Don’t Flatter Yourself, I Won’t Haunt You After Prison Release Chapter 02

Don’t Flatter Yourself, I Won’t Haunt You After Prison Release Chapter 02

His eyes looked red, but I might’ve imagined it.

Three years in the punishment dungeons had ruined my eyesight.

“Car’s in okay shape,” I said, standing up and wiping sweat from my forehead. “Brake pads are worn. I don’t have OEM parts here—you’ll need the pack center.”

I set a shop card from the pack center on the window. Then I dug into my pizza, loaded with pepperoni, cheese, and parsley garlic.

Old Black made the best pizza.

I took a big bite. I wished I had a Coke, but delivery cost too much.

Amarok sat on the stool, staring at me staring blankly at me with no intention of leaving.

I frowned in confusion. After a moment’s thought, I pushed the terrible free chicken nuggets toward him.

“Hungry? Try these—one bite and you won’t want anything else.” I laughed at my own joke.

Amarok’s gaze flicked to the grease under my nails, then to the burnt nuggets.

When he spoke again, his voice was rough. “That stuff’s unhealthy. You used to eat fresh meat and veggies.”

He remembered me as picky, loving fresh steak and salad.

I’d throw up if salad greens were even slightly old. My senses used to be sharp, like a princess.

I smiled.

“No good food in the dungeon. I work twelve hours a day—I don’t get to pick. Pizza’s cheap and filling… Wait, Old Black gave me free ketchup!”

I tucked the packet into a box full of free condiments. They’d help when money was tight.

Amarok stood suddenly, speaking with a heavy nasal tone.

“Enough!”

His alpha pheromones flooded the shop. I heard Korbin next door let out a frightened yelp, and he seemed to fell. I froze in shock as well.

Amarok tossed me a black card. “This is my secondary card. Take it.”

He stood too fast, hitting the stool and nearly knocking over my pizza. I grabbed the box just in time.

“Amarok,” I sighed. “I offered you food because we know each other. If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it alone.”

“Velvela!” Amarok snarled.

“I’m serious! This links to my platinum card—five million dollar limit. Buy whatever you want. Open a flower shop, café, bakery. Quit this dirty job!”

“You were the moonlight lead dancer, everyone’s favorite. Don’t you remember?”

His shout dragged me back into memories.

I was the alpha’s daughter of Wilderun Pack. My wolf fur was silver and shiny in the moonlight.

When I was seven, Mom got pregnant with twins.

That day, we had a pup gender reveal party. I was overjoyed to see golden balloons float out of the gift box. Gold balloons meant two little sisters.

Then Dad cheated. He fell for a rogue. He forced the council to change laws to let her join, no matter her past crimes.

The rogue told Mom she was the real future Luna.

My mother was furious. She quickly argued with rogue. They fought with each other. I watched the rogue’s long red wolf claws wrap around Mom’s throat and shove her down the stairs.

I’d never forget the blood on the floor or Mom’s empty blue eyes.

After that, Dad locked me in a silver cage for a full day to make me lie to the council. Weak and worn out, I finally changed my testimony to set the rogue free.

She became a pack member and Dad’s new Luna.

She brought her daughter—my stepsister, Thalyn.

From then on, my nightmare began.

Thalyn bullied me all through school. No one believed me.

I fled to the north and studied hard. I became the lead moonlight dancer at the festival admired by all.

When Amarok saw me at the festival, his wolf growled, “Mate.”

He chased me, cared for me when I hurt, comforted me when I was sad.

One night, my power flared with the full moon. I burned, shifted, and my muscles tore.

Braving all danger, Amarok rushed in and shifted too. He let me bite him and used his pheromones to calm me down.

I collapsed in his arms and whispered that word, “Mate.”

Our eyes met. I could feel my soul shake. I believe we were fated mates.

Later one day, we wandered through the woods when two rogues attacked with weapons.

They tried to rob us. Amarok jumped in to protect me.

I was terrified, I feared he might get hurt, and without hesitation, I rushed to help him.

I rushed forward in a fluster, a poisoned silver dagger stabbed through my chest. I fell to the ground. My wolf howled in pain… and fell into eternal sleep.

I lost my wolf. I could never dance the moonlight dance again or feel the Moon Goddess’s blessing.

But I never regretted it.

Amarok was my fated mate. With him, I could face anything.

I could dance a hundred times, but there was only one Amarok.

I held his hand in the hospital and told him that. He cried and held me tight.

“Velvela, come back to Nightshade Pack with me. I’ll be alpha, and you’ll be my Luna. I’ll protect you, love you, give you everything. I’ll support whatever you do!”

Touched by his promises, I returned to Nightshade Pack with him. Just as I looked forward to our future life, Wilderun Pack proposed an alliance and sent envoys over for a visit. Thalyn was among those diplomatic representatives.

She saw me and smiled at me like nothing had happened.

Then she looked at Amarok, even sweeter. My heart raced.