Chapter 25
Juno’s POV
No one responded to the dark–haired woman’s challenge. The entire mall fell silent.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” The woman’s voice dripped with mockery. “I suppose you think you deserve special treatment because you were Lunas before? How cute.”
She took another step toward me, her body language aggressive and Hominant.
“You must know this is all a mistake,” she continued, her eyes fixed on me. “Women like you don’t belong here. You were brought here to be put in your place.”
She moved closer, trying to intimidate me with her proximity. I refused to step back, holding my ground.
“I run this place, she spat, her face inches from mine. “And you’d better learn to bow your head when I walk by. Alpha King trusts me. I have his ear. You? You’re nothing but used goods.”
I just smiled. This woman wasn’t worth my energy or response. Her threats were as empty as her authority.
My silence clearly unnerved her. She stepped back, looking at the three of us with growing frustration. “Look at them!” she shouted to the other women in the hall. “They don’t even dare speak. These so–called Lunas are terrified!”
Scarlett’s voice cut through the tension, cool and measured. “Don’t mistake silence for fear. It’s merely the polite response to meaningless provocation.”
The woman’s face flushed with anger. Before she could respond, Freya added, her tone deceptively soft, “You’d be wise to walk away
now.”
“I suggest you listen to my friends,” I finally said, releasing just enough warning in my scent to make my point. “It would be…
healthier for you.”
As she caught my scent. For a brief moment, fear flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with renewed hostility.
“I’ll make your lives hell,” she hissed, her gaze boring into mine. “Especially yours. I can report directly to Alpha King. I’ll make sure he makes you suffer.”
She turned and walked towards another table, her small group of followers trailing behind her.
As she left, the atmosphere at our table gradually relaxed. Other women glanced our way with sympathetic eyes, understanding in their expressions.
A brunette with kind eyes approached our table. “May I join you?” she asked, her scent revealing only sincerity and goodwill.
“Please,” I gestured to the empty seat beside me.
She sat down with a grateful smile. “I’m Ruby. I was the daughter of small pack Alpha in Forestvale before I was brought here.”
“Nice to meet you, Baby. I’m Juno, and these are my friends Scarlett and Freya.”
Ruby nodded. “I know who you are. Everyone does.” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “I heard you were brought directly to Alpha King’s tribute palace. That’s unprecedented. Usually, Luna tributes are assigned to service roles.”
“Service roles?” Freya asked, her brow furrowing.
1/2
Chapter 25
“Not what you’re thinking. Kishen work, cleaning, laundry.”
“What about that woman?” I asked, glancing toward the dark–haired female.
“Eliza,” Ruby supplied the name with obvious distaste. “Be careful argund her. What she said about having the Alpha King’s ear isn’t entirely a lie. She’s managed to influence him in the past.”
I raised an eyebrow, silently prompting her to continue.
“She’s lied to Alpha King about other women, claiming they were plotting against him or breaking rules.” Ruby’s voice dropped even lower. “Several women were sent to border territories for hard labor Because of her.”
Scarlett frowned. “And he believes her without question?
Ruby shrugged. “We think they have some kind of… intimate relationship. No one knows for sure.”
“Intimate relationship I echoed, confused by her phrasing. My eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”
Ruby laughed, the sound tinged with irony. “That’s the strange thing about this ‘harem. Despite being called possessions of the Alpha King, Beta, and Gamma, they don’t actually sleep with any of the women here.”
“What?” The three of us spoke in unison.
“We’re kept as symbols of conquest, displayed at events and parties. Many women hope to eventually earn more… intimate attention, but none have succeeded.” Ruby’s eyes flickered with something like resignation.
I glanced at Scarlett with a small smile, thinking she might be an exception to that rule.
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