Chapter 61
The Werewolf Realm
Erin's POV
Okay… so...
Um.
I was in his room.
To treat him.
That was literally it.
I was there because Levi was injured—badly. His wound was infected with demonic energy, and someone had to extract it. As the Queen of the Goldrens and a healer, that responsibility naturally fell on me. Nothing else happened. Nothing inappropriate. Nothing romantic.
At least… that was what I kept telling myself.
But sitting here now, with Kate and Kira staring at me like starving wolves who had just scented fresh gossip, I realized how ridiculous I sounded.
"So?" Kate said, crossing her arms. "You were in his room… and?"
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
Kira leaned closer, resting her chin on her palm. "Michelle—sorry, Erin—tell us what really happened. Slowly. Carefully. And don't skip anything."
I groaned. "You two are impossible."
Kate smirked. "And you're avoiding the question."
I sighed deeply and finally gave in.
So I told them everything.
How Levi was barely conscious when I arrived. How his skin burned under my touch because of the demonic aura. How stubborn he was even while bleeding out. How I stayed longer than I should have because leaving felt… wrong.
And yes.
I told them about the kiss.
When I finished, silence filled the room.
Then—
Kate's lips curled into a grin.
Kira's eyes sparkled with mischief.
They exchanged a look.
Oh no.
Kate clasped her hands together. "So," she said sweetly, "did you like it?"
"No!" I replied instantly, far too quickly. "I didn't like it at all. It was bad. Very bad."
Kira snorted. "She liked it."
"I DID NOT!"
Kate tilted her head. "Then why is your face so red, dear Erin?"
"I'm flushed because I'm angry!"
Kira laughed softly. "No, you're blushing because Alpha Levi kissed you."
My heart skipped so hard it physically hurt.
"That wasn't a kiss," I protested weakly.
Kate raised a brow. "Oh? Then what was it?"
I opened my mouth… then shut it again.
Because I didn't have an answer.
The two of them burst into laughter.
For a long time after that, they teased me relentlessly—calling me Levi's Luna, joking about mating ceremonies, crowns, and how the entire Werewolf Realm would bow to me someday.
I tried to argue, but it was useless.
Eventually, though, the laughter faded.
A thought crept into my mind like a shadow I had ignored for too long.
A name.
A face.
"Where's Clara?" I asked suddenly.
The room went silent.
Kate and Kira froze.
Their smiles faded instantly, as if someone had poured cold water over them.
"I didn't even think about it until now," I continued slowly. "Isn't she supposed to be… Luna or something?"
Kate inhaled sharply. "Okay… so…"
"When everything happened," she said carefully, "when you disappeared… everyone thought you were dead."
My chest tightened.
"And Clara's scent was found on your hair," Kira added quietly. "So the pack assumed she killed you."
My hands clenched.
"They thought she beat you to death," Kate continued. "The pack turned on her."
Kira nodded. "She was branded an evil Luna. A monster who murdered a weak omega."
I swallowed hard. "Levi allowed that?"
Kate shook her head. "Not Levi."
"Magnus did," Kira said.
I frowned. "Magnus?"
"Levi's wolf," Kate explained. "He was furious. Ruthless."
I gasped softly. "The wolf spirit I saw that day?"
"Yes," Kira confirmed.
I leaned back slowly. "So… where is she now?"
"Probably the human world," Kira said. "She couldn't survive the humiliation."
I sighed, more tired than angry. "A pity. I planned to make her life hell myself."
Kate and Kira stared at me.
Then they smiled.
Not mockingly.
Proudly.
They were glad I wasn't weak anymore.
Unbeknownst to us…
Clara was still alive.
Still close.
Still inside the pack.
Living under a new face.
A new name.
A new lie.
---
Clara's POV
"Marcy, help me with the dough."
"Sure, Mom."
Yes.
The kitchen.
Me.
Clara.
In the kitchen.
With my fake mother.
If anyone had told me months ago that I'd be kneading dough with a woman who wasn't even related to me, I would've laughed in their face. Yet here I was, sleeves rolled up, hands dusted with flour.
She suggested crab pasta.
I panicked.
Quickly, I said, "Why don't we make your favorite instead?"
I didn't even know what her favorite was. I just hoped—prayed—it had nothing to do with seafood.
And thank the Moon Goddess… it was coconut and chocolate bread.
My favorite.
I was so happy I hugged her without thinking.
She froze for a second, clearly surprised, then hugged me back.
This family was… different.
There was warmth here.
Care.
It wasn't like my old home, where love was conditional and cruel.
I focused on kneading the dough, when my mind betrayed me.
Green eyes.
Sharp gaze.
The man from earlier.
I shook my head violently.
No.
Whatever that was—it ends now.
Mom returned to the kitchen. "So, how was the place?"
"What place?" I asked.
"The shelter you'll be protecting."
"Oh," I replied. "It's safe. Very secure."
"That's good," she said warmly.
An hour later, the scent of coconut and chocolate filled the house.
Dad walked in, inhaled deeply. "Something smells wonderful."
Dinner was perfect.
Too perfect.
I washed my hands and sat down, grabbing a piece of bread.
Mom and Dad stared at me.
Their expressions shifted… to horror.
"You… want to eat that?" Mom asked nervously.
"Yes," I replied.
Dad stood abruptly. "You can't eat that, Marcy."
My heart dropped.
"You're allergic to coconut."
Oh.
Right.
Marcy is allergic.
Mom listed symptoms.
Rashes. Weak sight. Dizziness.
Exactly what I get from crab.
I gently took the bread back. "Just a bite."
She hesitated.
So I made a terrible decision.
"Make me crab pasta," I said. "After one bite."
She agreed.
I ate two whole pieces of bread.
When the crab pasta arrived, dread filled me.
I forced myself to eat half.
Then I stood.
"I'm full," I lied. "I'll rest."
I knew what was coming.
The pain.
The rash.
The headache.
The price of living someone else's life.
I took a cold shower, bracing myself.
Tomorrow…
Tomorrow would be hell.