Luna's Obsessive Rogue

CHAPTER 8

CRYSTAL

My phone just wouldn't stop buzzing, and it totally woke me up from a deep sleep. Ugh, I was so annoyed! I grabbed it and saw a ton of messages and missed calls from Katherine.

When I finally answered, she practically yelled, "Where are you, Crystal?!" I was still half asleep and grumbled back, "Katherine, it's like the c***k of dawn. What's going on?"

Then she told me Niklaus had called everyone to the ground urgently, and I was the only one missing. She said he was furious and I needed to get there ASAP.

Man, I felt this mix of annoyance and panic. How could I have slept through such an important call? I rushed to get dressed and grabbed my stuff. "Okay, okay, I'm coming," I said as I basically ran out the door, with Katherine still chewing me out over the phone.

I was cursing myself for not setting more alarms and for being so careless. As I finally made it outside, I promised myself I'd never oversleep again, especially not on a day like this.

When I got to the ground, I saw everyone running around like they were in trouble. And they were, judging by the angry looks they gave me. I felt so embarrassed; now they'd probably hate me even more.

I just stood there, not knowing what to do, watching them all go around in circles like that. Then Niklaus, towering over me, looked down with this scowl on his face. "I made it clear to everyone that there's no slacking off here," he snapped, his voice sharp and stern.

"Hey Niklaus, I messed up," I admitted, feeling nervous. "I overslept, totally my fault. I'll take whatever punishment you think is fair. But please, don't punish everyone else for my mistake, alright?" I held my breath, hoping he'd understand and not punish the whole group for my tardiness.

Niklaus's face turned serious, and he growled at me, "Don't call me by my name. I'm the alpha here. You're nobody compared to me, so watch your tone and show some respect."

His words felt like a slap in the face, and I flinched, feeling the sting of his harshness. I quickly nodded, realising I had crossed a line, and muttered an apology.

Niklaus's voice echoed through the training ground, and he yelled, "Get over here!" Everyone stopped running and gathered around us.

"Alright, listen up," he said, staring at me as if I was the main culprit. "Since some folks can't be bothered to show up on time, we're all moving in together until this training is done. Clear?"

I could practically hear the collective sighs and curses from the other recruits. This training session was turning into a real headache.

After Niklaus dismissed us, it felt like more of a punishment than anything else. I could hear everyone grumbling and cursing under their breath, all because of my stupid mistake.

But then something unexpected happened. Instead of sticking around to complain, everyone took off running to their homes to pack their stuff. Niklaus had given us only thirty minutes to grab what we needed before coming back. And he warned us that if we didn't make it on time, we'd be kicked out of the training.

So, we all practically sprinted to our houses, feeling the pressure to move fast. It was like a race against the clock, and I knew I had to hurry up and fix things before it was too late.

After all that chaos, Katherine gave me a ride home, which was a total lifesaver. I mean, facing my neighbours alone after screwing up like that? No thanks.

As soon as she drove off, I practically ran into my house. No time for chit chat—I had to pack my stuff and get back to the training ground pronto. I was tossing things into my bag like a maniac, feeling the clock ticking and the fear of getting kicked out of training looming over me.

So, as I'm freaking out and packing my stuff, suddenly my dad pops up in the doorway, looking all puzzled and worried. "Crystal, where are you off to in such a hurry? And why are you stuffing your bags?" he asks, his eyebrows all scrunched up with concern.

I stop dead in my tracks, trying to catch my breath, and spill the whole messy story about what went down earlier. "Dad, it's a disaster. Niklaus called everyone for some super urgent training, and I totally slept through it. Now he's threatening to kick me out if I don't haul my butt back on time," I blurted out, feeling the seriousness of the situation sinking in.

My dad's face twists up in this mix of shock and anger when he hears Niklaus' name. He's got his own history with that guy and his hardcore training methods. "Niklaus? That dude again?" he mutters under his breath, clenching his fists at his sides.

I nod nervously, knowing my dad ain't too fond of Niklaus and his ways. "Yeah, Dad. I screwed up big time, and now I gotta fix it before it's too late," I admit, feeling guilty for causing him even more worry.

My dad lets out this heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair as he tries to wrap his head around the situation. "Alright, Crystal. I get it. Just be careful out there, and don't let that guy walk all over you," he says firmly, his voice filled with concern for me.

I nod thankfully, feeling determined to make things right. "Thanks, Dad. I'll do my best," I promise, giving him a quick hug before dashing out the door, my heart racing with a mix of nerves and determination.

As I hustle back to the training ground, I can't shake off the uneasy feeling from my dad's reaction to Niklaus. But for now, I gotta focus on getting back on track and proving I can handle this setback.

As I'm rushing back to the training ground, I'm freaking out, wondering if I'll make it in time to fix the mess. When I finally get there, I see Katherine and Matt already chilling, looking stressed but ready to roll. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing I'm not the only one lagging.

But then more folks start trickling in, and I realise just how serious Niklaus' threat was about being on time. My heart sinks as I see the disappointed looks on their faces, knowing I've let them down by being late.

I glance around and notice something weird. Everyone's lugging these huge luggage bags, packed like they're not here for training but for a camping trip or something. I furrow my brows in confusion, wondering if I missed some memo or if they're in on some secret plan.

I catch Katherine's eye and shoot her a questioning look, but she just shrugs, looking as clueless as I am. Matt catches on too and joins in the silent exchange of puzzled glances.

I shake my head, deciding to focus on the task at hand and deal with the bizarre luggage situation later. I make a mental note to ask Katherine and Matt about it once we have a chance to chat.

For now, I square my shoulders and brace myself for whatever punishment Niklaus has cooked up, knowing I'll have to bust my butt twice as hard to make up for my screw-up and earn back everyone's trust.