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.

for his cousin to utilise the

him

appeared to be taking his time in that

leaving me standing in the centre of the room,

a Luna, although all of us had

“So, spill it.

deal with Liam?” she

she had been itching to ask that

want to know?” I countered,

thought of Liam was enough to

and

only

paperwork and evidence that

time with Liam was becoming increasingly

of Sophia, so I want to

her a smile, touched by

nothing between him and Sophia,” I reassured, to which

“You weren’t there, Jo.

she went missing, he was

never seen Liam that

those kind of feelings tend to linger,” she

I had

that intense?” I inquired, genuinely surprised, and she

“Worse.

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

painful to

just fade away,” she warned, her

to keep my

in arguing; she had firsthand experience and likely had a better grasp on Liam’s connection

ask her out?” I managed to

Charlotte shrugged in response.

always focused on his studies and his

that sort of thing; none of us really

then you came along,”

situation was

for Sophia, he hadn’t

me, he had acted

had made a move on me, and

need to

his intentions with me, and we’re officially dating now,” I stated with a touch of pride, causing her to gasp

she disputed, clearly taken aback, and I affirmed

to widen her

out?” she inquired, seeking

“Yeah,” I responded.

pressed for

ago,

was nothing romantic between him and

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

quiet about us because he doesn’t want the

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

she commented, and I felt

known each other our entire lives,” I corrected, and

affection for Liam, even from my earliest

a special place for him, though not necessarily in the

collective memories included countless gatherings and

to overlook these facts and insinuate that I had

reality, Sophia

“I’m sorry, Jo.

realise my words stung,” Charlotte apologised, sensing my

managed, close to tears because it seemed they just

had always been

out

arms formed a

“I apologise, Jo.

mention Sophia in that context

how insensitive that

the both of you,” she conveyed,

was forming pairs, we were secretly hoping

would be a fantastic match, but Sophia was always in the

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

and one

of you handle it if a fated shows up?” she asked, posing the famous

infrequent phenomenon, fated connections have