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1525 Words
Aurelia's POV
By sunrise, the entire pack already knew what was happening. The news had spread like wildfire. I could feel it the moment I opened the door and stepped into the palace's corridor.
The servants avoided my gaze. The guards who once bowed respectfully now hesitated before greeting me. I walked through the corridor slowly; my body was heavy from the sleepless night before.
At that point, I even contemplated going back to the bedroom, but that could signal wrongly to others that I was ashamed and wanted to cry in secret.
Every few seconds, the whispers drifted toward me like knives. When I got to the dining room, nothing was on the table, which was quite unlike it.
I went to the kitchen to make enquiries, but just right at the entrance, I stopped myself.
"Won't she get mad that breakfast isn't there yet?" one of the kitchen maids of Omega descent said concernedly. "Lady Selene might be pregnant, but she is unofficial. Lady Aurelia is still our Luna." She added.
The second maid, a redhead, snorted. "Oh, please, my dear, we don't need to prolong issues when the situation can clearly speak for itself. The Alpha finally has an heir. Do you think he is going to cast Lady Selene away? There is no need for us to pretend as if we don't know who the real Luna is here," She said proudly and jubilantly.
I stepped backwards and never showed my face to the kitchen maids. I just…kept walking. If I stopped now, I would crumble.
As I reached the grand staircase, one of the younger maids accidentally collided with me while carrying folded fabrics.
Several pieces spilt onto the floor. I instinctively bent over to help her, but the girl quickly snatched the fabrics away, almost fearfully, before I could touch them.
"I-I can handle it myself, Luna," The maid stammered.
The title sounded pretty much empty to my ears now. I slowly straightened and eyed the fabrics in the girl’s arms. It was a white ceremonial silk. Only a woman with the title of Luna could wear it.
The Luna silk...
My stomach dropped.
"Who are those for?" I asked quietly, even though in my heart…I already knew the answer.
The maid then lowered her head as she hesitantly responded. "They… They are for…Lady Selene."
The words landed like a blade to the chest.
I said nothing after that. Instead, I quickly walked away before the girl could see the tears pooling in my eyes.
Reaching the bedroom, I sat on the edge of the luxurious bed, my mind running different negative trails.
I strained my eyes, trying not to shed a tear, but I inevitably lost the battle. Before long, tears were streaking down my cheeks, and my shoulders were racked with heartbroken, muffled sobs.
Some minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
I sniffled, wiped my tears with the sleeve of my simple lilac dress and headed to the door.
Turns out it was a guard who had come to deliver a message. Without even acknowledging me, he told me with a condescending look. "You are expected to be at the Central Arena by noon."
…
It was noon.
Standing at the grand archway that led to the Central Arena, I was reluctant to take another step forward, knowing full well that whatever reason I was summoned here for couldn’t possibly be good.
Pack members had already filled the stone seats surrounding the venue, their voices buzzing with anticipation.
Warriors lined the perimeter while the pack’s Moon Priest—Wayne Daliby—stood near the elevated stone platform at the centre. He was dressed in his grey-and-silver ceremonial robe, wearing a grave expression, his left hand wrapped around a long wooden staff with a half-moon-shaped tip.
I spotted my mate—tricked out in navy blue and gold—seated on a grand chair on a red dais atop the stone platform, his arms resting on two menacing wolf statues that served as armrests.
Standing on his left side behind the throne was the Pack’s Beta—Matthew Storm—arms locked behind his back, his expression habitually stern.
While I was still torn between stepping forward and delaying a little bit more, the Pack Priest’s voice suddenly echoed across the arena.
"Luna Aurelia, please come forth."
Damn, that old thing had spotted me.
I let out a soft, resigned sigh. Stalling wasn't going to cut it anymore.
Every eye was glued to me as I slowly made my way towards the high platform. I stopped at the base of the steps, trying not to look afraid or perhaps...broken.
“Greetings, Your Majesty,” I said in a graceful tone, bowing my head, my right hand placed across my left chest.
Then I straightened my spine and gazed at my mate.
Kael’s gaze carried poorly masked disdain. Unease coiled tight in my chest.
The priest raised his staff and tapped the base against the ground, commanding silence.
Once his aim was achieved, he began.
"For years, Moon Dream Pack has suffered uncertainty beneath a Luna unable to fulfil her sacred duty."
I snuffled; tears already threatened to spill, but I willed them back, my jaw set. My fingers rolled into fists beneath my long sleeves.
The priest continued, "For years, we have been a laughingstock in the eyes of other packs. Why? We had a Luna who was far below standards. Orphaned, Wolfless and worst of all, cursed with barrenness.”
This caused those present to have hushed conversations. I could feel the mocking gazes that many directed at me, certain that I was dead game already.
“However,” the priest resumed, “…the pack now has hope and a cause for rejoicing. Thanks to Lady Selene, who has been blessed with the fortune of carrying the Alpha’s heir.”
Hearing that, there was applause, cheering and even whistling.
My fingers curled tighter while my teeth tugged at my lower lip so tight I tasted blood.
The priest turned toward Kael.
"Your Majesty, the future of this pack rests on your shoulders. What is your decision regarding Luna Aurelia?”
Silence consumed the arena.
Kael stood up and walked a few steps forward. There was still silence, everyone waiting for the words that would decide my fate.
My mate’s jaw tightened as his gaze met mine once more.
I didn’t need a soothsayer to know the outcome wouldn’t be favourable. At least not for me.
Finally, he spoke. “Aurelia, you had enough chances to at least fulfil your sacred duty. But you proved to be entirely…incapable.”
Ha. Might as well just say the word. Useless.
“I am the Alpha of this pack.”
Even a toddler was effing aware, alright!
“And it’s my duty to provide the symbol of hope—an heir. You, unfortunately, were not meant to have the honour of continuing the royal bloodline. Someone more worthy has shown up. So I will only do what is proper. Henceforth, you are stripped of your title as Luna.”
Hearing that, many cheered, praising the Alpha’s decision with thunderous applause.
And no, my mate wasn’t done with me. Yet.
He turned to the Pack Priest. “Proceed with the Ritual.”
The latter nodded and made his way to me. Then he touched my left chest with the tip of his staff and then made his way up the stone stairs. He also touched the Alpha’s left chest with the staff.
Afterwards, he tapped its base against the platform’s floor thrice while muttering words in a language I couldn’t understand.
Shortly after, he raised the now glowing staff to the sky.
The clouds immediately darkened, and a strong wind blew.
My mate placed a hand on his left chest while looking towards the sky with a solemn look.
"I, Alpha Kael Draven of Moon Dream Pack, hereby reject Aurelia Ashthorne as my fated mate! Goddess Seline, please bear witness!”
After saying this, he bowed his head.
The pack priest turned to me. “Your turn,” he said in a cold tone.
Sniffling and willing back tears, I also placed my hand across my chest, my gaze to the gloomy sky.
“I… Aurelia Ashthorne, accept…the rejection. May the Moon Goddess herself…bear witness!” I said in a choked-up voice.
The moment I said that, there was intense rumbling in the sky. Then…thunder struck in the sky. It got many in the audience terrified to the point they screamed.
In that same moment, it felt like I’d received a terribly heavy punch to my chest.
Clutching my chest, I dropped to my knees, blood flowing down the corner of my mouth, tears streaming down my face. It hurt to even breathe. It hurt to think as well.
The Alpha didn’t fall as I did; he was supported by Beta Matthew.
Thunder struck in the sky again, and I felt the pain in my chest increase. I spat out blood, my head spinning, vision blurring.
At the third and final thunder strike in the sky, everything went black.
- Writer
