On my arrival home, I was met with deafening silence, just the atmosphere I wanted to come home to. I needed room to think about what happened at the pack house. Everything was spinning fast out of my grip and I was only given the option of tears.
Maybe it was true what they thought of me. Maybe I was really the weak one, incapable of leading alongside the alpha. The previous Luna before her passing was a firm and rigid wolf who, although not cruel, was wise to the last letter of the word.Here I was, feeling humiliated and quite the opposite. How the hell did I think I was going to be Luna to Rylan? I looked feeble and breakable, very easy on the eyes with brown hair that mirrored the natural hues of my irises."What were you thinking, Neilla? That you could be Luna?" I muttered out loud, slapping a hand on my forehead. I sighed, folding the dress Mana borrowed me back in her drawer and retiring to my room. I threw on a much more plain gown made with cotton, it was the oldest dress I had and couldn't discard. Somehow, it brought me the comfort I sought.I tossed and turned on my bed, mulling over my actions and wondering if I was too harsh with Rylan, wondering if what he said was a test of my capabilities as a soon-to-be Luna and if I'd failed. Different thoughts sought refuge in my head and I welcomed them all.Before I realized it, I was lulled into a numbing sleep where I fell into a nightmare. In that nightmare, I was going to be crowned Luna but as soon as the crown was raised above my head, I found myself watching another get crowned in my stead. Rylan kissed the stranger's fingers and they held hands ever so sweetly. Her eyes glowed a sickly red color and her skin a ghastly white.Together, they banished me from the pack lands with a powerful gust of wind whooshing out of their outstretched fingers. I woke with a start.I brushed a hand over my face, realizing that a sheen of fine sweat had gathered on my forehead and neck. As I repositioned my body for another round of sleep, a sound like a low moan filtered into my ears. My eyes jerked open and I sat still, fully at alert.The sound came again and I tossed away the covers, cautiously tracing the it. It led me down the short hallway and right in front of Mana Sylveon's bedroom. I quickly turned away, her warning baring like an alarm in my brain.'Never interrupt my sleep or walk into my room in the middle of the night despite whatever happens. If I don't call you in, you ignore and continue on your way.'It was quite an odd instruction, however, I had to obey her. She was the only one kind enough to adopt me since my parents threw me away to rot. Anything she said was final. I turned back to walk into my room but the moanings grew persistent. I concluded it couldn't be one of pleasure since there was no sight of her lover staying over like other nights. She sounded like she was in pain.Once more, my feet stopped in front of her door to reaffirm if she was in safe hands. Curiosity gnawed at my chest, trembling fingers touched the doorknob to turn and push. The door gave way without resistance -she hadn't bolted it- and I walked in, carefully treading the floorboards to avoid creaking sounds.There she laid in the middle of the bed, writhing in her sleep with her facial features contorted in pain. She was fighting something I couldn't see. Something like an invisible force, I realized. One of her foot shot out from under the covers and I jumped out of the way in fright, my hands covering my mouth to prevent sounds from betraying me.She quietened in a little while, her face relaxing peacefully as she slept. Filled with wonder, I approached the bed cautiously, staring at her face.She was glowing. Mana Sylveon was glowing and I had no clue what the cause was. I had no experience on what it meant.My fingers, of their own volition, hovered in front of her face against my better judgement, itching to feel, itching to discover what her face glow meant. I was beyond intrigued, all traces of sleep snatched from my eyes.I didn't see it coming. The next thing I felt was a burning sensation on my other wrist. It happened as quick as lightning as I had no time to duck out of the way. She held one of my wrist in a painful grip, strong enough to break my bones if I wasn't a wolf. My lips were pressed together, a determined effort not to make a sound while my other fingers, in a desperate reflex action, fought to pry her off me.In her gentle subtle ways, I never imagined her to be in possession of such degree of strength. I watched in terror as the glow spread to her neck, down her arms, creeping into my skin. No matter how much I pulled, my hand seemed to be permanently stuck and the only possible solution available was if my