~Chapter 16 - The Chatter of Gossips~
2007 Words
~Louise~
The queue to the toilets was almost as long as the queue to get into the marquee. The portable stalls ran in a line—one row backed against another—one line for men, the other for women.
I knew the symptoms of my illness would persist even if the pain was minimal, so I spied the toilets the second we arrived. And as predicted, the nausea and pain hit the second I left the marquee, sending my stomach reeling.
I had to change my sanitary pad. Since the episode at the training grounds, I have had to do that often. That was one positive outcome of giving up my womanhood. I will no longer have a period.
Not that a wolf’s period was the same as a human’s. Once we reached the age when our kind came into heat, we usually got them every six months—that rule didn’t apply to me! It usually drew the attention of unmated male wolves, but thankfully, that didn’t affect me.
The other reason I left the marquee was to escape Joseph’s and Tyrone’s intense gazes. What was their problem? Did I look that different with long auburn hair? I ran my fingers through the silken ends and sighed. I felt different, so maybe I was.
Barely a few feet separated me from two young women, engaged in animated conversation. The familiar sound of Joseph’s name pricked my ears. I listened intently.
“Did you see how handsome Joseph looks tonight?” one exclaimed.
The dim, yellow light above the restroom stalls obscured their features, but I could tell they were teenagers. They both had long, white hair and wore matching shimmering grey dresses, daringly slit to the thigh.
“I wouldn’t mind being his mate,” the other replied, a note of longing in her voice. “That would make me the next Luna. Can you imagine?”
I sighed inwardly and rolled my eyes. If only they knew his looks were better than his attitude!
“There are rumours he found his mate…” the first girl said, twirling her long white hair around her thin fingers. “And he’s been seen with a girl from another pack.”
“Ugh, from another pack?” the second girl shrieked, the sound echoing down the line. “How unfair! When he could have me! Which pack? The Wisteria clan? Or the Hillside clan? I hope it’s not the Hillside clan. Those barbarians are practically feral!”
“I don’t know what pack, but he’s been spending a lot of time with her.” The first girl said, a hint of smugness in her voice.
“Oh, my goddess, Lola…” The second girl covered her mouth to muffle a sarcastic chuckle. “You don’t think it’s that girl—the red-headed girl that Josie-Anne was hanging around with earlier? Maybe that’s why she was put on our table. They might announce her tonight!”
Announce Joseph’s mate! The words made my chest burn. I may have been the girl with Josie-Anne, but I was not the girl seen with Joseph. Wait! The realisation was sharp. It wasn’t me—just as I had known. The entire admission—the kiss—it was all a game! He lied!
But was I jumping to a conclusion too soon? I needed to hear more. I lowered my face, hiding behind my hair, and listened as the girls continued to gossip.
“I doubt it, Sarai,” Lola replied, propping her hand on her hip. “If that girl is Joseph’s mate, she would not be at the table with us… She would be with him. No,” she shook her head. “This girl is probably a lowly omega—A project of some kind for Josie-Anne. She’s always taking in strays…”
“I heard that’s why Josie-Anne was sent home early…” Sari said with a teasing smirk. “The Elders were sick of her bringing pity project to their home.”
What! I gasped, then covered my mouth with my hands, hoping the two girls were too busy in their world of gossip to hear me. Is it true? Am I a pity project for Josie-Anne? Every inch of my insides, muscles, veins, and everything in between sizzled with burning irritation.
“I heard that too,” Lola snorted a childish laugh, oblivious to my outcry. “Being cousins to Matilda and Kingston has its perks…”
My heart sank as I recognised the two white-haired gossipers—Lola and Sarai White, Beta Reece’s nieces and Eloise’s teenage daughters. Unlike their mother, they weren’t trained warriors and focussed more about appearances than protecting the pack.
Lola, sixteen, and Sarai, fifteen, attended Our Lady of Souls. Although we were in different classes, I often saw them in the common area and the library. Their relationship with Matilda was so close that they seemed more like sisters than cousins. They mimicked her mannerisms in more ways than one.
My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms. A pity project? Was that all I was? A stray dog Josie-Anne had picked up and dusted off for a night? The thought was a physical blow, stealing my breath and leaving me reeling.
I forced myself to breathe, slow and steady, trying to regain some semblance of composure. No, I couldn’t let their words, their petty statements, dictate my worth. I knew who I was, or at least, I thought I did. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was already taking root, twisting, and turning within me.
“Well, whoever she is, she will never be my Luna!” Sarai said, her voice laced with venom. “Joseph deserves the best, someone worthy of being Luna.”
“Definitely,” Lola agreed, smoothing down her already flawless dress. “Someone like me!”
