Chapter 2

Yes. Finally, I didn't have to look at Gunnar's grumpy face in the hall anymore. The stables were a dream—fresh air, cute little foals to hang out with, way better than watching him and Stella exchange sappy looks.

This was a hundred times better. He thought cleaning the stables was a punishment? Please, I used to scrub the shared bathrooms in Morreniland apartments. Just wait till I got these stables sparkling clean. He would be going to lose your mind.

Gunnar's lips twitched, almost too subtle to notice.

He turned to leave, but after a couple steps, he suddenly spun around and snapped, "Every night at seven, come to my study and report on the stables."

I was speechless.

Was he seriously out of his mind? What was I supposed to report about the stables? How many times did the foal pooped today? Or that the old white horse shed three hairs?

Didn't he have anything better to do? What about all the pack business he was supposed to handle?

Gunnar's back stiffened for a second, and he strode off without looking back, as if something was hot on his heels.

Watching him disappear, I let out a sigh of relief. I found a clean pile of hay and sat down, starting to piece together the original plot.

The original Milania was a total pushover. After Gunnar rejected her in front of everyone, Stella kept setting her up until she died a miserable death. Gunnar never believed her—not even after she was gone. He just saw her as a nuisance.

No way was I letting that happen again. Since I was here now, I was going to live my best life. That venomous Stella and that jerk Gunnar—neither of them was getting off easy.

Just then, a fluffy little head nuzzled my hand. It was a three-day-old white foal with shining eyes. Her name was Snowy, given by the original Milania.

I stroked her soft fur, and my heart turned to mush.

Baby foals were way cuter than that stone-faced jerk. Snowy, I had got your back from now on. When I hit it big, I would buy you the fanciest alfalfa and the biggest, comfiest stable in the world.

Suddenly, a tiny, babyish voice echoed in my mind. "Really? You're the best."

I jumped up, looking around in shock. "Who's there? Who's talking?"

The stables were empty—just me and Snowy, nobody else in sight.

'Who is it? Stop messing around and show yourself," I said.

"Don't be scared, sis. It's me, your inner wolf," the babyish voice chimed in again. "I've been awake for a long time, but a curse locked me away, so I couldn't come out."

I froze. According to the official lore, every werewolf had their own inner wolf, with its own consciousness that could affect their emotions and power. Wait—Milania's inner wolf had been awake all along?

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I've been mocked as a wolf-less loser for ages because of you," I said.

"I couldn't help it. The curse was way too strong. I could only talk to you in your mind," Snowy whimpered, sounding all pitiful. "But don't worry. Once the curse is broken, I'll be super powerful and keep you safe."

"Looks like we're stuck together from now on, huh? By the way, do you know who actually cursed me?" I asked.

"It was that woman, Stella." Snowy's voice snapped, suddenly furious. "She hired a Sorcerer to curse you, so you couldn't become Luna. She wants the title for herself."

Figures. Stella again. I would have to watch my back around her.

Over the next few days, Gunnar showed up at the stables every single day, right on time. He always wore that same frosty, stone-faced look, hands clasped behind his back, pacing around and nitpicking every tiny thing he could find.

"This trough isn't clean enough. There's still a stain. Scrub it again," he'd bark. "The hay's too thick. The foal will suffocate. Spread it out. There's brown hair here. Pick it up."

On the outside, I put on my best obedient act, scrubbing and sweeping like a model servant. But in my head, I was roasting him for the thousandth time.

Did he have X-ray vision or what? He could spot hair but miss the blackheads on his own face? Then again, his face was so stiff. I bet his pores forgot how to breathe.

Seriously, didn't he have a pack to run or something? As Alpha, he was picking on a defenseless girl like me. If he was so tough, go wrestle a bear or something.

And that blood wine he drank today? It tasted like straight-up herbal medicine, but he sipped it like it was vintage champagne. Were his taste buds broken? Want me to sneak him some candy next time?

With a sharp crack, Gunnar's whip suddenly snapped in half.

He spun around to look at me, his gaze so piercing and complicated it made my heart race. "You think the blood wine tastes bad?"

I nearly dropped my rag, my heart leaping into my throat. I quickly shook my head, plastering on my most innocent smile. "N-no, not at all. If you drink it, it's gotta be top shelf."

Oh no, I was so busted. Why was he suddenly asking about that? Could he really hear what I was thinking? No way, absolutely not. It had to be a total fluke.

Gunnar stared at me for a long moment, his look so deep it gave me goosebumps. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out.

The next morning, as soon as I walked into the stables, I spotted a jar of honey candy sitting on the table. It was a glass jar, filled with golden honey candy that looked absolutely delicious.

I froze for a second, glancing around—nobody was there.

No way, seriously? Did he actually leave this for me? That stone-faced jerk actually brought me candy? Was the world ending or something?

Wait, no, it must be Stella trying to poison me. No way was I eating that. I didn't know what she put in there.

And honey candy was such a pain to unwrap. If only someone would unwrap it and feed it to me, that'd be perfect.

Gunnar, hiding behind the tree, just stood there in silence.

He quietly turned and headed to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, he came back with a plate of honey candy, all neatly unwrapped. He set it down on the table with a sharp thud, then stormed off without a word.

I stared at the plate of sparkling honey candy, completely dumbfounded.

He could really hear me?

Gunnar, lurking around the corner, leaned against the wall, his ears flushing red again. He touched his burning ears, feeling both annoyed and—damn it—kind of weirdly happy.

A few days later, a bunch of mean girls from the lowborn camp showed up at the stables. The ringleader was Lilly Austin, who'd been sucking up to Stella for ages and had always had it out for the original Milania.

Lilly sneered, arms crossed, "Well, well, look who it is—the famous wolf-less loser. Still stuck here scrubbing stables, huh?

"Maybe you should take a good look at yourself before you start dreaming about the Alpha. If I were you, I'd have bashed my head against a post by now."

The other girls burst out laughing.

I set down my broom and looked at them, my face completely blank.

What a bunch of idiots—just as brainless as Stella. They must've all had their heads slammed in a door. No wonder the original Milania turned out so timid, getting bullied by losers.

Well, today I would show them what a true Morreniland Queen of Clapbacks looked like.

"So what if I want the Alpha? At least I have a chance—unlike some people who can only dream about it," I sneered. "The Moon Goddess herself marked me as his fated mate. And you? You're not worthy to be his servant."

Lilly's face flushed bright red with fury. "You. You wolf-less loser, how dare you talk to me like that. See if I don't beat you senseless."

She swung her hand at my face. I instinctively shut my eyes, ready to swing right back.