Chapter 81 Invitation from the Moon
Leslie’s POV – On the Way Back to the Governor’s Estate
“Feeling better now?”
Carl nced sideways at me while driving his ridiculously shy sports car.
“No,” I said, resting against the window, watching the city lights blur by outside.
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“Oh?” Carl raised a brow. “You pushed that Crimson Moon Pack bastard into a corner and you’re still not satisfied?”
“I just thought…” I sighed, “it’d be more interesting. I thought he’d at least fight back a little—for the sake of his family’s pride. But in the end, just like three years ago, he chose the so–called ‘future‘ and gave up the ‘past‘ without hesitation.”
My wolf, Asphodel, let out a cold, disdainful snort in my mind.
<i>He </i><i>never </i><i>had </i><i>any </i><i>real </i><i>pride </i><i>to </i><i>begin </i>with, her voice rang clear as crystal, sharp and cold as frost. <i>An </i>Alpha who <i>couldn’t </i><i>even </i><i>protect </i><i>his </i><i>own </i><i>mate</i><i>… </i><i>his </i><i>pride </i><i>was </i><i>always </i><i>a </i><i>castle </i><i>built </i><i>on </i><i>sand</i><i>. </i><i>One </i><i>push</i>, <i>and </i><i>it </i><i>crumbles</i><i>. </i>
He was <i>never </i><i>our </i><i>true </i><i>opponent</i>.
I couldn’t agree more.
After the confrontation at the restaurant, my brothers, Astrid, and I returned to the Governor’s Estate together.
Surprisingly, that tense standoff didn’t dampen the rxed, cheerful atmosphere between us.
“Honestly, Leslie,” Astrid said, lounging on the couch while scrolling through Packwork gossip, “did we leave the Night of Rarities without even saying goodbye to Am? Think she’ll be mad?”
I looked up from my own screen. Right. We actually had forgotten to greet our hostess before leaving.
Just then, a securems screen suddenly lit up in front of us.
On it appeared a beautiful, proud face with just the slightest pout of annoyance.
It was Am,
“My queen, and my favorite little wildcat,” Am’s voice purred through the screen with a
Chapter 81 Invitation from the Moon
Finished
teasing scold, “I just saw the photos of you two at Laurel Restaurant. Tell me–did you forget that your wardrobes still have the ceremonial cloaks I made for you? What happened to our coordination?!”
Astrid stuck her tongue out guiltily. “Am, it was an emergency…”
“I don’t care!” Am interrupted, lifting her chin with mock severity. “As punishment, I’ve decided that for the uing ‘Am Moon Goddess Festival,‘ both of you will serve as my Star Envoys–personally!”
“Moon Goddess Festival?” I arched a brow.
“That’s right,” Am replied proudly, her confidence lighting up her face. “This year’s theme is the ancient lunar deity, Lūna. And you, my dear Leslie, will be the lead Star Priestess–draped in my showpiece design: <i>Soul </i><i>of </i><i>the </i><i>Moonwolf</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
“It’s a cloak spun from the purest indigo silk of the Northern Ice Silkworm, adorned with three thousand moonlight crystal fragments–symbolizing the infinite starry sea. In your hands, you’ll hold a ceremonial staff carved from the living branches of the World Tree, glowing with sacred light. When you step onto the altar, you’ll no longer be Leslie of the Rogue Pack… you’ll be the divine Moonwolf Messenger herself.”
Her words stirred something warm and thrilling in me–something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
“What about me?!” Astrid jumped in, eyes shining. “What do I get?!”
“You,” Am said with a wink, “will open the ceremony as the Shadow Envoy–wearing my other masterpiece, <i>Shadow </i><i>of </i><i>the </i><i>Moonwolf. </i>It’ll make you look like a phantom dancing under moonlight. Absolutely stunning.”
Just then, Carl’s annoyingly perfect face popped into the screen.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our ceremonial queen,” he grinned at Am, the kind of smile that could melt ciers. “For such a grand festival, isn’t it a bit rude not to invite your favorite award- winning actor to join as an honorary ceremonial guardian?”
“My ceremony isn’t for <i>just </i><i>anyone</i><i>,</i><i>” </i>Am sniffed, nose in the air.
“Oh?” Carl’s smile widened. “That’s a shame. I was thinking of showing up in that ‘me of Sirius‘ cloak you gave mest year.”
A faint blush spread across Am’s face.
Watching the sparks fly between them, I couldn’t help butugh,
This year’s Moon Goddess Festival was shaping up to be… very entertaining indeed.
<b>19:00 </b>Tue, <b>Sep </b><b>16 </b>
Burn in the Alpha Princess’s Wrath