hand was forcefully torn out of my shoulder.The glow was fast spreading like a contagious virus, spreading up to my neck and my lower chin. I was terrified for my life. I should've ignored the sounds coming from her and tuned out her voice.'That's what happens to half-baked Lunas', A voice in my head taunted.She mumbled words that blew past my ear like a strangled whisper, setting my insides in an unending churn. She murmured the same words again and again, over and over with increasing speed, like a chant. Her body slowly levitated off the bed and my skin matched hers, bathed in the same glow.My skin felt as though it was set ablaze as I still struggled to be cut from whatever cord that bound us both. Her eyes opened and in them were the purest of whites, not a shadow of her irises in them. She rotated her head in my direction, her hot white gaze burning into me as she opened her lips."Neilla."It was nothing more than a low murmur but my whole being came alive from the electrocution that zapped through my skin. I was burning up, my skin searing with pain at the flames that licked me, flames invisible to my eyes. Still, her iron grip didn't lessen.I ground my teeth in agony, my muscles contracting as the pain spread on my skin."Neilla." She whispered again and my body grew numb. I dropped to the ground with a thud as she finally let go. The last thing I captured was Mana Sylveon transformed into a more beautiful woman with light around her. I laid on the floor almost lifeless as the flames consumed me once more.RYLAN'S POVI slowly stirred awake, the sunlight from the window warming my face and disrupting my rest. I didn't want to leave my bed as it was the first time in a while since I had time to recuperate from the countless council and ministerial meetings we'd been having overtime. I needed a break from all of that.I turned away from the light, trying to get back sleep but it felt like an effort wasted. I blamed my body for it. The moment I opened my eyes meant I would stay awake no matter how much I tried to pretend to be asleep in order to fall asleep.The door opened as a string of four servants ushered themselves in. They came in bearing neatly folded clothes, shoes and other things I didn't want to look at. As future ruler, they never failed to drum into my ears the essence of looking the part. The refused me wearing plain shirts and pants, opting instead for intricately designed clothings. Neilla would always wonder the need of wearing such expensive fits when they'd be ripped in
NEILLA'S POVI stared at him, the intensity of my gaze boring holes into his back as he followed closely behind Venn, the strange woman with eyes capable of digging into the soul of anyone she had in her grip. It infuriated me the more that there was no protest coming from him at the position of her hands on his body. Soon they arrived the altar. I cast another furtive glance at the processions in the center of the crowd of werewolves who'd gathered to watch in silent anticipation. The Oracle continued the ritual rounds around the couple, the lone chime of the bell in his grasp resounding in slow succession.The first chime seemed to increase the pace of my troubled heart. It rose ever so slowly and by the seventh time the chime sounded, echoing throughout the deafening silence, my poor heart slammed ceaselessly against my ribcage. Even though I had renounced Rylan as my mate, he hadn't accepted not rejected it.He said nothing in response even when the rejection had sawed through h
RYLAN'S POVThe long process was rounding to a close sooner than anticipated. I couldn't wait to get out of the view of everyone else and lock myself in my study, reveling in the pain I'd caused my mate.I betrayed her. Openly humiliated her before the eyes of the kingdom, even though I didn't attempt that actively, I passively brought her name to mud with my actions. I'd branded her a shameful name.My thoughts were interrupted with shouts of "All hail the King and Queen. All Hail the King and Queen" filling the air suddenly. The procession was finally over."Zadik. Come with me to my office. Now." I mindlinked to my most trusted aide. He was my Beta and the only person I could trust with my life. Even though he wasn't so pleased when he found out about Venn, he swallowed his disapproval, placing rational thoughts forward rather than emotions.He'd fought bravely by my side during the unfortunate events that took my mother's life. Despite her bold front as she took the enemy head on
