Katherine has been confined to her room for the past few days, and it feels like an eternity. She often becomes emotional, shedding tears and experiencing nightmares. However, the maids have been assigned to attend to her.
"Oh, no, please stay away from me," she muttered in her sleep, her body drenched in sweat.
"It's okay. I'm here," Alpha Luciano reassured, tapping her head as she drifted back to sleep.
Smiling, Alpha Luciano touched her face gently. Katherine appeared ordinary – short hair, brown eyes, an omega – yet from the first time he saw her, he sensed something uncommon, something he never felt for Rebecca.
"Alpha Luciano?" she mumbled, opening her eyes slightly.
"Go to sleep, okay?" He kissed her forehead, and she closed her eyes, falling asleep.
Alpha Luciano watched her fragile form as she slept, a stark contrast to Rebecca, who was a skilled manipulator.
After a while, he lay beside her, wrapping his arms around Katherine. His gaze fixated on her soft, pink lips – adorable and irresistible.
Closing his eyes, he drew her closer, and as nature took its course, Alpha Luciano drifted off to sleep.
The crowing of a rooster and the early morning sun brought him back to reality. Realizing he spent the night in Katherine's room, he exhaled, quietly withdrawing from the bed and leaving the room.
Katherine, who had been awake for a while, turned and sighed. "Why sleep with me when you have a lover?" She uncovered herself, got out of bed, attended to her needs, and then returned.
"It's been two days, and I feel like dying," she lamented, running her fingers through her hair and staring at the ceiling. She began counting.
"One, two, three, four, five, six. I think I'm crazy at this point," she rolled on the bed and screamed.
"Luna," Esther entered the room, and Katherine sat up.
"Esther, did you get the books?" she inquired, and Esther nodded.
"Yes, I did," Esther handed her the book, and she smiled. "Who was that young boy I saw you with? He looks like you."
"Edward, he's my son," Esther replied, and Katherine nodded.
"He's charming," she complimented, opening the first page of the book. "A dance with the devil," she gushed.
"It's one of my favorites. I've read it hundreds of times, and yet, it feels new every time I open the pages," Esther remarked, and Katherine nodded, engrossed in the book.
She abruptly closed the book and gazed at Esther as she prepared their food. "What was the old Luna like?"
"Huh?" Esther looked up at her.
"Are you also forbidden to talk about the old Luna?" Katherine set the book aside.
"Of course not. Years ago, the old Luna and Alpha got married, but she couldn't conceive. Many doctors claimed she had no womb, and some shamans said she was cursed," Esther explained, placing the dish before Katherine took a seat.
"Continue, please." Katherine sniffed the food before taking a bite. "I hope it's not poisoned."
"After years of waiting, the old Luna sought out a powerful witch named Queen Ravenna," Esther continued, rubbing her arms. "Just the mention of her name carries a dark aura and evil forces."
"I don't believe in such things," Katherine said, and Esther chuckled.
"My goodness, me neither. Until the old Luna started acting oddly," Esther leaned in. "Bodies of dead maids were found in her closet."
"Ah!" Katherine gasped, and Esther nodded.
"Terrifying," she said, gulping down her drink.
"Yes, the pack house was a haunted place then, but on a certain day, the blood moon day, she disappeared. And that was five years ago!" Esther explained.
"This is so much to process," Katherine shook her head. "But then, don't you think it's strange? I mean, after five years, she suddenly appeared out of nowhere!" She hissed.
"Yeah, rumors have it that she's not human; she's a ghost," Esther said, and Katherine slapped her lap.
"Stop it. There's no such thing as ghosts. They don't exist." Katherine rolled her eyes. "I'm full; I've had enough chicken. I feel like throwing up." She fell onto the bed and covered her head with a pillow.
"Do you want to go out? Maybe to the market!" Esther suggested.
"You know I can't. Alpha Luciano would be very mad at me," Katherine said, removing the pillow.
"He wouldn't even notice," Esther winked at her.
"How is that going to be possible?"
"You should be dressed up like a maid." She sat down on the bed, and Katherine smiled warmly.
"Oh, Ma'am Esther, you're the best." She hugged her tight, and Esther smiled.
