The Hidden Luna Queen (Maeve and Xaden) novel Chapter 88

Maeve POV

As Isabelle smirked at me from behind her wine glass, the truth was made more apparent to me than ever.

She had only pretended to be cordial in an attempt to lower my guard. And chances were, if I somehow managed to circumvent my sister’s party and that tussle with her friend, and instead met Isabelle immediately after Xaden rescued me, then that jab would have done exactly what she intended.

But little did she know, this was not my first time trapped in the wolf pit.

“Y-You know what?” I muttered through gritted teeth, scrunching the skirt of my dress with tight, white knuckles. Meanwhile, Isabelle peered down at me with an arched brow, daring to continue my train of thought.

And… to be honest, my first instinct was to shut up and cower.

Perhaps the Maeve from a month ago—maybe even five days ago—would have backed down. I could just picture how it would have happened, how I would have rolled over at even the slightest sign of resistance and exposed my belly like a docile, pathetic pup.

Maeve of Moonstone was pliable… someone easy to push and play around with when one wanted entertainment.

But I was not the same girl I was a few days ago.

I straightened myself, mustering as much courage as was physically possible.

“I… I don’t regret a single second of it. All those years living in that house showed me everything I knew I wanted out of life and everything I should never be. Living there helped me learn the importance of kindness and humility—something you could stand to learn a thing or two about,” I snapped with a cold glare directed straight at her, feeling far from the girl I was a week ago.

“And what could I possibly gain from that?” she drawled, unimpressed. “None of those will win me any favors among fellow alphas.”

I shrugged. “On the contrary, I think you could gain plenty. For starters, you could find some friends to keep you company,” I retorted. “Then you would have something better to do with your time than pick on others, since your duties as a Luna Princess clearly aren’t enough to satisfy you.”

Immediately, her face reddened with fury as a thick vein throbbed in her forehead. She did not appreciate my insinuation in the slightest. Part of me wished I could say that I felt even a little bit of pity for her, but that was difficult to do behind all the adrenaline that coursed through my veins.