Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Elara\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slammed the door to Cara\u2019s room loudly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My blood boiling from anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s jerked when she saw this. Her expression was sour and irritated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her visits here were supposed to help push things forward and instead Theo glared at both of us like we were enemies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because of her. That stray girl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I fold my arms as Cara adjusts her skirt, looking me over like I\u2019m another problem added to her list.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to discuss the situation,\u201d I began carefully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s brows knit. \u201cWhat situation?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat stray girl. Kaia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her name tastes bitter in my mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara looks unimpressed. \u201cThe girl who patched up the king? A servant with fast hands is hardly a threat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a humorless laugh. \u201cYou didn\u2019t see the way Theo looked at her today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara paused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just for a second. And that\u2019s enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I step closer, lowering my voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe defended her. He got angry when you mentioned her. And he-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallow my frustration. \u201cHe looks at her like she matters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s eyes sharpen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that makes things\u2026 difficult,\u201d I continue. \u201cConvincing him to get a Luna, to accept me as his luna, will be twice as hard with her hanging around.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched Cara\u2019s jaw tighten, but she didn\u2019t say anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exactly what I wanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I push further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
464\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t let some orphaned stray girl ruin everything we\u2019ve worked for. She needs to be\u2026. taken care of\u2026 Immediately\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara whips her head toward me, eyes blazing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you hear yourself?\u201d she snaps. \u201cYou left him years ago. You walked away from him when he needed you. And now you return, acting entitled to his affection. Obsessing over becoming his Luna\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words hit like slaps.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stiffen. \u201cI didn\u2019t walk away. I-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou left,\u201d Cara cuts in, unforgiving. \u201cAnd if you hadn\u2019t, we wouldn\u2019t be dealing with this embarrassment now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do know how hard-headed Theo can be,\u201d she pointed out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heat crawled up my neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara steps even closer, pointing a finger at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you dare expect me to fix what you failed at. If you had stayed, that stray wouldn\u2019t be anywhere near him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her voice rose with disgust at the last word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I take a breath, gripping the edge of my sleeve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have to argue about the past,\u201d I say, carefully steadying my voice. \u201cWhat matters now is getting Theo to marry me and make his Luna\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara looked at me,her irritation shifting into calculation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t force Theo to send that stray girl away,\u201d she says slowly. \u201cNot when he treats me like his enemy already\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then her gaze hardens. \u201cBut if the stray continues to interfere, I can make sure she is removed from your path.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart kicks. Jumping with joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019ll take care of it, right?\u201d I whisper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara lifts her chin, her expression cold and decisive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she says. \u201cLeave Kaia to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A slow smile forms on my lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Good. Very good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia had better enjoy her days in this pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because they are numbered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
:.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My muscles ache after the training but the ache feels better than thinking about Theo\u00a0<\/p>\n
Better than remembering Theo\u2019s face when Elara touched his arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Footsteps shuffle behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soft. Familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lower my fists. \u201cMaliya?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have something to tell you,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
820\u00a0<\/p>\n
65 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya shut the door behind us with that dramatic sigh she always did when she had gossip too big for her mouth to hold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d I ask.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She swallows. \u201cKaia\u2026 I- You didn\u2019t hear this from me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach tightens. News never starts like that unless it\u2019s bad.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you here with a more baseless rumour of yours?\u201d I asked,not pretending not to take her seriously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t turn around. I was still peeling off my training gloves, staring at the faint bruising on my knuckles like it mattered more than anything she could say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s true,\u201d she protested. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. \u201cThey had a council meeting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout\u2026 the Luna position.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hands went cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I force myself to breathe. \u201cWhat about it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya hesitated, her eyes darting like she\u2019s looking for a way to soften the blow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council\u2026.They\u2019ve decided they\u2019re talking about making Lady Elara the next Luna.\u201d Maliya whispered. \u201cThey are choosing her\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of all the things I\u2019d stupidly hoped wouldn\u2019t reach my ears today, that one slid in, sharp as a dagger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just that. Nothing else came out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The world seems to tilt for a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara. Of course.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perfect. Polished. From a powerful family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And connected to Theo in a way I\u2019m not and maybe never will be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat tightens. \u201cSo it\u2019s official?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not announced yet,\u201d she says quickly. \u201cKaia\u2026 they say it\u2019s already being discussed at the top level behind closed doors. Queen Cara is pushing it. Hard.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course she did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I look away, jaw clenched to keep the sting behind my eyes from spilling over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya stopped closer, touches my arm gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay, Kaia?\u201d She asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded once, tight, like if I moved too much the entire mask I\u2019m barely holding would crack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It shouldn\u2019t hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo was an Alpha.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was\u2026 what? A stray he sheltered? A problem he never asked for?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia\u2026 don\u2019t take this as you losing something you never had.\u201d Maliya tries to comfort me\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a shaky breath. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make it hurt less.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her fingers squeeze mine in sympathy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been looking for you,\u201d she adds quietly. \u201cLast night. This morning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can go talk to his future Luna,\u201d I mutter bitterly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d My voice cracks, but I keep it steady. \u201cI knew what I was when I walked into this pack. A stray. A nobody. Just\u2026 someone they tolerate because I saved the Alpha.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me you\u2019re okay, Kaia.\u201d Maliya said gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No. Not even close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d I nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:..\u00a0<\/p>\n
It sounded like a lie even to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hesitated. \u201cDon\u2019t you want to talk to him? Maybe-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I cut in. \u201cTheo doesn\u2019t need more trouble. I\u2019m\u2026 not going to make this harder for him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words tasted bitter. Like swallowing something sharp and pretending it doesn\u2019t hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shoved the gloves into the laundry basket, grabbed my headscarf, and headed for the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya followed a step behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d she asked softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDistance myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The answer slipped out in a small, exhausted breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s already got the Council questioning him. His father barely trusts him. And now Elara-\u201d I stopped, jaw tightening. \u201cI won\u2019t be the reason anyone doubts him further.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not the reason,\u201d Maliya insisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t respond. Because if I said anything, everything might spill out \u2013 the jealousy, the hurt, the stupid hope I never asked for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t help the pang in my heart. For some reason it won\u2019t go away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We stepped into the hallway, and that was exactly when I saw him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Standing at the far end. Like he\u2019d been waiting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes locked onto mine; concern, frustration, something pulling I didn\u2019t want to name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped walking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just like that. Every thought scattered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya froze beside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo took a step toward me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I immediately stepped back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to go,\u201d I said quickly, not giving him time to speak. \u201cYou should\u2026 talk to Elara. She needs you more.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression tightened, confused and angry and something else all at once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:26 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia, wait-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
164\u00a0<\/p>\n
EZ 55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d I whispered, already turning away, forcing the distance even though something inside me cracked while doing it. \u201cI don\u2019t want to stir up trouble for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t look back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because if I did, I wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d be able to walk away at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u7530\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\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 34 Chapter 34\u00a0 \u2013Elara\u2013\u00a0 :\u00a0 I slammed the door to Cara\u2019s room loudly.\u00a0 […]<\/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-27279","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\/27279","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=27279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27279\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}