Chapter 301

Chapter 301

Chapter 301

ARIA

Emma returned with the record book-a thick leather-bound volume where all the workshop’s. activities and changes were documented. She handed it to Amber, who took it with what looked like reluctance.

Then Amber opened it, grabbed her pen, and very deliberately cancelled something on the last page before handing it to me with a smile that was sickeningly sweet and definitely mocking. “Here you are, Luna. Is there anything else you’d like to see p>

I took the book, noting how her tone had changed from professional to something edged with contempt. Opened it and began reviewing the entries, checking dates and implementation notes and results from the organizational changes I’d suggested.

Everything looked fine. Better than fine, actually-the new systems were clearly working, reducing waste and improving efficiency just like I’d hoped they would. Even during the Ghost Hunt week, when work had been more optional than mandatory and half the pack had been consumed with trials or spectating, they’d maintained the records properly.

I got to the last page and saw what Amber had cancelled. It was in the “Manager’s Notes” section-a space where whoever was running the workshop could add observations or suggestions about the implemented changes. Places where they could communicate directly with whoever was doing oversight about what was working and what might need adjustment.

The cancelled entry was hard to read through the heavy black line Amber had drawn through it, but I could make out enough: *These changes are working well. Luna Aria’s suggestions

have

valuable. Recommend continuing this approach and potentially expanding similar organizational improvements to other p>

proven

The rest was too obscured to read, but the message was clear enough. Amber had written something positive about my contributions. Something that acknowledged the changes were actually helping. And then she’d cancelled it right in front of me so I could see exactly what she thought of giving me credit for anything.

“Why did you cancel this entry?” I asked, keeping my voice carefully neutral despite the anger building in my chest.

Amber’s smile became sharper. “Didn’t want to hurt your feelings,” she said. “Since apparently we can’t have opinions anymore without being accused of hypocrisy. Thought it would be safer to just remove my thoughts entirely rather than risk saying something that might offend

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our sensitive Luna p>

She was referring to my speech. To my calling out the pack for their double standards. Throwing my own words back at me as justification for this petty, deliberate slight.

I felt my magic respond to my anger-that awakened power that had manifested during the Hunt, that made my eyes glow with moonlight when my emotions ran high. I shoved it down hard, refused to let it show, refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing that she’d gotten to

“That’s not what I-” I started.

The door opened and Jason entered, his timing so perfect it couldn’t have been coincidence. He must have been keeping track of my inspection schedule, must have anticipated that this particular stop might go badly.

“Amber,” he said pleasantly, but with an edge that suggested he’d heard enough to understand what was happening. “Stop antagonizing the Luna. You know better p>

Amber huffed but didn’t say anything else. Just crossed her arms and glared at Jason like he’d spoiled her fun.

Jason gestured toward the door, a clear invitation for me to take the escape route he was offering. I could have stayed. Could have pushed the confrontation, demanded an explanation or an apology or acknowledgment that what she was doing was inappropriate.

But I could see the workers watching, could feel the tension in the room, could recognize that making this into a bigger thing would just give them more ammunition to use against me later.

So I snapped the record book shut and left with Jason, my guard following us out into the corridor where the air felt easier to breathe.

“That was deliberate,” I said once we were far enough away that Amber wouldn’t overhear. “She cancelled that entry specifically to show me she doesn’t think I deserve credit for anything positive. To make sure I knew that even when my suggestions work, she’s not going to acknowledge it p>

“I know,” Jason said. “Amber’s been bitter about you since you arrived. It’s not really about you personally-it’s about Ivory p>

I looked at him sharply. “What does Ivory have to do with the textile workshop p>

“Ivory saved Amber’s husband during a rogue attack years ago,” Jason explained as we walked. “Saved her children when they got caught in a territorial dispute. Saved her parents during a

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disease outbreak. Hell, saved her sister-in-law from a training accident that should have been fatal. And even her estranged ex before he left the pack-Ivory treated him when nobody else would have bothered p>

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