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Seventy–One
Isabella’s POV
Why did it feel so good and yet so bad to do what I had always done for the last couple of years? I wondered as though I didn’t already know the answer.
The feeling I got from just stepping into the gallery after what felt like ages was immensely nostalgic. I missed it and it felt good to be here again but I felt bad because I had promised to let it go.
I had woken up this morning with the resolve that I couldn’t bear to just sit around all day doing nothing. I mean, couldn’t I keep coming until I begin my Luna duties?
I’ve never been the type to just sit at home and do nothing and it was beginning to really take a toll on me, heightened by the fact that Alexander was out of the pack for some business he had to attend.
Once the thought came to my mind, there was no brushing it off. I promise, I tried but I was literally itching to go and I decided that if I did not go at least once, I would always resent the fact. I was sure Alexander would understand. He would, right? I knew he still didn’t think I’m ready to ‘lift a finger‘ but we both knew that that was ridiculous.
On the way to the gallery and even as I walked in I noticed eyes pin themselves on me and although it was quite uncomfortable, I understood that I was quite the topic these days whether I liked it or not so I tried my best to relax.
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Seventy–One
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It also kinda felt nice because it was a reminder that all these people had worried until I was rescued and that they were glad to have me back as their Luna. It was hard to get used to all the bowing as I walked passed though and having people address me as Luna as well.
In the beginning, I almost bowed back to the people that bowed to me. I gave myself a mini pep talk on how this was my life now and how I was going to have to get used to it.
I never anticipated being a Luna. As a young girl, I dreamt of having a mate but I was only Luna because of who my mate was. It’s not like I expected to be mated to the Alpha. Was it intimidating? Yes. Would I give it up? Definitely not because that would mean giving up my mate as well and I definitely didn’t want that.
Plus I was actually looking forward to my Luna duties. I guess there was a part of me that actually wanted to lead. We just have to work on making my soft side much more dominant.
I walked straight to my office, replying to greetings from staff and visitors until I got there. My secretary was there at her desk but it was my assistant I was surprised to see.
With her job description, she technically did not have a job without me here. It seemed Olivia was even more surprised to see me though with the way she instantly jumped up, her eyes growing wide as she fumbled for words and going ahead to stutter when she found them.
“Um, Miss Rossi. No, I’m sorry, I meant Luna. Oh goddess, I can’t believe you’re here right now.”
“Well, you should believe it ‘cause I’m here. I really am. And Call me whatever you want, okay? I’m not used to being called
Seventy–One
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Luna either.” I told her. Having one person not call me Luna might actually be a fresh air although I doubted Olivia would comply for long. I turned to Tanya, “How are you, Tanya?”
She smiled, “I’m happy to see you. How are you?”
“In disbelief that you guys could actually be happy to see me.” She instantly looked affronted and so did Olivia. I glanced between them in confusion. “What? Forgive me for thinking that when I would not even be a candidate for the nicest boss
award.”
“But you’re the boss we had and we missed you.”
“And we were really worried about you.”
“Olivia cried.”
“Only because we heard that they were scraping off your skin and feeding it to you!”
I gaped at her, “I was really going to get emotional right now. Why did you have to say that?”
She widened her eyes in horror, “So they did?!”
I sighed, “No Olivia, they didn’t…thankfully.” I added with a shiver.
I got to work immediately after that, asking for all the files and stuff I needed to look into, and just as I expected, there was a lot to do. My assistant was literally bubbling to help with every single thing.
At some point, she asked me if it was okay for me to be back at work already although I knew what she really meant to ask was if it was okay to still work at the gallery now that I was the
Seventy–One
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Luna. I didn’t call her out on it though, I just shrugged and continued with work.
I was in the office for a really long time before deciding to stretch my legs a little by going to get coffee. Olivia, of course, was quick to offer to get it for me, but I wanted to walk around a bit so I declined.
I met Blake on my way and instantly waved at him with a smile. He gave me a small smile and a polite bow before he turned to walk away. I stared at him with my brow raised and stopped him.
Since the day he had come with Alexander to rescue me from Antonio, I hadn’t seen him and now that I had, I was quite sure that he was avoiding me. Was it because-
I sighed, “Why are you avoiding me, Blake?”
His eyes widened slightly before playing it off with a scoff, “Of course not. Why would I do that?”
“I have no idea but it really does feel like you are.”
Blake sighed, “I’m not avoiding you, Bella.”
“Hmm.” I stared at him suspiciously, “I’m going to get coffee. Join me if you’re really not avoiding me?”
He shook his head, chuckling softly, “Fine.”
As we walked, more people bowed to me as well as according Blake his respect as Beta. Blake turned to me, “So how are you finding the new title and all the bowing and respect.”
“It’s a bit uncomfortable.” I admitted, “But I suppose I would just get used to it. It’s not like there’s any way around it.”
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Blake nodded and I thanked him for rescuing me from Antonio. I saw a blush rise through his neck and ears as he told me not to mention it. I was glad he said that, because I didn’t want to think about it ever again.
There was a bit of ice after that until he broke it by asking me why I was back at the gallery. He said it jokingly but I could tell that he was just playing it down with his tone.
“Alexander doesn’t know, does he?”
I sucked in my lip, shaking my head. “No, but I’m sure he’d understand. I’ve never been the type to sit around at home doing nothing and it was really beginning to take a toll on me.”
There was a long silence after that before he asked why I didn‘ t ever tell him about Alexander and me, saying it in a way that told me that it was a question he had tried to convince himself to not ask but couldn’t help it.
“Things were rough and Alexander didn’t want anyone knowing yet,” I said in the simplest way I could.
We had our coffee and when we were done, Blake left while I sat back, not ready to go back just yet. I stared outside the window, just watching people go about their own activities and wondering what was going on inside their heads and how they saw life. What their biggest problems were and what made them happy.
I started back for the gallery much later only to be stopped by a maid who seemed to have been running with the way she was panting. She bowed to me only a hundred times while still trying to put her words together. I stared at her, concerned as I waited for her to speak.
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“Is something wrong?” I asked gently. “Tell me,”
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“Sorry, Luna. I was a little out of breath. The former Alpha and Luna asked me to get you but it was quite difficult to locate you. They would like to see you in their suite right now if you don’t mind.”
I froze. Alexander’s parents wanted to see me? Right now?
If I didn’t mind? I scoffed, who was I to mind? Alexander’s parents were Alpha and Luna before I was born and I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t shaken by this sudden invite.
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Seventy–Two
