Alright... let’s make this fun for all of us. 😌

Here’s how I’m rewarding you, my special readers, and the ink to my pen.

1. Hit a top ranking for a week straight → mass release of 3 Chapters.

2. Send a super gift → mass release of 5 Chapters.

Now for the real mischief, these are the rewards. Also, this is where the real chaos lies.

1. Top interactive reader in a week → gets a shoutout

2. One-time super gift → gets a Chapter dedicated to you.

3. Repeated super gifts → you start getting little spoilers + future hints.

4. Highest Golden Ticket sender of the month (20–30 range) → you get a permanent role in the book

Yes, an actual role. 😅🥹 Immortality secured.

Let’s build this story together 🤍

....

After Madam left, the room fell into a strange quietness. The room became still.

Mabel remained where she stood. Her gaze remained fixed on Aire as though trying to peel something off her skin that didn’t belong there.

Aire sat at the edge of the bed. Her posture was calm, with her hands resting lightly on her lap.

She did not fidget, nor speak. That, somehow, made it worse.

Mabel exhaled slowly, then moved closer.

"You surprised me," she said. Her tone was light, but her eyes remained sharp. "Most people in your position wouldn’t dare give Madam an order. I mean, you’re Luna to be, but..."

Aire tilted her head slightly. "My position?" she asked softly.

Mabel smiled. "Yes. That fragile little place you’ve been carefully sitting in."

Aire lowered her gaze briefly, as though thinking about it. Then she looked back up. "I was only being kind," she said.

Mabel let out a quiet laugh.

Aire didn’t respond to that. Instead, she clampsed her hands in her laps and asked. "Do you know where the Alphas are?"

The question caught Mabel off guard.

Her brows drew together slightly. "That’s what you want to talk about?"

Aire nodded.

Mabel studied her for a moment longer before answering. "They went hunting."

Aire’s eyes lit up genuinely. She looked like a child hearing something exciting.

"Hunting?" she repeated, her voice lifting just a little.

Mabel blinked.

She hadn’t expected that reaction. "Yes..." she said slowly.

Aire leaned forward slightly. "Can you do me a favor?"

Mabel raised a brow. A small smile returned to her lips.

"Sure," she said casually. "Anything."

Aire didn’t hesitate. "Take me to where they are."

The smile dropped completely from Mabel’s face.

Mabel stared at her. "...Excuse me?"

"I want to go," Aire repeated.

Mabel shook her head almost immediately. "No."

Her tone was firm now. "A lady is never supposed to hunt."

Aire blinked at her. Then unexpectedly, she smiled. It wasn’t a mocking smell, but it wasn’t soft either. "I’ve been hunting since my parents died," she said proudly.

Mabel stilled.

Aire’s voice remained light, almost cheerful. "I had to feed my uncle and my cousin. It was easy enough." She shrugged faintly. "Even humans do it."

There was no shame in her tone. Not even a trace of sadness. She sounded extremely cheerful, like she was lucky.

"And I didn’t have a wolf," she added. "So I had to learn quickly."

Mabel’s lips pressed together.

She shook her head again. "That doesn’t matter," she said. "You’re not going. A luna_"

Aire’s smile didn’t fade. She cut Mabel off. "We’ll need horses, won’t we?" she asked instead.

Mabel frowned. "Yes, but—"

"I know how to ride," Aire cut in gently.

Mabel paused.

Aire continued, still calm. "Being a housekeeper for years has its own perks."

Mabel stared at her. She stared at ger as though trying to understand where this quiet confidence had suddenly come from.

"You’re serious," she said slowly.

Aire nodded. "Damn right, I am."

Mabel blinked hearing her. She couldn’t tell if it was Aire’s curse or her determination that startled her.

A beat passed between them.

Mabel exhaled sharply. "...Fine." She agreed reluctantly. "You’ll get yourself ready," she added. "We’re not going like this."

Aire stood immediately.

"I already am," she said.

Mabel frowned. "What?"

Aire turned and walked toward the wardrobe.

She opened it. For a moment, she fiddled through the dresses, then she disappeared behind its doors.

Mabel crossed her arms, waiting.

Then, Aire stepped out, and Mabel’s eyes widened immediately.

The girl standing before her was not the same quiet, delicate figure from moments ago.

