The Luna Of Nine Lives

SLANDER

Yura's POV

The moment I saw Ellara walking toward me with a picnic basket in her hands, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

That sight...

It was exactly the same as in my previous life.

Back then, I had been so happy, believing my adopted sister had finally decided to reconcile with me. I ate every dish she prepared without the slightest suspicion.

A few hours later...

I was dying.

The poison burned through my body from the inside while Ellara simply stood there, smiling as she watched me suffer. It hadn't killed me that day, but I still remembered the unbearable agony of that poison coursing through my veins.

But this time...

I would not be the victim.

"Fresh milk from the ranch and freshly picked fruit. They're for my dearest sister."

Ellara smiled sweetly, her innocent face as flawless as ever.

"Thank you," I replied behind a fake smile.

"The weather is beautiful today. How about we have a picnic in the forest? It's been so long since we spent time together."

I stared at her for a long moment.

Behind that gentle smile, I knew she was hiding nothing but hatred.

Fine...

If she wanted to play this game, I would stay with her until the very end.

"Of course," I answered, returning her smile.

---

We arrived at a grassy meadow deep inside the forest.

Ellara immediately unpacked all the food from her basket.

"Big Sis, this is your favorite."

She handed me a slice of meat pie.

I accepted it.

But before taking a bite, I discreetly sniffed it.

My wolf senses instantly recognized the familiar scent.

Poison.

Earlier, she had tried to expose me to the scent of Akri leaves—a cursed herb that caused werewolves to hallucinate. In my previous life, I hadn't realized the poison was there because I had inhaled those leaves first.

This time...

I hadn't.

So I could smell everything clearly.

As expected...

They were using the exact same method.

Kale and Ellara had planned my death from the very beginning.

I tightened my grip on the plate.

Before doing anything else, I picked up the bouquet of flowers I had prepared. Hidden among the blossoms was powdered Akri leaves.

This time...

Ellara would be the one hallucinating.

"Why aren't you eating yet, Big Sis?" she asked.

I smiled faintly.

"Wait a moment. I have something for you."

I handed her the bouquet.

"These flowers smell wonderful. I picked them fresh this morning."

"Really?"

"Go ahead. Take a deep breath."

"Mmm... I love this fragrance."

She happily inhaled the scent over and over again.

Then I deliberately dropped my spoon.

"Oh."

As I bent down to pick it up, I swiftly switched my plate with hers.

The movement took less than a second.

There was no way she would notice.

I raised the plate in my hands.

"Mmm... Now I'd like to try your homemade pie."

Ellara smiled.

She immediately began eating the pie while carefully watching every bite I appeared to take.

Instead, I calmly picked up the fresh fruit from the basket and ate that.

Several minutes later...

Ellara's expression suddenly changed.

She clutched her stomach.

"Ngh..."

Her hands trembled violently.

"My... my head..."

I watched her without the slightest trace of pity.

The Akri powder had already taken effect.

She tried to run back toward the castle, but the hallucinations drove her deeper into the forest instead.

"What's wrong, Ellara?" I called after her, pretending to sound worried while secretly laughing.

She kept running into the woods, crying and howling in agony.

Her screams brought a satisfied smile to my face.

This place was far from the main road.

The growls of wild beasts echoed from every direction.

I turned around and left.

"If you can survive until someone finds you, then perhaps the Moon Goddess is still on your side."

I looked at her expressionlessly.

Then I walked away.

Without looking back even once, I left Ellara alone in the middle of the forest.

Her terrified screams continued to echo behind me.

But this time...

My heart remained completely unmoved.

---

By evening, the entire castle had descended into chaos.

Ellara hadn't returned.

Kale personally led the knights to search for her.

Meanwhile, I sat calmly in my room, enjoying a cup of tea.

Several hours later, the door burst open.

Bang!

Kale stood in the doorway.

His face was filled with rage.

"Yura!"

"What is it?"

"Where is Ellara?"

I looked at him calmly.

"Aren't you the one searching for her?"

"You went out together this morning!"

"That's right."

"Then why did you leave her alone in the forest?"

I slowly rose to my feet.

"Because she said she wanted to walk by herself."

"She ran into the forest and left me behind—not the other way around."

"Then prove it."

Kale clenched his fists.

"Yura! The least you could do is help search for her instead of relaxing here!"

"Hmm... I'm not feeling well, Darling. Please try to understand."

I deliberately whined.

Disgust flashed across Kale's face.

I didn't care.

I had already died once.

I would never allow them to decide how I died again.

Just before dawn, Kale finally found Ellara barely alive deep inside the forest.

Only then did they realize they had fallen into the very trap they had prepared for me.

Their own scheme had backfired.

Ellara had eaten the poison she had prepared herself.

Just like in my previous life, she claimed the fruit had somehow been contaminated and insisted the same thing would have happened to me.

