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

for him selecting a

taking his time in that

her, leaving me standing in the centre of the room, taking in the

was passable for a Luna, although all of us had

“So, spill it.

deal with Liam?” she inquired, her curiosity

fully aware that she had been itching to ask that question for a

want to know?” I countered, feeling my cheeks

mere thought of Liam was enough to make

a whirlwind, and our

had only intensified as a

and evidence that left

spending genuine quality time

want to know why you will allow yourself to get carried away,” she responded,

offered her a smile, touched by her

and Sophia,” I reassured, to

“You weren’t there, Jo.

missing, he was

never seen Liam

incredibly deep, and those kind

as I had never been privy

that intense?” I

“Worse.

share all the details because they might have an

painful to witness your

like that don’t just fade away,”

choosing to

she had firsthand experience and likely had a better grasp on

her out?” I managed to

Charlotte shrugged in response.

always focused on his studies and his

wasn’t time for that sort of thing; none of us really

now things might be different, and then

situation

felt for Sophia, he hadn’t

he had acted

a move on me, and that

to worry about Sophia

dating now,” I stated with

taken aback, and I affirmed her surprise

to

actually asked you out?” she inquired,

“Yeah,” I responded.

pressed

ago,

there was nothing romantic between him and Sophia, they were just

to have feelings for her, but that’s

is he’s kept quiet about us because he doesn’t want

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

long,” she commented, and I felt the need

other our entire lives,” I corrected, and a

affection for Liam, even from my

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

countless gatherings and playing in the garden’s

unjust for them to overlook these facts and insinuate that I had suddenly appeared out of

Sophia was

“I’m sorry, Jo.

my words stung,”

close to tears because it seemed they

had always been

out

arms formed a bond

“I apologise, Jo.

Sophia in that context

realise how insensitive that

cheering for the both of you,” she conveyed, releasing

forming pairs, we were secretly hoping for you two to come

a fantastic match, but Sophia was always in

right in front of him,” she added,

one more

you handle it if a fated shows up?” she asked,

infrequent phenomenon, fated connections have become