Aire wore a fitted dark trousers, tucked neatly into sturdy boots. A simple shirt hugged her frame, layered under a light hunting jacket. A hat sat low over her silver hair, shadowing her face just enough.

Mabel blinked once. Then twice.

"You..." she started.

Then stopped.

Aire adjusted her sleeve casually. "I’ve worn worse," she said.

Mabel let out a short breath, still staring.

"I need a disguise," she muttered under her breath.

......

Michelle slipped past the outer walls of the Alpha’s castle carefully. She did her best to be as quiet as she could.

Her dark blue cloak dragged lightly against the ground as she moved. The hood pulled low over her face.

She didn’t take the main paths.

She never did. Instead, she headed for the back, toward the place no one looked anymore.

The hidden gate.

She crouched, pushing aside the tall grass until her fingers found the wooden edge beneath.

"Huff..." She sighed, and pulled.

The bamboo door shifted slowly. She dragged it open just enough to slip through.

Inside, the narrow passage smelled of damp earth and old wood. She found strange comfort in the smell.

She set her lantern down for a moment, adjusting her grip on the door before pulling it shut behind her.

She paused to listen, then she picked up the lantern again, and walked.

The path twisted slightly before opening up.

She stopped, then reconsidered the lantern.

She set it aside. By the time she stepped out into the open, daylight greeted her.

She squinted, then exhaled when she saw who’s soil she stood on.

Beta Kole’s park.

A small, humorless smile touched her lips.

They probably don’t even remember this gate exists.

"Well, it came in handy today." She murmured, dusting her hands.

"There you are."

Michelle gasped.

A figure appeared in front of her so suddenly she didn’t have time to think. "Ahh!" she shrinked, and her fist flew instinctively.

A sharp crack echoed, and the figure staggered slightly.

Michelle froze.

Her breath hitched in recognition. "Hannah!"

She yanked her hood off immediately and dropped into a deep bow. "I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry!"

Hannah stood still. Her hand rose slowly to her mouth. She touched the corner of her lips, and looked at the blood.

Then without a word, she flexed her jaw.

The skin closed. It healed immediately.

Her eyes darkened. "Is she dead?" Hannah asked, flat and cold.

Michelle swallowed hard. She lifted her head slightly, and her gaze met another behind Hannah.

Beta Kole.

Her heart dropped.

She immediately lowered her eyes again.

"No," she said.

Her voice was small now. Small and careful. "It’s been... difficult."

Before she could say anything else, there was movement. Fast and sharp.

A force slammed into her chest.

Michelle gasped as she was thrown backward, her body hitting a rock hard enough to knock the air out of her lungs.

Pain shot through her spine.

Before she could recover, the tip of a cane pressed against her throat.

Pinning her in place.

She choked.

Her hands flew up instinctively, gripping the cane.

Beta Kole loomed over her, tall, and imposing.

His cloak swallowed the light around him. His eyes were red and frightening cold. Scarily unforgiving, even.

"You said?" he asked. His voice was low, and dangerously quiet.

Michelle coughed, struggling to breathe.

"I..." she choked. "I said.... it’s been hard—"

The pressure increased slightly.

Her breath hitched again.

Hannah clicked her tongue from where she stood, clearly annoyed.

"When will I become Luna?" she whined, crossing her arms. "This is getting tiring. Or are we just going to keep waiting on that useless girl to die?"

Neither of them responded.

Michelle’s chest rose and fell unevenly.

Her vision blurred slightly.

"My mother—" she managed to force out. The pressure stilled just a little. "She’s still with you," Michelle whispered. "Please—"

Beta Kole tilted his head slightly.

Interest flickered.

"Then you understand what happens if you fail me," he said.

Michelle nodded quickly. "I’ll be faster," she said. "I promise, I’ll finish it quickly."

The cane lifted, hust enough for her to breathe.

She collapsed forward slightly, coughing.

Then forced herself back into a bow.

"My lord..."

Her voice shook. "I came during the day because it was safer," she added quickly. "No one was watching the halls this morning but we shouldn’t do this again."

Hannah frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Michelle swallowed. "The Alphas went hunting," she said. "There was no breakfast. The castle was... quieter so I was able to come out."

Hannah slowly turned her head.

Her eyes met her father’s.

Beta Kole didn’t speak, but something shifted in his gaze.

Hannah’s lips curled slightly.

A knowing look passed between them.