Luna's Payback: Claiming My Fate!

34:

Veronica woke up early the next day. She hadn’t slept well because of her overthinking. She was curious about who this Lucy that Javier mentioned was and whether she could really be trusted. Veronica had thought that only she, Javier, Nick, and Jordan would know her true identity.

But now, it seemed that even this Lucy was involved. She just hoped that Javier was right in trusting this woman. A housemaid spotted her and smiled. “Good morning, Luna Beatrice. Breakfast is ready. Everyone’s already in the dining area.”

“Thank you,” Veronica replied.

As she walked towards the dining room, she could already hear the high-pitched voice of a woman. She had a strong feeling that Lucy was already there.

And she was right. When she arrived in the dining area, everyone was present. Javier saw her and his face immediately lit up. “Oh, there she is! Did you have a good sleep?”

She wanted to tell him that it was impossible to sleep well when her heart and mind were full of worries. But of course, she couldn’t say that.

She nodded lifelessly. “Yeah, I had a good sleep.”

“Great. By the way, Lucy is here. She’ll be your personal trainer.” Javier led her towards a woman who was looking at her.

She gasped when she saw that Lucy was actually older than her. She estimated that Lucy was in her late forties. She looked mature, but her body was well-proportioned. Veronica had initially thought that Lucy might be around her age or just a bit older. However, from what she could see, Lucy was clearly much older than both her and Javier.

The woman approached her with a smile, admiration evident in her eyes. “Wow. If you hadn’t told me the truth, I wouldn’t have known that she isn’t Luna Beatrice. You’re really a skilled surgeon, Alpha Javier.” There was a tone of respect in how she addressed Javier.

Veronica was left speechless. It was obvious to anyone that Lucy was older than Javier, yet the respect she showed him was clear because Javier was an Alpha. It dawned on her that this was just how their species operated.

“Thank you so much, Lucy. Your words give me a bit of relief. I was still worried if I truly managed to replicate Beatrice’s face perfectly. I thought maybe Jordan and Nick were just being nice. But hearing it from you, I believe it,” There's a conscious tone in Javier's tone.

Lucy circled around Veronica, inspecting her from head to toe. “She’s perfect to be our Luna Beatrice. Even her height is perfect. They’re almost the same height and body build. Although Luna Beatrice was a bit more fit due to extensive exercise. But other than that, wow. I’m speechless. Her hair, face, everything. Goodness, I’m getting emotional just realizing that our Luna is truly gone,” there was sadness in her voice.

Veronica lowered her head, unsure of what to say. Lucy then stood in front of her and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you, Veronica. Honestly, I’m not very friendly with humans. I don’t hate them, but I don’t trust them much either. But since Alpha Javier has placed his trust in you, I’ll give you my full devotion. You can rest assured that your secret is safe with me, even if it costs me my life. The Alpha has entrusted you to me, and it’s my pleasure to help him and you. I’ll do my best to assist you.”

She felt the sincerity in Lucy's voice, which assured her that Lucy wouldn't betray them. "Thank you so much, Lucy. You can be sure that Javier’s trust in me and your help won’t be wasted. I’ll prove that I’m worth it. I’m ready for the training we’ll be doing," she said with dedication.

Lucy smiled and clapped her hands in delight. "I like your fighting spirit! That’s the attitude. Show us what you’ve got. Today will be our first day."

"Will the training take long?" Veronica asked.

"It depends on how willing you are to learn and follow my instructions. I’ll be the one to inform Alpha Javier if you’ve passed my training. Because once I see that you’re ready, the next step is preparing for your revenge. So if you want to get your revenge sooner and faster, show me that you can become Luna Beatrice. There’s no way I’d pass you just to have you killed by the Black Moon Pack. Remember, werewolves are not enemies of humans. But humans must never know that we exist. And if the Black Moon Pack suspects that you’re not really Luna Beatrice, they will kill you." There was a warning in her tone.

Javier had already told her that, but she still shuddered at the thought of what might happen to her.

She clenched her fists. There was no turning back now. This is now or never. She had to do her best because her fate and her family’s fate depended on it.

"I understand everything, Lucy. Don’t worry. I’ll do my best," Veronica said with determination.

"Good. But for now, let's have breakfast first. I'm starving; Alpha Javier made me come here early," Lucy said with a smile.

Javier turned to them. "Ladies, let's set business aside for now. Let's eat before we tackle what needs to be done."

They had a typical breakfast, much like what humans eat. Veronica found herself staring at Lucy again. It was clear that she was intelligent and physically strong despite her age. She seemed to have a lot of experience in various things. Veronica knew Javier wouldn’t have brought Lucy in if she couldn’t be of help.

"Anyway, I’ll leave you here with Lucy, Veronica. Jordan, Nick, and I have to go. Don’t worry, the housemaids are here if you need anything," Javier said as he prepared to leave.

Veronica's eyes widened. She didn’t know he was leaving. "Why, where are you going?"

"I need to visit one of my companies; they need me there. Also, I have to check on my parents' condition. We’ll be back tonight, but it might be a bit late. Don’t hesitate to ask Lucy if you need anything," Javier explained.

He trusted her, so she should trust him too. Veronica nodded. "Alright, take care on your trip."

