Her Fictional Alpha, His True Luna

Chapter 7 Induction

Arthur’s POV

“Well, since she is no longer here. Would you mind telling me what the f**k was going on?”As soon as Agnes, or rather, Laura, is out of our sight, Peter turns to me, demanding an explanation with his suspicious gaze fixed on my face, “Why would Judy and Agnes suddenly need a pen? If they both want it, I’d say this is not a mere coincidence. And why are you here with Agnes? I thought you hated her….”

“I loathe Garcia.”I cut him off, “But that woman isn’t her.”

“What? What are you talking about?”Peter shouts, “Are you out of your mind?”

“Keep your voice down.”I say impatiently, “Would you calm down and hear me out?”

“Yes.”Peter lowers his voice.

I sigh and start to reason with him, “About a quarter ago, I was sent by Alpha Leon to fetch his bride, yet Garcia seemed to be terrified by the idea that she was going to attend the bonding ceremony. This doesn’t make any sense.”

“Some people may get nervous before getting married,”Peter argues.

“Maybe. But I am pretty sure Garcia is not one of them. Garcia has been waiting for this moment for a long time. She has spared no effort to make Alpha Leon choose her to be the Luna of our pack. She bribed a lot of important figures to lure Alpha Leon to believe she is nice and popular, which qualifies her to be our Luna. One more step and Garcia can reach her dream; why would she suddenly give up?”

“I don’t know.”Peter frowns.

“I don’t know either. That’s why I decided to ask Garcia despite knowing the fact that she is a shameless liar. Then Garcia offered me an answer, ridiculous yet convincing. She told me she wasn’t Agnes Garcia but a woman called Laura Hinks, the author who created our world.”

“Isn’t the Moon Goddess the one that created the world?”

“That’s what the Court would assert. But honestly, I don’t know.”

“I think my belief, or rather, my worldview, is shattered.”Peter mutters, “But if what Agnes, ah, Laura…if what Laura said was true, we would be the characters in her novel.”

“Correct. That’s what she told me.”

“How could it be…I mean, we are real people, aren’t we?”Peter says, sounding uncertain.

“For now, I can’t tell. I didn’t want to trust her, but based on my interrogating experience, she wasn’t lying.”

“How do you know that?”Peter asks curiously.

“This is related to my job. While you’re responsible for catching spies, I am appointed to interrogate them. There are several traits that may indicate someone is lying. Fidgeting or being restless, avoiding eye contact or looking away frequently, speaking in a higher pitch or faster rate than usual, using vague language or avoiding specific details, touching or covering their mouth or face, inconsistencies in their story or timeline…”I pause to catch my breath and then continue, “If someone is lying to me, I would tell. Garcia lies a lot, but she is never a good liar. She is too stupid to make up a sounding story. By contrast, Laura showed none of those traits while telling me what was happening. Although her version of the story sounds dangerously weird, I had to follow my instinct to believe her.”

“Alright, Arthur, I don’t have much faith in that woman, but I trust you and your judgment,”Peter mutters and suddenly jerks up his head as if he is hit by an idea. He shouts with ecstasy, “So it is possible that Judy Green was also telling the truth! She wasn’t mad. She was Agnes Garcia and got stuck with Judy Green’s body while that author, sorry, what’s her name again?”

“Laura.”

“Right. Somehow both Laura and Agnes experienced soul-swapping, which was why they acted weirdly today.”Peter stops and then asks, “Did Laura mention why she wanted a pen?”

“To change the development of the story. That’s what she said.”

“I believe Agnes wanted the pen for the same reason since she was unhappy about being Judy Green. And she is desperate to have her identity back.”

I ponder it and say, “Your theory convinces me. Do you think we should report this to Alpha Leon?”

“We’re supposed to, but we’d better not.”

“Why?”

Peter grimaces, “Right now, Alpha Leon is crazily obsessed with Agnes, and he wouldn’t take in any suggestions. Have you already forgotten what happened to John? He suggested postponing the bonding date due to the possibility of rain. Sensible suggestion, right? But Alpha Leon reacted furiously and accused John of hindering his relationship with Agnes and threatened to banish John if the latter dared to say another word about the bounding. Under such circumstances, I propose we stay quiet and pretend everything is normal. When Laura gets her pen, she is probably going to put everything back on the right track. And we can leave these annoying incidents behind and move on.”

“What if things are off the track?”I frown.

“That’s the biggest difference between us, brother.”Peter grin as he claps my shoulder, “ I am always optimistic about uncertain things, while you are a pessimist who can never stop worrying about the future. Say bad things really gonna happen. Can you predict what it is to prevent it from happening?”

“No.”

“That’s it.”Peter nods, “Then being anxious is useless. So why don’t you just relax a bit and enjoy the presence when you’re still able to? Besides, there will always be a way to get the problem resolved.”

Feeling relieved by his consoling words, I smile at Peter, “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. We’re brothers.”Peter grins and starts, “Do you think we stand a chance to persuade Hera to lift the seasonal block earlier? It is not that I am addicted to s*x, but it has been ages since the last time I had a good fuck.”

“You can still get laid with your wolf blocked.”

“That’s true. But the feelings are different.”Peter pinches his nose and sighs, “s*x becomes boring when our wolves are blocked. We can’t smell the scent during the i*********e. What’s the fun in that?”He growls, “I wish the Court could cancel the block someday.”

“I didn’t see it this way. The block was set to protect she-wolves. When they’re in heat, their scent will be very sweet. Or rather, tempting. If our wolves can smell them, well, I am not sure how many of us can hold back the urge to take them.”

“So what? They will be pregnant and give us a lot of pups. The population of our pack will double.”

“It is wrong to see women as breeding machines.”I shake my head, “Besides, do you really know how to be a father?”

“Never. That’s why I always used condoms, although it doesn’t feel as good as…”

Peter doesn’t get to finish his sentence when a shriek is heard from upstairs.

We exchange a quick glance, and with a sense of urgency, we stride upstairs, hastening towards the room from where the voice emanated. Our footsteps echo through the hallway as we move swiftly. As we approach the door, our hearts race with anticipation, wondering what awaits us on the other side. The door is locked, and Peter has to kick it open. With a bang, we break in, only to see Laura pinned on the wall with Alpha Leon holding her hand above her head. He is kissing her neck while she is struggling, kicking, trying desperately to free herself from Alpha Leon’s grasp. Her dress is torn, and half of her upper body is displayed in front of us. Peter swallows hard at the scene, and his breath hitches.

Sensing our presence, Laura calls for help, yet her voice is sealed by a kiss, and she can no longer utter a word.

For the first time in my life, I see Alpha Leon as a tyrant, and I feel the urge to spar against him.

For what? If Peter could read my mind, he would probably ask.

I don’t know. I may reply.

Or perhaps I would offer him another answer.

Chivalism.

Ridiculous, yet that’s what I am designed to be.