Chapter 0016
I knew I had no choice but to complete the task Elijah had assigned me. Sitting in my new office, I combed through the list of individuals I was supposed to contact, trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation. Each name felt like a weight, knowing they wouldn’t take me seriously.
Luna, not truly. My wolf was gone, I could never be a real Luna. I was just a placeholder in this grand illusion.
After making my selections, I tried to contact the pack members, explaining their roles and what was expected of them. Just as I feared, they immediately rejected my authority. Each conversation left me feeling more frustrated than the last, as they dismissed me outright, labeling me a “nobody” and flat–out refusing to follow orders from someone who wasn’t truly part of the
pack
They told me to find someone else and hung up or walked away, indifferent to the urgency of the task at hand. Frustrated and on
the verge of losing my temper, I stormed back to Elijah’s office. I wasn’t sure what I expected from him, but I wasn’t about to give
- up.
Elijah was there, his piercing eyes studying me as I walked in. I wordlessly grabbed a notebook from his desk and sat down to
write. This time, I knew what I had to do.
Under Elijah’s watchful gaze, I carefully drafted formal written instructions. The words came out cold and precise. I wasn’t
asking for their cooperation anymore–I was commanding it.
After all, Elijah had made it clear that I needed to learn how to be Luna, and in this pack, an Alpha’s mate had power. Power that I
now needed to use. With the documents in hand, I marched out of his office and distributed them to the workers.
“This is an Alpha order,” I said, my voice steady and strong. “You’re expected to have this completed before the upcoming
meeting.
I didn’t need to negotiate this time. The moment I invoked Elijah’s authority, their resistance melted away.
There was no more pushback, no more questioning.
They simply followed the command, and I felt a small surge of satisfaction. The job would get done, not because they respected. but because they feared the Alpha’s wrath. It wasn’t ideal, but it was enough to ensure that my command would be obeyed.
me,
When I returned to Elijah, I could barely contain my smugness.
“It’s done,” I told him, my chin lifted just slightly in defiance, daring him to question me.
Elijah’s lips twitched upward, a hint of approval flickering across his face.
“It seems you have some cleverness in you, ‘top student.“” His words held a touch of sarcasm, but I didn’t care. I had done what
needed to be done, and I didn’t need his approval to feel good about it.
Later that afternoon, Elijah gathered the team together. To my surprise, he announced to the group that I was his new assistant
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+15 BONUS
and his mate. His declaration caused a ripple of surprise to spread through the room, but he continued without hesitation.
“Her responsibilities will include coordinating personnel and managing various tasks. I expect everyone to cooperate fully.”
I scanned the faces in the room, locking eyes with one particular stubborn werewolf who had refused to listen to me earlier. He looked nervous now, his defiance replaced with unease. I smiled kindly at him, feeling a small sense of victory rise within me.
But before I could bask in the satisfaction of my success, I caught a glimpse of my stepsister from across the room. She was
glaring at me, jealousy practically radiating off her in waves.
I hadn’t thought about Ava much since I arrived, but it was clear she hadn’t forgotten me. Her green eyes burned with anger, and
I knew she wasn’t going to let this slide.
Later, as I headed to the bathroom, Ava blocked my path at the door. I sighed, already feeling my patience thinning.
“What did you do to manipulate Elijah?” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.
I had no time for her games, no interest in whatever petty drama she wanted to stir up.
“Move,” I said, trying to brush past her.
But Ava wasn’t finished. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“I know all about your past from college,” she sneered. “Elijah hates people with bad character. How do you think he’ll react
when he finds out what you did?”
Her words froze me in place, a wave of panic rushing through me.
College. She was bringing that up now?
The false accusations, the lies that had ruined my reputation hack then, all of it was coming back like a nightmare. I knew Ava had
been behind those rumors. She had spread those cruel fabrications, and now she was threatening to do it all over again.
“Everyone will know you’re a fraud,” she spat before storming off, leaving me standing there, shaken.
By the time I returned to the main room, whispers were already circulating. Ava had been busy, telling everyone that I had been
expelled from college for plagiarizing a professor’s research. The rumor took on a life of its own, spreading like wildfire. People stared at me, their eyes filled with judgment, and the weight of it all felt suffocating.
I couldn’t defend myself. There was no proof to clear my name, just as there hadn’t been years ago. My chest tightened, and
suddenly, it felt like I was back in that dark time, ostracized and shamed. Overwhelmed, I fled the building, needing to escape before the panic swallowed me whole.
Before I could reach my car, Elijah appeared beside me. His presence startled me, and I quickly tried to compose myself.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice calm but filled with concern.
I hesitated, my heart racing. What if he believed Ava? What if he thought I was guilty?
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Chapter pol
How could I face him if he thought I had done something so vile?
“I have plans with a friend,” I lied, forcing a smile. “I’ll be back later.”
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In reality, I was running. Running from the accusations, the judgment, and the truth. I couldn’t deal with it right now, not with
everything else going on.
Instead, I went straight to the DNA testing facility and handed over Thea’s hair sample. It would take a few days for the results,
but at least I was one step closer to the truth.
When I finally returned to the house, I was surprised to find Elijah waiting for me. My stomach dropped.
“About what’s going around at work,” he said, his voice steady but firm. “You should be honest with me.
I knew I couldn’t keep hiding. The weight of the lies and the rumors was too much. So, I told him everything–the accusations,
the lies, the shame I had carried with me for years.
“I didn’t do what they’re accusing me of. I swear,” I said, my voice shaking. “But I have no way to prove it.”
Elijah’s gaze softened, and for the first time, I saw something other than indifference in his eyes.
“Now, I’ll teach you the third lesson of being Luna,” he said, his tone gentle. “Never waste your time proving yourself.”
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