ch 18~~Liora\u2019s POV~~\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cArgg! I hate this,\u201d I screamed, flinging the goblet in my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at the dress I bought for my Luna coronation a week ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hanging in front of my face, mocking me silently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I should have worn it, the pack bowing and flattering me as they finally see me as I am meant to be: Luan, not a consort tucked in a corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead it glares back at me unworn. I hate it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I move to the mirror, looking at my reflection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is the perfect face for a Luna.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I force the smile I\u2019ve sold to Draven and to the elders, who think I\u2019m the best thing that happened to the Silvermoon Pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alpha\u2019s Hall is quieter than it should be when I enter later.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Draven arrives like always \u2013 imposing even in the soft light, the weight of his presence a hundred times heavier than usual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tonight, his face is something I haven\u2019t seen before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sharp. Cold. Controlled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLiora,\u201d he says, without warmth. Controlled. Cold. \u201cThe elders are restless.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re always restless,\u201d I answer. I trace the hem of my dress meticulously. The motion was deliberate. \u201d They\u2019ll be quiet when I\u2019m crowned.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He watches me. There\u2019s a calculation in his eyes that makes me set my jaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re asking questions again. About the rogues. About Kaia\u2019s exile.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A rust stirred in my ribs\u2013something hot and uglt. I masked it, not letting my true feelings show.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s gone,\u201d I say, too quickly, as if trying to convince myself. \u201cWe all saw her leave. She left after betraying the Pack.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Draven\u2019s gaze slides toward me and back. \u201cAnd yet, they whisper. They wonder if we acted too hastily. The High Chief isn\u2019t having any of it\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what are you trying to say,Draven?\u201d I asked, feeling annoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Draven looked away. \u201cI\u2019m not thinking about anything else, Liora. We did what had to be done at the time. Kaia was a traitor and she got what traitors get\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly. The High Chief should understand that we did the right thing, \u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThats the problem, he doesn\u2019t think we did the right thing,\u201d Draven looked at me, grim. \u201cHe wants to hold off the Luna coronation for now\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I flared up, shocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told me you loved me,\u201d I say, soft and dangerous. \u201cYou told me I was your future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His jaw tightens. \u201cI know, Liora but the pack doesn\u2019t need my love. It needs stability.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sentence lands like a verdict.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will hold off the ceremony until we come to an agreement with the High Chief. Please, hold on for now\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI promise, I\u2019m doing everything I can. Just give me a little more time\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without saying anything else, Draven left the Alpha\u2019s hall, leaving me all alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 018\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something shifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since Kaia was cast out two weeks ago, something I can\u2019t name shifted in Silvermoon Pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hope this isn\u2019t going to ruin my chances of becoming Luna.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t let it happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later that night I find Leo in the Whispering Chamber, wrapping his fingers around a glass of wine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was once loyal to Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Obeying and staying by her side like a loyal dog. Even after her exile, his loyalty did not shake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat down without him inviting me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t need an invite. This is my pack and I can sit anywhere I want.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Given, they would bow to me either way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo raised his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was shocked to see me. Exactly what I wanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shock. Obedience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Obviously, he had to obey me without questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLeo, right?\u201d I asked, lifting the bottle of wine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, your grace. What can I do for you?\u201d Leo asked, avoiding eye contact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked, asking. \u201cCan I pour you a drink?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo agreed. \u201cOf course, your grace. Please\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pour him a glass of wine, and watch him gulp it down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been so loyal, Leo,\u201d I say. \u201cIt must be exhausting, keeping the Alpha\u2019s secrets.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He frowns. \u201cI serve the pack. So it\u2019s my duty to keep the Alpha\u2019s secrets.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d I lean in. \u201cBut tell me do you ever wonder if the wrong Luna sits in waiting?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression stiffens. \u201cWhat are you implying?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smile. \u201cThat the elders are plotting. Plotting against the Alpha and the Pack? What if they are really not after its stability at all?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo looks at me with confusion. Clearly not getting what I\u2019m pointing at.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll force Draven to choose between his Pack and me. And when that happens\u2026\u201d I wrapped my fingers around the glass slow enough for him to notice the Alpha\u2019s mark on my hand. \u201c\u2026I\u2019ll need to know who\u2019s truly on my side.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo glances at the mark, then back to my face. \u201cWhy are you telling me this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I\u2019ll need you.\u201d I whispered, catching his gaze. \u201cSucking over exiled Luna will only get you kicked out for treason. You wouldn\u2019t want that, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo was shocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t expect that I knew his secrets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something he had been trying desperately to hide from everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia has been exposed for being a traitor yet people still suck over her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t have Kaia\u2019s loyalists in my pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Either they side with me and help me reign as the Luna of Silvermoon pack or they meet the same fate as Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nothing more. Nothing in between.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m always after the Pack\u2019s interest, Alpha Consort, Liora\u201d Leo began, \u201cI\u2019m only grieving over losing a dear\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 018\u00a0<\/p>\n
friend. I hope this isn\u2019t treason too\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo glanced at me after saying this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For some strange reasons, his statement held an underlying meaning that I couldn\u2019t interpret.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d I smiled, fixing my face.\u201d Good to know that the Pack is still first for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo nodded. \u201cOf course, Alpha Consort, the pack first and always\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Consort. Twisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that\u2019s the case, I have an errand for you.\u201d I said, pulling out a folder. \u201cYou can\u2019t refuse this. Otherwise, it means you don\u2019t think of the pack first like you claimed\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I handed it over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo looked confused. \u201cWhat is this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a little delivery for the high chief. Something he needs to see. Deliver it to him immediately\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leo wanted to ask more questions but I didn\u2019t give him a chance to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood up and left to deliver my parchment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once he was out of sight, a smile crept onto my face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia. Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just you wait, everything and everyone dear to you won\u2019t be yours for long.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Slowly, I\u2019ll steal them away from you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And you\u2019ll be left with nothing but a peck of dust.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And the shame of Exile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 18 ch 18~~Liora\u2019s POV~~\u00a0 \u201cArgg! I hate this,\u201d I screamed, flinging the goblet […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27263\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}