Time Skipped Luna

FIVE YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

ALMIRA

"The Luna seemed to have lost five years worth of her memories."

The pack doctor's conclusion was on loop in my mind even after several hours it occured.

I glanced at the window. It's already morning but I haven't had a blink of sleep. I doubt I could after all of that.

Five whole years.

I stared blankly at my reflection from the vanity mirror, unable to look away from the unfamiliar woman in the mirror.

She looked like me; the same dark hair, only neater and shorter. The same eyes and face.

And yet...

She wasn't the twenty-year-old Almira who had dreamed of escaping this hellhole. The woman staring back at me looked a bit older.

My cheeks had become slightly more defined, I looked healthier, and there was a quiet maturity in my eyes and even my posture looked different.

I slowly reached up and touched my own face, watching myself in the mirror, still in disbelief.

If this was real and not some kind of nightmare that felt too long then that mysterious light somehow brought me five years into the future.

The doctor had spent nearly an hour questioning me after my last night's outburst. The same doctor who would scold me if I get sick, not out of care but because he genuinely hated me.

This time, he respectfully asked me whatever he could. My name, age and other basic personal information. Then he moved to my role in the pack, and what was the last thing I remember doing.

I answered everything honestly, except for the part where I attempted to escape the pack. I don't trust any of them, certainly not Aquil.

After conversation with other pack doctors and healers, all of them could not produce a decent answer to my sudden “amnesia.” They couldn't tell when my memories would return, either.

I embraced myself, suddenly feeling cold despite the sunlight already filtering through the curtains of the room.

This couldn't be my future.

How could I possibly become the Luna of the very pack that had made my life a living nightmare? And most importantly, how could I marry the man I hated more than anyone else?

How could I... love him?

My fingers drifted toward my neck.

Unfortunately, this bonding mark says the opposite. It was different to a mate mark, as we weren't fated mates but a bonding mark is a whole different thing.

The bonding mark indicates forfeiting of your predetermined mate and having your chosen mate instead. The same mark lies on Aquil's neck which I realized late.

It was undeniable proof that I had accepted Aquil as my mate and we chose each other for good.

I bit my lip, feeling horrified at the mere thought. I'd rather spend my entire life alone than willingly bind myself to him.

My eyes squeezed shut.

Then why do I have this mark? How did I start from wanting to desperately leave this place to marrying the man I hated the most?!

I sighed in defeat while my thoughts drifted towards Sebastian.

"Seb became a Beta..."

A small smile formed onto my lips. He deserved it. It might might be the only good thing I learned from all of this.

Out of everyone in the pack, Sebastian deserved the honor. He had always been hardworking, patient and reliable. If anyone was worthy of becoming a pack Beta, that would be him.

The smile in my face faded when I remembered how he reacted towards me.

He no longer looked at me the way he used to, not out of dislike but because of my current status.

He looked at me as his Luna, as his Alpha's wife, and no longer as a friend.

I never confessed that night and I'm regretting that I didn't. Losing the only person who had ever treated me kindly felt like losing my last safe space. I lost my only friend.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts, making me flinch in worry. I looked toward the door, already wary that it might be Aquil.

He already got that I didn't want to be with him and had prepared another room for me. But it didn't mean I was safe from him.

Another knock came, more insistent this time.

Who could it be?

Slowly, I walked toward the door with complete unease.

Please... don't let it be Aquil.

I hesitated a bit more but had no choice but to open it. I can't stay here forever anyway.

To my surprise, something from below suddenly launched itself straight at me.

"Mama!"

My eyes widened.

The unexpected weight nearly knocked me backward. I instinctively caught the tiny body before either of us could fall.

A boy wrapped both arms around my neck, burying his face against my shoulder.

"Mama!" He called again.

My mind went completely blank for a good moment, questioning everything I've heard so far.

I slowly looked down and the boy stared back at me with excitement.

“Mama, Avi." He muttered, tilting his head.

“Avi?” I repeated.

His eyes shifted into his wolf's as he smiled brightly, startling me a bit.

I continued to stare at him. His wolf's eyes were golden in hue, a color only an alpha wolf could possess.

The bright boy was only around two years old by the way he spoke, but looked and acted a bit older, definitely because he manifested his wolf way too early than most and it was already affecting him physically.

His dirty blonde hair fell messily across his forehead. He shook it in efforts to see me clearly, puffing his cheeks, too.

He leaned back just enough to cup my cheeks with both of his hands.

"Mama..." His brows furrowed as he squinted his eyes a bit, "You sad?"

I already feel bad for not responding to the child at all, but my mind still refuses to catch up at this point.

He could have easily mistaken me for someone else. He could be an alpha's child from a neighboring pack for all I know. That was the narrative I was desperately trying to put out to save my sanity.

But his very appearance says otherwise. The child looked a perfect mix of me and Aquil the more I look.

Hurried footsteps echoing from outside made me snap back to reality. A moment later, Aquil appeared in the doorway, looking relieved.

"There you are." He murmured, before meeting my stunned gaze.

Aquil visibly straightened, and almost immediately avoiding my gaze.

“Mama!" The boy exclaimed once again, turning back to Aquil as he points at me.

Aquil awkwardly smiled and nodded, “Yes, you found her.”

He rubbed the back of his neck before managing to look back at me.

"His name is Avery. He's... our son.”

I stared at the little boy still happily yapping, most were a little incomprehensible but it didn't stop him from talking.

Just yesterday I was wondering how I'd do outside as a rogue, if I would ever have anything close to a family.

And now, I have a child?

Aquil carefully stepped closer.

"Avery."

The boy looked over, already embracing me again.

"Come here, Avi. Your mother needs to rest.”

“No wanna.”

Aquil sighed helplessly. “Avi, Mama isn't feeling well right now. I'll play with you instead, okay?"

The boy pouted and still tried to negotiate while Aquil continued to convince the boy to go with him.

Despite my confusion, I found myself drawn into their conversation.

Was this really Aquil? Was he really the same Aquil who had looked at me with nothing but contempt? The same man who had consistently humiliated me whenever he likes it.

There wasn't even a trace of arrogance in his face, instead I only see patience and warmth.

Eventually, Avery finally allowed Aquil to lift him, but was still looking back at me.

"Mama..."

I forced a small smile. "I'm sorry, Avi."

The apology came naturally. I didn't know him, but I knew none of this was his fault.

Aquil glanced at me, surprise dawning on his face before gratitude replaced it.

"Thank you." He said as he adjusted Avery against his shoulder. "I'm sorry he disturbed you. He's used to us having breakfast together every morning."

He smiled sheepishly, something I never thought I'd see.

"When you weren't there today, he kept asking where you were. I suppose he decided finding you himself was easier."

A deafening alarm from outside made me jolt and halt from responding.

Aquil's expression changed instantly, losing the gentleness in his face and was replaced with seriousness I was more used to.

“What was that?”