Chapter 180

[ 1,157 words ]

Arabella:

“No. You’re not going to that pack!” Maya declared, leaving no room for argument. I’d barely finished telling her about my plans when she started arguing.

I knew she was already pissed at me for ignoring her calls yesterday. I’d apologized twice since entering her room, but apparently, that wasn’t enough.

Thank the Goddess, I hadn’t told her about my meeting with the Queen. If she found out I’d willingly agreed to another magical oath, she’d probably kill me herself.

“Maya, I’m only going there for a visit. It’s not like I’m planning to move back.”

“Why would you even want to visit those people?” she demanded, throwing her hands up. “Have you forgotten what they did to you? And now you suddenly want to see them?”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten. I just have a few things to discuss with them. It’s something… personal.”

Maya gave me an offended look. “Oh, so now we’re keeping secrets from each other?”

I reached for her hand and gently pulled her down beside me. “Maya, please. I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry so much. I’ll try to take Bradley with me.”

“Bradley?” She immediately pulled her hand away. “That bastard who yelled at you? Absolutely not! And why do you even need to go there? Why can’t you call them here instead of going back to that horrible place?”

“I can’t call them here, Maya. And Bradley knows how to protect someone.”

“I don’t care! I’m not trusting him with you.”

I tried reasoning with her, but she wouldn’t listen. She went on about all the terrible things that could happen if I returned to Blackthorn.

Goddess. How was I supposed to explain this to her? I watched her mouth moving as she continued listing all the reasons why my plan was terrible. Every time I tried to interrupt, she came up with another one.

Finally, I let out a long breath before getting to my feet, and placed both hands on her shoulders. “Listen, Maya. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going, and that’s final.” She stopped talking and gave me an odd look.

“What?” I asked.

“Your eyes…” she whispered. “They just turned silver! Just like that day when you got your period.” I quickly released her shoulders.

“Yeah, I … I’m getting my wolf back. Sometimes… it talks to me…” Maya blinked before letting out a short laugh as though she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

“Wow. Just wow, Arabella! And you didn’t even think to tell me?”

“Maya, I was going to tell you. I just…” Now it was getting messier.

“That’s wonderful. Really wonderful.” She turned around and marched toward her closet. I watched in confusion as she pulled out a small suitcase and dropped it onto her bed.

“What are you doing?” I asked her when she began stuffing clothes into it.

“Packing. What does it look like?” She snapped, not even bothering to look at me.

“But why?”

“Because apparently, you don’t need to tell me anything anymore!” She yanked open a drawer and grabbed a few shirts. “You make plans without me, ignore my calls, and now I find out your wolf is coming back! What’s next, Arabella?”

“Maya, it’s not like that. Would you please listen to me?” But she was already pulling more clothes from the closet.

I followed her and took the clothes out of her hands. “Will you stop for one minute? I’m trying to explain something!”

“Then explain!” she snapped. “Because I’m tired of feeling like a stranger in your life, Ara!”

This whole argument had started giving me a headache. Before I could answer her, Astraea suddenly spoke inside my head. “She is overreacting, Arabella. Let her go.”

What? Astraea!

“I said let her go. We have more important things to do.” I stood there, still holding Maya’s clothes.

“Astraea. She is my friend, and I can’t abandon her.”

But my wolf stopped responding.

At this point, I didn’t know who to listen to. Maya had been there for me when I had no one, while Astraea had only recently awakened inside me. My wolf was supposed to protect me and keep me safe, but now she was asking me to let go of the one person who had always stood by me.

I watched Maya quietly as she continued packing, unsure whether to stop her again or listen to Astraea.

***

I entered the royal library and found Beta Bradley standing near one of the reading stands, flipping through a thick book. He seemed so busy reading that he didn’t notice me approaching.

“Hello, Bradley! I was wondering if you could accompany me to my pack?” I gave him my brightest smile, pretending to forget our little argument for the time being.

Bradley glanced at me before returning to his book. “I’m sorry, Miss Arabella, but I’m busy right now.”

Miss Arabella? Such a crybaby he is.

“Listen, Bradley, I really need you, okay? This is a matter of life and death.”

That finally got his attention. He looked up from the book, and I shrugged with another cheerful smile. “And by life and death, I mean mine. I might actually die, you know.”

He pressed his lips. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying you’re the best person to accompany me right now. You can go change if you want, and I’ll explain everything on the way.”

Bradley didn’t answer. He just stood there looking at me, and for a moment, I genuinely wondered if he was considering slapping me. Then he let out a frustrated sigh and closed the book. “Fine. Where are we going?”

“My pack. I need to deal with Vikki Toussaint, and you’ll handle Vanessa, my half-sister.”

“Handle her how?”

“Just keep her occupied while I talk to Vikki. And remember, Vanessa is pregnant, so be careful no matter what happens. I don’t want anything happening to her baby.”

Bradley rolled his eyes. “Fine. Give me a minute.”

He put the book aside and walked past me toward the library doors. I gave him a cheerful wave, and smiled to myself as he disappeared through the doors.

I was still worried about Maya. She had finally stopped packing, but she wasn’t ready to talk to me. I tried explaining myself, but she wouldn’t listen, so I eventually had no choice but to leave her room and give her time to cool down.

“Wow, girl. Look at you!” Astraea sounded impressed by how easily I’d convinced Bradley.

“I know, right?” I replied proudly. “Look at me, giving orders like I own the whole palace!”

“No,” she corrected me. “You sound like a fucking Alpha who knows how to get things done.”

I laughed it off, not giving much thought to her choice of words. An Alpha?

I thought she was just saying that to boost my confidence. Little did I know, I should have paid more attention to her words.

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