Chapter 51
POV: Lamina Darkwood
“What the hell did you say?!” Her voice was strangely low, but the fury it held couldn’t be hidden.
“I am sorry, but it was announced late. The King was the only one who knew all about it, and he said it all and done in an instant. No one could ever contact anyone. So, I can’t send you a message.” A low manly voice replied from the darker part of the hallway where a black curtain was hanging.
The man couldn’t be distinguished from the darkness only his black trousers and its shiny black shoes.
But Lamina knew who it was. The man that she asked for her to be her spy. But up until now, he was always late in telling her details. And that made her more furious!
“You are such an incompetent fool! You always do this to me. I asked you to be one of the king’s loyal men yet, I can’t gather decent information from you.” She annoyingly stated in between her gritting teeth.
“I asked you to know what it was about the competition, but you didn’t even know!” She angrily spat.
The man let out a sigh in between his gritting teeth. He knew that he couldn’t contest the woman in front of him especially if she was this mad.
“You know that it’s not easy to be where I am right now, Milady. I am being watched by everyone. And the competition is always out of my reach.” He tried to reason out, but Lamina just rolled her eyes ignoring his reasons.
“Besides, I already helped you with the infiltration.” He seriously added back.
Lamina snorted her irritation.
“And that was the only successful thing that you brought me. Just get out of my face and do your job well, or else…” Lamina furiously commanded as she walked towards the huge wooden door to where the Great Hall was leaving the man clenching his both fists as he stifled his annoyance.
She gritted her teeth as she felt her wolf snarling inside her.
The moment she walked towards where her family was, they started to throw her a questioning look. Who would it be, right?
The king invited them to attend a special celebration in the Great Hall, but no one from the Lunar Pack was still in the place. No one from the King’s loyal men was present even the king himself.
The only host present was the prince who was insensibly throwing a death glare at them the moment he stepped foot in the place.
And now…
She clenched her both fists as she wanted to lose her wolf side.
But before she could even talk or lose her humanistic sanity, the huge wooden door suddenly banged open, and the Lunar Pack entered the Great Hall with their stoic and serious faces.
Lorenzo held his face high with his cold and unreadable expression.
Her left brow shot upwards especially when her eyes met Rania’s serious and wicked eyes.
Lamina mentally smirked at what the Lunar Pack’s Luna was trying to portray, huh?
Well, not just her but to everyone in their pack. They thought so highly of themselves now that Tamara had already won the competition.
She watched Elder Zeparu and Dreyson just nod their heads while the other packs tried to greet them.
And the last man…
What was his name again?
Oh, Kage Esmeray, Elder Zeparu’s brilliant apprentice looked so intimidating and cold.
Lamina wickedly grinned.
They always had their own upper hand. When Plan A didn’t succeed, then another plan could be done.
But her smile vanished into thin air, the moment Arlan declared the arrival of the King and Queen.
Regardless of how she managed to think of another plan declaring this announcement in their faces was certainly a huge blow to their pack, especially to their family.
“Hail to the King and Queen!”
Everyone stood up and chanted with Arlan as everyone saw King Hades Pierce holding Tamara in his strong arms. He had this unreadable expression on his face and so as Tamara.
She clenched her both fists as she tried to smile at the people which she literally knew that was turning into a frown no matter what she did.
***
POV: Leah Darkwood
The moment she saw Tamara walking down on the huge staircase with the King, gently holding her in his arms she could hear her heart breaking into millions of pieces.
It should be her.
Then, every step that she took should be her moment of happiness.
Even without the crown of being the Luna Queen but being the King’s wife would be enough for her.
“Leah… get a grip of yourself.” She could hear Aeron reminding her, but her ears were deaf.
Although her eyes could clearly see what was happening around her.
What could probably be more heartbreaking for her other than knowing that the man she ever loved would be with somebody else now? What could probably be more tormenting than to know that the man you cherish the most, hated you because of the family that you belong?
Leah harshly bit her lower lip.
“Everyone…” The King stood up on the makeshift stage just behind him were the two golden thrones.
Leah bitterly swallowed hard as she felt her inner wolf being restless inside her.
“We are gathered here, for you to know that this celebration isn’t all about our engagement or our wedding…” The King menacingly stated.
Leah could feel her heart swiftly beating inside her.
Would he have announced that their wedding would be canceled?
She was hopefully thinking of that particular idea in her mind.
But the moment the King continued his words she felt her world just crumbled down in front of her.
“… because we already got married a while ago.” King Hades seriously declared making everyone gasp around them.
She felt her legs wobble as she tried to contain herself.
“What?” She silently whispered to herself.
Leah could hear the controlled whispers, but the King’s announcement was echoing inside her head.
“We wanted it intimate and done with the blessing of the moon solemnly. So, respecting our decision is a glorious move for all of you and I hope that it wouldn’t be raised now. I don’t want to be questioned by my decision our decision.” King Hades ruthlessly warned making everyone shut their mouth.
King Hades rarely gave threats, and when he did, everyone must obey, or else, they wouldn’t want to face their tragic demise not in the blink of an eye.
“So tonight, for formality’s sake, as the King, I declare Tamara Vikesh, as my one and only Luna Queen!” He seriously continued making Leah firmly close her eyes.
And the moment she opened it once again, her eyes were already clouded with her tears.
“Hail to the King and Queen!” Arlan loudly chanted and everyone followed.
Everyone was celebrating everyone except their family, their alliances.
The loud music filled the four corners of the Great Hall but all that she could hear was her heart breaking and falling in grief.
Everyone was smiling, but all she could do was silently weep while she was putting a stoic expression on her face.
Everyone was trying to fit in trying to talk to the new Luna Queen, while she was trying to get a hold of herself and not to break down.
Leah gritted her teeth because she knew that some was murmuring silently talking behind her back now.
