The Unforgiving Luna

The Second Prince

Anyway, I felt like I should be out of his sights quickly. The reason I choose him as a target was because he was young. I thought he would be easy to read and manipulate but it seems like I was totally wrong. What I needed was someone who could help me move around this palace freely without getting suspected. It was not too late to find another target.

I had just taken two steps forward when he stopped me.

“You didn’t tell me your name.”

“Hazel.” I quickly answered without looking back. I was afraid I might decide to continue my scheme.

“Then Hazel,” he was quickly in front of me, and I gulped, stepping backward since he was too close.

“Would you like a dance later?” he continued and I couldn’t stop the surprise that entered my eyes.

Oh, boy! What’s going on him with him? Does he like me now? Is he interested?

“Yes!” I answered, and he smiled at me.

Again, that felt weird. I hurried out of the place and entered the hall where I spotted my family crew. They were already making connections. Chatting and laughing with the royals and even people way above them.

Everything about today was so strange. There were so many questions that I was going to find the answer to soon, hopefully.

I’m not going to be the only person losing out here. My eyes moved about and I noticed a group of girls at a corner. About four of them and I recognized two as people with high statuses.

One of the girls was the general’s daughter, Violet, and the second one, Ava, was a distant relative of the royal family. So, in a way, she was of Royal blood and lives in the palace too.

If I could get close to her then perhaps, I could ask her to show me around the palace where I could finish my purpose for being here today.

I walked up to the group and when I reached Ava, I touched her dress slightly, “Oh my God. Is this the latest piece by Giovanni Trent?” I exclaimed, looking pleasantly surprised as my eyes took in the design of her dress.

“How did you know?” she asked me with a smile and it was as if she was slightly shaken. After all, his latest piece has not been displayed to the world yet. But I have always been a fan of Giovanni and just by the theme of the dress, I could tell it was him. It was originally just a guess that turned correct.

“Is it really the latest piece of Giovanni?” one of the girls I didn’t recognize asked and I nodded in affirmation. Giovanni was the biggest fashion designer in the land, so of course he was known by everyone. They had all been anticipating the release of his latest piece. Who would have known the princess would be the first to put it on.

In an instance, the limelight was on her and I didn’t lie when I told her she was beautiful. The dress was perfect on her.

“It seems like you have a good eye for dresses.” Violet told me, and I gave a small nod with a polite smile.

“Then, do you also know who made this piece?” she glance down at her own dress and I stared at it, my eyes absorbing the little tiny details others would’ve ignored.

“Eric.” I uttered, and her mouth curved in an "O" shape, expressing her surprise.

“You’re really good.” she told me, “I heard you’re from the Mid-night pack.”

“Yes.” I replied, stretching my hands towards her, “I’m Hazel. Second daughter to the Alpha and Luna of the Mid-night pack.”

“Hazel.” Violet repeated, “I like the name. I’m Violet, and this is…”

“You don’t have to introduce yourselves. Everyone knows you and Princess Ava here.”

Ava and Violet exchanged looks before they brought their gaze to me again, “Then I hope we can be good friends.”

“Of course.” I beamed.

Target acquired. Now, I just have to look for an opportunity to be alone with Ava.

The plan was simple.

Get her to show me around the palace. I need to know all of the Prince’s room, the King’s room and even the queen’s room. My snooping devices would be placed and hidden everywhere in the palace and who knows, I might be able to get some useful information that would be related to my parent’s death or something I could use as a threat to whoever falls in the pit I will be digging today.

“Hey, isn’t that Larissa?” Ava pointed, and I followed her gaze to a group of girls.

The one in the middle who was obviously being referred to was the same girl I had met in the restroom earlier. She had short aurburn hair that reached up to under her ears and a graceful smile on her face as she greeted everyone. The way she acted was as if she was the host of tonight’s party. I could tell most of the girls in this group hated her just hearing their sneers.

“She’s really something else.” Violet clicked her tongue, folding her hands in front of her as we watched them.

“She’s already putting on airs as if she really would be our next queen.”

The others laughed at this. There was a hint of mockery in their gaze.

I looked and saw the girl, Larissa approaching someone. Someone who currently had company.

The Second Prince, Kieran.