"Ellara, you should have been more careful with the fruit you picked. It was already contaminated. Poor you. I hope you recover soon."

I said those words while visiting her room.

From that day onward, Vero visited the castle more frequently, while Kale devoted most of his time to taking care of Ellara.

I paid them little attention.

After all, they deserved to deal with the consequences of their own actions.

Vero always came under official reasons—discussing border defenses, training the knights, or attending meetings with the Alphas.

Although I knew perfectly well...

He was really coming to see me.

No one could question it.

After all, Vero Zaguarnath was the Supreme Commander.

Even Alphas from other territories respected him.

His decisions on the battlefield had saved thousands of lives, making his name revered across the entire continent.

Even by my own mate.

Though Kale never admitted it, I knew he was always careful whenever Vero was around.

He never crossed the line because he understood one simple truth—

Their strength wasn't even close.

Compared to Vero...

Kale's power was nothing more than a tiny spark that couldn't possibly threaten him.

I crossed paths with Vero several times in the castle corridors.

We secretly made love without a single soul knowing.

Yet somehow...

Our growing closeness disturbed someone's peace of mind.

One afternoon, I happened to glance toward the second-floor balcony.

Kale was standing there.

His eyes weren't on me.

They were fixed on Vero as he spoke with me in the garden.

When I looked back again...

Kale had already disappeared.

That night, Kale's study felt colder than usual.

I had barely stepped inside when he closed the document he was reading.

"You met Vero again?"

His voice was calm.

"Yes."

"What for?"

"He returned a book that belonged to his mother."

Kale stared at me suspiciously.

"It seems the two of you have been meeting quite often lately."

I smiled faintly.

"Isn't he my childhood friend? There's nothing strange about that."

For some reason, Kale's jaw tightened.

"You're not as innocent as you look, Yura."

I almost laughed.

The man who spent every day with Ellara...

Now couldn't stand seeing me speak with Vero.

How ridiculous.

"Kale."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"If you truly trust your wife, then you shouldn't have to suspect anyone else, should you?"

I left before he could answer.

But just before the door closed completely, I saw both of his fists tightly clenched.

"You're the Luna! I am your true mate! How can you disrespect me? The entire clan is talking about your relationship with Vero!"

"You've even humiliated me by making everyone think I belong to a failed clan... all because of that prophecy?"

Kale's expression changed.

"Weren't you the one who once said you were ashamed of having such a weak wife?"

"At the second blood moon eclipse, I'm certain the ritual won't disappoint me, Yura."

"And if it does disappoint you... then what?"

His eyes widened.

"What will you do?"

"Kill me?"

He remained silent.

"If I had known from the beginning that you married me only because you wanted the status of the woman destined by prophecy to become the strongest Lycan..."

"I would have called off the wedding."

"I would have married Vero instead."

After saying those words, I turned around and left.

Kale couldn't say a single thing.

---

A few days later, Kale finally seemed to realize that Vero had become a threat.

That morning, I happened to pass by the council chamber.

Kale's voice drifted through the door.

I stopped walking.

"If Vero continues gaining the support of the Alphas, his influence will only grow."

"That will become dangerous for the Alpha King's position."

One of the royal advisors spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, the Supreme Commander has never shown any intention of seizing the throne."

"That's what you think."

Kale cut him off coldly.

"People respect him far too much."

I slowly closed my eyes.

So...

It wasn't just because of me.

It was also because Vero's shadow had grown too large in the eyes of the entire kingdom.

"I only want the clans to open their eyes. He's trying to destroy my marriage with Yura."

Hearing those words, I let out a heavy sigh.

Why couldn't he look at himself first?

---

That night, I witnessed something that disgusted me.

From the hidden corridor behind the castle, Kale quietly entered the private garden.

Someone was already waiting for him.

Ellara.

Without hesitation, Kale wrapped her in his arms.

They made love beneath the moonlight.

I simply stood behind a stone pillar.

The man who spent his nights with another woman...

Was the same man accusing his own wife of betrayal.

A mocking smile curved my lips.

The following morning, shocking news spread throughout the kingdom.

Several nobles received anonymous letters.

The letters accused Vero of abusing his authority as Supreme Commander, secretly accepting tributes, carrying on an illicit relationship with the Luna, and quietly building enough influence to overthrow the Alpha King.

I read one of those letters.

I didn't need to think twice to know who was behind them.

Kale.

He wasn't brave enough to face Vero with a sword.

So he chose to destroy Vero's reputation first.

If the entire kingdom lost its respect for Vero...

Then punishing the Supreme Commander would appear perfectly justified.

What a narrow-minded man.

I slowly folded the letter.

"Kale..."

By changing fate, I had uncovered a new danger threatening Vero.

And I would not remain silent.

I would never allow Vero to face those slanders alone.