Page 52 of Chasing Luna
“Yeah? And think about what other pack members will say about you. Is this how a princess should act? You—” Before I even know what I am doing, my hand already connects to the side of his face.
“One, let’s be clear of one thing: you don’t get to tell me what to do. Two, since when have you been so interested in how royalty should behave? What? Getting too close to Katarina these days?” I’m seething at the development of our situation.First, he confesses to me, and then kisses my sister? The nerve of this guy.
Gregory’s face is unreadable as he stares at the floor. Beside me, Kenji can only sigh. “Okay, calm down man. It’s late and I’m sure the princess is tired.” He steps forward and jabs a finger on Gregory’s chest. “Besides, she’s right. You’re not her keeper. Are you?”
Gregory slaps Kenji’s hand away. “Neither are you. And I’d like for you to remember that.”
I roll my eyes at the two idiots before me. “I’m going to bed. I’m done with the both of you,” I mutter under my breath and begin my walk toward my bedroom.
“I’ll escort you,” Kenji says and keeps a hand on my waist.
He’s doing the most to irritate Gregory, huh. “Fine,” I say and keep walking.
“You know,” I start once we’re inside my bedroom, “you really shouldn’t tease him that much.”
Kenji raises an eyebrow at me. “Oh? I guess you do care about this stranger a whole lot more than I imagined.” He puts his face close to mine. “What are you on about?”
I take a step back, but Kenji follows. “I care about him… a normal amount.”
He laughs at that. “Yeah, okay, keep telling yourself that. But, Isabela, you should know I’m not giving up on you yet. I found you first. You were mine first.” He smiles at me.
Huh?
“What the hell does that even mean?”
He straightens up. “It means… well, you’ll figure it out eventually. But for now, I must bid you goodnight.” He winks and leaves me alone to ruminate on his words.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand men. I sigh and get ready for bed.
***
The next morning, I invite Eliza out on a stroll around the estate. “Don’t you think your friends miss you?” she asks as we pick out fresh roses from the garden.
“They do. But at this point, it’s too dangerous to go back into town, knowing that I have a target on my back,” I whisper.
“Do you believe in what the guy said then? That Katarina’s the traitor in this family?” She hands me the basket of fresh flowers and I give her another empty basket to fill.
“I mean, it checks out.” I shrug, still feeling the sting of Katarina’s alleged treacherous ways. “And with everything that’s been going on around here, it feels real. I don’t want to make the mistake of trusting someone just because she is family.” I pause. “Of course, you’re part of the exception, Eliza.”
She smiles. “I know. Does that include Gregory, too?” She raises an eyebrow at me.
“Don’t even get me started on him, he, ugh! He just irks me these days. Confesses his feelings, and then kisses my sister, and then acts as if he’s jealous of Kenji!” I dig my heels deeper into the soft grass beneath my feet. “He’s a dumbass. You know what, when we get his dad out of here, I’m cutting ties with him.”
Eliza sighs and rolls her eyes at me. “Yeah, okay, keep telling yourself that, princess.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I feel my face scrunch up in confusion.
“Do you really think he likes your sister?” She stands up and faces me.
“Why else would he kiss her? Or at least allow Katarina to do that?”
Eliza shakes her head. “Maybe you’re the dumbass, Isabela.” She shrugs and walks away.
She heads for the warrior’s training center. “Hey! What does that mean? Eliza? Answer me! Your princess commands you—what is happening?” My barrage of questions gets interrupted by the cluster of people gathered in front of me. I spot Eliza a few meters ahead.
She motions for me to come closer. “Um, I think you need to see this, Isabela,” she says as soon as I’m by her side and then pushes me in front.
A bunch of people circle around one of the clubhouses in the training center. A few of them murmur amongst themselves, and I catch words like “Alpha,” “royalty,” and “princess.”