Chapter 19

Chiara's POV

I watch as Alice winks at her friend and I realize that they set me up on purpose. Alice had poisoned herself on purpose just to frame me for the crime and disqualify me from winning. Alice wanted to become Vedant’s Luna so badly that she was willing to make herself sick over it.

I look at Vedant, pleading with my eyes to believe me, but Alice’s friend claims that she saw me acting suspiciously, and since there are no cameras in the area where I was accused, it is her word against mine.

I try to think of something, anything that will prove my innocence, but Alice has a witness. I can’t compete with that. I remain silent, hoping that someone will come to my defense.

When nobody does, I have no choice but to accept Vedant’s judgement. He is the future Alpha and as a result he has the authority to expel me from the training class. I look at him one last time, begging him with my eyes to trust me, but he avoids my gaze.

“You are expelled from training class, meaning that any qualifications you have earned this far are null and void. What’s more you are to stay after school every night for a month to clean the building.’

I do my best to stay upright as I realize that my only chance of escaping this pack is gone. Cleaning the school is nothing, I’ve been punished worse, but the fact that I will never get the chance to attend wild warrior training is devastating.

The training was my only hope of escaping my miserable life and finding some kind of happiness. My one chance at freedom is gone. I will be tied to Vedant, to this pack, for the rest of my life.

I head inside. The school is clearing out and I know that I should start cleaning if I don’t want to be punished further.

After about an hour I hear laughter from outside and look out the window to see Vedant and Alice training together. I guess her stunt with the poison means she needed to make up time. I sigh and think about everything she had cost me.

Her hatred of me has doomed me to stay in the New Moon pack for the foreseeable future. But the one that disappointed me the most was Vedant. Although I no longer had high expectations for him, his distrust of my character stung me again.

As I work, I wrack my mind for something, anything else that would force Vedant to cut ties with me, but I remember his promise to torture me for the rest of my life, and I know that it’s hopeless. Vedant hates me and will only let escape this place under very specific circumstances.

I sigh, feeling completely dejected when I feel my phone buzz. I look down and see that Felix has texted me.

Felix: Did you see that other packs have been invited to compete against New Moon Pack’s strongest up and coming warriors? The packs are going to be combined for the competition. We’ll finally have our chance to meet.

I sigh as I think about what happened at the match between Alice and me. As the final few stragglers leave the building, chatting with excitement about the competition, my heart shatters. That should have been me competing.

Iris: Yeah. I heard, but I think I’m going to head home. I didn’t do very well in my match and I’m tired.

Felix: Please come. This may be one of the few chances we have to meet in person until the rogue activity in your area dies back down. I really want to see you. You don’t have to promise anything now, but I am going to be wearing a purple hat. If you come wear a purple hat too and I’ll know that it’s you. I have a surprise for you.

Butterflies explode in my stomach as I think of the prospect of meeting Felix in person for the first time. I don’t want to see Vedant and Alice fight, but the opportunity to finally meet Felix is too much for me to resist. I have to go to the match, if only to meet him.

The match is to be held in one hour to allow the participants time to recover from their previous matches and I use that time to panic. What if Felix doesn’t like what he sees? Eventually I sigh and pull on a light purple bucket hat, the only purple hat I own and head back down to the field.

I’ve done the best I can. I just hope Felix will like me now that he knows what I look like. Despite my nerves, I’m excited to finally meet Felix.

When I arrive in the auditorium the feeling in the room is electric. There are thousands of people in the crowd, people I have never seen before. A group of girls from my class giggle near the entrance. One of them just had their birthday and she’s hoping that her mate is here from a different pack.

I make my way through the buzzing crowd, scanning for a few minutes before I find an available seat. Vedant’s competition is first and I have to admit that watching him fight is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Alice goes next and although I am bitter that she took my place, she fights well.

The pair from the New Moon pack fight hard, and despite our differences I can’t help feeling a little pack pride at their victories.

Still, I didn’t come down her to watch Vedant and Alice win. I check my phone, but there are no new messages from Felix.

I watch as Vedant and Alice walk down to the main stage to claim their rewards. Before the announcer can say anything Vedant turns to the crowd.

“I know there was some speculation that the first prize female would become my Luna, but I have always already had somebody in mind. There is a female that I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

I do my best not to roll my eyes as Alice steps forward, cheeks red. “Is… it me?”

A gasp goes through the crowd as Vedant shakes his head. “No.”

I think back to our time at school trying to figure out who else Vedant would want to spend the rest of his life with. He has never shown much interest in dating, but if he had to choose someone I figured it would be Alice.

Vedant waits until the murmuring of the crowd dies down before speaking again. “Her name is Iris.”

There’s a murmur from the crowd as everyone looks around in confusion. No one knows who Iris is. Alice seethes from onstage.

I am not confused. All of the blood drain from my face as he speaks the name. That’s the name of my online persona.

Just as I convince myself, that Vedant has just spoken the most unfortunate coincidence in the world my phone buzzes in my hand.

Felix: This is my surprise for you. Do you like it?