The Dark Side Of Fate

Going On ~Josephine~ The kappas coming from Lucland didn’t reach Grizlo Hospital until late, subjecting us all to a lengthy and tense wait.

When they finally did arrive, Charlotte couldn’t contain her joy.

Meanwhile, I observed Justin issuing them instructions, my only thought being an earnest desire to depart from that place.

Before long, we were on our way back to the packhouse, with hunger and fatigue weighing heavily on all of us.

“What comes next?” Marvin inquired, prompting a chuckle from Justin.

“Merely your first day, and exhaustion has already set in.

Imagine if you had to work under an Alpha known for their workaholic tendencies.

Would you feel similarly then?” he remarked, eliciting laughter from Liam.

“I must say our empty stomachs pose a predicament.

Even the most industrious of Alphas must heed the call of hunger,” Liam added with a grin, inciting amusement all around.

Justin took a turn and branched at a diner to satiate our immediate needs.

The moment we entered the place, the patrons had their eyes on us.

They looked at us as if we weren’t like them.

Marvin, Oliver and Liam had it easy because they smiled at them and greeted them, but even though they greeted us, too, the difference was there.

Liam got a booth for us, and I snuggled into the corner with him.

Something I had noticed so far was being around Liam felt right.

He made me feel calm and at ease.

I think I closed my eyes a bit to savour the feeling because the moment I opened them, Charlotte was sitting across from us with a disapproving look on her face.

I honestly wondered what her deal was.

Having placed our orders, we consumed our meal in a hushed atmosphere.

“Our parents, will head to Lucland tomorrow night, and the council meeting will take place the following day.

We won’t be able to do much until after the meeting.

We will use that time to go through the files made available by the Gamma.

I implore that we all remain in the packhouse while we await further instruction,” Justin implored as our meal neared its end.

I could not help but notice all eyes were on Liam and me, meaning we were most likely to break the rule.

I liked it.

TWO DAYS LATER.

Unlike previous occasions, the council assembly remained untelevised, leaving me curious as to the reason behind this choice.

We had congregated in a communal space to observe the meeting’s proceedings, anticipating insights into our forthcoming actions, but the fact that it wasn’t televised made it disappointing.

After a while, King Sylvester called Liam on the phone.

Everyone’s phone rang except for Charlotte and me— signifying that our instructions had been dispensed.

I had assumed my father would call me, yet my phone remained conspicuously silent.

Similarly, Charlotte’s phone didn’t ring, and a sense of unease crept over us.

The situation seemed unjust, to say the least.

We were integral members of the team, and yet, either our presence was deemed nonessential, or we were relegated to mere order-takers.

The sentiment gnawed at me, fostering a sensation of diminished significance.

“Want to spend some time in my room?” Charlotte suggested, prompting me to glance at Liam.

He appeared deeply engrossed in conversation with his father, implying a protracted dialogue.

Despite my reluctance to depart, I nodded in agreement.

We headed to Charlotte’s room, and it was apparent that the space she had chosen was originally designated for the Luna on the Alpha floor.

Her commitment to making herself at home seemed unwavering.

I suppose the fact that Justin lacked a Luna made the situation permissible.

made sense for his cousin to

timeline for him selecting a Luna

appeared to be taking his time in that

in the centre

passable for a Luna, although all of us

“So, spill it.

Liam?” she

had been itching to

know?” I countered, feeling my cheeks

was enough to

past two days had been a whirlwind, and our chances to be together had been

longing had only intensified

and evidence

of spending genuine quality time with Liam was

is my cousin, and I know of Sophia, so I want to know why you will allow yourself to get carried away,”

a smile, touched by

between him and Sophia,” I reassured, to which

“You weren’t there, Jo.

went missing, he was

seen Liam that shattered

ran incredibly deep, and those kind of

revelation caught me off guard, as I had

it really that intense?” I

“Worse.

all the details because they might have an impact on you, but

would be painful to witness your

fade away,” she warned, her words sinking

nodded, choosing to keep my unease

experience and likely had a better grasp on Liam’s

ask her out?” I managed to inquire, seeking to

Charlotte shrugged in response.

was always focused on his studies and

sort of thing; none of

think now things might be different, and then you came along,” she

my situation

felt for Sophia,

me, he had

on me,

to worry about Sophia

now,” I stated with a touch of pride, causing her to gasp in

disputed, clearly taken aback, and I

seemed to widen her

out?” she inquired, seeking

“Yeah,” I responded.

pressed

ago, right

assured me there was nothing romantic between him and Sophia,

have feelings for her, but that’s

he’s kept quiet about us because

all, she’s his friend, so it’s understandable,” I

each other for so long,” she commented, and I felt the

other our entire lives,” I corrected, and a silence

always held an affection for

place for him, though not necessarily in the

memories included countless gatherings and

them to overlook these facts and insinuate that I

reality, Sophia was the

“I’m sorry, Jo.

words stung,” Charlotte

there all along,” I managed, close to tears because

had always

reached out

each other tightly, our arms formed a bond of understanding and

“I apologise, Jo.

Sophia in that

how insensitive that

of you,” she conveyed,

everyone else was forming pairs, we were secretly hoping for you

a fantastic match, but Sophia was

that Liam now recognises what’s right in front of him,” she added, and in that moment, my

and one more

handle it if a fated shows

fated connections have become more common over