NEWCASTLE HOTEL, 2 PM
"What do you mean, someone saw you?" Elijah gritted his teeth, pacing around his room.
He exhaled softly before ending the call. When he did, he touched his forehead, noticing he had a temperature.
There was a slight knock in his room, and he hid the paper he had in his hands under the bed.
"Hey, Elijah!" Alpha Lucinao opened the door and Elijah blinked his eyes.
"How did you...? What are you doing here?" He questioned as Alpha Luciano sat on the bed, not minding his business.
"You're still a child, of course, I should be checking up on you," he smiled, looking around the room. "Why is there a cigarette here?" He observed, spotting the pack of cigarettes in the room.
"Why do you suddenly care?" Elijah said, rolling his eyes. "I heard your beautiful wife has returned; rumors spread quickly. And you also lost one of your concubines. I'm sorry and, at the same time, jealous of you," Elijah said, and Alpha Luciano looked at him and chuckled.
"Oh, how thoughtful of you to notice. Your concern is truly touching." Luciano gave a disappointed look.
"Aren't you supposed to question, how Rebecca returned after Five freaking years?" Elijah poured Luciano a drink.
"I have no desire to concern myself with that matter. However, Elijah, I feel compelled to caution you against repeating your actions. Your involvement in the death of the First Lady was unjustifiable and unacceptable."As Luciano spoke, his gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing with conviction. With each word, he took a step forward, his posture tense and commanding. When he mentioned the warning, his hand instinctively gestured towards Elijah, emphasizing the seriousness of his message.
"You knew it wasn't Katherine who killed her, yet you did nothing. Let me give you some advice, Luciano. Allow her to return to her pack; Klaus needs her far more than you," Elijah spat, his tone dripping with disdain.
Luciano scoffed in response. "Oh, I did that because someone like you gave me a piece of worthless advice!" His deep voice reverberated through the room, prompting Elijah to roll his eyes in exasperation.
"All I'm suggesting is that you grant the girl some freedom. How old is she again? Eighteen? Good grief... you should be charged with child abuse!" Elijah retorted, his frustration evident in his tone.
"Really? Should I?" Luciano countered, a hint of defiance in his voice.
"Yes, the little girl isn't fit to be Luna or a queen; she's an Omega, for crying out loud! She's useless!" Elijah retorted.
"At least she's more significant than you. She's a Luna, you're an outsider, a nobody, Elijah!"
"Is this how you treat your only brother? Disrespecting me and comparing me to a piece of rag!" That came alongside a slap on his cheek.
"You should know how I honor what's mine. She's no longer an Omega, you idiot! She's my wife, she's a part of the De Luca family, and that's something you would never be!" He grabbed his neck, tightening his grip with each passing second. "Don't think I have no idea how you played Rebecca. You made her depressed for the past years, and you will do no such thing to Katherine. If I ever sense your scheme in the pack house, I will rip out your tongue and feed it to you!" He spat angrily before throwing him to the other side of the wall. Elijah hit his back and groaned weakly.
"And here I was, thinking you missed me!" Elijah said, struggling to breathe. "I didn't do anything to Rebecca; you made her lose her only source of happiness! You made her depressed!" He coughed.
"You don't have any idea what happened then? So shut that goddamn mouth!" Luciano's voice growled, and Elijah, out of fear, moved backward.
"Your wolf isn't accepting it, right?" He laughed stupidly. "Who was the reason Rebecca lost it? Me? Who killed her first offspring? Me?" Elijah's voice came, and Luciano, in a swift move, grabbed his head and threw him out of the glass window. He also jumped out of there, and together, they fell on the ground, with glass pieces everywhere.
Elijah had a cut on his face and hand.
"Why would I kill my own child? Why on earth would I cause pain to my wife?" He yelled, his voice like a million thunderstorms.
SILVER FANG PACK, 5 PM
Alpha Luciano was seated on Katherine's bed, engrossed in the book 'A Dance with the Devil.' When the door swung open, revealing a laughing Katherine as she entered, he looked up, and their eyes locked.
"Alpha…" She gulped.
"Come sit." He tapped his lap, and Katherine blinked twice.
"Huh?" She opened her mouth.
"I don't like repeating myself." He tapped his lap again, and she walked over to him. She sat down, and Alpha Luciano pulled her in, wrapping one of his hands around her waist.