Once the gossiping sisters reached the toilet stalls and hurried inside, I breathed a sigh of relief, letting my shoulders relax. They hadn’t recognised me! The urge to wait, corner them, and demand the truth was almost unbearable. Without Matilda, they’d crumble. But tonight, I had to be…civilised. Confronting them would be a disaster.
Finally, I reached the front of the queue, and that familiar ocean breeze caught my attention, grating down my spine worse than the nails down a chalkboard. No… please don’t be him…!
As soon as the stall door swung open and a woman emerged, I darted into the tiny area, quickly securing the door behind me before leaning against it to catch my breath. This was a terrible idea! The awful scent of lemon and bleach toilet cleaner made me gag. The confined space was cramped, with plastic and grey dominating the tiny interior. All I could think about was leaving and returning to Mum as soon as possible.
I hurried to change my sanitiser pad. The bleeding had slowed, and I was thankful for that. Once I had disposed of it in the electronic sanitiser bin to my right, I hurried to wash my hands. I pressed my ear to the door and listened, hoping Joseph had gone. Please be gone…
After a brief minute, I slowly unlocked the door and stepped onto the grass. No sooner than I was out, another girl hurried past to use the stall.
I inhaled deeply. Thankfully, the scent had gone. Thank the Goddess for small favours.
I returned to the marquee to find Jo and Raine waiting. Relief washed over me as I embraced them, holding them tight and drawing comfort from their presence.
“Is everything okay, Louise?” Raine asked, stepping back from me. She studied me up and down. “You’ve gone pale…”
“I-I…” I stammered, tongue-tied. I desperately wanted to tell them what the gossiping sister had revealed, but that would expose secrets I wasn’t ready to share. “Yes, I’m fine…”
“You’re not fine,” Raine crossed her arms and narrowed her gaze at me. “Did he do something to you again?”
“No, it’s not…” I glanced from one to the other, then hugged myself. “Okay, I might be overreacting, but I think he’s following me…”
“What?” Raine breathed loudly, her arms dropping slack by her side. “Why would he be following you?”
“I think this is more serious than you lead us to believe,” Jo cautioned, raising her thin, dark eyebrows at me. Her eyes narrowed in on mine, making it a challenge to keep my secret about Joseph hidden. “Is there something we should know?”
“No!” I almost shouted, then brought my voice down. Did I need to tell them about what Joseph had said? No! It had been a lie! It was all a game! “I mean… Nothing more than what I’ve already told you?” Lies!
“You know what?” Jo said, wiggling a finger at me. “Something is suspicious about all of this.” Now it was her turn to cross her arms. “Why did Josie-Anne take you to the front of the table? From what I can tell, those seats are for the Alpha, Gamma, and Beta extended families. You and May were the only omegas up there. Is there something going on we should know about?”
“I don’t know what’s going on,” I shrugged. At least, that was the truth. I was so confused about Joseph and Josie-Anne’s true motives. “Josie-Anne said that seat was perfect for a person like me. Take that as you will.”
The girls exchanged concerned glances and then turned back to me.
“Josie-Anne knows about me…” I exhaled, and then the realisation hit me, and I sighed disappointedly. After hearing Lola and Sarai, it was the only conclusion that made sense. “I think she sat me with Doc Anderson for my safety. If anything goes wrong, then he can help.”
A glint of recognition flickered in their eyes.
“That makes sense,” Raine said, her shoulders relaxing. “If I were in that position, I would have done the same thing.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Totally! That girl has psychic powers.” She wiggled her fingers in front of her. “She knows your condition, and she’s looking out for you.”
“It’s smart.” Jo agreed. “If something goes wrong, you’ll be in the right hands.”
I waved a hand before my face, attempting to cool the heat rising to my cheeks. “Maybe,” I said, unconvinced.
I wanted to believe that Josie-Anne’s intentions were pure, that she was some kind of benevolent guardian—a child with a kind heart, but the whispers I’d overheard painted a different picture. A pity project. The thought stung more than I cared to admit.
There was a hiss from the speakers inside the marquee, and then Beta Reece’s voice boomed through the entire field. “Food is now being served. Please find your seats… A waiter will be with you momentarily.”
“We better head inside.” I insisted, turning on my heels.
“Okay,” they agreed, following behind me.
As I reached for my bag, I froze and peered down. It was gone. A sudden burst of panic exploded inside me. I spun to face Jo and Raine, my breath hitching in my throat. “Wait… It’s gone!”
“What’s gone?” Raine asked, staring at me with wide eyes.
“My emergency bag!” I pushed past the guests, hurried out of the marquee with Jo and Raine at my heels, and glanced around. “I need it! It has my medication! If I don’t keep the pain hidden—”
“It’s okay,” Jo soothed, stroking my shoulder. “I understand…”
“We’ll help you find it,” Raine added.
- Writer
