Lost Luna

Chapter 11

Astra’s POV



“It’s harmless,” I tried to assure him.

“She thinks the note is from Kaelith.”

“And you’ll simply talk to her.”

Tony shook his head quickly. “This is wrong. I don't think I can do it.”

I crossed my arms slowly. “Is your sister’s treatment wrong too?”

That hit exactly where I wanted it to. The conflict on his face became obvious immediately.

Sandra softened her tone carefully. “Tony, nobody is asking you to hurt Nymera physically. You’re not touching her. You’re not forcing anything. Just meet her there and speak with her normally.”

“And then?” he asked quietly.

I looked him straight in the eyes. “If questions come up later, you stay quiet. Simple!”

His face paled slightly. “You want people to think something happened between us.”

I didn’t answer directly.

Tony let out a frustrated breath while running a hand through his short dark hair. “Lady Nymera has always been kind to me.”

“And kindness won’t save your sister,” I said bluntly.

The room became silent after that. I could practically see the exact moment desperation started outweighing guilt inside him.

Tony swallowed hard before finally asking quietly, “How much is involved?”

Sandra smiled slightly then, because we both already knew we had won.

Now, standing beside the bushes while staring at the pictures in my hand, I felt calm. My plan was working.

Sandra glanced at me carefully. “You really think this will work?”

I slipped the camera carefully into my coat. “It has to.”

Because now things have changed. Before, I simply wanted Kaelith to notice me properly. But now Nymera was carrying his child. That thought alone made jealousy burn so hot inside me that I genuinely felt sick whenever I imagined them together.

Sandra hesitated before speaking again. “What if Kaelith still chooses her anyway?”

I started walking back toward the palace slowly. “He won’t.”

“You sound very sure.”

“I know Kaelith.”

Kaelith loved deeply, but he was also proud and very emotional.

And right now, he already had enough pressure crushing him from all sides because of the coronation and Alpha responsibilities. If he believed Nymera betrayed him while secretly carrying another man’s child, he would never forgive her.

Sandra hurried slightly to keep up with me. “So what happens now?”

“Now we wait.”

“For what?”

“The right moment.”

The palace paths were mostly empty as we walked back quietly. Sandra kept glancing at me nervously every few seconds like she still wasn’t completely sure about what we were doing.

Honestly, Sandra only became useful recently because she heard everything. Palace maids always did. They moved around quietly while everyone ignored them, which meant they collected secrets without even trying. And Sandra especially liked gossip.

At first, I only spoke to her casually because she worked near Kaelith’s wing and always knew where he was or who visited him. But after a while, she started feeding me information before I even asked for it.

“Nymera spent almost two hours in Prince Kaelith’s room today.”

“The Prince skipped dinner because he was waiting for Nymera.”

“The Elders were talking about the coronation this morning.”

They were tiny, but useful things. And tonight, she became even more useful. Sandra lowered her voice slightly as we approached the side entrance of the palace. “Do you really think this will work?”

I looked at her calmly. “Kaelith already doubts things too easily lately. Not to worry. It will work.”

Ever since Alpha Valdric died, Kaelith had been different. More stressed. More distant sometimes. He still loved Nymera, obviously, but pressure changed people. Especially future Alphas carrying an entire pack on their shoulders.

Sandra hesitated before speaking again. “But what if Nymera explains?”

I almost laughed.

“Nymera explaining herself properly has never been her strongest skill.”

Sandra snorted softly at that.

It sounded cruel, but it was true. Nymera got flustered too easily whenever she felt accused or overwhelmed. She stumbled over her words and looked guilty even when she did nothing wrong.

And Kaelith…

Kaelith loved deeply, but he also reacted emotionally whenever it involved people he cared about. That was his weakness. He trusted with his whole heart, but once doubt entered his head, it spread quickly.

Sandra glanced around nervously before leaning closer. “You really love him that much?”

The question caught me off guard slightly. I stayed quiet for a moment before answering honestly.

“Yes.”

Sandra looked surprised by how quickly I answered. I exhaled softly and looked ahead as we entered the palace hallway.

As we entered the palace hallway, I caught my reflection briefly in one of the tall windows nearby.

Perfect blonde hair. Calm expression. Elegant dress.

Nobody looking at me right now would think I had just carefully begun ruining my best friend’s life.

“I’ve loved him since we were children.”

And that was the part nobody understood. Sandra probably thought I was jealous because Nymera suddenly got lucky and became Kaelith’s mate. But it wasn’t sudden for me. I had spent years watching him. Growing beside him. Wanting him. I knew how he looked after difficult training days. I knew the exact face he made whenever he was trying not to laugh. I knew he hated bitter tea and that he rubbed his shoulder whenever he was stressed. I knew everything about him. And somehow Nymera still became the one he loved.

Sandra tilted her head slightly. “Do you think he’d really choose you if they broke up?”

I clenched my jaw slightly at the question.

“He would eventually.”

Sandra stayed quiet. I knew what she was thinking. Kaelith was obsessed with Nymera. Sometimes I could barely stand watching them together because it felt so obvious. But obsession didn’t always last forever. Especially not when trust started breaking apart piece by piece. We stopped near the staircase leading toward the servants’ quarters. Sandra looked up at me carefully.

“Poor Nymera. She will be so devastated. I don't know why I suddenly feel bad for her.”

“She’ll survive,” I said flatly.