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.

cousin to utilise the

for him selecting a

taking his

shut the door behind her, leaving me standing in

although all of us

“So, spill it.

the deal with Liam?” she inquired, her

glanced at her, fully aware that she had been itching to ask that question

to know?” I countered, feeling

thought of Liam was enough to make me

days had been a whirlwind, and our

had only intensified

and

time with Liam was

cousin, and I know of Sophia, so I want to know why you will allow yourself to get

smile, touched by

Sophia,” I reassured, to which she

“You weren’t there, Jo.

she went missing, he

Liam

emotions ran incredibly deep, and those kind of feelings tend

guard, as I had never been privy

I inquired,

“Worse.

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

be painful to

fade away,”

nodded, choosing to keep my

point in arguing; she had firsthand experience and likely had a

out?” I managed to inquire, seeking to understand

Charlotte shrugged in response.

focused on his

for that sort of thing; none of us really had the

things might be different, and then you came along,”

situation

emotions they said he felt for Sophia, he

with me, he had acted

made a move on me, and that was what

need to

me, and we’re officially dating now,” I stated with

clearly taken aback, and I affirmed her

seemed to

asked you out?” she inquired, seeking

“Yeah,” I responded.

pressed for

ago, right

me there was nothing romantic between

to have feelings for her, but that’s

us because he

his friend, so it’s understandable,” I explained, and

for so long,” she commented, and I

entire lives,”

an affection for Liam,

held a special place for him, though not necessarily in the realm of love or

memories included countless gatherings and

for them to overlook these facts and insinuate that

Sophia was

“I’m sorry, Jo.

stung,” Charlotte apologised, sensing

all along,” I managed, close to tears because it seemed they just forgot that I

had always

reached out to

formed a bond of

“I apologise, Jo.

Sophia

realise how

know that I’m cheering for the both of you,” she conveyed, releasing me from

pairs, we were secretly hoping for you two

be a fantastic match, but Sophia

in front of him,” she added,

one more

you handle it if a

once an infrequent phenomenon, fated connections have