The Luna Queen - Chapter 46: Chapter 46

_Leah's POV_
That evening, I sat stiffly at the dinner table with Tariq and Susan. I forced myself to smile, though my mind was far from at ease. Every time my gaze landed on Tariq’s face, it only reminded me of the secrets he kept. The betrayal was still fresh in my mind. Across from me, Susan’s cheerful demeanor felt jarring, like nails on a chalkboard, adding to the weight of my dread. I knew I had to hold myself together, to keep up appearances, but inside I was struggling.
Susan’s voice broke my thoughts. “Leah, dear, we were just discussing the timing for the wedding. It seems like three weeks from now, there will be a full moon.” Susan beamed, her eyes warm and excited. “It’s such a perfect symbol, you know. A time of strength, unity…just imagine, a night like that to mark the beginning of your life together.”
I felt my heart thud heavily. Three weeks? That was so soon. I struggled to keep my voice steady. “Three weeks… I suppose that could work.” I hesitated, searching for any excuse to slow things down. “But…isn’t that a bit quick? I mean, there is still so much to do. Invitations, decorations…are we sure we can make all of this happen in time?”
Susan waved her hand with a dismissive laugh. “Oh, nonsense, darling! The whole pack will be more than happy to help. They are excited. This wedding is as meaningful to them as it is to us. Everyone will pitch in to make sure things are perfect.” She gave me an encouraging nod. “You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
I forced myself to nod, though my mind was racing. The entire pack was behind this. They all wanted this wedding to happen as soon as possible, pushing me into Tariq’s plans.
Tariq reached across the table and clasped my hand in his. His touch sent a chill down my spine, but I willed myself not to pull away. “It will be all right, my love. I will take care of everything. You will have the wedding of your dreams. I promise.” He smiled at me, but something in his eyes held that same hidden intensity, as if he was reading me, searching me. I swallowed, forcing myself to smile back, nodding as though everything was perfectly fine. But his words felt hollow, like a lie I couldn’t quite shake.
Susan’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned forward. “Leah, tomorrow, I was hoping we could go shopping for your wedding dress! The tailor is expecting us, and he has the most beautiful designs ready to show us.” She clasped her hands together. Her gaze was eager. “I can already picture you in something elegant…maybe with lace detailing?”
My pulse quickened as I tried to think of a way to delay all of this. “I…well, I don’t know, Susan. Isn’t it a little early? We still have time, don’t we? There is really no rush.”
“Nonsense!” Susan replied with a grin. “The sooner we get started, the more time we’ll have to perfect everything. Besides, every bride deserves to find the perfect dress. I have been waiting for this for so long. I can’t wait to see you glowing in it.”
My heart sank. I had hoped to buy myself a little more time, to find any way out of this mess, but it was clear that the whole pack had made up their minds. They were eager to move things along, pushing me closer to a future I was no longer sure I wanted.
As I glanced over at Tariq, I found him watching me closely. His dark eyes were fixed on me with that unreadable expression. “Actually, I would like to join you both tomorrow,” he said suddenly. “I want to make sure everything is just as it should be for my bride.”
Susan chuckled and shook her head. “Oh, no, you won’t!” She wagged a finger at him and laughed. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride’s dress before the wedding! You’ll just have to trust us on this one.” She turned to me and winked. “Besides, we’re overdue for some girl time, aren’t we?”
My stomach twisted at the thought, but I managed a small nod. Tariq sighed and shrugged, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “Fine, then,” he said, his eyes still on me. “I’ll stay out of your way. But in the meantime, I’ll have Jason and Kale start with the preparations. They’ll make sure everything runs smoothly.”
I forced myself to smile and nodded. “That sounds… good.” But my mind was buzzing with unease. Three weeks; that was all the time I had to figure out a plan. I couldn’t go through with this wedding, not after all I had learned. But I was still in the dark about Tariq’s intentions. I was still guessing at what he and Susan had planned. My thoughts drifted to the locked chest hidden in the room; the chest that seemed to hold all the answers I needed.
As my thoughts spun, a sudden noise broke my focus. Susan had accidentally dropped her spoon, and it clattered to the floor. “Oh, my,” Susan said, bending down to retrieve it.
My gaze followed her, and that’s when I saw it. As Susan leaned forward, a delicate silver chain slipped out from behind her blouse. Hanging from it was a small, silver key. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the symbol etched onto the key. It was a triangle with three circles inside, the same one carved into the chest in the hidden room. I could hardly believe it. That key… it had to be the one I needed to unlock the chest.
I quickly looked away. My mind was racing. Susan kept the key close, hidden around her neck, but how could I get my hands on it? I couldn’t simply ask for it; I needed a plan, a way to get close without raising suspicion. My heart hammered in my chest as I tried to think of a way to get it.
“Leah? Are you all right?” Tariq’s voice cut into my thoughts. He was watching me closely, his gaze sharp and curious.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said quickly. I reached for my glass and took a sip to hide my nerves. “Just thinking about tomorrow, I guess.”
Tariq smiled. He was tapping his fingers lightly on the table. “Good. I want you to feel like a queen on our wedding day.” He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. His gaze was intense, almost possessive.
I managed a smile in return, but the word “queen” felt like a bitter irony. I had once believed I would wear that title proudly, that I would stand beside Tariq as his equal. Now, I felt like little more than a pawn in his plans.
Dinner passed in a tense blur. I could barely focus. My mind was constantly drifting back to the key around Susan’s neck and the secrets it might hold. I would need to be careful, to play my part perfectly. One misstep, one hint of my intentions, and everything could fall apart.
When dinner finally ended, I excused myself. I claimed that I was exhausted. Tariq leaned in to kiss my cheek. His hand lingered possessively on my shoulder. I forced myself to smile and play along, to pretend to be the devoted bride even as my skin crawled under his touch.
Up in the room, I paced back and forth, my thoughts swirling. I knew I couldn’t simply take the key tomorrow during our shopping trip; it would be too obvious. But I couldn’t wait too long either. I needed to act before the wedding, before Tariq’s plans fully took shape.
As I changed for bed, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My reflection looked back at me, eyes wide and filled with a fear I couldn’t deny. But beneath the fear, there was something else, a spark of determination. I had been pulled into Tariq’s world, led along by his lies, but I wasn’t willing to go down without a fight.
I had to find a way to get that key from Susan. I would open the chest, uncover the truth, and find a way to put an end to Tariq’s plans. I couldn’t let myself be trapped.
As I lay down, I forced myself to breathe deeply and keep my mind calm. Tomorrow would be the first step. I would play my role, keep up the charade, and wait for my chance. The key was close, just within my reach, and I would get it no matter what it took.