Chapter 8 False Hope

Atasha’s Point of View

I thought studying was fun, like what Astrid had told me before. But being stuck in this study room with my tutor felt so suffocating, tiring, and discouraging all at the same time. I had been reading the first philosophical book she assigned to me for two hours, and Veronica gave me a test right after that.

Sitting on my chair uncomfortably with my fingers interlocked on my lap, I felt her dismayed stare at me upon checking my test paper. From the books that I have read, one that struck me the most was about their moral beliefs, about having harmony within packs, but if someone criticized the standards of their own way of living, they were treated as a threat and should be vanished in the face of this world, as they believed the only right way was to follow the great Montreal bloodline.

The Montreal family had the only power to rule all packs to ensure peace and advance the living standards among wolves. No one had the right to question the Alpha of the Crimson Moon Pack as the werewolves believe he was the leader among leaders. As I flipped through pages and read their books, I was able to see the world through their lens. If living in harmony with other packs was their primary goal, why do they engage in wars? Especially with my pack? Every werewolf living in our small community was not even a threat to their union.

Everything that they were teaching was about protecting the lives of each of everyone by preparing for them to war. But if their primary goal was peace, why do they need to engage in war in the first place? In order to achieve harmony for the packs, to terrorize another is the answer? These questions kept swirling through my mind as I flipped through pages.

Montreal's bloodline was vital to keep the werewolves from achieving peace and order. Also, they believed that it would be a threat to every pack if Montreal's bloodline interacted with the cursed blood of a werewolf whose pack came from the dawn.

It was believed that the Kolgrims clan of Witches, and Wizards advised the great Montreal that the threat of the Crimson Pack would be from that group. My headaches worsened as I kept on reading. It was impossible for me to grasp everything!

I missed the days when I could just sleep the whole day If I wanted to.

Alpha Gregory can kill me now . . .

Well, about my test. I tried my hardest to answer the questions that were meant to measure my academic abilities. I simply felt like it was impossible to answer it for fifteen minutes, even if I tried. After all, who would assign a fifteen-minute time limit for a student to answer the test?

"All of your answers here are incorrect!" Veronica burst out of frustration as she scratched her head. She looked at me as if I was an impossible case to resolve. Shaking her head, she said, "I guess this plan will never work out, huh?" She then threw the test paper on the table, which made me gasp. "I know for sure that this plan will fail. Do you know why? That's because you're very stupid."

Her words caused a sharp stinging anguish to throb within my chest. I then realized how cruel Veronica was. I thought she was a very fine lady, a kind and friendly shewolf, but I guess I only felt that way because of her demeanor. Looks can be deceiving indeed. The first time I saw her, she reminded me of a beautiful piece of pearl plucked from the depths of the ocean. Actually, I remembered my sister when I first saw her. Beautiful and elegant. However it all changed now; Veronica's true colors had been revealed. She was very strict, and she hated it so much if I didn't understand all those things she was teaching me. Every time I got the answers incorrect, I got hit by a stick in my hand.

But again, we were only studying for two hours. She should not have expected an outcome ideally from someone who never experienced attending school.

“I’m . . .” My mouth was left open. I wanted to say something, to defend myself against her rage, but I felt so little as she narrowed her eyes and looked at me with such disapproval. I ended up biting my lips and then looked down at my fingers.

"I will report to Elijah about this, keep on reading," Veronica said, and the next thing I knew, she walked away and left me alone in the study room.

I sighed, acknowledging my failure. Was it really necessary for her to be so cruel? Sure, I was aware of my own shortcomings, but I had the impression that we weren't doing things correctly. Was there another way aside from answering reading and answering tests? Is there anybody else out there that wants to be a Luna who has gone through the same thing I am? I feel sorry for them.

Minutes passed, and the door opened once again. It was no other than Elijah. Seeing his wrinkled brows, I knew I would face a difficult conversation with him. He took a few steps towards me. He leaned forward and glared at me, his hands resting on the table in front of him.

"Atasha, do you think you can do this?" he asked coldly.

"I did my best answering the test paper. I know I have a lot of incorrect answers, but I can just memorize the right answers, and I believe I'll be good, is that correct?" I said, hoping that he would go easy on me. Probably, I'm giving a false hope as he looked at me, worried that I can't push it through.

"Yes . . . of course. But if you were dumb, to begin with, then I doubt you can memorize it all," Veronica stated as she entered the study room once again.

I inhaled heavily. My eyes glanced in Veronica's direction, who crossed her arms against her chest. I know Veronica was right, but I am not simply giving up. I stared back at Elijah, who was still looking at me impatiently.

