LUNA CRIMSON

CHAOTIC EVALUATION

Chapter 8

SERAFINA

I stayed in my appointed room all day, but Beverly showed up towards the evening; I had initially thought it was just another meal time, but instead...

"Good Evening, Miss Sera; it's time for a tour around the pack. Alpha Fenrir instructed me to take you around. Abd don't worry, we will return in time for dinner." she informed me.

"Oh—Kay..." I drawled my speech, not sure of the stand I had to turn down Fenrir's idea.

"And Fen...I mean, the Alpha?"

"Which do you speak of Miss Serafina? Alpha Manos is the leading Alpha of this pack, and Alpha Fenrir is the heir, his coronation is drawing near, so Everyone has to address him by his future title."

"Urm, never mind." I simply replied.

Before leaving, Beverly helped me change into a very comfortable black dress with a white slipper that had been lying in the wardrobe. Storage how everything was my perfect fit.

As we strolled through the gardens, we came across a group of women, one of whom was older than the others.

"That's Luna Diane," Beverly whispered. I nodded, still looking her way.

However, my gaze was cut off by a figure approaching, and Beverly suddenly fell silent. She lowered her head and quickly excused herself, leaving me alone with the newcomer.

As I turned to face him, I saw an older man with a piercing gaze. He looked at me intently and asked, " Are you the one Fenrir brought in yesterday? " His voice was commanding, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I nodded in response.

" Walk with me, child . " the man replied.

With a warm smile, he began;" I am Alpha Manos, Fenrir's father. And you are Serafina, I presume? " He spoke with a gentle tone, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

" Yes, that's me," I replied, feeling a bit nervous under his gaze.

" I understand my son has told you some... unusual things," he said, his voice filled with interest. "Can you truly hear his thoughts?"

"Yes, I can," I confirmed, wondering how much Fenrir had shared with his father in such a short period. " But I don't know how or why. It started when I first met Alpha Fenrir."

Alpha Manos nodded thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. " That is indeed unusual."

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. " It's been a bit overwhelming, to be honest. I don't know what's going on.

Alpha Manos chuckled. " Fenrir believes you have a special gift, one that could be crucial to our pack's survival."

Just then, Fenrir's mother approached, her hands dirty with mud. " Who is she? "she asked, eyeing me disapprovingly.

" This is Serafina, dear, "Alpha Manos replied. "The girl Fenrir has told us about."

I bowed and received a frown from Luna Diane; her expression was filled with disgust, even as she tried to mask it with a fake smile. " Make sure you join us for dinner tonight," she ordered, her voice cold. " We will be expecting you. And try to look presentable, at least. "

I felt a surge of discomfort at her tone, Alpha Manos intervened, noticing the tension." Now, now, my dear. Let us not be too hasty in our judgments. Serafina is our guest, after all. "

Luna Diane huffed and walked away, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

Alpha Manos sighed. " Please, feel at home. Don't mind my wife's... prickly nature. She means well, but she can be a bit... trying at times."

He left, and Beverly reappeared behind me. " Shall I show you to your room? " she asked softly. " You have some time before dinner to rest and freshen up."

" Yes, thank you." I immediately replied.

That evening, everyone gathered downstairs at the dinner table, and Fenrir finally arrived; he came over, sitting close to me. The room was filled with the savory aromas of roasted meats and steaming vegetables, but my stomach was knotted with anxiety.

" So, Serafina, tell us about your family," Luna Diane, asked, her eyes piercing as she waited for my response. Her voice was like a challenge, daring me to reveal my secrets.

I glanced at Fenrir, feeling a bit uneasy. " I'm an orphan," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. " I never knew my parents." I had grown accustomed to the sympathetic looks and awkward silences that followed, but Fenrir's family reacted differently.

Alpha Manos, nodded understandingly. " I see," he said with a gentle smile. " I have a very powerful friend, Dante, who was an orphan, may he rest in peace. I often wonder if he's still an orphan in the afterlife." He chuckled, speaking with wisdom and grace that put me at ease.

But Luna Diane wouldn't let it go. " So, you're a nobody?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. " No family, no connections, no heritage?"

" Don't worry, Serafina. My parents can be... intense," his voice popped into my head. " Just ignore them."

How could I? Luna Diane's words stung, and I felt a surge of defensiveness. " I-I'm not a nobody," I stammered. " I have a family, just not a traditional one."

She snorted. " A traditional family is what matters," she said. "Without one, you're just a leaf blowing in the wind."

Fenrir banged the table, scaring me for a second.

"Fenrir, you dare not reprimand me for a stranger, you barely even know her. She could be a witch, someone who wishes to cause us harm." Luna Diane said with no filter.

Fenrir picked up his pen and notepad, writing with a struggle in his eyes that showed how much he wanted to say actual words. " Serafina is our guest, and she deserves respect." He showed it to her.

The room fell silent, and I took advantage of the pause to excuse myself. " I need to use the bathroom," I said, standing up quickly.

As I left the table, in my head Fenrir whispered comfort to me. " Don't let her get to you, Serafina. You are not alone. We'll talk later, okay? "

my reply was just a nod, walking away.