From Cursed Luna to the Alpha King's Obsession

Madeline's POV "Madeline?" the voice of my aunt Lenna came in, soft yet firm. "Are you awake?" "I am," I said, rubbing my eyes. "You can come in." She opened the door and came in dressed in a dark blue gown which fitted her slim figure. She smiled at me. "You were napping again." “I got bored,” i said to her, and drew my blanket about me. "What time is it?" “Almost six,” she said, and looked at her wristwatch. "The ball starts in two hours. Are you not going to get ready?" My stomach tightened. "I'm not going." She pulled up an eyebrow and came near to my bed. "Not going?" "I don't want to," I said quickly. "It's boring. I'm tired. I do not feel like dressing up or being around people.” She crossed her arms. "Madeline." “I just am not in the mood,” I said, in a careless manner. She leaned closer. "Stop it. Tell me the truth." I turned my head, and my fingers clenched on the side of the blanket. "I just... I don't like public places. Everyone stares. Everyone whispers." Her expression softened. “ You can never hide forever, Madeline," she said. “I’m not hiding.” I said in a weak voice. "I just don't want to be there." She placed a hand over mine. "Why?" The words came out of my mouth before I could prevent them. “Since everybody thinks I am a murderer. And they stare at me as I am cursed. They believe that I murdered the Luna of the Alpha. And my own parents." My throat constricted, my eyes burned with tears. She took a slow breath. “The Moon goddess knows you’re not guilty.” I let out a bitter laugh. “It does not matter, unless the Moon goddess descends herself to tell the entire pack. No one believes me. No one ever will." She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "You shouldn't say that." “Life is hard without my parent,” i said . “And it is even worse when they put the blame of their death upon me. I didn't do it. I didn't. But no one cares." Tears slipped down my cheeks. I attempted to brush them off, ashamed, but she drew me into her warm embrace. “You know, I know you are innocent,” she said. I sniffed. She sat back and stared me in the face. " Do not let people get to you, people are cruel. And scared. And they want one to be a scapegoat.” She pushed my hair back off my face. "But tonight isn't about them. It is concerning you leaving this room and reminding the world that you exist. And having fun!” I shook my head. "I don't belong there." “You belong everywhere” she said sternly. "You deserve to have fun. You deserve to be seen." I let out a weak laugh. "Fun? At a pack ball? Those who believe I am bad luck? “One never knows what will happen,” she said carelessly. "You might even find your mate." I snorted. "That's funny." "What's funny about that?" she asked. “Nobody would be content to have me as a mate,” I said. "Everyone thinks I'm cursed. And even when the Moon goddess is good enough to grant me one, he would reject me the next instant he discovers my identity. “Do not ay that,” she said. "You're not cursed. You're not worthless." I looked down at my hands. "It doesn't feel that way." She stood up suddenly. “Enough of this pity business. You are going to that ball." "Aunt Lenna--" “You are going to get a bath,” she went on, to my closet, “and you are going to put something good on. And you will remain there at least an hour. Then when you still hate it I will go there and bring you home myself.” I hesitated. "I don't know..." She drew a silky silver dress and raised it. "This one." "It's too much," I said. "It's perfect," she replied. "Now move." I sighed and stood up. "Fine." She smiled as though she had won a battle. An hour afterward, my hair was brushed, my skin was clean, I was standing in front of the mirror in a dress, and light makeup on my face. The silver cloth was clinging around my waist and streaming down to my knees. “You are beautiful,” my aunt told me. “I don't feel good,” I said to her.. She adjusted my necklace. "You look like a Luna." I stiffened. "Don't say that." She stepped back. "Just try to enjoy yourself." As the ride came my stomach knotted. I hesitantly walked out fter embracing her. "I'll be back soon," I said. She smiled. "I know." I reached the hall when it was full. There was some music playing in the background that was soft and there was laughter. There were wolves in costume , walking about, chattering and laughing. I lingered by the entrance for some time, not knowing what to do. Then someone noticed me. Whispers started. “The girl who killed the Luna.” “What is she doing here?” “Should we be worried?” Fingers pointed. My chest tightened. I dropped my head and strode briskly to the bar. “I will take whatever you have that is the strongest,” I said to the bartender. He hesitated, then poured me a drink. I took a long sip. Then another. “I just need enough to last till the end of the ball,” I whispered to myself. It didn’t work. I felt eyes on me. I heard someone laugh. I heard someone say my name. My hands started shaking. I set the glass down and turned away. “I need to go,” I muttered. I walked fast, pushing past people, my heart pounding. The hallway I entered was quiet and dim. Too quiet. I stopped. “This isn’t right,” I whispered. I turned around. The hallway looked different. Panic rose in my chest. I walked faster. Then faster. Then I saw a door. I grabbed the handle and pulled it open. And froze. The man inside was tall, broad, and half naked. Tattoos covered his torso, and his gray eyes snapped up to meet mine. The world tilted. My heart slammed against my ribs. “No,” I whispered. He stared at me. Time seemed to stop. “Killian Volkov!”