Chapter 41
Phoebe
Everything was going perfectly. Well, mostly at least.
Even as I sat beside Kaene at the Ball, I heard some whispers from nobles from the other side of the hall.
Judging me.
What the heck did I do?
Where were all these rumors of me and Beta Negan coming from? Had we been that obvious in public?
At one point, after drinking the ceremonial wine, Kaene climbed the stage to make a speech after I pointed out how the people of the pack would never respect me.
He was certainly about to make a whacky proclamation of the two of us being mates and how he ’accepted’ me. Like all that was supposed to make me jump for joy.
However, before he could finish his speech, chaos struck.
Screams filled the hall and from what we heard, the Luna of Crescent Moon had fallen right here in this ball.
I stared at Kaene who was still on the stage amidst the chaos, my heart palpitating as I tried calming myself.
But just then, before I could do anything, a hand held my shoulder from where I was standing, forcing me to turn my gaze to the person.
“Are you okay?” The hand belonged to none other than Beta Negan who had a concerned look on his face.
He didn’t stop at just the hand, wrapping his arm around my shoulder while glancing around protectively, as if he was ready to defend me from whatever threat was out there.
My gaze softened as I stared into his gentle hazel eyes.
However, before I could do anything else, I heard Kaene call out my name from the stage despite the commotion, walking down from the stage.
He had a slight frown on his face, especially when his eyes fleeted from Negan to me.
Negan slipped his arm away gently, seemingly realizing the implications of what he had just done.
Former Luna Catherine, who sat close to us, harrumphed just then but didn’t bother saying anything.
Shit, what was I thinking, letting Negan place his arm around me like THAT in public?
There was nothing platonic about that, not to mention we already had rumors about us spreading amongst some pack members.
Has Kaene heard any of these rumors? Did he believe them?
“What were you thinking?” I whispered begrudgingly at Negan who remained silent still as Kaene finally got to us.
The three of us talked about the ongoing chaos after which Kaene ordered us to leave alongside his mother.
Slowly, everyone in the hall was led to another building not too far away from the hall.
This building was lit up with pretty lights that seemed even more beautiful thanks to the contrasting cover of darkness from the night and it didn’t take long for the nobles to settle here, loitering around and whispering.
“Hunters!” One nobleman hollered. “It’s Hunters, I tell ya. They’re taking the opportunity of our gathering from different packs in this one spot to wipe us out with this poison p>
Other nobles who stood around him nodded, believing his words.
However, some nobles from other packs had a different thought process.
“How sure are we that this isn’t just a case of a traitor within Blue Moon trying to destroy the pack from the inside?” A female werewolf with dark skin and beautiful braided hair commented condescendingly. “The pack is in shambles, with a rejected Luna and an indecisive Alpha p>
My heart sank at those words, especially when she eyed me directly.
Most of us were gathered outside the building but there were also some people familiar with the place who were trooping inside.
Wanting to avoid the drama, I waltzed toward the building, navigating my way through the bodies of criticizing nobles who were either judging me with their gazes or their words.
I’d been a fool to think for one second that the higher-class werewolves of other packs would be any better than this pack.
They were ALL the same.
No wonder they all allied through the decades.
“Phoebe?” Negan suddenly called me from behind when I’d stepped into the building which was also a Hall with bright lighting. “What’s wrong p>
I turned to look at him, my eyes quivering with anger from the words of the nobles but also at him for his actions.
“Do you want to get us caught, Negan?” I asked with a cold tone, arching an eyebrow.
He blinked back in confusion at first, exasperated, but eventually shook his head. “Of course, not. I… I got carried away, okay? I know we should remain platonic but I can’t help myself p>
The look in his eyes made me gulp, especially when he took a step forward.
The look in his eyes was the same possessive look I saw in Kaene’s eyes most times.
But why was Negan giving me that look? We weren’t mates. We’d just happened to have a one-night stand, which I’ve regretted ever since.
Diverting my gaze away from him, low-key scared that people were watching us, I whispered. “I don’t want Kaene to suspect anything, Negan. I can already feel him being suspicious. It’s in the way he looked at me throughout tonight, especially when you were close p>
Never in my life would I have imagined being caught between an Alpha and a Beta, one of them being my mate and the other simply wanting to be by my side.
This had to be some silly joke from the moon goddess.
“Kaene doesn’t have to suspect a thing, Phoebe,” Negan reassured me with the confident look he gave me. “You simply have to start acting more like his mate and Luna. Don’t be afraid to make the first move from now on p>
I stared deeply at him, not knowing what to say.
Just then, a man in a dark blue suit and bushy brown beard approached us, his eyes scrutinizing me a bit before he gave me a polite bow.
I recognized him as the Gamma of the pack, Gamma Thane.
Anyway, after reciprocating his bow, the Gamma proceeded to whisper something into Negan’s ears, the latter nodding before turning his gaze back to me.
“The Alpha needs his council at the Hall. Stick to my advice, okay?” He gave me a warm smile before he followed behind the Gamma, disappearing into the night.
Gosh, I had to head to the Alpha mansion.