them in the eye.

“Are you ready for tomorrow’s inauguration?” Lily asked without hesitation.

I nodded lightly. “Yes.”

Tomorrow was the big day, the day I’d officially become the Luna of the Beadblood Pack.

If it had been before, I probably would’ve refused outright, terrified of Santiago and what he might do. But from what I’d heard, all three of them had agreed this time. There were no more debates, no more tension over whether or not I deserved the title. As for the mate bond, well, I still wasn’t sure if they had accepted that part.

“That’s good,” Lily said approvingly before calling over one of the maids. “You’ll come with me now to pick out Amira’s dress and her jewels for tomorrow.”

I watched them leave, then quietly took a seat. Later, when it was time for breakfast, I went to the dining hall and ate as usual. I’d grown used to many things here, like sitting at that long, elegant table without feeling out of place anymore.

The next morning arrived faster than I expected. Everyone gathered in the main hall, and as usual, I was the last to walk in.

The triplets had instructed that the inauguration should be private, only the elders and a few others within the gate were allowed to attend. I didn’t mind. The thought of a large crowd watching me made me uneasy. This ceremony, to me, was just a formality. And I was certain the triplets felt the same.

“It’s official. The Luna of the Beadblood Pack is Amira!”

Applause filled the room, echoing softly off the walls. I smiled faintly, nodded politely, and quietly slipped away while the rest stayed behind to celebrate.

It was only at that party that I saw the triplets again after so long, and I couldn’t deny it, even after all these months, they still looked as dangerously handsome as ever.

I’d never seen any man who could match their presence, their commanding aura, their flawless looks. But well, all I could do was admire them from a distance. Nothing more, nothing less.

After that day, everything shifted completely. I was sent back to my building, but nothing felt the same anymore. The maids who once chatted and laughed with me now acted overly cautious. They seemed nervous around me, flinching even when I so much as sighed or sniffed.

It bothered me, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. Slowly, one by one, they stopped talking to me again. This time, it wasn’t out of hatred, it was out of fear. Still, it made me feel uneasy.

Was this how things were going to be now? Were they avoiding me simply because I was the Luna? That title meant nothing to me. It was just a name, an empty one at that. It wasn’t like I was doing anything special or had any real power.

Since receiving the Luna title, I hadn’t attended a single meeting with the elders or even stepped into the council hall. I had to learn to accept the quiet reality that came with it.

If I had known this was what being Luna truly meant, loneliness wrapped in silence, I might have refused it altogether.

But then again, even if I had known, would I really have refused? Would I have dared to go against the three men? I laughed softly at the ridiculous thought. Of course not.

\---

At exactly nine that evening, I heard a knock on my door.

Despite being Luna now, I still lived in the same room I had used when I first arrived here. I never asked to move, and no one ever told me to.

“Come in,” I said, tying my damp hair into a bun.

The door opened, and one of the few maids I still spoke with stepped in, it was Clara.

“Hi, Clara,” I greeted with a small smile. “What’s up?”

She smiled back politely. “I’m good.”

If we were downstairs in front of the others, she wouldn’t have spoken so freely. They all acted stiff and formal around me now, but when I was alone, a few of them still relaxed a little. I didn’t mind.

“Did you come for something? If not, sit and chat with me a bit,” I said cheerfully, patting the empty spot beside me on the bed.

Clara shook her head lightly. “No, ma’am. Lily asked me to call you over to the main building.”

I froze slightly. The main building? That was where the triplets stayed. Why would Lily be calling me there, and at this hour?

“Do you know why she wants to see me?” I asked carefully.

She shook her head. “No, ma’am.”

Of course, she wouldn’t know. She was only a messenger.

“Alright then, you can go. I’ll head there now.” I quickly secured my hair, slipped into my slippers, and made my way outside.

The night air was cool, and although it was late, the path lights made it easy to see. My heart beat a little faster the closer I got.

At the gate, the guards didn’t even ask questions. They recognized me instantly and let me through.

The moment I stepped inside, the brightness of the living room hit me. The lights were so bright that my eyes needed a few seconds to adjust. I blinked several times before finally looking ahead.

And there they were, Santiago, Alex, and Maximus. The triplets.

My breath hitched.

They looked impossibly handsome, their hair still damp, their skin glistening under the lights. From their appearance, it was obvious they had just finished showering, just like me.

I swallowed hard and lowered my gaze to the floor before my thoughts ran wild.

“Good evening,” I said quickly. “I’m here to see Lily. She invited me over.”

My voice came out surprisingly calm, steady even. Gone was the frightened tone I once had around them. I didn’t even realize it until the words left my mouth.

“Sit down.”

I looked up at Santiago, unsure if I’d heard correctly. “Hm?”

He didn’t repeat himself. He just stared, his expression unreadable. I suddenly felt awkward. If I sat now, it might look like I was pretending not to hear just to make him say it again.

Luckily, Maximus spoke up. “You should sit down.”

“Okay.” I smiled faintly at them but rolled my eyes inwardly at Santiago’s attitude. Some things never changed.

I took my seat and waited patiently, expecting Lily to walk in any second. But as the minutes passed, five, ten, then fifteen, she never showed.

Finally, unable to hold back my curiosity, I asked, “Please, may I know where Lily is?”

Alex chuckled. “Thought you wouldn’t ask.”

I let out an awkward laugh, unsure what was funny.

Just then, a maid came in with a glass of water and handed it to me. I nodded gratefully and took a sip.

“We were the ones who sent for you,” Maximus said casually. “Not Lily.”

I nearly choked. “W-what?” I stammered, coughing slightly. “For what reason?”

A wave of dread washed over me. My mind immediately went to the worst possibilities. Why would the three of them summon me this late?

Had they heard another rumor about me? Were they angry again?

My chest tightened as old memories resurfaced, Santiago’s hand on my throat, the cold fury in his eyes.

My gaze darted across the room, quickly scanning for an escape route, just in case things turned ugly again.