Chapter 63
Zora’s POV
“I completely understand why you’re willing to take the risk of getting hurt again. Casey was an absolute sweetheart, and he loved you with all his heart until the very end. Honestly, I
wouldn’t be surprised if his love for you still lingers,” she said, her gaze fixed on Kara.
“But what I can’t understand is you. Sheperd treated you horribly, he abused you, and yet you’re contemplating giving. it another shot?” she questioned, perplexed.
“I can’t afford to take that risk. No one can truly comprehend what I went through during my time in that cell. The pain of losing my baby… it’s the sole reason I kept going. I went from being a free spirit on Luna to being treated like a mere plaything in the pack. Even though I didn’t want to, my husband demanded it as entertainment. I can’t simply forget and move on from such a traumatic experience. Trust me, I’ve tried,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
“I had it all once. Land, money, and power were within my grasp, and that bastard took it all away, leaving me with nothing. He handed me over to the soldiers from the north as if I were worthless. To him, I meant absolutely nothing. Everything my father had left me now rests in his possession. I’ve never had to rely on anyone’s mercy before, but here I am, with nothing to my name,” she said, wiping away her tears.
“I suggested to Raphael that we have a friends–with–benefits arrangement because I don’t want to experience heartbreak again,” she confessed, tears streaming down her face.
“I don’t want to be hurt. I refuse to live in constant fear and spend nights crying myself to sleep. If Raphael ends up hurting me, I won’t be able to recover. That’s why I can’t take the risk,” she explained, and I approached her, offering my support. Kara did the same, showing her care and understanding.
“I understand your fears. We all have them, but love requires courage and hope. We have to hope that history won’t repeat itself, and we must be brave enough to walk away if it does. However, if we don’t give love a chance and keep trying, we’ll be the ones missing out the most,” I reassured her, speaking from my own experiences.
“Every day I spend with Darius, I’m plagued by the fear that his destiny will catch up with us, and I’ll find myself in the same messed up situation I was in before. Yet, I treasure each moment as it comes because I know that if I run away and close myself off, I’ll never heal from the pain of the past, and I’ll be left with regrets,” I confided, gently lifting her hand.
“We all share the same fear, but it’s how we decide to confront it that truly makes a difference,” I expressed, emphasizing the significance of our choices. “That guy, he’s genuinely smitten with you. He’s been incredibly patient, taking things slow. Please, don’t break his heart. He may not be Cruz, and he’ll never be Cruz.”
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As my words sank in, she tightly embraced me, finding solace in our friendship, her tears mingling with mine. It was a
moment of shared vulnerability and understanding, a bond that transcended words alone.
Addressing her concerns, Kara chimed in, her voice filled with empathy and wisdom. “The odds of finding one’s fated mate are exceptionally slim, my dear. Sadly, we were just unlucky. In all of the eastern territory, only two alphas were fortunate enough to marry their fated ones. The rest of us settled for our chosen mates, and some of them managed to grow old together with their chosen partners. Even within our pack, very few have been blessed with the union of fated mates. In fact, there are even packs where no one has found their destined match.”
She continued, her tone reflecting the harsh reality of our world. “Encountering fated mates is a rare and challenging occurrence in our lives, but sometimes people like us become victims of circumstance. Nevertheless, we mustn’t allow these circumstances to dictate how we live our lives. We can’t let the fear of not finding our true mate hinder us from embracing happiness and living life to the fullest.””
Kara’s heartfelt words resonated deeply within her, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the gloom.
I pulled Eloise aside, concern etched across my face. “Do not let him take Cindy to that dinner party,” I urged, my voice laced with worry. “You know we’ll be spending the night at the mansion. Cindy had her chance with Darius, but now that ship
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has sailed. And as for Marcel, well, that’s out of the question. Raphael seems to be the next best option. If she manages to capture his attention, it could be game over, and you’ll be left with nothing but regret,” I cautioned, hoping she would understand the gravity of the situation. She glanced at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of uncertainty and longing.
Kara chimed in, emphasizing the importance of my words. “You really should listen to Zora, Eloise,” she urged, her voice firm. “If Cindy manages to infiltrate that party, it’s unlikely she’ll find her way back out unscathed.” Eloise wiped away a tear, clearly torn by the conflicting emotions swirling within
her.
Determined, Eloise declared, “I will make my way to his room.” Her words took me aback, and I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at her audacious plan.
Concerned for her well–being, I offered a suggestion. “Perhaps you should talk to him about it first,” I suggested, hoping to steer her towards a more cautious approach. But she shook her head, dismissing my idea.
“I think I need to take action. He won’t kick me out,” Eloise asserted, her voice filled with determination. It became clear to me that she harbored genuine feelings for this guy, yet she was paralyzed by fear, afraid to reveal her true emotions.
We spent a good amount of time discussing our outfits for the upcoming event. Eloise seemed more laid–back about it, while I was a bit more concerned with making sure everything
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looked perfect. I decided to ask for their help in organizing the impromptu dinner that Darius had requested. To my surprise, they were absolutely thrilled about it. As we continued our conversation, it slowly began to sink in that this was actually happening – I was going to be the Luna.
Planning the engagement dinner turned out to be quite a task, but luckily Kara and Eloise really came through for me. Eloise had moved back into Raphael’s room, although it was clear that there was still some tension between them. I
noticed how guarded Raphael was whenever Eloise was around, especially during dinner. It was obvious that her previous actions had deeply hurt him, and he needed time to heal, just like Eloise did.
Nellie turned out to be a huge help when it came to the seating arrangement and the menu for the engagement dinner. Her involvement made me realize that she had moved past the past and was ready to focus on the present. Standing in the dance room, I felt a sense of pride and admiration for what we had accomplished together.
Meanwhile, Nellie was sipping on a glass of wine and chatting with Kara while Eloise opted for juice. We had all been working tirelessly for a day and a half, only taking short. breaks to eat and catch some sleep. Needless to say, we were completely exhausted.
At that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder why Darius had insisted on us organizing the event ourselves instead of hiring a professional event planner. He never really gave me a
straight answer, but I couldn’t help but think that it had
