Alexa’s Point Of View
“I didn’t know I was being followed. I went to Raven pack when I heard the news of the visitation of a supernaturally strong wolf. My instincts told me that that wolf was Akira with no doubt. So I went there. I never knew I would be ambushed. As if they knew I was coming. I fought my way out but as you saw me, I didn’t escape in one piece. I was able to lose them along the chase but not for long.”
“What do you mean?” Akira asked and Alice stopped pacing.
“There is a mole here, Akira.” She said and the room tensed up.
“There is a what?”
“A mole. Someone is releasing secrets of the pack to the vampires. I know this because I heard them say it. Some guy, a warrior in the pack named Raya? Rama?”
“Raga,” I said and she flicked her finger.
“Bingo!” She beamed. “Raga! That was his name. He mentioned something about receiving information from the spy planted here.” She said and Akira sat up. His expression was hardened.
“Do you have any idea who that might be?” I asked Alice and she shook her head.
“That I don’t know but I have an idea of when the spy landed in the pack.” She said, her gaze not leaving mine.
“When?” Xena asked.
“Four full moons ago. Exactly four full moons ago.”
I tilted my head. Four full moons ago? That… that was when Akira brought me to the pack.
“We need to investigate every single person that came into the pack during this time.” She said, her eyes not leaving mine. She was looking at me accusingly. I could tell all her words were directed at me. I glanced at Akira and he was in deep thought. He looked disturbed.
“Are you sure about the date?” Akira asked. “I mean, it could be…”
“Oh, come on, Akira,” Alice interjected. “Since when do you ask that type of question? Normally, you would order the warriors to fish them out but what? You’re asking me if I’m sure?” She scoffed and walked to the window. “You’ve changed, Akira.”
I hated the way she talked.
I hated the way she made it seem like she knew Akira more than anyone else. It is infuriating.
“And you haven’t changed a bit, Alice,” Xena said. “You still talk down to your alpha like he’s your subordinate.”
“And who are you to tell me how I’d talk to him?”
“No matter your history together, he’s still your alpha. Your ruler! He is high above you. Even if you don’t have regard for him, you should at least respect him in front of his Luna. You know, to show you have regards?”
“You-”
Slamming my hands on the table, I thundered. “Enough!”
They both turned to me in shock. “Both of you! We are in the middle of a crisis. A mole is in the pack. We don’t know where they are. They might even be among us right now but you guys find your petty argument more important? And you call yourselves subjects of your alpha?”
“Forgive me, your highness.” Xena apologized with a bow but Alice simply bowed briskly. I huffed and stood up. I adjusted my belt and walked to Alice.
“You said we had to investigate everyone who came into the pack during that period, right?”
“Yes, your highness.”
“Then do so.”
“I’m sorry, I take orders from my alpha.”
I smirked. “Do you want me to repeat myself?”
“I don’t receive -”
“Do as she says, Alice,” Akira said authoritatively. “Or you suffer the consequences.”
She forced out a smile and bowed. “Your wish is my command, your highness.”
I nodded and left her front. “I think we’re done here. Xena, come with me.”
“Yes, your highness.”
I glanced at Akira and he nodded at me. I smiled back and exited with Xena.
Alice.
Since she recovered, she’s been showing me who she really is. She smiles a lot. Grins and is friendly with everyone but behind that smile is a venomous green snake under green grace. She masks her dirty personality well with that bright smile of hers. The kids love her. The oldies cherish her. In their eyes, she can do no wrong but I know she’s not as she seems because I’ve seen it. Her deadly gaze.
It was two days ago, I was having a walk down the palace…
“Your highness!” She called. I recognized that voice but I didn’t stop. She will only annoy me. That’s it.
“Your highness!” Her voice was nearer now. She caught up with me.
“Gosh, your highness, I was calling you.”
“Well, I have somewhere important to be.”
She scoffed out a laugh. “Where could you possibly be going?”
I raised a brow. “What does that mean?”
She smiled. “No, I mean… you don’t have any official assignment, do you? I’m just saying, since you became Luna, has any pack elder called you in for a meeting? Have they sought out for you? You never got to marry Akira so they probably don’t see you as their Luna.”
“What the hell is that..”
“Of course, I don’t mean it in a bad way. I mean… I was the one who crashed your wedding.” She said in a sad tone. “I’m so sorry for that, your highness. Let me make it up to you. How about dinner?”
“I’m busy, thank you.”
“But I just…” She took my hand and pouted. “I just wanna make it up to you. It’s my fault you have nothing to do despite being the Luna.”
Ah
She’s rubbing it in but acting like she understands me. This bitch! Is this who you truly are?
“Ah, Alexa!”
“Mother!” Alice squealed and threw herself on Luna Mother.
“Gosh! Alice! Look at you. You’re back to your bubbly self.” Mother said and Alice giggled.
“It’s all thanks to you and Akira, mother.”
“Gosh, your cheeks are puffed up. What did they feed you out there?”
“Ah, come on, you know I don’t eat that much.”
Just like that, I was like an outcast.
I felt odd among both of them. They seemed close. Like mother and daughter. I felt like a piece that doesn’t fit into the puzzle. I seemed invisible.
“I see you’re with Alexa.”
