Page List

Font Size:

While I still wonder what they are plan doing now, Luna Annalise turns to me. “Let’s go, Val. I think we’ve seen enough.”

I nod, relieved. I hate these guys with a passion, but I’m not sure I want to see anything gory. The Luna leads me out of the room. I can hear the guys begging for their lives, wondering how they could be so pathetic now after showing no mercy towards Marilou and me. “Why just me?” I ask Luna Annalise. “Why didn’t you ask Marilou to come too?”

She sighs. “Marilou didn’t need any proof. I’ll tell her what happened and that it’s over. But you… you wouldn’t have believed it if you hadn’t seen them with your own eyes.”

That’s true. I blush. “Luna A—”

“Just call me Annie. I’m not your luna, and you don’t need to be so formal with me.”

I nod, my heart warming instantly. She’s so nice. “Annie… I… I’m so sorry for what Lauren did, and that Mom, Dad, and I didn’t notice how crazy she was and—”

Annie chuckles. “None of that was your fault, dear. But I appreciate the gesture. Lauren has been punished. She’s not a danger anymore, and in a way, she was just a pawn herself. I’m really happy with my life,” she tells me. “I don’t think of Lauren at all, or of what she did.”

“How did you manage to move on?” I ask quietly. “And forget?”

“I didn’t forget,” she tells me earnestly. “The past is always part of us. We can’t ignore it, but we also can’t allow it to tie us down. I have my family, my friends, and Liam to help me cope with everything. Just like you… you have loving parents and friends to help you get through this.”

I let her words sink in. Admittedly, it will take me a while to fully wrap my mind around what she just said. But her words make me feel better. “I want to see Jazz and Tori,” I say.

Annalise smiles. “I’m sure that’s possible. Let’s get Marilou and then go see your friends.”

*CELINE*

After dealing with the four morons, we all headed out for a break and to get some fresh air.

Alpha Lucas will have to handle it from here on, but our verdict was to see them dead. Lucas needs to involve the Council for an actual death sentence and collect more proof to present them with. Elden told him to ask Liam for help. His lie-detecting gift comes in handy at times. If they are guilty of having already raped and assaulted so many she-wolves and young girls, it will mean the end for them.

It’s getting late, so Harmony and I have decided to drive back to Moon Blood in the morning. In the meantime, we all head to the dining hall to have dinner together. Jazz, Tori, and the rest of the teens join us too. They were finally allowed to leave the hospital and are happy to catch up on everything.

“How did you girls meet?” Flora asks Aurelia as we all take our seats at the table, “You never told me.”

“In school,” Aurelia explains. “Annie asked me to keep an eye on Marilou. And then I stumbled over an awesome scene where Jazz was putting one of their bullies in place.”

“I still think it would have ended badly if you hadn’t appeared,” Val says quietly, “and told the guys off.”

Her words instantly raise my interest. Harmony looks annoyed too. Enough drama already! This makes my whole story with Marius look ridiculous in comparison. “Please don’t tell me it’s someone from Moon Blood who bullies others,” I groan. “I hope I don’t have to have that talk again.”

“No, no, the guys from our pack… they tried to stop the other guy... Don,” Val hurries to explain.

“Well,” Aurelia mutters. “They did the bare minimum of staying out of trouble and told him to shut up… once.”

“I agree,” Marilou says evenly. “It’s not like they went out of their way to help.”

I’m so close to getting pissed again when Flora shifts the topic, revealing juicy details about her love life. It’s hilarious, especially since Elden remains completely unfazed, whereas the girls blush bright red.

Eventually, we shift the talk toward more serious topics again. “Say,” I look at Annie. “Recently, Aryanna went to the Black&White. She said she might have a lead. Something about a missing witch?”

Annie sighs. “Unfortunately, it was a dead end. Ari investigated further and talked to said coven. But the witch really just took some time off to travel. Apparently, not unusual for witches.”

I massage my temples a bit. Shoot, I had hoped this would lead us somewhere but seems like it might be a lone witch or maybe a secret coven behind her. When I notice that Jazz, Val, and the other kids suddenly look worried, I decide to shift the topic yet again. “You girls looking forward to your birthday?” I ask. “It’s in April, right?”

Jazz beams. “Yes, can’t wait for it. Finally eighteen!”

“It’s going to be great,” Val smiles.

“You’re all so lucky,” Aurelia sighs. “I’m going to be the last in the row to turn eighteen. Sucks to be a summer child.”

“Why?” Elden chuckles a bit. “It’s not like a few weeks will ruin anything for you.”