Ashley.

“‘Enjoy your meal, Luna?’, seriously?!” My eyes flashed with annoyance as I rounded Claire, my voice low and urgent.

“I’m sorry Luna, it was a mistake,” She voiced as she stood to apologize. She was working on her flowers and trimming some others.

“Mistake? You almost put us both in trouble right there,”

I paused, hissed. My hands were folded, my jaw clenched in frustration.

I exclaimed as I watched Claire concentrate on her flowers. I was pissed at what she did. She almost got us both in trouble.

“Luna, please, you’ll have to take things slowly, okay?” She responded as she continued with her flowers while I watched.

“How would you just write that and place it right under the lump. Do you think Boris would be fooled?” I yelled. My eyes showed frustration. My brows furrowed.

“Ash, I knew what I did there, it was a test run. Please—chill,”

“You messed up right there!” I cut her. It angered me that she didn’t even see the need to show remorse. She always defended herself.

“Technically, I didn't, and you know it. I almost—but never messed up. Honestly I felt the tension in the air immediately he started asking me questions. So I had to magic the real write-up off the paper,”

“What?! So you mean you actually asked me to meet with you later on that paper?”

“Ashley, do you think I ever thought he was going to stand up to take a look at what’s inside that tray? He’s used to giving Roan her space and I know that for a fact, maybe he’s being so clingy because he misses you and needs to be around you since you’re back.”

“Claire, if you had something in mind to tell me, you should have just walked into the room after serving the meal and let me know, no one would be aware of it,” I voiced—soothingly.

“My Luna, I think it’s high time I educated you on special powers most wolves in this pack possess.” She added

“Huh?” What do you mean—‘special powers?’ Being a werewolf is special on its own,”

“Fact! The thing is, some are more than werewolves. Take for example, Boris. He’s something else. When he’s angered and at the brink of death, he emits heat from his hands and it’s hot enough to burn down the human bones, like an acid,”

“What?!”

“Yeah. Eunice, his cousin, she’s got this super hearing ability and she’s able to detect danger before it comes to play, so in essence, you must stay away from her.”

“So—you’re trying to tell me that she reads minds?”

“Sort of. Or let’s say—technically, yes. But don’t be scared. She wouldn’t know what’s in yours or any of us.”

“Why?”

“Because we’ll have to give her the permission to. It happens on rare occasions.” She picked up her basket and was ready to leave. I joined her behind while we both strode towards the interlocked path.

“Hmm. Claire, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. Feel free,”

“The Luna, I mean, the real Roan. When she was alive and possessed this body, were you closer to her?”

She stopped. Giggled and turned back to me sharply.

“Oh, crap! Why would you even think of that?”

“Claire I’m just asking a damn question,”

“Of course not! I mean. She’s so fond of Boris and you know what happens when she’s always with him. They think alike and Boris isn’t some kind of wolf to toil with. Anyone he notices trying to play messy around his Luna, he’s ready to break their bones, limb to limb.”

“But you’re a witch, don’t tell me you wouldn’t be able to take on Boris in a one-v-one encounter,”

“Hmm, that’s going to be something else. Witches have their limits. IF he’s fast enough, he’s going to have me crushed like an egg.”

“And that’s why you’re in disguise?”

“Of course,”

We continued with the walk and got close to the entrance of the garden. I felt she murmured for a while and maybe had something troubling her.

“Are you alright?” I asked, showing concern.

“So, why not tell me about that dream. Heard you spilling words to the Alpha concerning some weird dream you had last night.”

“Honestly, I just don’t feel like talking about it. It was so horrible, trust me.”

She chuckled.

“Trust me Luna, I’ve had more night mares in a single week than you have in years. Come on.”

I twitched my lips and nodded gently. My eyes fixed on hers while curiosity had her consumed.

“There’s this weird sound I kept on hearing while the lady in the veil chased me. It was so horrible that I couldn’t even concentrate as I ran. All that mattered to me was getting out of that damn place.”

“Did you catch a glimpse of what she looked like?” She asked.

“Claire, I would be very honest with you, I tried everything possible to see her face but I didn’t. I tried to recall the voice too, but it still feels so difficult.”

“Ash, come on, think harder, you have to remember something at least. Dreams such as these aren’t just left to slide. They have their meaning.”

“But why do you care so much about the dream?” I inquired.

“Because before Roan died, she also complained to Boris of having some weird dream. I remember how she said it that very day. Honestly I would love you to go back to last night.”

I wondered why she actually wanted to get the details of the dream. I stood still and monitored her eyes as it searched mine. I saw the curiosity in it and decided to take my memory down. Maybe I'll be able to get something from last night.

“Wait, I think I recalled something. The lady held me and before she tried to strike the blade into my chest I woke up…”

“What?! Why then did you make me feel like you wanted to say something so important?” Claire asked, disappointment flashing all over her as she stared.

“I wasn’t done. I think I recall she had a tattoo on her left hand.” I spoke.

“Tattoo… was it like an animal, writeup, flower or…”

“Animal, I think—a serpent,” I added.

Claire’s countenance changed immediately. she had her mouth halfway opened and shook her head slowly.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What? was there a problem with that?” I asked.

“Ash, I think you’ve got to be very careful with the Alpha and his family. It’s looking like history’s about to repeat itself, but this time, so sudden. Eunice got a serpent tattoo last week.”

“What?!”

“Come on Ashley, tell me you didn’t notice the tattoo on her left hand when she came into the room yesterday?”

“Tattoo, I don’t think I would recall that, how was I supposed to know what actually happened when I literally lost my senses and laid almost insane on the floor,”

“Ashley, think, she ran into the room with a bowl of water and poured some on you.” I saw how persuasive she was at that and immediately the drama of yesterday flashed back to me.

‘Of course, I saw the tattoo but I didn’t take note of it,’ I muttered as I turned back to her in shock.

“Claire, I think I recall now. she actually has something tattooed on her hands and I think it’s definitely got to be the serpent.” I voiced, almost loudly, that it raised concern to her.

“Hey, you’ll have to slow down. The walls have ears, and besides, you’re lucky she didn’t even get to stab you even before you woke up. Thanks to the moon goddess for saving your life once again.”

Her words pierced me and I had a quick flash of the day I was beheaded. The slightest pain I felt and the things that went on that very day. My heart raced and I felt tearballs run down my eyes. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I breathed heavily.

“I would have been a happy Luna by now, if I had just neglected Sophia from the onset, I just feel like crushing her and that scum of an Alpha by her side,” My face reddened with rage as I jabbed a shaking finger. My eyes blazed with fury.

“Calm your nerves, Ash, they’ll get what they truly deserve, don’t bother so much. you’re in safe hands. And one more thing, no one has to ever see us being this close. All that matters is that I’m your personal maiden and I wasn’t even this close to Roan. They may suspect and begin to have eyes on me,”

“Hmm, that’s no problem, I’d figure out how well we’d have to meet, especially when you’re off duty.” I added.

“No, leave that to me. I know how things are done here, trust me. But you’ve got to stay clear of her, the tattoo isn’t just for fun or aesthetics, she's poisonous…” She wasn’t done with her sentence before we both saw someone walk from a section of the garden. She was making a phone call as she passed. She stood and watched us both. Her eyes flashing on my garment and same to Claire. She was in awe. My heart raced as I spotted the tattoo on the young wolf’s wrist—Eunice.