Chapter 32: Chapter 32

DUSK.

He walked to me with his hands in his pocket, and my hands started to shake.

"What was that that was so hard for you to throw away?" He asked, trying to peer into the dark waste bin.

"Hard to throw away? A paint bottle? That wasn't hard to throw away; I was just so stuck up in my thoughts." I said. I was surprised to hear myself lie so flawlessly.

"Stuck up in your thoughts? I thought you were having the best time ever right now." He said, and I knew he meant Lucius.

"Yeah. I'm... I'm having the best time now; that's what everyone says, but somehow, I find myself still doubting Lucius feelings, and not helping matters is his father, who says I shouldn't be seen with him." I said, and he looked at me with a surprised expression on his face.

"The Alpha said that?" He asked, and I nodded.

"He told me I was the reason Lucius' wasn't taking the pack seriously. He threatened me too." I said, and he seemed to have nothing to say, and I was right.

"I don't know what to say. Have you told Lucius about this?" He asked, and I began to lead him away slowly.

"I've not told him yet. I still haven't found the right time." I said, and he shook his head.

"You should have told him. He's the one who knows how to best protect you. You should tell him now." He said, and I thought about facing Lucius when he wasn't under the power of the potion.

"I'll tell him. I will." I said, and he nodded.

"I'll be going this way." He said, and I nodded eagerly. I watched him go, then dashed back to the bin, reached in, and took the potion back.

It was kind of clueless to hide it there; anyone could come across it, and I'd be immediately linked to it.

I took it with me back to my room and sat on my bed.

I looked at the potion and studied it for a long time. The memories of the good times with Lucius came floating in, and I got annoyed because it was Lucius true self in love, and that confirmed the fact that he was only pretending.

His ego couldn't bear being rejected, and he was playing it smart with me.

I threw the potion across the bed and left my room.

On my way to the library, I met Ariadne.

"Here comes the beautiful dusk." She sneers. I didn't say anything.

"What's wrong? The Alpha didn't act all sweet with you today? Has it ended so soon? I'm afraid there's someone new in his heart. Lucius isn't known to stick to one person, so I hope you know this and behave yourself." She said snickeringly.

"Everyone knows this Kingdom is mine. I will be Luna, not you. So you should stop your child like fantasy and go and rot somewhere." She said, and the words were a bit hard.

"And who says it's a childlike fantasy? Who says it's even a fantasy at all? You act based on what you see happening; isn't that such a dangerous trait for someone who wants to be a Luna?" I asked, and she laughed.

"Yes, I act based on what's happening. What's wrong with that? It's the truth I see." She said, and I scoffed and made to walk past her, but she held my arm.

"Don't say I didn't warn you about our Alpha." She said and chuckled, leaving me.

The next few days were worse; Lucius kept his distance, and Ariadne and Dalia wasted no time in mocking me. They were enjoying the drastic change, and even Seline started asking for explanations of what had happened.

~

LUCIUS.

I knew I loved Dusk and wanted to spend more time with her, but it still bothered me.

I couldn't understand my actions because I wasn't one to be so open about things like that.

It had been hard to think clearly both when she was with me and when she wasn't.

Could it be that her new appearance had made me fall deeply in love with her? Why were there some days where I was sane and some days where I seemed to be drunk?

There was a knock on my door, and Ethan came in.

I cleared my desk.

"So have you sorted your thoughts? I see you and Dusk have stopped going around." He said as he sat in front of me.

"Yes. I still can't figure it out, but I'll visit her tomorrow. She must think I've lost interest in her, and I don't want her to think that." I said, and he smiled.

"I'm glad you decided on that. And also, has she told you about what your father said?" He asked, and I shook my head.

"Was there something my father said?" I asked, and he nodded.

"She didn't tell you? She said the Alpha threatened her. He didn't want to see you with her. I thought I told her to tell you." He said, and I shook my head.

"She didn't. I'll address that tomorrow. I won't let my father do anything to Dusk." I said, and he smiled.

"You should assure Dusk and let her know how you feel." He said, and I nodded, although I still wasn't sure how I'd do that. She had gained new confidence since her total transformation, and I was scared of her rejecting me or not believing me.

"I'll do that soon enough." I said.

That night, it was hard to sleep, and I thought hard about the relationship between me and Dusk. The problem was where we had started. We hadn't started out right.

It took quite a while before I fell asleep, and when I did, I awoke shortly for some reason as I opened my eyes.

I saw a red bottle over my eyes, and when I looked further...

I saw Dusk standing over me with the bottle in her hand, ready to pour it on my face.