Chosen By Ruin

Feigning Grief

LILIANA

"What is going on?"

The question escapes me when Sloane didn’t bother to share why Luna Gwen called for me. Liam hadn’t bothered to ask questions. He had simply walked away.

Sloane and I are currently standing outside the enormous assembly hall on the academy's first floor, where tall obsidian pillars stretch upward into a ceiling lost beneath floating chandeliers of pale blue crystal. The bronze doors before us are twice my height, engraved with wolves, ravens, dragons and symbols I still can't recognize.

My pulse begins to pound.

"Sloane..."

She finally turns toward me.

Every trace of warmth has disappeared from her face.

She looks...heartbroken.

"I'm so sorry, Hannah."

It does nothing to reduce my fear. It only heightens it.

My eyes search hers desperately. If she's still calling me Hannah, then at least she doesn't know.

A tiny breath leaves my lungs.

Maybe...

Maybe Luna Gwen hasn't discovered my identity after all.

"Why are you sorry? Please, tell me…”

She walks past me and pushes the heavy doors swinging open.

The rest of my words die inside my throat.

The hall beyond is enormous.

Rows of black seats descend toward a circular marble floor where the academy's executives sit like judges passing sentence.

Luna Gwen occupies the central seat.

Professor Imogene sits two chairs away.

There’s Professor Dean. Beta Aegon.

More elderly faces I have never seen before- Who I assume are professors too.

There are some students in uniforms also. Why am I needed in this gathering?

I try to spot Xaden. I don’t. I am aware Darian is away on a mission. Instead…My breathing catches as a pair of familiar golden eyes settle on me.

Alpha Soren.

The very one who bought me from Alpha Kol and put me on this dangerous mission.

Why is he here?

Every instinct screams that something is terribly wrong.

Yet...

No one is looking at me with suspicion.

They're looking at me...

...with pity.

"Hannah." Luna Gwen's voice is unusually gentle as she motions for me to step forward.

"Please come forward."

My legs obey before my mind does.

Each click of my black boots echoes loudly across the marble floor.

Every eye follows me.

When I reach the center, I bow automatically.

My palms have become damp.

Silence stretches as I wait.

Then Luna Gwen slowly turns toward Alpha Soren. “As the Alpha of her pack, I believe you’re in the best position to tell the news to her.”

His jaw flexes once before he stands.

Now I’m trying my best to resist trembling all over. What news?

"I am sorry, Hannah." His voice carries through the hall.

"We lost both of your parents last night."

My expression straightens.

"They were killed during an unexpected rogue attack."

The words don't register immediately.

Killed? Both my real and adopted parents died a long time ago.

Of course this is about Hannah. But wait.. her parents died? Just a few days after she died? Something isn’t making sense here.

For a heartbeat, I don't know what expression belongs on my face.

Should I cry, scream, or ask questions?

“Poor girl, she’s processing the shock.” One of the executives sitting says.

She’s partly right. I am. But not in the way they think.

Alpha Soren's eyes meet mine.

Almost imperceptibly, he gives the smallest nod.

He’s waiting for me to act along. Are they truly dead? Or is it his way of covering up for me so that my identity won’t be found out?

"No..." I stumble backward, the marble floor rushing toward me as I collapse onto the cold floor.

"No..." My voice shakes harder this time. For effect.

“I’m so sorry, Hannah.” Luna Gwen consoles from her sitting position. And I keep acting like I’m in shock, grieving.

A pair of arms quickly wrap around me. I look up to see Sloane.

"Oh, Hannah..." She pulls me against her shoulder as she crouches. "I'm so sorry."

My fingers clutch her sleeve.

I lower my face, forcing my shoulders to tremble.

"I... I..."

The words refuse to come. Perhaps that's better. I have no idea what to say. This whole pretending thing is new to me, wearing me out even.

I just hope my reaction is convincing.

Luna Gwen rises from her seat. "Katherine and Nolon Wales were my very good friends. Like I’ve said before Hannah showed up, their death is a fatal blow to me. I am still in denial, but trying not to break."

Her voice softens as she looks directly at me.

"On Hannah’s behalf, I propose that you grant her permission to be absent from lectures for the next few days till she’s able to feel like herself again.”

No one interrupts.

