Time Skipped Luna

THE HUSBAND SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER

ALMIRA

The blinding light swallowed everything around me until I couldn't do anything but close my eyes and threw my hands over my face.

I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter until the atmosphere seemed to have changed.

Panic hammered in my chest. What is happening? Was I caught? What is that blinding light?

The questions raced through my mind, but no answers came. Instead, I heard myself gasp, breath hitching as I felt something odd yet pleasant feeling beneath me.

The air seemed different, too. It no longer smelled of damp earth but instead smelled of fresh linen mixed with a heavy scent that wasn't unpleasant but I couldn't tell what it was.

“Ah...” I let out another gasp, feeling the foreign sensation once again.

Something wet.. and moving.

What?

I jolted as I opened my eyes. Where... Where am I?

"What's wrong?"

A voice spoke way closer than I expected that I almost jumped from where I was. My vision refused to focus for a second but I forced it anyway.

Finally, I saw a familiar enormous bedroom I only get to enter when I have to clean it. Things looked different than the last time I cleaned it, but I'm sure where it was.

Terror quickly hit me. What am I doing in Aquil's room?!

“Almira, are you okay? Did I overwhelm you? Should we take a break?"

My gaze slowly lowered and saw Aquil right between my legs, looking at me with slight confusion and worry.

He wiped his lips, still waiting for me to respond. He was definitely Aquil, but something was different about him. His hair was a mess, his features looked sharper. Even his shoulders looked broader, and there was maturity in his eyes I couldn't place.

He looked... older?

Before I could process that impossible thought, another realization hit me like meteor.

He wasn't wearing a shirt.

No. He wasn't wearing anything at all! I looked further down and regretted I did.

“Ahhhh!” I screamed as I jerked away from him until I was at the edge of the bed.

Only then did I realize, I wasn't wearing anything either.

I screamed once again, scrambling to cover myself with the blankets I managed to grab with trembling hands and pulled it tightly around myself.

"What... What did you do to me?!” I exclaimed, facing away in both embarrassment and fear.

My mind desperately tried to find answers on how I ended up in this situation but all I get is pure nothing!

"Almira, what do you mean?”

My forehead crumpled. His voice, why did he sound so concerned?

The last thing I remembered was running, thrilled at the thought of freedom. But the moment I crossed the territory's boundary, there was a blinding light.

And then... Nothing.

I continued backing away, forgetting that I was already at the edge of the bed.

My eyes widened as my body tipped backward.

A startled squeal escaped me, closing my eyes and expecting a painful fall. Instead, I felt strong arms caught me before I could fall. One arm wrapped around my waist while the other on my back, effortlessly pulling me back onto his arms.

My eyes widened once again, feeling something hard poking om my skin.

The sudden closeness sent me spiraling. I forgot all courtesy and shoved him away with all the strength I could muster.

I slightly expected that he will resist, but Aquil immediately released me.

"What is the matter, Almira?" he asked again, genuine worry filling his voice. "Did I really hurt you earlier? I'm sorry. Please, just talk to me."

I stared at him in disbelief. Concern filled every speck of his face, almost like he was genuinely distressed seeing me frightened of him when he's usually enjoying that look in my face.

What bugs me the most is that he was apologizing to me.

That couldn't be right. This was Alpha Aquil. The same man who had looked at me lying in dirty mop water earlier and called me disgusting. He was the same man who had reminded me over and over that I was nothing more than a traitor's daughter.

The same man I had spent ten years fearing and hating to the same degree.

Tears blurred my vision, already overwhelmed with everything that was happening. I clutched the blanket tighter around myself and searched the room.

My clothes. I need to find my clothes.

I pulled the blanket off the bed, trying my best not to trip as I try to locate any woman's clothing lying on the floor.

Aquil also got up from the bed but didn't approach. Instead, he slowly picked up a pair of trousers from the floor and dressed his lower half.

I quickly looked away and continued searching for my clothes.

“You're struggling. I'll get clothes for you-” he tried to approach, but I quickly backed away as I cut him off.

“No!”

He immediately froze in his spot. That would have been enough, but I could no longer held it in.

