Olivia’s POV”Dang…”
The crash of a plate hitting the floor echoed loudly.
It had slipped from the hands of one of the pack members who was so transfixed, staring at me.
It felt like time froze, and all eyes in the dining hall turned toward me.
I suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed and wanted to run out of the hall, back to my room, and bury myself.
“You will do no such thing, Olivia.”
”Raise your shoulders and walk to your seat.
Sit like the queen you are,” Lucy encouraged.
I breathed out heavily and continued toward the head of the table, sitting down as gracefully as I could.
I looked around, but Alpha Kingsley was nowhere to be found, and I sighed dejectedly.
Where was he?
Is he okay?
Has he eaten?
Why do I suddenly feel concerned about his well-being and want to take care of him?
I have to get a hold of myself.
These new feelings toward him are foreign and strange.
I can’t seem to control them, but I have to try, I told myself.
When I looked around again, everyone had resumed eating and murmuring in low voices that I couldn’t hear from where I sat at the head of the table.
Kate was seated beside me on the right — the position meant for the Luna when the Alpha is present at the head table.
I turned to smile at her, but she threw dark glances at me.
If looks could kill, I would have been dead already.
I ignored her, helped myself to the food on the table, and began eating slowly and calmly.
“I heard you fainted during training from fear,” Kate suddenly said, while those seated beside her burst into laughter.
I kept quiet and continued eating, not paying attention to their teasing.
“To think you have the nerve to sit at the head of the table meant for the Alpha without a wolf is really bold. If only you had that same courage during training,” she continued mockingly.
I didn’t react.
I kept eating slowly and with composure while she and her cohorts — whom I hardly recognized — continued mocking and berating me.
After a while, I finished eating and wiped my mouth with the tissue beside me.
I cleared my throat.
“I think we need to look into the pack’s training curriculum. Some people lack basic table manners,” I said, causing a brief silence. Get faster updates on g.com.
Then laughter erupted in small groups, followed by murmurs, and several smirking glances were thrown toward Kate.
“Who did you say lacks table manners?” she demanded, her face red and boiling with fury, anger and shame written all over it.
“I just felt the need, as your Luna, to review the pack’s training curriculum. Wait — don’t tell me you think you lack proper table manners. But don’t worry, I will make sure you’re tutored well,” I replied, raising my hands nonchalantly.
“Bravo,” Lucy cheered.
“Olivia…” Kate growled, her wolf almost surfacing as anger overtook her and she began losing control.
But Sophia, who had been quiet all this while, seated at the corner, held her back.
“Calm down. This is the dining hall. You don’t want to create a scene and anger the Alpha,” she whispered before leaning closer to say something else in Kate’s ear.
Whatever she said made Kate glare at me before she reluctantly sat down.
Something tells me she wouldn’t lie low just like that — not after I made her lose face in front of everyone.
She hasn’t liked me since the first day she set eyes on me.
I watched her for a moment as she continued throwing daggers at me, then looked away.
I drank my juice and stood up.
“Don’t sit in the Luna’s seat next time. I can’t afford disinfectant,” I said calmly.
Kate’s face darkened even more as she clenched her fists and ground her teeth.
If she could, she would have beheaded me with her claws.
A pity we were in public and she had to hold her anger back.
I ignored her and walked away, humming softly.
Although I looked confident humiliating her, I was still afraid.
She has been in this pack for a long time and has many people willing to do her dirty jobs — just like Sophia did last time.
But I couldn’t just sit there and let her insult and humiliate me every time.
“You have to be careful, but not afraid of her,” Lucy reassured.
After leaving the dining hall, I headed east to look for Linda.
I hadn’t seen her since the other day.
She had told me where to find her the last time we met.
It wasn’t far.
I soon found her room and knocked twice.
“Who’s that?” she called from inside.
“It’s me, Olivia,” I answered.
“Lu…na. Good morning, Luna,” she stammered, bowing slightly, clearly surprised to see me.
I gently held her up and smiled.
“What do you think the punishment is for disobeying your Luna?” I asked.
Fear and worry immediately filled her face.
“I’m sorry, Luna, if I offended you. Please don’t report me.” She dropped to her knees, but I quickly stopped her.
“There you go again, making the same mistake. I told you to call me Olivia when we’re alone. And there’s no need to bow or kneel when you see me,” I said, holding her hands.
She exhaled in relief.
“You almost scared me to death, Olivia,” she said.
“How are you feeling now? I heard you fainted at the training grounds,” she added, checking me over with concern written clearly on her face.
I smiled, my heart warming.
It’s been a while since someone showed me this kind of care.
“I’m fine now.
No need to worry.”
”But I need your help with something,” I said.
“I would do anything within my power for you, as long as it doesn’t involve taking a life,” she replied seriously.
“Calm down. I just want to train my body and learn self-defense skills, but I don’t know where to start,” I explained.
She sighed in relief and thought silently for a moment.
“From my experience, since you haven’t trained before, I suggest starting with gym workouts to build your strength and stamina first,” she said.
“Gym workouts?” I muttered.
“Yes. I think that would be the best place to begin,” she assured me.
“That’s fine. I’ll listen to you. Please tell me how to get to the gym,” I said.
She explained the directions clearly, and I left.
As I walked through the hallway, I admired the serene, ancient drawings that adorned the walls.
When I reached the gym, I opened the door and—
Bang.
I collided with something solid.
Strong.
Hairy.
A man.