chapter Twenty–Eight: Theos Ultimatum
A servant had come to our room and announced the
commencement of Mias ceremony. We had left the safety of our room once more to venture into the jaws of the beast.
Upon entering the grand room, I was surprised to find new
decorations had been put up and some of the guests had
changed into different clothes.
“All this fuss,” Alex whispered, gently nudging me in the
shoulder.
I
I
He meant well, but I wasnt in the mood for joking around. I
thought returning to the Dark Moon pack was going to be okay.
Facing the individuals who had tried to destroy me was
supposed to make it easier to let go. Maybe even forgive. Anything to help me move on with my life. Instead, I walked into
the room more conflicted than ever.
All I wanted to do was find a corner that wasnt crowded
and put myself in it. When we entered the room, Theo was
instantly the center of attention. His appearance gave off an air of mystery that appeared to be driving the females crazy. I left
him to them and walked over to one of the emptier sides of the
room. Alex was my shadow, keeping his eyes on me in case I
decided to slip away again.
chapter Twenty Eight Theo0Gs Utimatum
While minding my own business, I heard my name from.
somewhere behind me. After glancing around, I found two
maids gossiping by one of the planters in the room. Alex
followed closely as I moved positions to hear them better.
“…I mean, Mia is beauty and grace, unlike her mutt of a sister,”
one of them said.
The younger maid giggled. “Do you remember how bad she
smelled? And talk about lazy. She acted like the building wouldn
♦♦t stand without her around to hold it up,” she added.
“I cant believe she had the audacity to go rogue. After all
her family did for her,” the first maid replied.
“I say good riddance. The better sister is still here, and that�S
all that matters,” maid number two huffs.
I couldnt believe what I was hearing. Did they hate me that
much? I had worked myself to the bone just trying to serve my
pack, and thats what they thought of me. The only time I
ever spoke up for myself was when Daniel was taken right from
under me.
I turned my head away from the maids and saw Theo talking to
a few other guests. His eyes were locked on me, and I could
almost feel his smile from under his mask.
You know what? It wasnt worth it. If it hadnt been for
all the mistreatment over the years, I doubt I would have met
Theo. I wouldnt know a good thing when it came into my
life if I never wanted for anything. As I thought it over I could. feel my anger regressing. I turned back toward the maids and they noticed me. Both of them shut their mouths and bowed to me as they passed, hurrying off to another hole to gossip and
lie.
I smiled to myself, realizing they had just shown respect to the
very person they were belittling a few moments ago.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked, being more than aware of the
conversation they had overheard.
I gave a long sigh as I turned to him. “I think so, yes. It♦♦s
strange how different I feel being here. Seeing things happen
through a guest’s eyes is different to experiencing it first hand.”
“I am so sorry, they really dont know the treasure they lost.
You are a jewel�”
“Alex, please. I really am okay. Its almost entertaining to
hear people talk about me without knowing they’re actually
speaking to me,” I replied with a chuckle.
A few minutes later they announced the beginning of the
ceremony. I made my way over to Theo with Alex in tow. We
(chapter Twenty Eigh
formed two groups with an aisle between us for Mia to walk down. As my sister entered the room everyone buzzed with. excitement. She had on a gorgeous gown that hugged all her curves and not a single hair was out of place. Jewels dripped
from the top of her head to her shoes.
Theo reached over and took my hand, squeezing it to remind me.
to breathe. I had been fighting a ball of jealousy that was
knotting up my stomach. No wonder Daniel hadnt wanted
to be with me. Why would he when he could have her? Another squeeze from Theo brought me back to reality as Mia made her
way past us.
She made her way to the front of the room where my father was
waiting to preside over her ceremony. We all turned and waited.
for him to start.
“Alphas from far and wide, devoted pack members, thank you.
for joining us on this glorious day for my daughter’s
inauguration ceremony. It has been a difficult year for the Dark
Moon pack, but today will usher in a whole new era as we→→”
Father stopped mid–sentence as a member of the audience
dropped into the aisle behind Mia. Guests started yelling and hurrying over to the guest, checking to see what had happened.
“Theyve been poisoned!” someone yelled from beside the fallen guest.
“How do you know that?” another person asked.
“Im a doctor. The signs are all there. The blue lips, pale skin, sweating, and shortness of breath. These are all symptoms of
poisoning,” he replied.
More whispers around the room had filled the chamber, ast everyone was suddenly very concerned. Any one of them could be next, and they turned their frustration to Alpha Eric as the ill
guest was carted off to the infirmary.
“Lets not jump to any conclusions just yet. We dont even know if they were truly poisoned, let alone by anyone in the
Dark Moon pack,” my father demanded.
“Then go check, before we deal out justice on our own accord,”
Alpha Cane of the River Pack ordered.
100m sure my father would have ignored his request, but
every other Alpha there was backing up Alpha Cane. Im
sure they feared that something may happen to their pack
members next. My father hurried off and returned a few
minutes later, he looked pale and stressed.
“Well?” Alpha Cane snapped upon his return.
I
Father looked as if he was going to be sick, and I actually felt
pity for him.
“The physicians have hurried through some tests and it turns
out the guest was indeed poisoned. They have said, beyond a doubt, it was one of Red Moon’s specialty mixtures,” he explained flatly.
The guests started yelling right away before his explanation was fully out. They were calling for his head and demanding justice
for the murdered member.
My father tried to defend himself. “We had nothing to do with
this. Someone is trying to set us up.”
No one cared about his excuses. The anger of the crowd grew into a cacophony of complaints too loud for any one voice to be
heard.
Theo suddenly let out a defining growl from beside me. It shook
the room and silenced them all.
I watched as he stepped forward into the aisle, people moving
out of his way as he approached my father. He stopped a short distance away and spoke loud enough for all to hear.
“I, Alpha Cade of the Crescent Pack, demand you locate and
punish the one responsible for this crime within three days. If
you fail to carry out justice, I will personally see to the
destruction of the Dark Moon pack.”
