Alisha's POV
Archie led me out of the grand banquet hall, and as we made our way through the bustling crowd, I could feel curious gazes following us. Brad and Suzy flanked us, their presence offering a semblance of security in the midst of the unfamiliar werewolf territory. The soft murmur of conversations and the clinking of glasses gradually faded as we stepped outside, the cool night air a stark contrast to the warmth of the festivities.
Nestled in the car, I watched the world pass by through the window, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. The events of the evening had left me both puzzled and intrigued. Why had Archie chosen to say those words in front of the crowd? Was it because my response really have pleased him so much? Was he willing to publicly defend me as a gesture of gratitude? I pondered these questions, my mind a labyrinth of uncertainty.
After all, he had confronted Erma with those words, infuriating her to the point where she might have wanted to tear me apart. Thinking about it, a sense of satisfaction welled up within me. As long as Erma was unhappy, I would turn very happy!
Perhaps due to my improved mood, I didn't feel the same fear, terror, and discomfort as when I had arrived. The car's gentle movement seemed to lull my racing thoughts, and I found myself entranced by the play of shadows and moonlight outside. It was as though some mysterious force was protecting me, enveloping me in a cocoon of tranquility and comfort.
After a while, I found myself dozing off against the window, lulled by the soothing motion of the car. In that half-awake state, I sensed someone lifting me gently, whose fingers tenderly brushing through my hair as he tucked me under a blanket. Was it Suzy? Or was I simply drifting into a dream? But exhaustion weighed heavily on me. From my previous illness to the recent attack in the Dark Forest, both my mind and body were utterly fatigued. Unable to resist any longer, I surrendered to sleep, sinking into its embrace.
As consciousness gradually reclaimed me, I found myself nestled within the confines of one of Golden Crest's lavish bedrooms. The soft tendrils of morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow upon the room's opulent furnishings. Slowly, I collected my thoughts, my mind navigating the blurred boundary between dreams and reality.
A delicate knock on the door stirred me from my introspection, and Mireya's voice, warm and concerned, followed suit. "Luna, are you awake?"
With a faint nod, I invited her in, the hinges creaking softly as the door swung open. Mireya entered, cradling a bowl in her hands. The mere sight of that bowl sent a shiver down my spine, memories of its wretched taste flooding back. It was a potion of herbs, an elixir Archie had insisted I consume at intervals. Once, I had endured its bitterness unquestioningly, a symbol of my willingness to obey Archie's wishes. But time had shifted our relationship, so now, I couldn't bear to subject myself to its acrid torment again.
"Mireya, please, I can't," I said, my voice tinged with a mixture of resolve and destination. "I won't drink it, and I can't stand the sight of it."
A flicker of distress passed across Mireya's eyes, a reflection of her own struggle between duty and empathy. "Luna, the Alpha has instructed that you must partake of it."
My resolve solidified, a fire igniting within me. "I don't care about his orders anymore."
"But, Luna, I am bound to follow Alpha's will. Refusing could bring severe consequences upon me." Mireya implored.
Guilt clawed at the edges of my determination, and with a resigned sigh, I reached for my phone. Composing a message to Archie, I typed, "I refuse to drink the potion any longer. I've declined it from Mireya. Spare her from any punishment."
After sending my message to Archie, his swift response took me by surprise, considering that in the past, getting a response from Archie was a rare occurrence. His messages often felt like monosyllabic commands, "Yes", "No", leaving me wondering whether I was interacting with a machine rather than a person. Yet, here he was, engaging in a back-and-forth exchange in time. What had brought about this change recently? I couldn't help but wonder.
"No, you must drink it!" his words flashed on the screen, and I could almost sense his domineering tone behind the message. My eyes rolled in frustration. Well, I had no intention of obediently downing that dreadful potion. My plan was to discreetly dispose of it later. However, it appeared that Archie possessed an uncanny ability to read my defiance. Another message followed, "Have Mireya record a video. I want to see you drink it with my own eyes!"
I let out an exasperated sigh and threw myself back onto the bed. What a crafty and infuriating tactic he was employing! I was on the brink of tossing my phone aside when it buzzed once more, announcing yet another incoming message. Expecting it to be Archie's further insistence, I was taken aback to see a banking notification instead. It informed me that my previously frozen credit card had been reinstated! My eyes widened as I read the message again, absorbing its implications. A genuine smile spread across my face, a mixture of surprise and glee.
But then a realization hit me like a lightning bolt. Archie had frozen my card before, exerting control over my finances. So, why did he change his mind this time? Was it an act of kindness? How could he be so nice? I bet it serve another purpose! My mind buzzed with questions just as another message popped up from Archie, "Drink the potion, or I'll freeze your card again."
Ah, there it was, the familiar and mean guy. The threats were back, and his intentions became abundantly clear. He was using my financial vulnerability as leverage to bend me to his will. Whatever, that's not a bad deal for me now, so I picked up the bowl, feeling Mireya's sympathetic gaze upon me. She quickly positioned her phone to record the impending ordeal. The stench of the potion was awful, clinging to my senses like a relentless specter. Suppressing the urge to recoil, I pinched my nose and downed the concoction in a single, determined gulp. Mireya handed me a glass of water, which I welcomed eagerly, using it to rinse away the taste.
At that moment, the ringtone of my phone pierced through the room, breaking the silence. I picked it up, curious yet cautious, as an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.
"Hello, who's this?" I asked.
"Alisha, it's Gray," a familiar voice replied from the other end. I wondered what Gray called me for?