"Don't you dare touch me! I've had enough. I endured everything.” my voice came out hoarse, but I no longer care. “I endured all of your insults, everyone hurting me... everyone accusing my parents of treason when there wasn't even enough evidence!"

Fresh tears streamed down my cheeks.

"But this..." I sobbed, “This is too much."

He looked taken aback with my words and I couldn't help but take offense. How could he act so surprised? After all these years of doing nothing but torture me.

"I'll turn around." He suddenly said, and faced away from me, “Dress up. I won't look, I promise.”

I took his words with a grain of salt, but hurried to put on the clothes I managed to gather.

The nightgown I got was finer than anything I had ever owned. It didn't make any sense, but it fit me perfectly. I struggled to put it on while desperately holding the blanket around myself.

Aquil remained facing the wall.

"Almira,” He called again, “I really don't understand why you're reacting like that. I thought... we were already over it.”

I ignored his words. The moment I looked decent enough, I ran towards the bedroom door and rushed into the hallway without looking back.

My heart pounded hard in my chest while I desperately look around.

I was in the same pack house, but it felt different at the same time. The walls looked a bit older, but still sturdy. The decorations have also changed. Even the paintings hanging on the wall were all different.

My breathing became even more frantic as I ran, intending to exit the place.

“Luna?"

I halted after hearing a familiar voice. I turned around and saw three omegas looking at me with confusion.

They were the same people who laughed at me while the head maid scolded me earlier.

Kate hurried forward, worry filling her face.

"Luna, is there something wrong?" She asked.

I turned around, somehow expecting to see someone behind me but there was no one.

"What?" was all I could ask as I turned back to her.

Luna? But this pack doesn't have a Luna. Aquil's mother died three years ago.

I found myself shaking my head frantically.

"I-I don't know what you mean." I muttered and backed away.

They all looked at me with bewildered expressions, but I already turned away and sprinted once again. The hallways almost blurred together with tears filling my eyes.

I knew these corridors. I had clean every nook and cranny of of this place for years.

So, how come everything seemed the same yet so different at the same time?

I managed to reach the exit of the west wing, bursting out of the place and almost stumbled outside.

The cold air touched my skin. I expected a crowd outside. It was the full moon, after all.

Instead, I saw an empty vast land welcome me. I looked around and instinctively looked up, only to see the supposed full moon now a crescent moon.

"What is happening?" I asked myself for the nth time.

"Luna Almira?"

I spun around, not because I heard my name but because of the familiar kind voice.

“Seb..." I called, seeing him standing in a distance.

Relief hit me in waves. Finally, someone I trust. He'll understand. He'll tell me what's happening.

I hurried toward him.

"Seb!" I exclaimed and fought the urge to embrace him and bawl.

His expression immediately changed from worry to confusion.

"I haven't heard you call me that in years..." He murmured.

“Years?” I repeated, already about to lose my wits. “Wha-what are you all talking about? We were just talking earlier. You checked up on me because I ran away from you during the morning-” I cut myself off, realizing he doesn't have any idea what I was talking about.

My knees gave out and I ended up on my knees, losing strength from pure confusion and disbelief.

Why is everything different? How come everyone is addressing me as the pack Luna? Why is Sebastian talking as if we were strangers?

“Luna,” Sebastian called me again by that title.

He approached me and crouched, lifting me gently into his arms.

The gesture could have flustered me. Instead, I could only stare at him numbly, completely lost at what was happening.

"Let's get you back inside,” he muttered, "I'll call for the pack doctor. I also need to call Alpha Aquil.”

My eyes widened with his remark. I shook my head, about to protest but a cold voice beat me into it.

"Give me back my wife."

My whole body went cold. Alpha Aquil appeared from a distance, golden eyes gleaming and fixated on us.

Not with the casual disdain I remembered... but with possessiveness I have never seen before.

Wife.

The single word echoed in my mind, everything that happened since I gained consciousness all came back to me.

Waking up in Aquil's bed and everyone calling me their Luna.

I shook my head.

This had to be a nightmare. It had to be.