Chapter 6 My Sister Gina

• NARAH'S POV
• The music in the Café slowly faded into the background. The noise and bickering from the customers got quieter as I ran down memory lane, escaping this harsh reality.
• Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I stood face to face with my step-sister, Gina. She had grown even more beautiful than I recalled. Slender and taller.
• Her skin glowed under the hot summer sunlight that shone through the café’s glass, and her dark mane still flowed down to her waist like waterfalls.
• Her sultry green eyes caught mine and she frowned.
• “B*tch, you're going to pay for this top,” she said, squeezing my right arm. I hadn't noticed the two girls beside her until they chuckled, taking delight in how Gina treated me.
• This wasn't the Gina I knew. She used to be kind and sweet. I shook my head, getting over the past and accepting her for whom she was now; a betrayal.
• I remembered the night of the lunar bonding. Gina and I had shared a drink in my room. Poison. I am sure it was poison, and I couldn't help, but suspect her for my murder.
• “Let me go,” I demanded, trying to wriggle from her grip, but my wriggling made matters worse.
• Her grip suddenly tightened, and her nails dug deep into my skin. I begged in a hushed tone, “Please Gina, let me go. I promise this is only a misunderstanding.”
• But she snapped, “How the f**k do you know my name?” Her eyes flashed with anger and surprise. Then, one of the girls, dressed in a denim mini skirt and a pink tank top scoffed.
• “You’re popular. The most famous and beautiful Luna in Vaelothor.”
• Gina’s frown turned into a small sneer as her eyes darted to her friends. I could have sworn that for a second, she had forgotten about me while she drowned in her glory, until my arms twitched slightly beneath her palms.
• Immediately, her glare landed on me intently, sending shivers down my spine.
• “I'm sorry,” I quivered. If she killed me before, I was afraid, and didn't want to find out what she was capable of doing now.
• My eyes swept through the Café, searching for an escape or someone who would intervene, and save me from Gina's wicked grip, but everyone watched back in terror. I could sense their fear as well. Gina was a rock, a treacherous road nobody dared to tread on.
• “You think you can just spill a drink on my expensive top and apologise for it?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “No. I'll make you pay.” Her grip tightened even more, and her nails dug deeper into my skin.
• I wriggled in agony, with tears threatening to pour at any moment. Suddenly, I heard a husky voice from behind me saying, “That's enough. Let her go.”
• My eyes widened in disbelief. Gina's gaze shifted over my head, her brows furrowed at the man behind me, but She released my arm without hesitation. I gently rubbed the marks her nails inflicted on my skin.
• With a fake smile, she said, “Yes, darling.” The man walked to stand beside her, she slipped her arms into his and her friends stood behind them, obviously mad that he had intervened.
• Tall, tanned and handsome. He was supposed to be mine. Our gaze locked and his eyes bored into my soul. Alpha Van Killian of Woodwick pack, my fated mate. Gina quickly observed the heat between Alpha Van and me, she cleared her throat and leaned her head on his shoulder.
• “My darling Alpha, I'm sorry to have troubled you.”
• “Who are you?” Van asked with a concerned tone, his gaze still locked on mine. Instantly, Gina's face scowled. She made eye passes with her friends. Then, shook her head when she turned to me.
• “I'm a commoner,” I replied, “I just got into Vaelothor. I'm from Lystvair, but I hoped to start afresh here. To start a new life.”
• “What's your name?”
• “Narah Smith.”
• Van's expression softened, and my mind raced back to my wolf, Minsi. How overjoyed she had been the night we first saw Van. How Minsi knew instantly that he was our fated mate. Did he have a hand in my murder? A still voice whimpered in my mind.
• Suddenly, my eyes went blank, erasing the present while I dived into the past. My eyebrows formed a V, and my lips pressed tightly together.
• I came back to reality when Gina called Van's attention to her top, saying, “Look, sweetheart. Look what she did to me. She must be punished.”
• Van rolled his eyes so fast, but I caught on to it. Something felt off about them, although I wasn't sure what it was.
• “You shouldn't be making trouble. Don't you know who this is?” He turned to me, a harsh tone enveloping the calm concerned tone he had initially spoken to me with.
• “I… I know her. She's the Luna. Gina.” As I uttered her name, my stomach tied knots that burned with an intense flame. “I'm sorry Luna for my mistake.”
• “Sorry won't do,” she snapped. “This is Ellie's brand. Sorry won't make up for it.”
• Good heavens! I really began to despise this side of Gina. How well she had pretended to be kind, sweet and caring in the past. The thought sent a surge of annoyance through my veins.
• “Sorry is all I got, because I don't have the money to buy you a new one,” I quickly interjected.
• “Who said a thing about getting me a new one?” Gina replied with a smirk on her face. Her evil mind was devising a scheme. And I wished so hard that I could wipe that smile off her face, and call her a murderer, but I shouldn't call her that yet. She's only a suspect. For now.
• Her friends chorused, “Luna, what do you want her to do?”
• “Seriously?” Van asked. He was beginning to get impatient and frustrated over the scene Gina was creating. She still wore that smirk on her face like a big trophy.
• “We need a maid anyways.” She said, her eyes sizing me, observing my petite physique from head to toe. “You'll do. All you gotta do is wash, clean, and do exactly what I want. This ten thousand dollar top would be forgotten by then.”
• “Ten thousand grand for a top?” My voice almost screamed. Indeed, Gina was really nuts.
• “Ellie’s is THE MOSTpopular and authentic brand there is. This top was a special order for Luna Gina. It's the only one in the entire world. It's obviously something someone as poor, and wretched as you can't possibly understand.” Gina's other friend said in anger.
• “Gina. You can't make her do–”
• “I accept,” I cut Alpha Van short.
• Their eyes widened in astonishment. I couldn't help but wonder what raced through their minds. Accepting to work as a maid for the Alpha and his Luna, just because I spilled a drink on her top, I'm certain they didn't see that coming.
• I smiled broadly, while they stared at me in a skeptical manner.
• It was a good offer. I didn't have a place to stay and besides I needed to keep my enemies closer. This way, I could unravel the secrets they harboured.