He was just sitting there with Raiden and one other person I did not recognize, drinking with him but when Larisa reached, the two excused themselves, leaving Kieran and her together. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but whatever Kieran whispered to her made her blush without holding back.

“Would she really go on with her plan?” I mumbled under my breath, my eyes fixed on the side profile of the man whose smile made my heart thump wildly.

As if he felt my gaze on him, he turned his head towards me, and our eyes locked. I stopped breathing for a moment, knowing I had to look away, but I just couldn’t.

Time slowed down, the chatters and music faded in the background and I could only see him. There was something about him that kept luring me in and I couldn’t understand why I felt this weird excitement in my heart. I was able to get out of my trance quickly, but I was also confused.

What’s wrong with me? Why did I feel so shaken by him? And… why on earth would he give me that terrifying smirk? Argh… This was really annoying.

Among all the four Princes, the second Prince is the person I was most curious about. I wondered why he had never shown his face to the public or why his name wasn’t so popular among everyone like the other Princes. Perhaps that was why I felt this way, it was the only reasonable reason as to why my heart was racing this much.

‘He is weird. Let’s stay away from him’ I heard my wolf, Kira tell me and I immediately agreed with her.

“What is she planning this time, isn’t she afraid of the second Prince?” someone asked, watching Larissa approach Kieran.

“I will really cut off her fingers if she dares to touch my man.” It was Violet who spoke and I gave her a glance, but the others didn’t seem so surprised about this.

Her man? Okay, this surely was getting interesting. Does she just have a crush on Kieran, or were they already a couple?

“If he’s really your man… ” I started, licking my lips as I moved my gaze to look at the second Prince and Larissa. “Then you should go get her off him.” to be honest, I also felt slightly uncomfortable when I saw them together.

Violet looked at me with a smile. Her lips curved slightly. “You’re right, Hazel. I have done this a few times already.” she flicked her hair back and walked forward, turning back only once to give us a confident look and I gave her a nod, encouraging her to go ahead. I liked her in that instance. She seemed like a woman who knew what she wanted.

I heard a sneer from one of the girls and turned to look.

“Time to watch a good show.” the girl’s eyes, which were meek and gentle in front of Violet now stared at Violet’s back with a malicious grin “She really doesn’t know who is the real b***h here.”

Seriously?

I was about to say something, but Ava beat me to it.

“You should’ve said that to her face just now.”

The girl immediately went quiet and my eyes met with Ava’s. I gave her a smile and she returned it.

Just when Violet was about to reach the Second Prince, the Mc announced it was time to start the dance and I saw Violet quickly ask the Prince for a dance before Larissa did.

A group of guys came in our direction and one of them stretched out his hands for me as he asked for a dance. I smiled and stretched out my hand to take him, but someone else intervened.

Raiden glared at him, taking my hands instead and the guy had a fearful look as he immediately went to find someone else.

“You promised me a dance.” Raiden looked at me and I swallowed, trying not to take my hands back.

How could I forget?

He pulled me towards the dance floor and I felt his hand circle my waist. I placed both of my hands on his chest and we started to move slowly at first.

“Why did Miss Hazel come to this party today?” he asked.

“The same reason that everyone did.” I answered rather quickly and he smiled. A smile that unsettled me.

“I guess you don’t know, but the King especially wanted your family to be here today. To be precise, he wanted your sister.”

The smile on my lips faded and my brows furrowed at that. It was true I felt something wrong with all the attention they paid to our family which surely was not deserved, but I was also confused as to why he was telling me this.

“Your sister would not be allowed to go home today. Do you want to stay here too?”

“Hm?” startled, I c****d a brow at him. I did want to stay here. In fact, I was actually scheming of a way to temporarily remain in this palace for a few days at least so when he asked this question I was taken aback and also lost in my own thoughts. Does the king want Melody? Is that why the first Prince instantly got close to her? Perhaps they just wanted a marriage alliance too just like Craig, but why do I feel this was not the case?

“What do you say, Hazel? Do you want to stay?” Raiden asked again.

The way his gaze pierced into me, the way those eyes looked at me made me feel cautious. What is this? Why do I feel as though, he has prepared a trap for me? And what would he gain from me staying here in the palace?