RYLAN'S POV Soon after they'd discarded the dead body, we got into the zone of business. I stepped briefly into the bathroom to wash my bloody hand. Under the water gushing from the tap, I watched the water turn red as they flowed down to my fingers and through the drain in the basin. Soon, I was done. I reentered the office again, to meet the presence of older wolves.Zadik then proceeded to notify me of the arrival of a few notable personalities sent by Commander Vladimir, who was the Alpha of the Bloodtrail pack."Bloodtrail pack?" I echoed after him, surprised at such peculiar name. Never heard of them. "Is it a new pack that just got birthed or have they been existing for ages?""Your majesty, I would have you know that while you were making plans to make Venn your... Luna," I could tell how he fought the urge to whack me upside the head with the laptop in his grip. "I'd been making my own findings and turned out they've been around for plenty centuries. Just not into public exp
NEILLA'S POVThe following morning breezed in with the skyline illuminated by the rising sun which infiltrated through the sheer curtains that hung on the window facing my bed. My eyelids were heavy, swollen from the bitter years I'd cried from the previous night.Throwing the blanket over my tired form, I turned away from the light, feeling very reluctant to rise up to start the day. Matteo had taken me home, breaking the law for my sake in order not to have me witness the rites coming to an end.There came a knock on the door. I flinched at first, then burrowed further into the bed as shame washed over me again.The knock came once more and I turned deaf ears to it. Soon, it grew insistent, the short raps turning into loud bangs against the wooden door."I know you're in there right now, Neilla. Pretend all you want, it won't change the fact that what happened yesterday was in fact a reality. Fucking get over it bitch."I sprung up from the bed in shock. That was Mirald, Matteo's gi
NEILLA'S POVThis is not good, I thought, dashing straight into the bathroom to throw up whatever I had left in my stomach. Mirald followed closely behind me, holding up my hair as I retched nothing but bile into the washing hand basin.When nothing more climbed up my throat, I sank back down on the cold tiles, leaning my back against the wall for strength. It felt like life was drained out of me at that moment. An invasion could be happening in the next room at that point, and I wouldn't even have the strength to bat an eyelid. I was that drained."What's up? Spill." I managed to look up at Mirald with a confused expression. "What do you mean spill?"She dropped down to her knees next to me. "I know you're pregnant, baby girl. Even if you choose to hide it from me. I'm a special wolf, dog. Don't miss out that important fun fact."Pregnant? How?I'm sure my face mirrored my inner turmoil as I turned to look at her slowly. I couldn't be pregnant. "I'm not pregnant. I really am not. W
NEILLA'S POVI arrived at the orphanage feeling in a worse mood than I'd been, feeling betrayed and played for a fool. Ever since my wolf relayed the truth to me, nothing felt the same anymore. I refused to speak nor listen to her, blocking our communication line and ignoring Mirald all through our run on the way here. I was being a petty wolf but I needed somewhere to channel all of my anger. She didn't deserve to receive the cold shoulder for mistakes which my wolf made. If only she opened up early enough on being pregnant. Now I needed to think sanely without the urge to kill somebody getting in the way. "You good?" A cool voice brought me back from my reverie. Why on earth was I always zoning out?"Yes, I am. Thanks, Stella." I mustered up a pathetic excuse for a smile but even a blind person could tell through my façade. "You look extremely pale and very unlike your usual self." She commented again, placing it upon herself once more to lay a hand on my forehead to feel me up
RYLAN'S POVIt's been three days, three fucking days since we signed the treaty with the Bloodtrail pack. I've had no time to rest for three hours straight. Shuffling between meetings and whatnot, attempting to ease the increasing tension amongst the families around the borderlands. A lot of them were relocating while most had settled in the town's central for the time being. If that wasn't enough trouble for the first inhabitants, they now had to squabble for space, food amongst other things and I'd be a pathetic liar if I said I had this under wraps.I didn't. Hell, I couldn't even wrap me a present if I was handed a bow and some tape, talk more of the situation at hand.How did my father cope? I wondered as I kneaded my temple with both fingers, wincing at the gradual crescendo of the council's voice. Here they were again, arguing shamelessly and ignorant to the fact that their voices could be heard from miles away. Every now and then when we thought we'd dealt with an issue at h