Chapter 7
On the second day of the countdown, it was the anniversary of Liora’s parents‘ death.
She rose early that morning, dressed in simple black, and prepared to leave for the cemetery to pay her respects.
But just as she reached the door, Carmen called out behind her.
“Liora, I’ll go with you,”
She paused in her tracks, then turned to glare at him coldly.
“What for? Are you planning to have your warriors pin me down and make me kneel and knock my forehead against the floor to Evelynne again?”
Carmen’s face darkened instantly.
He had intended to ease the tension between them, but her words instantly reignited the anger he had just barely suppressed.
“You were the one in the wrong yesterday. Are you going to keep dragging this out?”
Liora sneered, pushing past him toward the door.
But as she approached the car, she saw Evelynne sitting in the front seat, smiling gently at her.”
“Liora,” she said sweetly, “Carmen told me you were visiting your parents today. I wanted to come too.”
Liora’s rage exploded like a lit fuse.
She spun around and stared at Carmen, voice trembling with fury.
“Carmen, this is my bottom line. She is not allowed at their grave!”
Carmen frowned. “Liora, you’re being unreasonable. Evelynne means well. Don’t be so ungrateful.”
“She means well?” Liora’s eyes dripped with sarcasm. “Have you forgotten what day it is, Carmen? This isn’t your date night, it’s the day my parents
died!”
Evelynne let out a soft sigh.
“Liora, why do you hate me so much? Weren’t we close before? Why are you always targeting me?”
Liora let out a cold laugh, her gaze icy as she stared at Evelynne. “You know why I hate you!”
Carmen stepped forward, unable to watch any longer. He grabbed Liora by the wrist and pulled her toward the car.
“Enough, Liora. Stop making a scene. Get in.”
She struggled against him, but couldn’t break free from his grip.
The car sped toward the cemetery. Liora didn’t want to look at the two behind her, holding flowers as she hurried toward her parents‘ grave.
She squatted down before the gravestone and placed the flowers down with care, her fingertips brushing the cold marble, pain flickering in her eyes.
“Mom… Dad… I came to see you.‘
Without Liora noticing, Carmen had silently followed and stood behind her, eyes fixed on the gravestone with a complicated expression,
“Mom, Dad,” he said quietly, “I don’t like Liora, but I’ll take care of her for life.”
Liora’s body stiffened.
For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, her voice came out through clenched teeth,
“I don’t need you to take care of me. I just want you to say that you love me.”
Carmen’s face turned frosty in an instant.
“Not happening, Liora. Don’t push your luck. I told you I will never love you.”
Her chest tightened, a sharp ache slicing through her, but she said nothing more.
When the visit ended, Carmen turned and left with Evelynne at his side. Liora lingered, speaking softly to her parents, reluctant to leave.
Some time passed and she was just about to head out when one of the cemetery guards, a werewolf named Ben, stopped her.
Chapter 7
6.86%
BookSnap
4.7 FREE
Transforme seu trajeto diário em um curso intensivo sobre livros que vão mudar o mundo!
Google Play
INSTALL
“Luna… there’s something we think you should know.”
Liora frowned. A flicker of unease twisted in her gut. “What is it?”
Ben lowered his head, guilt heavy in his voice. “Actually… Evelynne ordered us to dig your parents‘ coffin up and burn the remains. They were turned into
fireworks.”
Liora’s pupils contracted violently. She could hardly believe her ears.
“What did you say?!”
Ben sighed. “A few days ago, Evelynne forced us to dig up your parents‘ coffin. We refused, but she threatened us, saying she’s Alpha Carmen’s favored she–wolf and the future Luna of the pack. If we disobeyed, the Alpha would make things unbearable for us. We didn’t want to do it. But we had no choice. But our conscience wouldn’t let us keep it from you.”
Liora’s mind went blank, her ears buzzed with static.
By the time she snapped out of it, she was already sprinting out of the cemetery.
After a few frantic inquiries, she rushed to the bar where Carmen and Evelynne were.
Inside the bar, the lights were dim, music blared.
She burst in just as Carmen and Evelynne sat on a couch playing “Truth or Dare.”
Evelynne had lost and, according to the rules, was supposed to kiss Carmen.
She blushed, lowering her head and slowly leaned toward him.
Just as her lips were about to touch his, Liora rushed over, grabbed a bottle from the table, and smashed it hard against Evelynne’s head.
“Crash.”
Glass shattered. Evelynne screamed, collapsing onto the floor, blood streaming down her forehead.
Screams erupted everywhere, most people couldn’t process what was going on.
Only Carmen rose to his feet and, without hesitation, slapped Liora across the face.
“Liora! Have you lost your mind?!”
A trace of blood seeped from the corner of Liora’s mouth, but she seemed completely numb to the pain.
“I’ve lost my mind? No, she’s the one who’s lost her mind!” Her voice cracked with anguish. “Do you even know what she did to my parents?!”
Carmen’s expression darkened instantly. “Your parents are dead. What could she possibly do to them now?”
“They left behind a coffin and ashes!” Liora’s voice trembled, tears spilling uncontrollably. “She put their ashes in the fireworks and set off them!”
“The fireworks from the banquet the night before, that was their ashes!”
Carmen froze. His eyes flickered with a trace of shock.
Evelynne, however, was already crying, her voice trembling with innocence.
“I didn’t… I didn’t do that… Liora, why are you making up such terrible things to frame me?”
Carmen seemed to recall something. His face darkened instantly. “Liora, have your tricks to slander gotten this pathetic? Your parents adored Evelynne since you were kids. How could possibly she do such a thing? You’re just mad because you saw us almost kissing and wanted to cause trouble, aren’t you?”
“Let me make one thing clear, Liora. Evelynne and I didn’t kiss. Even if we did, if you so much as lay a finger on her, I won’t let you off.”
Liora stood frozen, tears clouding her vision.
She stared at Carmen protecting Evelynne so fiercely, and something inside her finally snapped.
She suddenly lifted her head and laughed.
She laughed and laughed until the tears came streaming down.
“You’re such a fool, Carmen. And so am I. That’s why both of us are destined to lose the ones we love.”
And with that, laughing bitterly, she turned and walked away. Her figure was thin and lonely, and yet her steps were unwavering.
Chapter 7
