Chapter 3 Three

KARINA

I handed over the magazines to my P.A. after getting a good look at them. Everything had come out really fantastic.

It was the December special of our Packs magazine and we wanted to make it a grand style. The photography was lovely, capturing the holiday vibes very accurately. The model exuded elegant but homely vibes and the outfits were otherworldly. I couldn't stop beaming. I mean, it's the kinda happiness that comes with everything working out as planned.

“I must say, I'm totally blown away. Everything came out fantastic. Good job everyone.” I said, clapping lightly.

“Thank you, Luna Karina.” They all chorused.

There was an abrupt interruption of the moment as the door opened and a beaming Ashley walked inside.

“Hope I'm not interrupting?”

My excitement vanished into thin air. My heart grew really swollen and was threatening to burst open. What the hell is she doing here now?

She's made my home a living hell for me. Her overdisplay of PDA with Chase has me boiling in anger, in agony, and in sheer heartwrenching pain.

I can't look at any corner of my home without seeing her there, kissing him, touching him, making him confess to my earshot that she's the only woman he's ever loved.

And what hurts the most is that I can't even confront her about it because she's always coming to me after and apologizing, insisting that she doesn't see me there. That it's all but a bloody coincidence.

But I'm not retarded. I know what a coincidence is and that's not it. One too many times of display in my face isn't a coincidence!

Still, I held my tongue and just smiled at her, assuring her that it's okay. That I'm good. But I'm not. How can I be?

“Of course, you're not, Luna Ashley. Please have a seat.” The manager said sweetly, making her sit right next to me.

They're all bootlicking her because of Chase. They wanna get on his good side and the easiest way to do that is to fancy his favorite flavor.

“Karina,” she smiled at me. She sure has the sweetest smile. Except it's fake and performative.

I flashed her a quick smile and gestured at the editorial team to continue the meeting. But God, my composure was shattered. I'm finding it so hard to even breathe.

What kinda torture is this? Why does she keep doing this to me?

“Uh, excuse me,” her tiny voice halted the meeting. She chuckled sweetly. “Sorry, I didn't wanna be rude but I hope this isn't the final work for the December special. I hope this is a draft.”

“No, Ma'am. It's the final work.” The editorial director replied.

“What?” Ashley gasped dramatically, picking up the magazine with a disgusted face as if it were stinky or something. “This?”

“Why? What's wrong with it, Ma'am?” One of the ladies in the team asked.

“Everything. It's tacky. It's outdated. It’s giving the 1800s vibe. And don't get me started on how fucking chubby the model is. Who picked her? She looks like a slob.”

“Karina, that's enough.” I snapped, my voice rising an octave. I'll tolerate anything else but definitely not body-shaming another woman. “I think she's perfect.”

“Of course you'd say that.” She shot back sweetly. But I read every meaning behind it and I couldn't keep my cool anymore.

“Would you all please excuse us?” I said, trying to sound as calm as I could. “Ashley and I need to talk.”

“Yes, Luna Karina.” They replied and everyone stood and left. I went to bolt the door before turning to her with my arms crossed over my chest.

“What's your problem, Ashley?”

She blinked and chucked. “What do you mean?”

“Nah, I'm being serious. What the hell is your problem?”

Her smile vanished. She stood with a stern face, crossing her arms over her chest. “You really wanna know what my problem is?”

“Please. Tell me. Because I've had it with your torture. What do you want? Why can't you let me be?”

“Well, you're in my spot. So how the hell do you think I can ever let you be?!” She snapped angrily.

Wow. It's the first time I'm seeing this side of her. She's been playing the goody two-shoes, which I've always known was a front.

This is the real her. But sadly, she's hiding it so well, even Chase doesn't see it. He thinks she's such an angel.

“Chase is mine. The Luna position is mine. This magazine team that he gave you to manage is also mine. These people are mine. The dress you're wearing is fucking mine, Karina!”

She's crazy. God, she's a lunatic. How is she hiding it so well?

“You're out of your mind, Ashley.”

“Oh, really?” She grinned maniacally, stalking me. “Well, this crazy bitch right here is gonna make one thing clear to you. I'm not gonna stop until I finally get rid of you. From Chase's life. From this company and from this Pack.”

“But I'm not bothering you, Ashley. You already have Chase. He lets you handle most affairs of the company. The only thing I'm supervising is the magazine team. You literally have everything. So why don't you just leave me alone? Please. I'm begging you.”

I walked past her to go grab my bag. She pulled my hair from behind. I reacted on impulse, hitting her grip off my hair, but then she fell face-first on the table and then blacked out on the floor.

Goosebumps gripped me as I stared at her lifeless body.

I didn't just kill her. Did I?

I was so confused and scared, I wasn't sure what to do.

Just then the door opened. One of the girls from the team walked in and shrieked at the sight in front of her.

“Oh my God! Luna Karina just killed Luna Ashley!”

“What?! I didn't kill her…”

But there was no time to explain that. A lot more people have already rushed into the room. Ashley has been carried out, and Chase just stormed inside with his men.

“Grab her!” he ordered angrily. “Keep her locked up. If anything happens to Ashley or the child she's carrying, I'll kill you.” He gritted out to my face.

“Ch…Chase, please. I didn't do anything.” I was crying so messily as they dragged me outside. Chase wouldn't listen to me. No one would.

Everyone was judging me really hard. They were video recording me and they were cussing at me, calling me a bitter Luna who attempted to kill Ashley because I was bitter and jealous.

Some of them yanked at my dress and some others yanked at my hair. I could only cry and gasp at the pain. But I couldn't fight back because my hands were seized and I was being dragged away.

Finally, they tossed me into a car and two of them sat at my sides. One of them sat in the passenger seat, and then the driver started the car, and we drove off.

The ride was long and painfully silent. I couldn't stop crying, but I couldn't stop thinking, either. My reputation was already ruined. If I let them lock me up, my life will be taken away from me too.

I can't be locked up. If I get locked up, Ashley wins. And I can't let her win. After the ugly stunt she just pulled on me, I need to stay alive. I need to get my revenge on her and on Chase. Most importantly, I need to clear my name. I need to make everyone understand that I'm not a murderer and that Ashley set that whole thing up to get rid of me.

We were riding through a narrow path now, and a voice whispered to me that this was it. My only chance of escape.

With all the strength I could muster, I punched the two men at my sides. The one in the passenger seat tried grabbing me but I caught his hand and bit him viciously. He shrieked in pain.

I kicked the door open and fled out of the car, heading straight into the woods. I ran like never before, not looking back and not even pausing to take a breath.

I ran for what seemed like hours and only stopped when I was almost out of breath. And then it dawned on me that the clouds were already dark. Like it was night. Which was weird because it wasn't even noon yet when I was in that car.

Looking around, I could see nothing but trees. I could also hear the creepy sounds of animals. And then I eventually saw the sign on those oak trees.

KEEP OFF. THE FORBIDDEN SIDE OF THE WOODS.

Oh, my God. I wasn't in Chase's pack anymore. I've gone beyond that to one of those creepy kingdoms in the woods that I truly thought was just a myth.

I shrieked at the thundering growl coming from a distance. It sounded like it was heading in my direction and I quickly prompted myself to run.

But I barely ran a good distance when I tripped and fell. The growl grew louder and hungrier and soon, I could see the beast racing towards me.

My shrieks were unending. I could already imagine it ripping me apart. But then I felt a piercing sting in my neck that made me suddenly drowsy.

Halfway losing my consciousness, familiar sparkly green eyes were looking down on me.

I tried saying something, but I had already lost consciousness.