"Uh... Yeah... Who—"
Before Lethia could even finish her sentence, the hospital-gowned girl lunged forward, wrapping her in a tight embrace. The sudden contact jolted her, a flashback hitting her mind—the janitor at the rest area had hugged her just like this.
Caught off guard and unsure how to react, Lethia awkwardly patted the girl’s arm, struggling to breathe under the force of the hug.
"Ah... sorry... I’m just so happy to meet my role model in person." The girl beamed, her face lighting up with enthusiasm.
Lethia, still stiff and unsure of what to say, listened as the girl poured her heart out. She had just been rejected by her mate.
But after watching Lethia’s viral video, she had mustered the courage to slap the woman who stole her mate and burn the pack’s banner that had cast her aside.
She had fled to Ashenhold, where the safety guards found her injured from a silver chain.
By the time their conversation ended and the girl excitedly asked for a photo together, Lethia couldn’t quite place what she was feeling.
What she had done wasn’t exactly moral, yet somehow, it had encouraged someone. Should she feel proud? Or should she pity the girl, now left to survive alone in Ashenhold?
As she turned a corner toward Renar’s office, Lethia came to an abrupt halt.
Varrel. He was pushing Lana in a wheelchair. Looks like the bitch was finally being discharged.
Lethia’s fingers curled into fists at her sides. Her gaze burned with unrestrained fury as she stepped forward, fully intending to confront them.
But before she could close the distance, a hand shot out and yanked her into the adjacent corridor leading to the restrooms.
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest as she spun around, only to find a woman standing there, breathless from the effort, yet grinning at her like she had just found a long-lost treasure.
"Finally, I get to meet you, my Luna."
"TERESSA!" Lethia’s eyes widened in shock before she lunged forward, wrapping the woman in a fierce embrace as if pouring all her longing into that single gesture.
The woman, who named Teressa, held her just as tightly, her hand rubbing soothing circles on Lethia’s back.
"I miss you... I tried calling you this morning, but why couldn’t I get through?" Lethia’s voice wavered, frustration and relief mingling as she finally voiced her grievance.
Her personal assistant, the very person she had been trying to reach, now stood before her with delight.
"We all received orders, those of us who served you and remained at the Ranch were instructed to cut off communication with you under Alpha Varrel’s command." Teressa glanced around warily, checking for unwanted ears.
"Luna, I don’t have much time. I just needed to tell you that Karmen escaped. He’s missing." A flicker of unease crossed Teressa’s face, her voice tight with urgency.
"What do you mean, he escaped? Where the hell would he even go?"
"When the human authorities came to detain and interrogate him, he was already gone. No one knows how. Some Omegas have been searching, but he’s still nowhere to be found."
The relief of seeing Teressa again soured into a sinking dread. Karmen was the key, the only proof that could expose the lies and prove she had never cheated. If he was gone... then so was her chance at justice.
"Could it be... Varrel harmed him? Or worse... killed him?"
Teressa shook her head. "You should’ve seen how furious Alpha Varrel was when he found out Karmen was missing. That doesn’t seem to be the case, Luna."
Lethia’s lips pressed into a thin line. She finally noticed how Teressa kept calling her Luna.
"Don’t call me that. I’m not your Luna." A humorless chuckle escaped her lips. "I haven’t even been officially named one."
Teressa grasped both of Lethia’s arms, her fingers tightening with conviction. "You will always be our Luna, Lethia. Those of us who served under you all this time... we still see you as our leader. It’s just..." Her voice hitched, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"It’s just... we’re too powerless to defend you. You know we have to survive, so—"
"I know. You don’t have to explain. I understand..."
Lethia brushed her hand over Teressa’s arm, she gave a weary smile. Not everyone under her had remained loyal like Teressa, but she never truly blamed them for it.
She hated that they turned their backs on her, of course. That betrayal stung.
But, more than anyone, Lethia understood, survival always came first. And for that reason, she couldn’t resent them.
"This is my new number, Luna. Call me here if you ever need me."
Lethia took the slip of paper from Teressa’s hand.
"Thank you. I will, for sure."
"I need to get back before they start getting suspicious. Don’t be reckless. Look after yourself... and your baby."
Teressa’s hand brushed over Lethia’s stomach, warmth filling her gaze.
Their parting was sealed with a soft, knowing smile. As soon as Teressa left, Lethia saved the new number into her contacts. Even in exile, there were still those who stood by her. And for that, she was grateful.
She turned back, heading toward Renar’s office. After meeting Teressa, she abandoned her earlier plan to provoke Varrel and Lana. They would get what was coming to them. She would make sure of it. But there was a time for everything.
When Lethia reached the Reconstructive Surgery department, her eyes landed on the nameplate hanging outside a door.
But what stopped her cold was the title underneath.
Plastic Surgeon.
She stepped inside, finding Renar already seated behind his desk, waiting for her.
"Where have you been?" he asked.
Lethia ignored the question, still fixated on what she had just seen.
"You’re a plastic surgeon?"
Renar chuckled. "Yeah..."
"Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"
"And what would’ve changed if I had?"
Lethia strode toward his desk, pulling out the chair in front of him. She sat down, her eyes locked onto his with unwavering determination.
"Can you change my face entirely so that I can change my identity?"