"You left the pack house without telling me; you should be punished." He whispered into her ear.
"I'm sorry…"
"Shh…read this." He placed the book in her hands. "I wish to sleep here."
"With me sitting on your lap, how would you be comfortable?" she questioned.
"Don't be silly; you have no weight." He pinched her nose, and she chuckled slightly, her face reddened as she felt his body collide with hers.
"Go on and read, kitten." He rested his head on the wall.
"Once upon a time…" she began reading, and Alpha Luciano smiled. Her voice was a sweet melody to his hearing.
The room was filled with the rhythmic sound of her voice as she continued reading, and the atmosphere became serene. After a while, Alpha Luciano spoke, "Kitten, I have something important to discuss."
Katherine looked at him, curiosity in her eyes, "What is it, Alpha?"
He took a deep breath before revealing, "The recent incident with the First Lady's poisoning, I suspect foul play. You have to be carefu"
Katherine scoffed. "Not like you care"
"Kitten!, promise me you would be careful"
"I promise" she hisssd. "What's with the kitten anyway?"
"Good. You have a keen intuition; trust it. Now, let's continue with our story," he said, and they immersed themselves back into the enchanting tale
Before she could reach the tenth chapter, Alpha Lucinao was already fast asleep. She smiled when she found out.
"You look like an angel". She took the blanket and covered him.
"I didn't ask you to leave". His husky voice came, and she opened her mouth.
"Sit" he said, eyes still closed. She obeyed, resting her head on his chest. Alpha Luciano's hands wrapped around her waist, he inhaled her, his nose close to her neck. "You smell so good, just like a rose. I like roses, "he muttered.
Meanwhile, Rebecca stood outside, fixated on Katherine's window. The awareness that Alpha Luciano was inside the room pierced her deeply.
"He loved me first," she mumbled, tearing up. After a few seconds, she observed in horror as her tears transformed into blood. Gasping, she swiftly turned around, relieved that no one had witnessed the unsettling occurrence.
"What is this?" she muttered, wiping away the bloody tears.
Driven by confusion and concern, Rebecca hurried to the nearest waterfall. The cascading water offered a soothing backdrop as she washed her face, attempting to erase the disturbing memory of her tears turning into blood. She sniffed deeply before her thoughts circled back to the unusual phenomenon.
"What is happening? What is wrong with me?" she questioned herself.
Rebecca returned to her room, acutely aware of the hushed whispers among the maids. Sensing they were discussing her, she halted and cast a stern gaze their way.
"What is the sudden rumor?" She narrowed her eyebrows.
"Nothing special, Milady," one of the maids bowed, and she laughed.
"Milady? You dare refer to me as 'milady'?" She approached the maid, and before a word could escape, a resounding slap landed on her face, prompting a cry.
"I'm sorry, Luna!" The maids fell to their knees.
"You are all rascals! You deserve to die!" She retorted, storming into her room. "Ahhh!" She screamed, wreaking havoc in her surroundings.
Rebecca hurled a statue to the ground, shattering mirrors in a fit of rage. Her room echoed with the tumult of her screams and the maids rushed in to restrain her.
"Forgive us, Luna, please stop before you get hurt," the maids pleaded, but she pushed them away as if possessed by the strength of an Alpha. In the process, one maid was sent flying, her head hitting the wall with a sickening thud. A hole appeared in the wall as the maid crumpled to the floor, lifeless.
The room fell into a stunned silence as the gravity of the situation settled. Rebecca, now more distraught than before, stared at the lifeless maid in shock. The maids, torn between fear and sorrow, exchanged worried glances.
What happened? Is she dead?" Rebecca muttered, her tone cold and indifferent, and the maids glanced at her.
"Check her out," one said, and the youngest maid cautiously approached to assess the lifeless figure.
"She's... she's..." Before she could finish, she vomited, and Rebecca rolled her eyes.
"Take her away and dispose of her," she ordered, her tone devoid of empathy, and the maids, visibly shaken, nodded.
"If this reaches the Alpha's ear," she smirked." I'm killing all of you, every single one!" She locked eyes with them, her expression icy. Understood?"
"Yes, Luna."