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36. Gasp
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 37. Full Moon
Callista.I don’t sleep that night.I don’t cry either. Although the sadness in my heart, mixed with anger, indignation, and desperation combined is the size of the sun, and just as hot, I don’t cry. My eyes remain dry as I listen to the soft breaths of other maids, nothing pulling the lids of my eyes down and dragging me into a slumber.How can I sleep, when I know this is the last night I will be spending here?In the perfect world, I would be sleeping by Theon’s side, bearing his mark on my neck, the voice of my wolf in my head, secure in the knowledge that I’d finally found the one place in the world where I belonged. But the reality is far from that, and I couldn’t dwell on what would’ve been, not when I wanted to keep sane.But oh, how I wish for that dream to soothe the hurt in my very soul.In the morning bells sound, rousing the staff of the castle.Helen lets me know that I’ve been punished for my ‘insubordination’ from last night with two more months in community service. S
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 38. She escaped.
Ruelle.“Well?” I ask the panting guard after transforming back to my human form, “Where is she now?”The guard, Derrick, is a middle-aged man who’d been in Theon’s personal security for ages. Just days ago, he’d been in an accident and had been injured severely. His arm was broken, and even as a wolf, it was going to take at least a week to heal, and coupled with other injuries, he was advised by the doctors in the hospital not to participate in today’s run.So, I’d taken it upon myself to ask him to keep an eye on Callista.I knew the little shit was up to something the moment she’d told us she was done with Theon that night. She’d gotten a cold, determined look in her eyes, and I’d seen that before. It meant that she’d made up her mind to do something, and even an idiot could figure out what someone in her position would want.Freedom.If anyone wanted to attempt to escape, today was the best window for it. The castle was as empty as it could be, and the whole pack was in one place
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 39. Forest
Callista.The moat isn’t as deep as I thought it would be, and I’m thankful for that.I’m dripping wet after crossing it, my clothes heavy on my body. I wring whatever I can and shake the water out of my shoes. My backpack hasn’t soaked, which is a relief.I’m finally outside the castle.Now the time was crucial.I start to run. I’m as strong as I’ve been before, and that helps me to cross the town in no time. I avoid the main road and any important buildings, opting to weave my way through the residential area. My aim is the forest, and even though the town of the Rexellen pack is bigger than the Leighwen pack’s, it’s still small enough.I’m panting hard by the time I make it to the tree line.I halt after I pass the last house, taking one last look at the town and the distant castle.Had it only been two months since I’d arrived here? It feels like I’m escaping a place that had caged me forever.The forest is hard to navigate. Unlike the Leighwen pack’s forest, this one lacks any wa
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 40. Sacrifice
Callista.The force of my attack rattles Ruelle, and she immediately transforms back into her human form. She staggers, crying out and clutching her head. I held the tree branch threateningly in front of me, knowing that if I ran now, she’d get the chance to chase me. I need to take her down here and now.“You’re going to pay for that!” She cries out, voice slurry and eyes flashing with anger.But she does not transform into her wolf, although it looks like she’s trying.“Can’t transform back?” I ask, “Too weak? I knew there was a reason you didn’t transform often.” I mock her, “Who’s the weakling now? One swing and you turn back to a human.”“Theon!” She screams at the top of her lungs, “She’s here! She’s attacking me! Help!”But Theon doesn’t answer her calls.Instead, at that exact moment, a large grey wolf bursts into the clearing.For a moment, Ruelle and I gape at the beast.And then we scream because this is not a wolf of the Rexellen pack.Nor is he a sane one.His eyes are bl
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 41. Frenzy
Callista.So much happens during the next few hours.Ruelle is taken to the hospital through a frenzy of wolves seeing their future Luna Queen pale and dripping blood, because Theon doesn’t believe she’s dead. I can’t blame him. How could she be? She was alive just minutes ago. Besides, even if we’re sure she’s dead, we need to take her to the hospital for them to make an official report.Theon had carried her himself, wrapping his arms gently around her and running as fast as the wind. It’s more than clear that she’s dead, but he doesn’t want to accept it.He doesn’t speak a word with me, he doesn’t even acknowledge me. The minute the rogues are either killed or apprehended, he turns his attention on Ruelle, sees her bleeding out, and takes her away.I’m still dazed with shock. I can't believe what just happened had actually happened.I sit on the mossy ground wet with Ruelle’s blood, my eyes unfocused.Ruelle’s dead.She’s actually dead.She won’t be stealing my scent anymore; she w
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 42. Murderer
Callista.The castle is silent as if a storm is about to be unleashed on it. As we return, black curtains are already being hung along with black banners bearing the crest of the Rexellen pack on them.Haden and the Beta sneak me into the tower. I’m once again in my old room, which looks the same as I left it. It feels surreal being here, doesn’t even feel like a place I had stayed in. I suddenly recall my room in the Leighwen pack home. Everything that made me Callista was there, probably trashed now that I’d successfully been chased off. This room feels so sterile in comparison, even though it’s hundred percent better than sharing quarters with the maids. At least I have the privacy to break down properly here.“You’re covered with blood from head to toe, it cannot be comfortable at all.” The Beta says, voice paternal and kind. “Take a shower, please, take as much time as you need. I can’t imagine how difficult this is going to be for you. Your previous clothes are in the wardrobe,
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 43. Council
Callista.I stand in the middle of a hexagonal room with tall windows that are covered with black, lace curtains, shrouding the chamber with darkness. Surrounding me, there are six people, seated behind a hexagonal roundtable. Even if there weren’t anyone in the room, the way the chamber’s design is enough to make me intimidated.And the people gathered do not help at all.Right in front of me sits the Alpha King, hidden by the shadows. I can’t see him clearly, just his silhouette, but I know that his eyes are piercing me with a glare that threatens great danger. To his right sits the Beta, whose name I’d learned is Kellin, and to his left sits Haden. There are 2 more men and 2 women, all disguised in darkness.It feels much more sinister than a mere trial.“Callista Leander,” Hatred drips as Theon spits out my name, “You’ve been charged with the murder of a fellow wolf, your own sister at that.” He leans forward, and I can’t keep from gasping.His eyes are tinged with red, and his f
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 44.
Callista.“I didn’t kill her,” I reply, trying not to be afraid. Stick to my truth, Haden told me, stick to my innocence. That was what I was planning to do. If I were to die, I’d die innocent.“I called her parents just moments ago.” Says Theon, sounding far too calm. “They were absolutely heartbroken. They asked me how I let that happen to their daughter after they trusted you both with me.”“I didn’t kill my sister,” I fight against the tears and repeat. Stick to my innocence. I need to stick to the truth. “I had no intention of anyone getting hurt.”Theon goes on like I didn’t speak.“I told them it had been sudden, and I’d told her to stay with the pack. But she’d been too worried. About her sister,” He looks at me, with an expression of a damned man. “Her sister wasn’t even her own sister, really. A girl who’d mistreated her for years, a girl who just recently broke her nose, a girl who tried to seduce her mate.”Is it possible to be so angry at one’s mate? It has to be because
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