"She deserves time to grieve." Her gaze sweeps across everyone.

"I expect every lecturer to respect that."

The room remains quiet.

“With all due respect, Luna Gwen,” Professor Imogene begins as she slowly stands. I wonder what she has to say since she hated Hannah’s mother before she died. I still have no idea what the history between them was.

“Your decision is fair, but…” Her gaze finds me, but only briefly before she returns her attention to the Luna.

"I wish you showed this same compassion whenever someone else dies."

The atmosphere changes instantly. Even I feel it, but I pretend like I’m not paying attention, letting myself stay in shock, breathing unevenly.

Luna Gwen's expression hardens, "What exactly are you implying, Imogene?"

"I'm implying that your son murdered one of our students. You’ve been informed about it, and you’ve not regarded it for once since you got back this morning.”

Shit. Here we go,

"There has been no announcement about it. And I’m trying to hope that you will…speak about it. Xaden can’t be spared for breaking another rule this time around.”

I guess he had been breaking lots of them before now. And that only…unsettles me further.

A quiet dismissive sound escaped Luna Gwen’s lips.

"I have not talked about it because Dominion Xaden did exactly what needed to be done."

Professor Imogene’s eyes widen with malice, not bothering to hide her displeasure. But Luna Gwen continues to speak as if her differences don’t matter to her.

"The boy my son executed attempted to awaken Vorth. If he had succeeded, every student inside these walls would've been placed at risk. And even we, the executives. If the boy is still alive, he’s a threat to the whole of Supraveil at large.”

My mind went back to Liam. Why does he need the dragon book?

Professor Imogene tilts her head. "You never fail to entertain me, Gwen." She didn’t bother to add ‘Luna’ this time around. The atmosphere in this hall is getting more and more unbearable to breathe in.

Before Luna Gwen can say more, another elder rises.

A tanned woman with jet-black braided all-back hair dressed in a deep emerald pair of suits.

She looks between the two women who have been disagreeing with each other then stop her wandering eyes on Luna Gwen.

"With due respect, Luna, we all acknowledge your ancestors founded Supraveil."

She lets the words sit.

"Yes, it began as a school for wolves, but it has long since become an academy for every supernatural race. Selective ones of course."

Her gaze sharpens.

"You maybe Luna of your pack, but our voices carry equal weight. As we also lead our species.” The woman isn’t a wolf. That registers.

Several elders in the hall nod. The tanned woman continues, "The Sixth Code remains law."

She speaks each word carefully.

"Any student who takes justice into their own hands shall be imprisoned within the c*****e for one month. The law applies to everyone."

Luna Gwen answers without hesitation.

"I heard you, Corti, but Xaden is not everyone. And he’s had to suffer in the c*****e before now which you all knew about.” Oh. That’s news to me.

A toxic silence fills the air. "He is the future Alpha.” Luna Gwen says with an expression that puts ‘defiance’ to shame. It’s exceptional confidence.

"And every person in this room knows how unstable his wolf becomes. That will be solved, but we all can’t deny that my son is just brave enough to do what…even many leaders in this school can’t without leaning towards support. Which only solidifies him as the future Alpha."

She doesn’t stutter.

And this is the same future Alpha I’m supposed to…I swallow, closing my eyes briefly as Sloane’s hands caress my hair backward.

“My decision stands, elders. Hannah will be absent from classes. This discussion is over."

She looks around the hall.

"And the meeting is dismissed."

They all begin to stand. Yet I don't miss the expressions directed toward Luna Gwen. Especially from Professor Imogene.

Disapproval. Frustration. Resentment.

I thought they were all united.

"Alpha Soren." Luna Gwen turns toward him as the rest disperse.

"You wished to speak with Hannah privately."

"Yes."

He nods solemnly. "As her Alpha, and her late parents’, it’s only appropriate that I have words for her.”

My chest heaves.

"Of course. Take all the time you need. I’m sure it will be helpful for her state.” Luna Gwen says as she spare me one more pitiful glance.

Sloane gently releases me and whispers, "You'll be okay,”

I nod weakly. Then I rise on shaky legs and follow Alpha Soren out of the hall.

With every step we take away from them, my heart pounds harder.

Because I know whatever he’s about to discuss has nothing to do with consolation.