Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

Abby

My mask is laying on the floor, staring up at me in an almost mocking fashion. All around me, people are murmuring my name.

"Abby?"

“Is that really her?”

"What is she doing here?”

This wasn't what I planned. I can't be seen here, not so soon after the Alpha party debacle. And if people find out that I was the mystery woman dancing with the Alpha, then they'll just start to jump to conclusions more than they already have.

I quickly stoop down, my heart pounding in my chest as I gather the broken pieces of my plate and mask from the floor. I figure that maybe, if I just keep my head down, people will move on and ignore me.

I keep my head down, avoiding the curious and judgmental stares of the pack members. This is the last thing I need right now. I wanted to keep a low profile, enjoy the party, and forget about the mess I left behind in the city.

But then Karl is beside me, his hands helping me pick up the scattered fragments. Before I can whisper a warning to him to keep his distance, the room starts buzzing with hushed whispers, and I can feel the weight of countless eyes on the both of us.

"Abby," Karl says softly, concern etched on his face as he helps me collect the pieces. “Are you—" “You shouldn't be here,” I hiss under my breath, shooting him a worried glance. “People will think...” Karl seems to understand the implications now, but it's already too late.

Now that people see the two of us together, their murmurs are growing in intensity, their curiosity bubbling to the surface. Despite the sound of the soft music notes still playing, the people around us are hushed and taken aback, and the feeling is spreading across the room.

"Alpha Karl and Abby?"

“The Luna and the Alpha back together?”

"Just as we suspected.”

“It's about time.”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment as my gaze meets Karl's. I manage to slip my mask back on, but it's too late. It's like putting a band-aid over a gaping wound. One of the servants comes over to help with the mess, and I slowly stand on two shaky legs, looking around at the sea of faces all around us.

I'm met with a mixture of shock and elation. The murmurs are growing in volume. Nearby, a woman claps her hands together, giving both Karl and me an excited look through her mask.

"Oh, how exciting!” she exclaims, and I recognize that voice immediately despite the mask; it's one of the gossips that I ran into the other day, Susan. “The Alpha and the Luna are back together, just like I thought!”

Her raised voice catches more attention, and the murmurs turn into lively chatter. The crowd seems to press around us, moving close to get a better look. I exchange a worried glance with Karl; his eyes are ever so slightly narrowed, and his hands are clenching and unclenching at his sides. I can tell he's thinking. I want to reach out to him, but I know I shouldn't. It'll just make matters worse. "Oh, this is so lovely!" another voice calls out just as loudly as Susan. “This is so wonderful! Are you two getting married soon?”

"What a surprise!”

“I never expected that this masquerade would turn into an engagement party!”

With one last glance at Karl, who is at just as much of a loss for words as I am, I pick up my skirt and turn to leave. I begin to scurry away, thinking to myself that an escape to a private room might be the best plan of action right now, but the crowd doesn't part for me.

And not everyone shares the same enthusiasm about Karl and me.

Angry murmurs rise from the crowd, fueled by memories of the Alpha gathering debacle and the food poisoning scandal that followed.

“The Alpha is getting back with her?” one voice calls out, just as loudly as the others. “The fraud who ruined the Alpha gathering and got all of those poor people sick?"

“This is a disaster! Our Alpha shouldn't be mingling with a criminal!”

"How much do you want to bet that she and her little restaurant will get off scot-free thanks to Alpha Karl's help?”

"Abby is a loser! She has no right being our Luna after what she did!"

Their voices cut deep, and I still can't get out. Hot tears begin to prick at the backs of my eyes. No matter where I turn, the crowd just seems to close in even more, suffocating me with a combination of excitement and scrutiny.

And then, finally, Karl's voice cuts through the mounting tension. “Silence!” he booms, his voice echoing across the room.

The room instantly falls completely and utterly silent. I swallow, turning slowly to face him; he's standing in the center of the clearing now, his mask in his hands, his eyes stern as he addresses the crowd.

“No need to gossip,” he says, his tone measured and clear. “Return to the party, everyone. Please, enjoy the good food, drinks, and music.”

I let out a soft sigh of relief, thankful for Karl's Alpha demeanor. But the damage has already been done; and then, to make it worse, another voice calls out from the crowd. I can't see the face, but I recognize that voice in a heartbeat.

It's Gianna.

"You mean the food that Abby prepared?”

The room somehow seems to fall even more silent, and I can feel every pair of eyes on me. Panic surges inside of me, and I swallow hard, my hands trembling as I clench them into fists at my sides. The silence turns into murmurs, heads turning, people shifting in their spots. Those who are holding plates in their hands begin to look suspiciously down at the food.

And then all hell breaks loose.

"We're all gonna get sick!”

In an instant, the silent room turns into a flurry of activity. People are rushing around, throwing their plates into the garbage, gagging and clutching their stomachs. It's as if my worst fears have come to fruition, and through the chaos, all I can do is stand there, frozen to my spot.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, followed by a voice whispering in my ear. It's Gianna's voice, and her hand is as cold as ice.

“You really thought you could come back here and that everything would go back to the way it was?"

I whirl around, desperately searching for her, but she’s already gone. The last I see of her is a flash of her purple dress disappearing into the crowd, and both she and Ethan are nowhere to be found. But then there's another touch; an arm looping around my waist, pulling me close, defending me against the onslaught of insults and panic. Karl's scent envelops me, and it calms me, but only a little bit. I bury my face in his chest without a second thought; the tears are already flowing, and I don't know how to stop them.

“Everyone, ENOUGH!"