Chapter 11 CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE BAD FRIEND

NORA’S POV

“You foolish, insolent girl! Where are you running off to now?” My stepfather bickered as I made my way to the front door.

I visibly cringed, but was also thankful I had my back to him. The man was known for putting meaning into every little thing I do. Rolling my eyes, I plastered a fake smile on my lips before turning to face him.

He was a bitter man with a mole on the left side of his face. His skin was already melting off his bones as his back took the shape of a C due to his declining health.

Call me whatever you just, but I could not wait for the day he would leave this earth. The moon goddess took my father first with a cardiac arrest. And then my mother with cancer. Leaving me with this… human.

I honestly do not know what my mother saw in him. He was always so stern, all work and no play. What was there to love?

“I am going into town to get some flour and cinnamon,” I said, not disclosing the entire story. My shopping was only an excuse to make my way into the royal palace.

Ever since Sharon mated Alpha Roland, I have not heard a word from her. None of us had expected that she would be the alpha’s mate. I suppose all the attention and power has made her forget me.

I would be lying if I said that did not hurt. I have waited for nearly four months and she has not sent word to me. No visits, no letters, no gifts.

I guess I will just have to go visit her royal highness myself.

The old man grunted, sitting on his favorite arm chair beside the fireplace. “Get me some crackers and ginger tea while you're at it. And don’t go dilly dallying, I need you back here as soon as possible so you can prepare my bath. My feet need a good scrubbing!” He said, emphasizing his statement by placing his rather bizarre feet on the footstool.

Goosebumps erupted across my body as the foul odor hit my nostrils.

Good heavens!

“Okay, papa,” I said, shooting him the same fake smile I always did. It vanished the second I turned my back on him. Quickly, I dashed out of our cottage and headed straight up to the castle. I did my best to curtail my anger, leaving room for Sharon’s explanation.

But what valuable reason could she possibly have for ghosting me for so long? Are her royal duties really that strenuous? Or has she made the bold decision of leaving me behind along with her past?

It does not matter, I will get my answer sooner or later.

As I arrived at the palace gates, a head of sweat formed at the top of my head. Seven heavily built guards were stationed at the entrance, armored from head to toe without a dash of emotion written on their face.

I swallowed.

Relax. You are a friend to the queen. They will let you in.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” I said as soon as I reached them, attempting to keep my tone as even as possible.

“State your business,” one of the guards said gruffly.

“I am here to see the Luna,” I said, and the guards looked amongst themselves.

“What Luna?”

What kind of a question is that? Are they new guards? How can they not know their Luna? The alpha announced it before the entire pack. Could they have dementia?

“Luna Sharon Dukes? The alpha’s mate? The one he proclaimed at the alpha’s feast a few months ago? You know, blonde hair, blue eyes and about 5 '5,” I said, doing my best to jog their rather poor memory.

One of the guards finally realized who I was talking about. His lips formed an O shape before he broke out a grin.

“Oh, that one. She ran off a while back after the alpha rejected her for her stepsister,” he said. My jaw met the floor.

“What treason do you speak of?” I snapped and they all burst into laughter.

“You must not be up to date with the latest gossip,” another one said. “I heard the alpha made the poor girl watch as he fucked her sister. Some say she begged for the alpha to touch her right then and there. What a desperate little bitch.”

“I heard her entire family

My fists balled at my sides as rage coursed through my veins. Once I step through these gates, I would instantly demand that all seven of them be hanged! How dare they spread such lousy rumors.

“You know not what you speak of. My friend is in that castle and I am going to get through one way or the other,” I stated, and the smile on their faces instantly vanished. Their countenance turned stoic as all seven of them turned to me, the intimidation from their gaze alone weighing heavily on my shoulders.

“Leave, little girl. The one you seek is not here. You should use this g time to search the woods and gutters. Hopefully she will still be alive.”

Angry tears stung my eyes as my teeth clenched tightly. How dare they say such things!

“I am not leaving here until I see my friend!” I said strongly. Just as they were about to turn their weapons to me, a commotion could be heard from the other side of the gate.

It was opening.

Yes! This is my chance.

“Move aside!”

The next thing I knew, I was pushed down on the ground as the guards quickly got into their positions. I rose to my feet just in time to find a black limousine cruising out of the grand gates.

A smile lifted the corners of my lips as I readied myself to run towards it until I finally got a glimpse of the couple inside.

Alpha Roland sat with a woman perched upon his lap, their lips entwined as they made little to no effort to conceal himself.

Even when everyone knew the woman he was with was not his mate.

In that moment, as I stood by the sidelines, watching as Alpha Roland made out with Sandra, I knew that what the guards had said was true.

All this time I thought Sharon was too busy with her new life as Luna to care about me, when in reality she had been rejected all along. Subjected to the worst kind of torture and I had no idea.

I believed that she was the bad friend for abandoning me, but I was the bad friend all along for not checking in sooner.

But if Sharon was not here, where the hell was she?

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