“What the hell, Lamina, did you know about this?” Her father’s controlled voice resonated in her ears as Aeron tried to help her take her seat which she did, for in just another second standing up, she might have fallen.
“Apparently not. I just heard of it before the Lunar Pack appeared out of nowhere.” Her mother’s irritated voice replied.
The bitterness it laced was dripping into her every word.
Her father let out a low curse and she firmly closed her eyes, as she knew that she was the one who should be blamed because of this.
“What shall we do now? The Were Elders’ Council will surely turn against me now.” Elder Courdamus seriously stated.
“We won’t let it happen. We will talk more about this later.” Cessair coldly replied as they knew that someone was coming their way now.
“Elder Courdamus!” Elder Mondar was trying to plaster a smile on his face, but she knew him better.
Well, everyone already knew him anyway.
“What do you need this time?” Elder Courdamus couldn’t hide his impatience as he spat.
Elder Mondar let out a hearty chuckle as if he was hearing some kind of joke from their table.
Leah clenched her both fists so as did her entire family.
“I thought everything is under control?” He mockingly stated as he let out a mischievous grin.
“Everything was under control, Mondar. Can’t you see?” Elder Courdamus was trying to ease the tension that was slowly building up.
“Well, not to my observation.” He playfully retorted back.
Every one of them turned silent but Leah could smell her family’s annoyance and escalating ferocity. And she knew that this stinky Elder from the Night Walker Pack knew all about it now, but he was just trying to cover it up through his scornful chuckle.
“May I just remind you that everyone of us here is in an alliance.” He slowly stated and cleared his throat before he took a swift glance at her.
“If Leah here, just won the competition, our alliances would still be solid and intact. You already know what I mean, right? So, Luna Lamina, maybe you can do something about it.” Elder Mondar warningly reminded them before he turned his back and walked away like nothing had happened.
Leah could feel her inner wolf at bay now.
“F*cking sh*t!” Elder Courdamus lowly cursed as he lit up his stale tobacco maybe to calm his nerves.
“Now, this is what I am talking about. If Leah just won, this-”
“Watch your tongue, Elder Courdamus.” Aeron coldly cut him in.
Elder Courdamus just loudly cleared his throat before he looked away.
Leah gritted her teeth to stop herself from lashing out. She felt like she was being suffocated. She felt like she needed to go away or she would just burst in front of them.
“I just need some fresh air.” She coldly stated and stood up before anyone could ever stop her.
She heard Aeron call her, but she pretended not to hear him.
Leah didn’t know where to go or what more to say. But the moment she saw Tamara alone sitting on her golden throne, she felt her anguish intensified, and there’s one thing that could make her lose it.
She didn’t need to see as to where the King was right now. Because all that was running into her mind was to annoy her.
And that would finally give her at least a small token of satisfaction… at least for now.
Besides, she was just an innocent naive newbie in their pack. She mentally smirked at her thought.
“Tamara…” She smilingly called her.
Tamara’s smile vanished as her dark brown eyes moved towards her. Her face turned unreadable, and it was slowly intimidating her.
Arlan saw her and he was about to move in between them when Tamara held her hand to stop him. He just moved at the corner but not far enough at them.
Leah felt a tinge of surprise about how she could hold authority and power in just a short period of time.
“Is that how you call your Queen, Leah Darkwood?” She coldly inquired.
Her voice was low and authoritative. Her mouth slightly went agape.
Tamara wasn’t like this; she was a crybaby and a loser. She mentally thought.
“I… I…” She couldn’t utter a single word.
“You’re what? Do you think I will tolerate disrespect from anyone at least from you?” Tamara icily stated as she stood up from her golden throne and slowly moved towards where she was standing from.
Leah was left dumbfounded.
Arlan, on the other hand, was confused and worried for he didn’t know what to do whether to stop Tamara or not.
She swallowed hard as she looked at her expressionless face.
“Now, can you repeat what you have called me? I don’t want to create a commotion on my own proclamation, Leah. And I believe you don’t want that, either… well, maybe for your family’s sake?” She mockingly stated.
Leah gritted her teeth as she clenched her hands into balled fists until her knuckles had already turned paperwhite.
“I… I’m sorry for being disrespectful, Q-Queen T-Tamara.” She bitterly replied trying to keep her wolf at rest.
She didn’t want another problem for her family. Not if she could help it. Not if she could still get a grip on herself.
Tamara let out a soft sardonic chuckle.
“I couldn’t believe that you were really such a good artist, Leah. But let me give you some advice…” Tamara sarcastically stated before she moved her face towards her to whisper something as if they were really that close.
Leah was about to move backwards when Tamara held her both hands firmly. She was surprisingly strong that she couldn’t move herself and as if she was glued to the floor.
“I know what you and your family did to me in that forest, Leah.” Her voice was slow and full of bitterness and mockery.
She felt her body stiffen.
“I know what you did to manipulate everything. Now, I hope you’re ready for my surprise for you. I bet we could be best of friends by now. You know, keep your friends closer and your… best friends much more closer, right?” Tamara teasingly whispered, but her words as full of venom even stressing the word ‘best friend’ to prove her point.
Tamara let her grip on her and she almost lost her balance for her legs were now trembling for unknown reason. Her eyes moved at her arms, and she faked her sweet smile.
“Oh, and be sure to prove that you aren’t that worthless in your clan by now.” She innocently stated before she turned her back, but she took a glance at her once again.
“By the way, please tell your family not to be too much close to us. Mark it as a request, if not, well, that’s for you to dare and find out.” Her voice suddenly turned serious, and, in her shock, it literally sent shivers down her spine.
She gapingly watched her walk back towards her golden throne leaving her with pure embarrassment from everyone who was watching them already.
What the heck just happened?!