Chapter 255
1280words
“Don’t worry, Sapphire, I can handle myself just fine. You must be forgetting that I’m a Princess and that title ain’t just for decoration,” I replied with a lace of teasing to reassure her that she didn’t have anything to worry about.
In fact, I am absolutely sure that I can leave the mine safely. For Drake, I have absolute confidence to persuade him. I must meet him.
“But Princess… How about I…”
“But nothing, Sapphire. Trust me, okay?” I asked.
As my Beta, I knew where her worry was coming from. It’s her ultimate job to ensure my safety. However, she must know that both of us should also have the mutual trust that there will be times we’ll have to face danger alone for each of our tasks.
She was silent for a few seconds before I heard her sigh in defeat. “I understand, Princess. But please be careful.”
“Oh, and by the way…” she added hurriedly before I ended the call.
Furrowing my brows, I asked, “What is it?”
“I dug through the one you wanted information about… The reporter was named Cathy. I discovered she used to be a reporter for the Dark Moon Pack’s publishing.”
Dark Moon Pack… How come everything had connections with that pack?
My heart sank. I leaned my back on the wall and looked up at the ceiling as I processed everything that was running in my mind.
After a while, I asked, “But the living standards and work benefits in the Dark Moon Pack are way better than Wakeland. Why did she leave all that to come work at the Wakeland Times?”
Could Cathy possibly have connections with Kylian? Was she planted here by him or something? But that’s unreasonable.
As far as I know, Flora was still in the Dark Moon Pack. Above anyone else, Kylian must be happy and content. He should still be there with her, by the loving side of his destined mate. Unless... unless he knows that Aaden is his son. Then maybe… he’d find a reason to approach me again.
The mere thought of that sent fear to my every being and had my heart beating a million times faster.
“Actually, Cathy made a mistake and it involved you, Princess Della. According to my source, after she was fired by the Dark Moon’s official media outlet, she was unemployed for some time before ending up at the Wakeland Times."
My brows furrowed but that clarification made me calmer. “Why did she get fired then?”
“What mistake did she make exactly?” I asked, feeling especially curious now.
“It’s actually surprising. It’s about an article she pushed through in posting back when your identity is still hidden. She tried to defend your name and published her work despite clear orders of doing otherwise,” she explained, a hint of admiration was audible in her voice.
Then a sigh followed, “After that, she was unemployed for a while, came to Wakeland, and the rest is history.”
To say I was dumbfounded was an understatement. Back then, when the media countlessly attacked me, all I saw were negative words being thrown in my direction like sharp knives.
Why didn’t I see that article?
It would have been a ray of light through my painful days.
Back then, though I was Kylian’s wife and officially instituted Luna, I was still treated as an omega in the Dark Moon Pack, and I was barely respected. Almost no one ever looked up to me, not even my fellow omegas.
I could still vividly remember and hear how they used to whisper around, calling me a 'lucky bitch.'
"Since Cathy published it without permission, the article was quickly deleted after release and so hardly anyone saw it…” Sapphire paused for a while before continuing, “If I may suggest, Princess, maybe you two should talk. I think she could have useful information. If she’s trustworthy, having her at the Wakeland Times could be a real advantage for you."
I nodded my head and weighed her words. "All right. Set me up a meeting with her before I leave for the mines. And keep this as discreet as possible."
The Wakeland Times was a very crucial link to stir my public reputation here in Wakeland which was the most important step in me setting a strong foothold here. If meeting up with Cathy was what it takes to pave my way in, then it’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Later that night, I arrived at the small but secluded bar Sapphire chose. I was dressed in a pair of black clothing to stay under the radar.
As I entered, the dim lights cast long shadows across the smoky room of fake dogs and cigarettes, with the low hum of chatter and clinking glasses filling the air. I pulled the brim of my jean hat down, hiding my face as I pushed my way through the crowded bar.
Just as I was about to turn to a room, I halted on my steps and my eyes narrowed when I spotted Mason, Krendrell’s son, in a corner with friends, his voice booming above the others.
They were making small movements as they swayed their body with the music with a glass of whiskey in their hands. Beside Mason were two women looking sluts by how they barely have any clothes on, obviously trying to pleasure him tonight for some tips.
“Della?” Mason uttered, making me hurriedly move and dashed through the crowd and into a darker spot to hide from him, but I made sure I was close enough to still hear them speaking.
Mason let out an arrogant laugh as he continued, “She’s nothing more than a puppet of Kylian’s mother, Trisha. She dared to act like royalty, but she’d throw her pride away for any man if it suited her. Just watch, soon enough, she’ll be tossed out of Wakeland.”
One of his friends shook his head and raised his glass at him as he said, “Careful, Mason. Mr. K seems to be on her side these days.”
After saying that, his friend took a gulp of his drink but Mason only raised his brow and let out a dimmissive laugh.
“I don’t care who ever is on her side. In this land, everyone heeds to my father’s words, and that arrogant Mr. K will fall in line with us soon enough." He shrugged, and continued, “What’s there to be afraid of? Much less cautious about.”
Hearing his arrogance made my blood boil in tremendous anger. I clenched her jaw and fisted my hand as I forced myself to continue walking past him and attend to what I was really here for instead of crushing his stubborn egoistic head into ashes.
Taking a deep breath, I quickened my pace, and reached a door at the back that led to the secret room where Sapphire was waiting.
Turning to her, I discreetly commanded, “Mason is here. Keep an eye on him, and see if there’s anything you can learn about Drake’s sister."
“But–”
I saw her giving me a worried look but I continued to make my gaze shape and opened the door for her, gesturing for her to go.
In the end, she let out a sigh and followed my order.
With one last look of concern for me, she nodded her head and slipped back into the shadows.
Once she was gone out of my sight, I closed the door and went straight to open the other secret door in the room where I met Cathy who immediately stood up in a formal pair of black pants and blue blouse.
“Princess…”
