Page 59 of Chasing Luna

“What?” I say indignantly as Katarina stands up and starts moving toward me. Kenji immediately puts me behind him, and Gregory jumps in my defense as well.

This won’t end well.

“I said that’s enough, Katarina.” My grandmother puts a spell on all of them in the room, one that freezes their bodies, paralyzing them with fear.

However, I am unaffected by this and so I make my way to the center of the chamber. “My Queen.” I present myself to her.

“Are you immune to the spell, child?” I nod.

“I see,” she says simply. “What exactly happened here?” She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. She sounds exhausted.

“Well, Katarina suddenly announced that she wanted to get married after I get crowned Queen. She asked me to command Grayson to… uh, consent to this mating ceremony. And then, I told her that I didn’t want to tell anyone to do anything, much less marry someone he doesn’t want to be with.”

As I blurt those things out, Katarina grunts beside me. Eyes wild with despair and anger.

Let’s see what happens after I spill the beans.

“So, Katarina started spewing nonsense, eventually saying she’d kill me like she killed Katya,” I finish and look at my sister’s eyes. I can barely recognize her now; she’s just… a stranger to me at this point. I force myself to forget the memories we shared together as kids.

She means nothing to me now. I resolve and look back up at my grandmother.

“Do we have any evidence she did that?” I freeze. I don’t know if I can say anything. If my grandmother finds out Kenji and I knew before Katarina blabbered her mouth, we’d get in trouble too for keeping secrets.

Play it safe, Isabela. You’re not the only one in danger here. I take a deep breath and just shake my head.

“It came from her mouth, though. Everyone here heard it loud and clear.” I keep my head down as I speak, just in case my grandmother sees the anger fill my eyes.

Soon, the crowd starts to come alive again, but Katarina is lifted up in the air once more. “Katarina, what in the world were you thinking?” my grandmother voices out, but something about her tone makes me question whether or not she’s actually angry at Katarina, or just tired of her. “I’m not sure I want you around for the coronation,” she says, and the pack looks around in confusion as to what is about to happen.

“Please, like I actually care about that bitch,” she spits out, and I fight the urge to defend myself.

Now is the time to stay quiet and let the situation unfold in itself. Patience, Isabela. You’ll get your fill for revenge, soon. I take deep breaths, and let my mind wander someplace else.

“Fine. Then, you’ll be confined inside the estate for the time being.” My grandmother sets her down gently, and I get pulled back by Kenji.

“I’m not letting her hurt you,” he notes. Gregory keeps a close watch on her, too.

Katarina laughs once more. “Don’t bother. I’m leaving this hellhole. And you,” she turns to me, “I hope you die soon. You don’t deserve the air you breathe.” She snickers and sets off running out the door before anyone can even realize what she’s doing.

She sets the front door ablaze as she goes, ensuring no one can run after her. However, it is immediately extinguished by my grandmother’s powers. “I had such high hopes for that child, but she seems to be mentally unstable,” my grandmother reveals, making sure the attention is on her now. “Listen as I make a new decree. Katarina is banished from this family, and from this household. She is not to set foot inside this place, nor will she be allowed to come near us ever again. Am I understood? Anyone, and I mean anyone, found to be working with Katarina Esperanza, will be punished with death immediately.” Everyone around us gulps in fear as my grandmother walks away.

The crowd starts to disperse. Some keep to themselves and leave to take care of other matters; others try to make conversation with me to ask how I am or to gain favor now that I’m the only one left in the house that seems… emotionally stable enough. “I am exhausted. I need to go rest now,” I inform and make my way out of the place.

“Where are you going?” I hear someone call out from behind. I look back to see Gregory following me closely. We get a good distance away from the prying eyes of the pack members before I start talking.

“I need to get to Vera. I have to ask her what she got from meeting your pack,” I say and make it to the Omega’s house. It’s dark outside already, but I feel comfortable at night.

I knock on the door immediately. “Your Highness,” Vera answers the door.

“Do we have a name?” I ask. She nods and lets me inside the house; Gregory follows suit.

“They bid under the name of Liberty & Co,” she continues and Gregory bristles behind me.

“They got in,” he informs and I look at him in confusion.

“They did?”

He nods. “Liberty & Co. was the codename Nick and I used back in college.”