The Cursed Luna

Chapter One I was sitting inside the ballroom, surrounded by walls made of grey and black bricks. Hundreds of candles burned from the wall holders, while tall golden stands filled the corners of the enormous hall. The ballroom was gigantic, and there were lots of people assembled inside. My chest tightened because of the heavy corset that was pinned tightly from my stomach down to my waist. I could barely breathe comfortably. I looked up and noticed the huge chandelier hanging in the middle of the hall. It was made of iron and covered with candles that gave the entire room a warm glow. Today was my eighteenth birthday. My father was the Alpha of the kingdom of Ravencroft, King Magnus. He was a man everyone feared. His name and position alone were enough to make people lower their heads whenever he walked past them. He had crimson-red eyes paired with a sharp, defined nose. He was six-foot-four with fair skin, and he sat magnificently on his throne made of gold and iron. Everyone looked happy to be there. But somehow, I felt like an outcast at my own birthday. I had been fully glammed by several maids in the mansion, and they had made me look pretty, almost like a doll. My blue eyes, which I had inherited from my mother Seraphina, looked beautiful under the soft candlelight. I touched my dress nervously as I looked around the ballroom. Then my eyes landed on my best friend, Sarah. She was standing across the hall. Sarah and I had been friends for years, but things had changed after she found out that I would be the mate of Xavier, the prince of the kingdom of Ashenmoor. She thought I had betrayed her. Her father was also one of the most powerful lords in the palace, which made everything even more complicated. There were lots of delicacies arranged on the tables, all covered with thin white cloth. Everyone looked their best for my birthday. The room was filled with expensive dresses, suits, jewelry, and the sound of people talking among themselves. But I could barely enjoy any of it. My father had been asking me for a while if I had already started seeing the signs of my wolf. I had lied to him. I had told him that everything was fine. The truth was that I had never been able to feel my wolf properly. And I was terrified that everyone would find out. I sat quietly, trying to pretend that I wasn't uncomfortable at all. Then my name was called. “Princess Selena.” I froze. It was Lord Cedric. “It’s time,” he announced. My heart began beating faster. I knew exactly what this meant. I was supposed to come to the front of the ballroom and display my power and strength. This was what I had been avoiding my whole life. I slowly stood from my seat, my hands trembling. All eyes immediately turned toward me. I could hear whispers spreading through the hall. Then I heard Xavier scoff. He didn't even bother to hide his amusement. My father smirked proudly as he watched me walk toward the front. He expected me to make me proud. I took a deep breath. My mother came toward me and held my hands. “You can do it,” she whispered reassuringly. I looked into her eyes and tried to believe her. I stepped forward. Everyone was watching. I closed my eyes and tried to summon my wolf. Nothing happened. I tried again. Still nothing. My heart dropped. A few people began whispering. Then someone laughed. Another person joined in. My face burned with embarrassment. I tried one more time, but I couldn't wolf out. I stood there helplessly while everyone in the ballroom stared at me. Some people were making mockery of me. Others looked at me with pity. I could feel my entire body shaking. Then, amidst the crowd, Xavier stood up. He was six-foot-one, with broad shoulders and hazel eyes that seemed to shine beneath the candlelight. His hard jaw was clenched as he looked at me. Then he spoke angrily. “I can never be with an Omega as weak as you. You are too weak to be my Luna.” The ballroom suddenly became silent. Several gasps went through the hall. My stomach turned. I could barely breathe. My eyes stung with tears as I stared at him. My whole world shattered after hearing those words. The person I was supposed to be with had just humiliated me in front of everyone. My father seemed to make everything even harder. Instead of defending me, he took Xavier's side. People inside the ballroom started mocking me loudly. Some giggled while others whispered behind their hands. Some looked at me with pity. I couldn't take it anymore. I stormed out of the ballroom. I ran all the way to my room, ignoring everyone around me. The moment I entered, I dived onto my king-sized bed and buried my face in my pillows. I cried. I cried until my chest hurt. I cried until my head began to spin. A few minutes later, my mother came into the room. She looked worried, and the expression on her face showed that she already knew how much I was hurting. The moment I saw her, I wrapped my arms around her body. She comforted me for a while, gently rubbing my back. “You'll be okay,” she whispered. I wanted to believe her. Then my father stormed into the room. King Magnus. His face was filled with anger. “What a disgrace you are!” he shouted. I flinched. “How dare you lie to me? You made me lose face in front of hundreds of people! You made me a laughing stock today, despite the reputation I have built for this family.” My mother tried to talk him down, but she knew better than to involve herself too much. My father didn't seem to care about feelings or anything else. All he cared about was his reputation. Then I heard him say something that hurt even more. “Maybe if I had a son, it would have been better.” My heart sank. I couldn't believe he had said that. My father turned around and walked out angrily. My mother followed him, trying to warn him about what he had said. I remained sitting on my bed. I couldn't cry anymore. I just sat there silently. Then, suddenly, I laughed. I laughed as though everything was fine. As though none of it mattered. As though my heart hadn't just been shattered into pieces. My eyes landed on something beside me. A small silver knife. It had been given to me as a gift from Xavier some months ago. I reached for it. My fingers wrapped around the handle as I slowly unsheathed it. I stared at the sharp blade. For a moment, everything around me became quiet. I raised the knife, but before I could do anything, my hand suddenly turned strangely. A sharp force knocked the knife out of my hand. It fell onto the floor. I stared at it in confusion. Then I reached for it again. My fingers had barely touched the handle when something inside me stopped me. I froze. A strange feeling spread through my body. Then I heard a voice. It came from deep inside me. A voice I had never heard before. A voice that sounded like it had been waiting for me all along. Then the voice said. “Little wolf, you are not weak. You are cursed”.