chapter Twenty–One: Moonlit Love
Samanthas POV
Theo was poisoned by the Dark Moon pack, and it was all
because of me. I swallowed a lump in my throat. My heart.
pounded as guilt and anger bubbled up inside me. The room fell
silent, every eye on me.
I stood there, frozen, the cupcake in my hand suddenly
forgotten. “What did you say?” I squeaked again, my voice barely.
above a whisper, yet so loud in the silence.
The woman who had spoken looked mortified, her face paling.
“I–I didn♦♦t mean… I thought you knew…”
Luci quickly stepped in, holding a hand out and speaking with
composure and authority. “Alright, ladies, lets not dwell on
the past. Were here to have a good time.”
The others shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsure of how to
react. I could see the embarrassment on their faces/ They
attempted to avoid my gaze. My reaction had taken them by
surprise, and I felt shame wash over me like a tidal wave. I
shouldnt have caused such a scene.
“Samantha, were so sorry,” The woman said softly, her eyes
filled with genuine regret. “We didnt mean to upset you.”
I tried to s.nile, wanting to ease the tension. “Its okay. I just… I didnt know.”
Luci placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Come on, let�
s not let this ruin the evening. Were here to support each.
other, remember?”
The atmosphere slowly began to lighten as the women followed Lucis lead. They resumed their conversations, albeit quieter
than before. I was glad they tried to return to normal, even
though I struggled with what just happened.
As the evening wore on, the tension lifted. Liveliness returned to
the conversations and laughter, and the women around me
made sure to keep the mood light and fun. Luci was particularly
determined to keep the atmosphere positive, her cheerful
energy infectious.
Someone raised a glass, and soon we were all toasting to
various things�friendship, strength, and even a toast to new
beginnings. The drinks flowed freely, and it wasnt long before everyone, including me, had consumed more than a few
glasses.
The alcohol worked its magic. I felt myself relaxing more, my
worries fading away. Luci, ever the life of the party, was in high
spirits her voice ringing out above the chatter.
“Samantha, you have to try this,” she said, handing me a fruity.
cocktail with a grin. “Its my favorite.”
I took a sip, the sweet and tangy flavor pleasantly surprising. “It
→s really good,” I admitted, taking another, bigger sip.
Luci beamed, clinking her glass against mine. “See? Told you!”
As the night continued, Luci got progressively more drunk. She
draped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a tight hug.
“Samantha, you◆◆re the best,” she slurred, her words slightly
muddled but genuine.
I hugged her back, laughing. “Youre great too, Luci.”
The other women watched us with amused smiles “Better watch
out, Luci,” one of them teased. “Theos going to hunt your
down and kill you for that.”
Luci giggled, swaying slightly. “Theo loves me,” she declared,
throwing her arms wide. “He wouldnt hurt me!”
Some women laughed, others drank to her exclamation, and I, despite earlier, found myself genuinely enjoying the moment.
Luci leaned in closer, her breath warm against my ear. “Seriously, Samantha,” she whispered, “Theo is lucky to have
chapter To
you.”
I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. “Thanks, Luci,” I said softly,
squeezing her hand.
The rest of the night was a blur of laughter, drinks, and shared
stories. As we finally began to wind down, I felt peaceful, and
glad to have met everyone here. After the party, the alcohol��
s warmth in my veins, I made my way back to the lake. Luci
insisted on coming with me, but I convinced her 10d be
alright by myself.
The cool night air contrasted starkly to the warmth of the party.
The quiet solitude wrapped around me like a blanket. I needed.
this time alone to process everything.
I walked to the waters edge and sat down on a smooth.
rock, staring out at the dark, rippling surface. The moonlight.
cast a gentle, serene glow across the water. My thoughts,
however, were anything but serene.
Theos poisoning sat at the forefront of my mind. The earlier.
words said at the party kept replaying in my head, each
repetition making the guilt twist tighter in my chest. I felt
responsible knowing that the Dark Moon pack had targeted.
Theo because of me.
A tear slipped down my cheek, quickly followed by another. I
chapter Twenty One Mount Love
wiped them away angrily, frustrated with myself. How had
things gotten so complicated? How had I become the reason for Theo◆◆s suffering?
My thoughts wandered back to the times we had shared. Theo
had always been there for me, no matter the danger or the cost. Now, it was my turn to be there for him, to find a way to cure
him.
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to fend off the chill that seemed to seep into my bones. “Theo,” I whispered, “190
m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
The leaves rustling in the wind was my only response. I stared
at the moons reflection on the water. I knew what I had to
- do. I had to find a cure for Theo, no matter what it took. I couldn
◆◆t let him suffer because of me.
“Ill do anything,” I vowed softly. “Anything to save you,
Theo.”
“Samantha?” A familiar voice nearby made my heart jump, and I
whipped around in surprise.
“Its late,” Theo said, his voice filled with worry. “You should.
come back inside.”
I tried to steady myself, but the alcohol working its way through.
chapter Twenty One Moonlit Love
me made moving difficult. I took a step towards him and
stumbled, bumping into his bulk. “Theo,” I said, my words
slurring, “Im so glad youre here.”
He caught me easily, his strong arms wrapping around me to
keep me from falling. “Youre drunk,” he said bluntly, his
words lined with humor.
I looked up at the blurry form of him. “Maybe a little,” I admitted,
giggling softly. “But it was a good party. The girls… theyre
really nice.”
Theo smiled down at me, eyes soft. “Im glad you had a
good time, Samantha. But you need to get some rest.”
met
As he guided me back towards the house, I leaned into him,
feeling the warmth of his body against mine. “I��m sorry for
causing you so much trouble,” I murmured.
Theo shook his head. His face hardened. “Samantha, it✪✪s not
your fault. You didnt cause any of this.”
I caught his gaze, my eyes wide and earnest. “But it feels like it
- is. I just… I dont want you to be hurt because of me.”
We walked in silence for a few moments, the only sound the
crunch of leaves beneath our feet. Suddenly, I stumbled again,
nearly losing my bDanielce. Theo caught me once more, his grip
chapter Twenty One Moonlit Love
steady and reassuring.
“This reminds me of the time at the Dark Moon pack,” he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Remember? You were just as unsteady then.”
I blinked, the memory surfacing through the haze of alcohol.
“Oh, right,” I said, my cheeks flushing. “I was such a mess that
night.”
Theo chuckled softly. “You were fine, Samantha. Youre
stronger than you think.”
As we walked slowly back to the house, my mind wandered, the
combination of the nights events and the alcohol making
everything feel surreal. Theos steady presence beside me grounded me, kept me safe.
“I think this is destiny,” I said softly, almost to myself. “You and
me, finding each other. Despite everything, it feels like we were
meant to be.”
Theo glanced at me, brow raised. “Destiny, huh? I like the sound
of that.”
I giggled, a big smile spreading across my face. “You know,
Theo, even with all the chaos and danger, being with you just
feels
right.”
Theo squeezed my hand, his eyes sparkling. “Im the lucky one, Samantha. Youve brought so much joy and meaning.
into my life.”
As we walked back, the quiet of the night enveloped us. It was a
serene contrast to the whirlwind of events we had been through.
For the first time in ages, I felt calm and at peace. Theo❖❖s
words echoed in my mind, and I realized that, after everything, I
believed in love again.
I playfully bumped my shoulder against his, leaning into him as
we strolled. “Theo, I C.”
He looked down, a question in his eyes. “What is it?”
Taking a deep breath, I met his gaze, my heart pounding. “I✪✪
ve been thinking… about everything. And Ive decided. I
want to go with you to the Dark Moon pack.”
hapter Twenty Twee Whispers of Deste