“Yes, mother. I was apologizing for the other night. I even offered to treat her to dinner but she rejected me.” She said sadly and mother laughed.
“Come on, Alexa, she just wants to apologize. Alice doesn’t like offending people you know?”
Really? That seemed like her expertise.
“I guess there’s room in my stomach for dinner,” I said and she squealed.
“Dinner it is! I will communicate when the dinner would happen to you. Right now, I need to go with mother. You don’t mind, do you?” She asked and I shook my head.
“Of course not. You two have fun.”
“Alright. Bye, Alexa.” Mother bid me goodbye and I waved at her. I watched as they walked together with their arms linked together.
That is how Alice is. Every moment, she doesn’t fail to make me feel like nothing while keeping a smile on her face and acting like she cares. She disgusts me. Her sight annoys me. I don’t think she’s leaving anytime soon and I hope she doesn’t make me pull her hair out before she leaves.
“You seem lost in thought,” Xena said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“I was.”
“Why? Because of Alice?”
I nodded. “I’m contemplating whether to pull her hair out or not,” I said and she chuckled.
“I say you pull it out. You’re Luna anyway. You can do that much.”
“I know but what would that make me? ‘Ah, she’s jealous of Alice because she’s loved by everyone while she isn’t’. That’s what people would say.”
“Not only that. ‘No wonder alpha didn’t consummate their marriage. She’s not fit for him’. They’ll say that too.” She said and I laughed.
“You really know the thoughts of the people, Xena. Maybe you should be Luna?”
“No, thank you. I’ll pass.”
“You sure? I think you’ll do a good job.”
“Nah. Thanks for the offer but no.” She said and I chuckled.
“What are you to do next?” Xena asked and I stretched my shoulder.
“I’m going to see the elders.”
She stopped walking. “The… the what? Pack elders?”
I nodded. “Why?”
“Well, they haven’t summoned me since I became Luna so I decided to pay them a nice visit,” I said as I resumed walking.
“But… I don’t think that’s a good idea. Those elders…” She lowered her voice. “Those old geezers are infuriating.”
“Well, I am stubborn and annoying. Perfect combination, don’t you think?”
She sighed and nodded. “Fine. I’m following you though.”
“Of course, you are. I have no idea where they sit.” I said and she nodded. I looked at the sky and marveled at how blue it was.
I wonder if the sky is this blue where Riaz and Ace are. I wonder where they are and I hope they are okay.
***
“You can’t go in.”
“How dare you! The Luna is demanding an audience and you stop her?” Xena fired.
“I’m sorry but we have been ordered not to let anyone in for the main time and…”
“Will you let her go in peacefully or do you want me to barge in there by force? Believe me, you don’t want that to happen. I don’t wanna hurt you.”
The guards exchanged fearful gazes and nodded at each other. They pushed the door in and Xena took a step back.
“Go in, your highness.” She said and I nodded. I adjusted my robe and walked in.
“I never expected the Luna to visit us herself on this fine afternoon.” An old gruff voice echoed. I looked up and saw three elders seated at a table on a high platform.
“Afternoon, elders.” I greeted.
“Wow. I’ve only heard rumors about you and now I can testify that one of them is true.” One of them said. He had very short grey hair.
“Which is?”
“Your beauty, your highness. The rumors don’t lie about your beauty.” He said and I smiled.
“I’m honored.”
“What could have brought you here, your highness?” The only lady among them said.
“I heard I was supposed to be summoned by you elders but I never got any summoning so I thought maybe I should visit you myself?”
The short-haired chuckled. “How considerate of you.”
“I assume you don’t know our names.” He said and I nodded. “I am Northwolf, this woman here is Dinah, and the cold-looking one there is Gerald.” He said and I bowed.
“Pleased to meet your acquaintance.”
“So how about you tell us the real reason you’re here?” Elder Gerald said.
“I know none of you perceive me as your Luna. You probably think I’m not fit or too weak to be the mother of the pack so I’m here to plead.”
“Plead?” Elder Dinah questioned.
“Yes. Plead. I’ve never been a Luna. Scratch that, I never thought I would be. Growing up, I only had one purpose which was getting back at the ones who murdered my family. Of course, accomplishing that on my own is not possible. I need power.”
“And you think being the Luna would give you that?” Gerald questioned.
“Will it not?” I laughed lightly. “If I’m the Luna, I’d be able to command warriors, even make you be at my beck and call. And the man I love, the most powerful alpha I’ve ever seen, would be beside me. Supporting me.”
“So that was why to accepted Akira’s proposal?”
“Yeah, was. That was my plan at first but it isn’t anymore. All I want now is for the pack to accept me. To see my worth. To not compare me to some warrior or whatever. I want them to see me as my own person. As Alexandra, the first daughter of Drago. I want to prove my worth but what’s the point if they are not ready to see my worth? I’m asking for a chance. Just a chance for you to see Akira made the right decision.”
“Your highness-”
“If you want me to kneel then I shall.”
I brushed my robe sideways and bent my knees. Before my knees could touch the ground, someone pulled me back up. I turned and saw Xena.
“X… Xena…” She let me go and got on her knees.
“I plead to you elders on her behalf. Please, give her a chance.”