chapter Twenty: Party Girls
Samantha POV
The weight of our decision to return to the Dark Moon pack bore
heavily on my mind. Each thought twisted my insides like a
knife. If Theo’s life depended on it, on me being able to cure him
of his poison, how could I not go back? But the fear of facing my past was paralyzing. Every painful memory, every betrayal, and
every scar came rushing back, making it hard to breathe.
I sat by the window, staring out at the forest, my mind racing.
The idea of stepping back into that world was almost too much
to bear. What if I couldn’t make the antidote? What if I failed
Theo? The pressure was immense, and I felt the familiar sting of
tears in my eyes.
My thoughts were interrupted by a rapping knock on the door.
Luci burst in, her eyes bright with excitement. “Samantha, you’ve
been cooped up here too long! We’re having a party! Not just
any party, but a women–only party! It’s something Theo does
regularly, gives us all a day off. You really have to come.”
I turned to her, trying to muster a smile. “I don’t know, Luci. I’m
not really in the mood.”
chapter Twenty: Party Girls
Luci shook her head, her enthusiasm undeterred. “Nonsense,”
she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up. “You need this.
Trust me. A little fun will do you good. Besides, we’ve all been
dying to get to know you better.”
I hesitated, the urge to decline strong. “I’m not sure I’ll be much.
fun,” I said, looking down at my feet.
Luci’s grip tightened on my hand, her eyes earnest. “Samantha,
you’ve been through so much. It’s time to take a break and enjoy
yourself, even if just for a little while. We all need to let loose
sometimes.”
I sighed, and looking at Luci’s eager face, I decided it couldn’t
hurt. Maybe a distraction was exactly what I needed. “Alright,” I
said, letting her lead me out of the room.
As we walked down the hall, Luci chatted about the party. “It’s a
chance for all the women to relax and unwind. We talk, laugh,
ar
and just have a good time. You’ll love it.”
I nodded, though my mind was still heavy with thoughts of the
Dark Moon pack. “Sounds nice.”
Luci glanced at me. “I know you’re worried, Samantha. But
you’re not alone. We’re all here for you. And tonight, we’re going
to make sure you have fun, whether you like it or not.”
chapter Twanty Party
I’m not sure I totally believed her, but I’d try my best to let loose.
Maybe it really would be what I needed.
When we arrived at the gathering, the women greeted me
warmly. I politely smiled at each of them, withholding a frown.
when they called me Luna. The title felt heavy and unfamiliar,
making me squirm with discomfort. It hung in the air over my
head like a rain cloud, a constant reminder of a role I wasn’t
sure I was ready for yet. I forced a laugh, trying to relax as the
small talk and light–hearted jokes flowed around me..
One of the women, bubbly and blonde, nudged Luci playfully.
“So, Luci, how’s it going with Alex?” she asked, her eyes
gleaming with gossip.
Luci’s cheeks turned a shade of pink, and she let out a nervous
laugh. “Alex’s fine,” she said, her voice a little higher than usual.
“He’s a bit of a workaholic, but I’m working on him.”
The group laughed together, and I couldn’t help but join in. The
atmosphere was light and friendly, so very different to the heavy
thoughts that had been weighing me down. It was nice, even if
just for a moment. Nice to forget about the impending return to
the Dark Moon pack and all the unknowns that lay ahead.
“Working on him, huh?” another woman, teased. “Sounds like
you’ve got your hands full.”
Chapter Twenty Party Gals
Luci giggled, her blush deepening. “You have no idea. He’s
always so serious, but I’m starting to see cracks in that tough.
exterior.”
The other woman leaned in, eyes wide with interest. “Spill, Luci!
Any juicy details?”
Luci waved her hand dismissively, though her smile couldn’t
hide the attention she enjoyed. “Nothing too juicy. Yet.”
The women laughed again, and I found myself relaxing more. It
was fun hanging out with everyone, and I appreciated the
distraction. For a little while, I could pretend everything was
normal.
Suddenly, the maid approached, her footsteps light and soft.
She Lucid a tray filled with beautifully decorated cupcakes, each
one a small work of art. The sight of them made my mouth.
water.
“Cupcake, Luna?” she asked, her voice gentle and respectful.
I turned to face her, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden attention. “Oh, yes please,” I said, eagerly taking one. The cupcake’s sweet aroma wafted up to tickle my nose.
The moment I bit into it, the rich, soft sweetness, I was in heaven. The tasty frosting melted away some of the tension in
chapter Twenty Party Girls
my shoulders. It was delicious, a slice of joy that made me feel
relaxed, if only for a moment.
As I savored the treat, one of the women turned to me. “So,
Samantha, how did you and Theo meet? There must be a good
story there.”
I swallowed a big bite and hesitated, the memories of our first
encounter flooding back. “It’s a long story,” I began. “We’ve been
through a lot together.”
The woman grinned. “I bet. You two seem really close.”
I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush. “We are. He’s… he’s
amazing.”
She sighed dreamily. “A man like Theo? Amazing doesn’t even
begin to cover it.”
The other women leaned in, clearly eager for more details.
“Come on, Samantha, spill!” They urged. “What was it like when
you first met?”
I rubbed the back of my head, the memories of our first
encounter playing in my mind. “Well, it wasn’t exactly a fairy tale
beginning. We had a rough start, but he was there for me.”
“Rough start? That sounds interesting. Tell us more!”
pour Twenty Part, Gely
I took a breath, rubbing the back of my head awkwardly. “It
wasn’t much. Instead of him being the one to lift me up, I was,
well, the one who helped him that time.”
The women exchanged knowing glances, their interest piqued.
“It sounds like he’s really something special,” one of them
commented.
“He is,” I said softly, my heart filling with warmth. “I don’t know
what I’d do without him.”
The conversation continued, the women’s teasing and laughter
a balm to my frazzled nerves. As we chatted, I found myself opening up more, sharing little anecdotes about Theo and our time together. It felt good to talk, to be part of this group, even if the title of Luna still felt strange and uncomfortable.
Just as I was beginning to feel at ease, one of the women spoke up. “It’s amazing that Theo still stands by you after what the Dark Moon pack did. Threatening him with you was a low
blow.”
The room fell silent, and the words hung in the air like a dark cloud. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a chill run down my
spine. “What did you say?” I asked, my voice barely above a
whisper.
The woman’s eyes widened as she realized her mistake. “I just
meant… you know, when they threatened Theo with you. It was
terrible.”
My mind raced, piecing together what she had said. The Dark Moon pack had threatened Theo with me. That’s why he was poisoned. My heart pounded as the realization hit me like a
punch to the gut.
Theo had been poisoned because of me.
