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.

sense for his cousin to utilise

for him selecting

be taking his

in the centre of the room, taking in

Luna, although all

“So, spill it.

with Liam?”

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

I countered, feeling my

of Liam was enough to make me

had been a whirlwind, and our chances to be together had been

only intensified as a

had kept us occupied with paperwork and evidence that left us exhausted

prospect of spending genuine quality time with Liam

are my friend, and he is my cousin, and I know of Sophia, so I want to know why you

smile, touched by her

I reassured, to which she

“You weren’t there, Jo.

she went missing,

never seen Liam

kind

as I had never been privy to

that intense?” I

“Worse.

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

to witness your heart getting

away,” she warned, her

choosing to keep my unease

and likely had a better grasp on

I

Charlotte shrugged in response.

was always focused on his studies and his

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

might be different, and then you came along,” she offered, injecting

my situation

for Sophia, he hadn’t taken any steps

me, he had acted

made a move on me,

to

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

disputed, clearly taken aback, and

seemed to

out?”

“Yeah,” I responded.

pressed for

ago, right after

romantic between him and

used to have feelings for her, but that’s

guess is he’s kept quiet about us because he

it’s understandable,” I explained,

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

lives,” I corrected, and a silence

held an affection for

him, though not necessarily in the realm of

memories included countless gatherings and playing in

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

Sophia

“I’m sorry, Jo.

my words stung,” Charlotte apologised, sensing

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

always been

reached out to

formed a bond of

“I apologise, Jo.

mention Sophia in

realise how

both of you,” she conveyed, releasing

else was forming pairs, we were secretly hoping

a fantastic match, but Sophia was always in the

of him,” she added, and in that moment,

and one

you handle it if a fated shows up?”

phenomenon, fated connections have become more common over the