The Luna's Harem

Chapter 34: Is This A Good Book?

"My head is throbbing."

Lynsandra cupped her cheek with one hand, staring at the book she was supposed to be reading. However, her head throbbed too much for her to process anything.

She had already dealt with practically everyone in the harem, and none of them had given her an answer. Well, there was one she hadn’t talked to: Julian.

"It’s not him," she whispered. "Otherwise, I would’ve been attending his funeral."

Virgo had told her that he had crossed paths with Julian earlier that morning, which cleared him of any suspicion.

If Lynsandra were any normal she-wolf, she would’ve been dead by the third full moon cycle since this curse began. She understood what to expect, and what could have happened to this mystery mate. But the more she thought about it, the more disappointed she felt.

No one seemed hurt, maybe because of their regeneration. But it shouldn’t be that simple.

"Was I... hallucinating?" she wondered. "At the peak of pain and exhaustion, did I start seeing things?"

Perhaps she had even started feeling things.

Her lips curved downward, her face twisting slightly as irritation settled in. If it were a hallucination, then how had she ended up in her bedroom? She couldn’t have cleaned herself. And what about the edelweiss?

This level of recovery wouldn’t have been possible if it were merely a hallucination. freewёbnoνel.com

Or was it someone else, and not someone from the harem?

Then again, she couldn’t think of anyone who could have entered the premises without being caught. There were no signs of forced entry or any trace of an outsider crossing the Luna’s grounds.

Lynsandra exhaled deeply, clicking her tongue. "If the reason for not marking me is that he wants me to keep thinking about him, then he definitely succeeded."

However, if she ever found out who it was, she would slam him six feet under for making her play detective. This mystery didn’t amuse her in the slightest.

"Heh." She snickered darkly, imagining a hundred demonic ways to exact her revenge.

At the same time, she paused as she sensed a presence in the library.

Slowly, she shifted her gaze, her eyes landing on Gareth.

"..."

Gareth stood some distance away, his complexion pale, eyes wide as if he had seen a ghost. He clutched two books from the "Bad Endings" section, which—at least to her—explained the traumatized look on his face.

What she didn’t know was that Gareth had frozen the moment he saw her smiling so diabolically, an invisible fire blazing around her figure. To him, she looked like a demon incarnate, and it made him wonder if that was because she was thinking of countless sadistic ways to torment him.

Please... I’m not here.

He gulped nervously, holding his breath as though standing perfectly still would make her not notice him.

Much to his relief, Lynsandra simply looked away and returned her attention to the book in front of her.

He blinked, staring at her as if she hadn’t been smirking evilly just moments ago. Instead, she was back to her usual detached, distant demeanor.

"..." Gareth pursed his lips, studying her before carefully sidestepping away. When she didn’t react, he quickly dragged himself toward the Bad Endings section to return the books he had taken.

He finally found the happy-ending novels—much healthier for his heart. As he slid one of the books back onto the shelf, he couldn’t help stretching his neck to peek at the table where Lynsandra sat.

She hasn’t moved an inch, he thought. She said she wouldn’t spoil me anymore, right?

He gulped and shook his head, careful not to make a sound. If the big bad wolf was being quiet, he had learned not to disturb it.

Gareth tiptoed with exaggerated care, returning the remaining novels he wouldn’t dare read for the next ten lifetimes. Then he carefully made his way to the far end of the library, where its true treasure was hidden.

The moment he stood before the shelf, his eyes squinted into crescents as his face lit up.

My safe haven.

His peace, however, was short-lived when he remembered who else was in the library.

Gareth snapped out of his thoughts and glanced left and right nervously before tiptoeing to the end of the shelf, confirming that Lynsandra was still seated.

Satisfied, he quickly turned his attention back to the shelf and picked a book he could enjoy. Once done, he hugged it as if it were a priceless treasure—one that would inspire anyone to rob him in broad daylight.

He was about to leave.

Actually... he should have left.

But as he tiptoed toward the exit, his steps faltered and his head turned toward Lynsandra.

She still sat the same way—her hand cupping her cheek, eyes fixed on the book—yet her gaze was distant, as if lost in deep thought.

Now that I think about it...

His thoughts drifted back to the first time he had seen her at the New Year’s Ball, seated beside the Alpha King. Then the first dinner they shared. Then this very library.

In all those encounters—including every time she spoiled him—the look in her eyes was always the same. Not empty, but detached.

Even now, she felt distant and... lonely.

Someone could be in the same room as her and still feel she was out of reach.

Perhaps that was why Gareth foolishly took a step toward her, only to gasp when he realized he was just a few steps away.

Lynsandra’s ear twitched before she turned toward him. Her right brow arched slightly as her head tilted, studying the pale look on his face as though she were a fear he had yet to overcome.

His lips opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Before she could speak, he forced out his voice in a near-scream.

"Luna!"

Gareth’s breath hitched as his voice echoed through the library, his entire body trembling from having raised his voice at her. Seeing her unfazed expression, he clumsily lifted the book he was hugging and blurted out,

"Is this a good book?!"