"Okay, can you promise me one thing?" I fisted my hand, still looking at Elijah. "Once I pass all these tests, you will find my family and make sure they are alive and safe." My eyes locked through him, waiting for him to answer.

"You are not in the position to negotiate and give commands. After all, you are nothing more than just a mere slave.” Veronica made a scoff.

"Alright, it's a deal then." Elijah stood up and smirked at me.

I managed to force a grin onto my face as I realized I had the strength to endure this ordeal. He would track down my family as soon as I passed the test, which meant I had to do all I could to succeed in this crisis, no matter how difficult the situation seemed.

For Astrid, for my father, for the Silver Moon Pack.

Veronica shook her head in disbelief. "You know what? You guys are both dumb."

Joaquin then entered the room and looked at Elijah. “I left the liquor in your secret chamber. Also, I see that you're able to master the dream telepathy. Even in my dreams, you can now hunt me—”

While Joaquin tried to say something more, Elijah looked at me with an odd face; he quickly went in Quin's direction and aggressively covered his mouth and uttered, "Shh! Be quiet, don't mention dream telepathy, Quin! Also, We're in the middle of a study session; Veronica will be mad at us!"

Joaquin then apologized, and he went out of the room with Elijah as Veronica shouted to both of them to get out.

“Hey, Atasha.” She grabbed my hand towards her. “I want to let you know that if you can't pass this exam, you will not be able to go to the second test. So it means this plan of you and Elijah is bound to fail, so don’t even try.”

I understand the consequences clearly as Veronica tried to tell me that I should just give this up. I also knew that these ‘exams’ from the Alpha were the only way for him to give a chance to his son. Even Alpha Gregory was ruthless, but when it comes to Elijah, I'm confident he will not punish him. The way I see his eyes looked at Elijah at the dining table, asking him how he was doing, listening carefully to Elijah's answers, and reminding him how he deeply cares for him. It was a scene that I usually see from my father every night at our dining table with Astrid. So when Elijah protested to his father about his arranged marriage, it reminded me of Astrid.

It was also unfair for Elijah to be with someone he didn't love. However, has he already found his mate?

If the Montreal bloodline is sacred, I completely see why his father responded in such a violent manner. This was done solely for Elijah's benefit. Marrying Margaux was the only answer to this mess.

"I'll do my best and move forward," I said with conviction.

Veronica's eyes widened, and she bit her thumb while looking at the pile of books. "Why do you even try so hard? We all know the outcome of this," she said.

I showed her my bracelet. “It's for my family's sake.”

Her face gloomed after that response. "Do you think family matters? and how about your own life?" Veronica then looked back to the pile of books.

The silence occupied the room as I tried to gather my thoughts to answer her question, a strong wind blew against the open windows, and it seemed to me that silence was the ideal answer at the time. I adore Astrid from the bottom of my heart, and I desire to be someone as wonderful as she was one day.

I remembered the days when we were together, whenever someone from our pack mistaken me as Astrid, I'm flattered as to what I also wanted to be like her. Though our similarities are only by looks somehow, the sense of pride from me that she was considered as one of the great werewomen in our pack made me feel motivated to be like her someday.

Veronica stood up, turned back, and left a sigh. But before she left the room, I gathered my thoughts and courage to voice out my thoughts. “Unlike you, I was not born to have the riches. I have nothing in this world but only them. My sister Astrid, is the person I looked up to. If they were gone, my whole life would be meaningless.”

I felt the hand of Veronica from the top of my head. As the wind kept blowing from the window, the pages of the books flipped.

"Okay, then let's see what happens next. Get some rest.” She removed her hand from my head and walked out to my room.

While I continued reading and studying, a familiar werewolf entered the room. If my eyes serve me right, this is Zach. How was he able to enter here? His finger was lifted to his lips, as if to indicate that I should be silent.

“Come with me,” he said as if it was a command rather than a statement.

As I hesitated to come with him, he then reminded me of the words he said to me at the banquet.

“I am the last card who will save you,” he uttered.

With that, I slowly nodded and stood up to come with him. While we walked past the hallway, I found it odd that he was not saying anything at all.

I gasped when he suddenly held my hand and pulled me. He pushed my back against the wall, and his musky scent invaded my nostrils while his body was pressing against mine. My mind imagined things that I should have not.

I then remembered my bizarre dream. I shook my head to throw away those ideas. Because of that dream, I couldn’t help but to picture it right now with Zach. While we were holding this position for a minute, I heard the guards footsteps walking past us, it felt like we were not allowed to be seen together at this time, especially in this place.

"Atasha, I want to show you something," he whispered through my ear. I looked away as he was trying to glance at me.

What is he trying to do now?