Halle’S POV.
I don’t hate Alora.
I’m not jealous of her.
I have nothing against her.
It’s just the way I am. I am antisocial. I don’t let people into my life. I hardly smile and I don’t know how to talk nicely to anyone. I am brutally honest with my words and that’s why most people think I hate them and they tend to dislike me, but that’s not the case.
I’m just… antisocial.
Alora is my Luna. I love her. I respect her. I have to protect her at all costs and that’s why the incident that took place at the training centre one day ago has been giving me nightmares.
She could’ve died on my watch.
I let myself be convinced by someone who wanted to kill her.
I would never be able to forgive myself if something bad had happened to the Supreme Luna. Luckily, Alpha Jayce showed up and saved her before the worst could happen.
For Reed.
Reed.
What I know is that he’s different and I love interacting with him. I wish we had more encounters.
I calmly rise to my seat when the door to the arena pushes open. Alpha Jayce first walks in, Luna Alora follows with her usual big smile on her face. She’s always cheerful and it surprises me how flowers don’t sprout from the earth wherever she shows up. She has the most positive energy I have ever felt from a person.
The last person to walk into the arena is Tania.
Tania.
Reed asked me to pay a close eye on her. Even try to corner her because he suspects her and I’m going to do just that.
I don’t smile as they walk over to me, but I bow.
“Good morning Alpha Jayce, Luna Alora..” I greet and keep my head bowed down, waiting for them to signal me to raise my head up.
“Good morning Halle.” That’s Luna Alora. Alpha Kai doesn’t respond. He never responds. “You can raise your head.”
“Thank you. You are fifteen minutes late.” I tell her anyway.
I told you I’m a brutally honest person. My mouth can’t keep quiet even in the presence of the Alpha.
“Ah… yeah. I’m so sorry about that. Alpha Jayce insisted that I…”
“Luna Alora.” I flash her a tight smile. “I didn’t ask for any explanation. Now that you are here, you can go ahead and change so we commence.” I’m still flashing her my very tight smile. Tania looks like she just swallowed a frog and Alpha Jayce is only holding back from punishing me because Luna Alora is tugging his arm and shaking her head.
I’d be dead meat if she didn’t intervene for me, but for some reason, I can’t keep quiet.
“Halle, be nice.” He tells me in a calm tone, but the look in his eyes tells me he’s at war with himself for not being able to scold me right here and now. I smile, nod my head and flash him the same tight smile.
“You have to leave us now.”
“That’s what I noticed. Halle’s eyes are screaming, “Go away!”” Luna Alora chuckles. I bite back the smile that’s threatening to form on my lips. Alpha Kai pecks his mate and exits the arena. I wear my staunch cold look again.
“Tania, let’s get dressed.” She signals Tania and they both rush into the dressing room.
As usual, training starts with jogging and a little exercise and since today will be about basic self defence strategies, the day only gets tougher as the clock ticks by.
By noon, we are all famished and tired. Luna Alora leaves with her body guards to get lunch for herself. She was about to leave with Tania, but I asked her to stay.
I need to try to “corner her” like Reed said.
“If you had let me go, I’d be eating in a five star restaurant right now, not some crowded peasant cafeteria.”
“For a girl of your status, you speak too lowly of others.”
“Did you ask me to stay behind so you can insult me?” She asks, annoyed. We are seated on a table for four at the far end of the cafeteria. It’s isolated from the others and the moment people see me, they don’t even dare to approach the table.
I like that.
I need privacy with Tania.
“No. I asked you to stay so we can both bad mouth Luna Alora.” Her fork drops on her plate and she looks at me with her eyes wide open. She’s shocked.
“What did you just say?” She asks aghast.
“You heard me right. Don’t you hate Luna Alora? Don’t you want to talk shit about her behind her back after an entire day of pretending to like her and smiling and being nice? Don’t you want that?” I ask, trying to sound playful.
“Is this a joke? Are you playing with me?”
“Do I look like I am?” I keep a serious face. She chuckles, shaking her head, but when she looks at me, the smile on her face has disappeared and she looks drop dead serious.
I’m screwed.
“Listen Halle, I don’t know what prompted you to assume that I’m only pretending to like Luna Alora in her face, but you are wrong. I’m not pretending. I love Luna Alora. I am serving her with all my heart and I want the best for her. I would never talk shit about her behind her back.” She says, enunciating every word and the screws in my brain are getting loose and falling off and rolling far into places I cannot reach out too.
My brain is hanging from my skull.
I’m dumbstruck.
This is not good at all.
I’m scared, but I’m Halle. I know no fear. I clear my throat and take a bite of my chicken. I chew properly and wash it down with some apple juice. She’s still looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“My bad.” I click my tongue.
“I’m going to pretend we didn’t have this conversation and I’m not going to tell Luna Alora about this simply because of how much she loves and believes in you. Have some shame, Halle!” She stands up and storms away and my head is swelling with embarrassment.
“Corner” her my ass!
Reed is going to pay for putting me through this sort of humiliation!
************************************************
Skye’S POV.
“She said that?” I ask in amazement. I’m smiling so widely that all my teeth are showing.
Tania just told me about Halle and how she hates Alora and I’m almost losing my mind with excitement.
“Yes, she did. Out of the blue I was so shocked. I froze for a while.”
“Wow! That’s great news. I hope you accepted. I hope you spoke shit about Alora. Oh my God, I wish I were in your shoes. I would’ve killed Alora with my words.”
“No, I didn’t.” The smile on my face instantly fades away.
“What do you mean you didn’t?” My voice is unusually calm.
“I didn’t know if it was a trap or a genuine, you know, hatred. I was scared to say yes and have her accuse me of something, that’s why I said no. I actually pretended to like Alora and I scolded her to have some shame.”
“Wow! You know, it makes me upset and relieved at the same time, but I think that was a smart move. Things would have gone south if you had agreed and it turned out to be a trap.”
“I know right.” I take a seat by her side and hold her hands in mine.
“But, you never know. We need more people on our team. Keep a close eye on her. Monitor how she interacts with Alora and I’m sure you’ll be able to Know if she likes her or if it was a trap. If you figure that it isn’t, then we will find a way to get her on our side. Imagine having you and Halle against Alora. She won’t be able to survive anything we throw at her. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like a great plan. I’ll pay close attention to Halle and see how things go from there.”
“You are amazing Tania. I’m so lucky to have you as my friend.” I give a warm sisterly hug.
She’s literally doing all the work for me.