Chapter 23 023
~LYKA~
I stood in my room, fidgeting in anger as memories of what had happened earlier with Derrick replayed relentlessly in my mind. The night was still young, the air cool and heavy, and through the tall windows I could see the moon glittering brilliantly in the sky. Its silver light spilled across the room, illuminating everything....yet not even that calming sight could soothe the storm raging inside me.
I was nowhere near calm.
My fingers curled into fists as frustration bubbled beneath my skin, refusing to settle. Unable to stay still any longer, I decided to call for my friends.
“I am very sure they are going to have the best advice for whatever is going on with me,” I mumbled to myself as I walked toward the door. I summoned one of the guards and instructed him to call for my friends immediately.
Once that was done, I returned to the room and waited.
Time dragged painfully slowly, and just when impatience threatened to consume me again, I jolted in excitement as I heard a knock at the door. Relief washed over me instantly.
“Come in,” I said.
The door opened, and Phoebe, Selina, and Amanda stepped inside.
“Wow!” Phoebe and Selina chorused at the same time. “What in the name of extravagance is this?”
Their voices echoed slightly as they took in the room, their eyes darting everywhere, taking in every detail of the interior.
Only then did I truly look around.
The room was luxurious beyond words....rich fabrics, carved furniture, candlelight reflecting off polished surfaces. Everything screamed royalty. The décor was refined, powerful, unmistakably Alpha.
His taste is royal, I thought, mildly surprised. Why didn’t I notice this before, even though I’ve been in this room for so long?
“What happened to your neck?” Amanda asked suddenly.
Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I touched the bandage instinctively and breathed in relief, realizing someone had noticed....someone cared enough to notice.
“I was....” I started to explain, but Selina and Phoebe cut me off immediately.
They rushed toward me in panic.
“Oh, Moon Goddess! What happened?” they asked at the same time, their eyes wide with alarm.
I rolled my eyes at their dramatic reactions, though a small part of me appreciated the concern.
I explained everything that had happened....from the strange drink to the pain, the collapse, and Derrick’s reaction. As I spoke, their expressions shifted from confusion to horror. By the time I finished, they were staring at me in pure shock, clearly wondering how I had managed to survive at all.
“Those sly witches!” Selina exclaimed angrily. “I can already tell it was them. Who could hate you enough to poison you? And in your own room too!”
I sighed deeply, exhaustion weighing on my chest.
“But can we all talk about how sexy Alpha Derrick’s actions were?” Phoebe suddenly said dreamily. “I can already imagine how hot he’ll be when he decides to mark you. He’s so manly!”
Selina immediately joined in, both of them gushing excitedly about Derrick, praising even the way he had cut me during his rage.
I stared at them in disbelief.
I wondered how that man’s monstrous, terrifying actions were being praised so passionately by the girls. Was there something I didn’t know? Something I wasn’t seeing?
“I don’t think we should gush about that kind of thing now,” I said, reaching out to pull Phoebe’s cheek lightly. She hissed in pain while I shot Selina a glare, silently warning her to stop encouraging the nonsense.
“There are still more important things we need to do.”
“What is it?” Amanda asked gently.
She held my hands, squeezing them reassuringly as she smiled at me. That simple gesture made my heart twist painfully.
Amanda had always been like this....ready to help, ready to stand by me, even when I didn’t deserve it.
She had been my friend since childhood. She understood me more than I understood myself, and I had always been grateful for that.
We all have those friends we are grateful for…right?
“Before I entered my room and got poisoned,” I began slowly, “I noticed a rather absurd smell. It was bold....too bold for me to miss.”
“Do you mean you caught the scent in the hallway or inside your room?” Amanda asked, clearly confused.
“I caught it inside,” I clarified, seeing their puzzled expressions. “And it didn’t smell like a wolf.”
They all stared at me in awe.
“What do you mean it’s not a wolf?” Amanda asked, disbelief thick in her voice.
I sighed quietly, knowing it sounded strange. Even to me. But I knew my senses well.
“That scent doesn’t belong to a wolf,” I said firmly.
“I don’t know what all this means,” I continued, “but I am certain I’m not mistaken. When Derrick said he would take care of the culprits, I thought he was trying to protect whoever did this to me....someone from his pack....and I was furious.”
I paused, memories flooding back.
“But it was strange,” I trailed off. “His expression… it felt like he was protecting me from something else. Like there was an evil force somewhere....outside… or within.”
Silence fell heavily around us.
“What do you think we can do?” Amanda asked suddenly, her voice firm. “We can’t leave you here and watch you get poisoned to death. Not on my watch!”
I sighed, shaking my head slightly. She was always hardheaded, always protective.
“Yes, we have to do something,” I agreed. “That’s why I’m going to stay here. But I need you all to find out something for me.”
Their eyes lit up with anticipation.
“You have to find out about the former Luna,” I whispered, careful to keep my voice low in case anyone outside was listening.
“What?!” Phoebe gasped. “The Demon Alpha once had a Luna?”
I nodded.
“But why do we need to find out about her?” Selina asked. “Do you think she has something to do with this?”
“I don’t think so,” I replied honestly. “But knowing about her might give us some closure.”
I hesitated briefly before adding, “But before that… can anyone give me hints on how to seduce a man?”
For a second, there was silence.
Then they all burst into laughter.
“Are you serious right now?” Amanda asked between laughs. “How can you think of that at a time like this?”
I glared at her.
“If you truly want me to become the Luna of this pack,” I said boldly, “then we need to double our efforts. I need to seduce that devil....and fast.”
I froze slightly when I realized I was smiling while talking about him.
“If that’s the case,” Selina said confidently, pointing at herself, “then you have the best tutor right here.”
My eyes glistened with mischievous excitement.
Looks like seducing the Demon Alpha might not be so difficult after all…