Chapter 64 Calla

Chapter 64 Calla
Luna’s POV
Elder Darius. He stands tall and imperiously gazing at me with a sneer on his lips.
His look speaks murder and I step away from him on instinct. I regressed in a few moments, back to the timid little maid of the Moonveil Pack who endured words of disdain behind my back and to my face.
Calla steps forward, protectively shielding me.
Though she has no idea who he is, she still speaks with hints of warning and veiled defiance.
“Elder, greetings. What brings you here? I believe we have not caused you any harm.” Her speech is rapid-fire.
Even I blink at the way she displays both respect and contempt.
One thing I love about her is how forward and unafraid she is at every moment.
Elder Darius gazes at her with a look of amusement.
“Far be it from me to converse with our top tributes,” he says, eyes flickering over her shoulder to me. “I did not believe the rumors before. But here I am. It seems the Alpha Kael is weaker than I expected. Raising a cursed child like you to the Luna Trials.”
My throat tightens.
‘Kill him,’ the Wolf growls in my head. All my experiences at the Moonveil Pack, being treated as lesser than kin, flashes through my mind.
“That isn’t your problem to handle, Elder Darius. It’s Alpha Kael’s,” I respond, voice roughened by the bile rising up in my throat.
“Watch your tongue, curse,” a female voice responds, the sound of heels clicking follows from behind. Then I see her, dressed to the nines in a flirty short dress showing off her long legs.
Rhea, I remember. She is the one behind most of my torments in the Moonveil Pack.
Elder Darius smirks and tilts his head as she moves to stand beside him.
“Quite rude,” Rhea scoffs. “Being a tribute hasn’t made you more intelligent, I see, scum.”
My blood boils but before I am about to speak, Calla steps in.
“You must be another bully from the Moonveil Pack. Pity, you’re not as pretty as you pretend to be. Better watch that tongue of yours.”
Rhea’s face pales before turning red, then a satisfying shade of puce.
A growl leaves her lips and she steps forward. Elder Darius blocks her with a look, making her swallow her words.
“Control yourself,” he warns. “Remember your goal.”
What goal?
I look between Rhea to Elder Darius, as they exchange glances.
My suspicion rises as Rhea is instantly silenced, her lips quivering up into a smug smile.
“I forget,” she says airily. “Your own mate could not stand having to deal with you. He didn’t even bother talking to you before he rejected you in front of everyone, did he?”
My lips press together thinly, all insults I know being repeated over and over in my head.
The door to the ward opens and catches the attention of the four of us, the argument swiftly curtailed. The pack doctor strides out, followed by a red-faced Eurielle. As she glances our way, hatred flashes in her eyes. I shiver, but step forward nevertheless.
“Pack doctor,” I greet with a slight bow. He nods at myself and Calla. “How is she?”

Eurielle steps forward, blocking my path.
“What do you care? You’d prefer it if she were dead.”

Those words are sharply spoken and strike as though it were a slap to my face.
Indignation rises within me.

“She attacked me first. I only defended myself. Am I guilty for that now?” I demand, shaking my head. “There is no reasoning with you.”

I turn to leave but suddenly she reaches out, grabbing me by the arm. Her sharp fingernails dig into my arm and I hiss, eyes blazing. Heat stirs in my gut, my powers triggered by the pain.
“Whatever you did to her, I will make you undo it,” Eurielle snaps, furiously tugging on my arm without mercy.
An image flashes in my mind: courtesy of the Wolf’s building rage. In it, the pack clinic is filled with blood, Eurielle’s body laying splayed on the floor, with her guts hanging out. Her eyes are pale and soulless, gazing blankly into nothing. Dead. The scent of copper is enticing, enough that I kneel, scooping up a little, staining my hands with it. I lap up the red liquid with a satisfied hiss, chuckling to myself.
That’ll teach you.
I blink, stepping backwards, and I hit the edge of a table. Pain shoots up my hips, and I cry out.
“Luna!” Calla rushes up to me and shoves Eurielle out of the way. She stumbles and falls. “You okay?” My best friend asks me with concern in her eyes.

“Y-Yeah,” I say, feeling heat on my hip, where the pain had emanated from. Slowly, the pain ebbs, leaving my body unharmed.
This is the scene that Kael walks into. He stops short at the entrance, eyes flickering from myself to the fallen Eurielle who leans against the pack doctor as she rises, whimpering.
“What happened here?” He demands, roughly.
Elder Darius steps in and gestures towards myself and Calla saying in a snide tone, “I believe this speaks for itself. The tribute you sponsor is venomous as a viper, attacking Lady Eurielle without mercy.”
“That’s not true…“ I speak up but Rhea cuts in, her lips curled into a sardonic smile.

“Between you and Lady Eurielle, who here is harmed? Alpha Kael,” she bows gracefully and I catch her eyes soften as she adopts an innocent look. “Please see the truth. Your tribute Luna had no reason to be here. But she caused such chaos. There must be some punishment.”

Eurielle sniffles, all bravado and venom gone from her.
She appears weak and trembling as a flower facing harsh winds.
“Kael,” she softly says. “She came here to insult me. To insult Xena. I only tried to defend myself and she attacked me.”

Calla is aghast, and I sense her tense up beside me.

“Lies,” she speaks up. “Alpha Kael, they’re all lying!”
…