Chapter 47: Chapter 46

Lanie | nodded.

Normally | was quick with the comebacks, but Gabriela made me nervous.

“Did Xander talk to you?” | asked her, | could only assume he'd told her about me taking over the Luna duties. At least | hoped it was that, and nothing to do with Braden Her stoic expression morphed into confusion.

If Xander hadn’t talked to her, then | wasn’t about to drop either of those bombs on her myself.

“Never mind.” | waved away the question. “What did you want to talk about?”

| walked her to the armchairs near my bed and we sat across from each other.

“I'm gonna be straight with you,” she said as she folded her arms in her lap.

Oh g ods, what was she about to tell me?

That | wasn’t fit to be her son’s mate? That | was an embarrassment to the Constantine pack? That Xander and Zane were right to reject me for Alice?

Awave of nausea passed over me.

Why did | care so much what she thought or what Xander had told her? | was just going to fulfill my duties as long as it took for Alice to become star Luna, and then I'd be on my merry way, never to see those Alpha-holes again.

“I believe Alice will be a dreadful Luna”

Wait, what?

My face must’ve given away my shock because her mouth curled up in a smirk.

“Surely you're not surprised to hear that.” She laughed lightly. | take my job very seriously, and | need my successor to care for the other wolves in our pack as much as they care about themselves. And Alice is about as selfish as it gets,”

No. Way.

So Gabriela wasn't here to tell me how much she hated me...she was here to s hit talk Alice?!

What kind of twilight zone was | in right now?

“| don’t disagree,” | finally said. “But that’s the last thing | thought you would say”

Gabriela studied me for a moment before continuing.

“What do you think of Xander really? She was looking at me so intensely that | wondered if she could read my Where could | begin?

mind.

| hated the disappointment he and Zane hadn't even bothered to hide when we'd been matched. | hated that he’d used his 1/2 power to cast me off for a she-wolf he liked better. | hated that he’d so easily agreed to let me go when to proposed my bed, Because when we were in bed together, | really hadn’t hated him at all.

And as pathetic as it was, | was still hoping the three of us would end up back there again, somehow.

But | couldn’t tell Gabriela any of that.

a weak-as s answer, and there was not way she was “Our relationship is so new.” | said instead, and then trailed off, it was a weal going to let me get away with that.

She barked out a full-laugh this time, the sound echoing around my bedroom, “That’s a very diplomatic answer.” She flashed a mischievous grin. “Spoken like a true Luna.”

“|

“Oh, but I’m not | started to protest, but she held her hand up.

“| know everything is f ucked right now with this two mates business. And you're in a worse position than any of us.”

Da mn, | already respected Gabriela, but | was actually starting to like her, too?

“...1 don’t know what to say”

Me? Lost for words again?

This woman had serious power.

Gabriela reached out and patted my knee gently.

“Maybe | should've come by a bit later. Then | would’ve brought some alcohol to make this all go | laughed weakly.

What the hell was this?

“It's new never too early for booze.”

Gabriela nodded. Tve said that very thing myself”

She stood suddenly, and placed a hand on my shoulder.

down a little easier.”

“| don’t know what the boys have told you,” she said, “But as far as I’m concerned, you're their true mate.”