After breakfast, Lucy wasted no time. She took her outside to the vast garden. With her stance and demeanor, Lucy could easily pass for a stuntwoman or an action movie star. That was the aura she gave off.

"Veronica, are you willing to study and learn everything I will teach you? How sure are you that you won’t back out?" Lucy asked seriously when they were finally alone.

"I'm not sure if I can quickly learn everything you'll teach me, Lucy. I'm not a fast learner, but I'm not stupid either. I can learn. But more than anything, it's my determination to get justice that drives me to overcome even the most complicated challenges. I survived death, so what else can't I face?" Veronica responded firmly.

Lucy seemed impressed with her answer and nodded. "Good. It’s good that we understand each other. Because it will take months for me to teach you everything. You also need to keep in mind that our physical strength is different. Even though I’m older than you, I’m a she-wolf and you’re a human. Your strength has limits. Are you still ready?"

Veronica nodded without hesitation. "More than ready. Time is gold, and I don’t want to waste any while that demon Angelo and his family continue to victimize others freely."

"Then it’s settled. This is my first day as your trainer."

"May I ask, Lucy, why did Javier choose you? And what exactly are you going to teach me? I have some idea, but I’d like to know the specific things you’ll be teaching me." She was curious about what she needed to learn from the woman.

Lucy understood her concerns. "Let me introduce myself to you first. I’m Lucy, but everyone in the pack calls me Lady Lucy. I’m forty-five years old and unmarried. I’ve reached this age without finding my mate. That’s why during my teenage years, I was often bullied. It’s important for us to have a mate because it makes us stronger and prevents us from being called useless in the pack. But I grew up not caring about that belief. Everyone has the right to choose whether to have a mate or remain mateless. Your worth isn’t based on having a partner. That’s why everyone thinks I’m weird."

She became intrigued by Lucy’s story, eager to learn more about Javier’s pack. "I was an outcast in our pack, mocked and laughed at. But I noticed something different about myself. I was stronger compared to other normal she-wolves. In our pack, female wolves are not sent on missions. It’s similar to your human ways, where housewives often stay at home while the men work. Our pack isn’t strict, unlike others where everyone is forced to go on missions, even if it costs them their lives. In our pack, if you’re a she-wolf, you have the choice to join missions or not. It’s up to you."

"I tried joining a mission, and it was successful. I was strong even though I didn’t know how to shift yet. My physical strength was immense. That’s why Alpha Joseph chose me as his right-hand, even though I’m a woman. Alpha Joseph was the former Alpha and Alpha Javier’s father. Luna Christy was his wife. They were kind and not domineering. They were like the parents of our pack. Over many years, my skills were honed through battle experiences. I also knew Luna Beatrice very well because I served as her bodyguard after Alpha Joseph stepped down."

Veronica nodded. Perhaps this was why Javier chose Lucy—she was like a trusted brand.

Lucy moved closer and put her arm around Veronica’s shoulders, drawing her in. "And not to brag, but I know a lot, and I have many talents. I’m intelligent, strong, and capable. I’m reliable and I never spill secrets, even if it costs me my life. When I served the Romanov family, I gave them my heart and soul. So even though you’re human, Alpha Javier entrusted you with the face of his late Luna, which means I’ll trust you too, and I’ll do my best to help you."

She was touched by the depth of loyalty the werewolves had for their pack and duties. “I understand. I think we’ll get along well. What are you going to teach me?”

“A lot. You need to familiarize yourself with the ranking and order of the Black Moon Pack, their laws and beliefs. I’ll also show you pictures of people Luna Beatrice knew, so you won’t be surprised and will recognize them in her life. These are werewolves important to the pack. I’ll teach you how to behave like Luna Beatrice, her likes, her mannerisms, her favorites. You’ll learn how to handle business and present it to investors. I’ll teach you proper etiquette in dining, choosing wine, walking, posture, and selecting the right words to say.” She explained in a lengthy response that made Veronica feel like her head might explode.

It was as if she was experiencing information overload. “Oh my God, that’s a lot! Can I really handle all of that?”

Lucy laughed. “That’s not all. I’ll also teach you how to act properly at parties and events, and lastly, self-defense training. So, are you backing out now?”

Veronica’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected that. “Self-defense training? What do you mean?”

“Your enemy is Angelo Fuentebella, along with his entire pack, the Midnight Fall Pack. You can’t always rely on Javier to protect you; you’re not a princess. You need to be able to save yourself. So, we’re going to train to strengthen your body. I’ll teach you boxing and how to handle a gun. And maybe I’ll also teach you how to swim. It looks like you don’t know how, and this skill could come in handy during emergencies,” Lucy added, seeming excited about the plans they had.

She felt the world spinning around her from everything she just heard. "And how many months will we be training? How long until we finish?"

Lucy laughed at her. "You’re crazy if you think you can learn all of this in just a few months. Everything I mentioned, to learn it decently, usually takes years. If you’re really determined, you can master all of this within a year. But it will require non-stop, intense training every day."

Now it was her turn to nearly drop her jaw. "What?! A year is the fastest I can learn all of this?!"

Lucy grabbed her hand and pulled her toward a tree near the swimming pool. "Yes, so don’t get lazy or slow down if you want to achieve the justice you’re talking about sooner."

Was she really ready to sacrifice a year of training to be fully prepared for her next battle with Angelo and his family?