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 utilise the room

him selecting a Luna

appeared to be taking his

shut the door behind her, leaving me standing in the centre of the room, taking

was passable for a Luna, although all of us had more luxurious accommodations

“So, spill it.

the deal with Liam?” she inquired, her curiosity

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

want to know?” I countered, feeling my

was enough to

days had been a whirlwind, and our

had only

paperwork and evidence

time with

you are my friend, and he is my cousin, and I know of Sophia, so I want to know why you will allow yourself to get carried away,” she responded, her tone genuinely

a smile, touched

I reassured, to which

“You weren’t there, Jo.

went missing, he was

never seen Liam

ran incredibly deep, and those kind of feelings tend to

me off guard, as I had never

it really that intense?” I inquired, genuinely surprised, and

“Worse.

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

to witness

away,” she warned, her words

choosing to

experience and likely had a better grasp on Liam’s connection with

he ever ask her out?” I managed to inquire, seeking to understand

Charlotte shrugged in response.

focused on his

thing; none of us really had the

different, and then you came along,” she offered, injecting a note of

situation

they said he felt for Sophia, he hadn’t taken any steps

me, he had acted

had made a move on me, and that was what

don’t need to worry about Sophia

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

she disputed, clearly taken aback, and I affirmed her surprise with a

seemed to widen her

asked you out?”

“Yeah,” I responded.

pressed for

ago, right

was nothing romantic between him and Sophia, they were

admitted he used to have feelings for her, but that’s all

guess is he’s kept quiet about us because he doesn’t want the search for her

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

she commented, and

lives,” I

an affection for Liam, even from my earliest

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

gatherings and playing in the garden’s

these facts and insinuate that I had

Sophia

“I’m sorry, Jo.

my words stung,” Charlotte apologised,

along,” I managed, close to tears because it

had always

out

arms formed a

“I apologise, Jo.

Sophia in

realise how

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

forming pairs, we were secretly hoping for you

it would be a fantastic match, but Sophia

front of him,” she added, and

one

would the two of you handle it if a fated shows

an infrequent phenomenon, fated connections have become more common over the