The Marked Luna

Chapter Two: Dreams

Serena's POV

A girl walked into my room at dawn, her steps were quiet and stiff. She was about my age, carried a tray of food and set it down without meeting my eyes. I wondered what made her avoid my gaze.

“Wait,” I called, “What’s your name?” she paused

“Katja”

“Do you.… Do you know what this place is?” I asked her unsure.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Her gaze flicked once to my wrist. “You should eat,” she said coolly, and turned to leave. Her words angered me. She's trying to dismiss me, like I wasn't worth her time.

“Wait. Do you hate me?” I asked. Katja froze at the door.

“I don’t hate you.”

“Then what is it?” I pressed on, she looked back, eyes cold.

“You don’t belong here.” Then she left

“What’s her issue? I mumbled to myself.

“Just ignore her and eat. The last time you had a meal was the day before your birthday” Myrren, my wolf advised me.

I ate the food hastily.

That night, sleep came easier. I curled on the bed, arms wrapped around myself, whispered my mom’s name like a prayer. But dreams always found me.

This time, the cottage was warm, warmer than I remembered. My mom stood at the fireplace, stirred the stew. I wore a floral gown that barely reached my knees, I watched mom from the doorway.

“Why do you always cry when it rains?” I saw myself asking her. Mom always cried when it rained, she always looked sad. I could see that my words startled her because she thought I would be inside.

Mom turned. Her eyes were wet and sad, I could see her throat as it throbbed up and down “Because sometimes, the sky remembers things we try to forget.”

Her words tightened something in my heart. “Will I forget you?” I asked in a small voice.

“No, baby. But you’ll forget the sound of my voice”.

“I don’t want to, I can’t forget you” I replied teary.

“I’ll always be your mom,” mom whispered. “Even if I’m gone.”

I blinked and mom was gone. What stood before me was a strange cave and I stood outside the cave.

I could clearly see inside the cave even though I was outside. Two figures stood inside, one cloaked in robes of shadow, the other leaned against a stone wall, tall and lithe, with wild amber eyes that glowed in the dark.

What is this place? Who are these people?

“She has been marked,” the cloaked one said, voice like brittle silk.

I woke up with a start, I'm really getting tired of these strange nightmares and if I don’t leave this room today, I'd run mad. I dragged my hand across my face, clearly frustrated. I need to go out.

A creak in the door told me someone was coming in. I sat up, ready to scold whoever entered. It wasn’t Katja. It was Ronan.

He stood there, expression unreadable. “You’re restless,” he said.

“That’s why you’re here, to tell me that or to sedate me again?” I snapped.

“Walk with me.”

I gawked at his words. Who does he think he is to command me? “Why should I?.”

“I won’t ask twice.”

“Then don't ask” I snapped angrily.

“You've made him angry, Serena!” I ignored Myrren and examined Ronan since he was up close and couldn't help but marvel at his beauty. I felt myself drawn to him, even his anger made him more desirable.

“Damn the mate bond,” I muttered under my breath.

“You’ll follow me!” His words snapped me from whatever reverie I was in.

“And if I say no? what's going to happen Alpha?” I replied mockingly. I really should stop taunting him. He walked towards me, his scent overwhelming. I noticed the flaring of Ronan’s nose as he leaned down towards my neck to sniff me, his breaths made my neck ticklish. I imagined how it would be when he sucked on my neck, his eyes went to my chest. “Stop ogling at my breast you pervert” I managed to say, the words didn’t come out sharp as I wanted, it came out breathless. Ronan smirked at me. He leaned towards my ears, I breathed in sharply.

“I can hear your heart racing, smell your arousal, imagine your wolf purring and I could kiss you into submission. I know you would love that” Ronan whispered in my ear with a husky voice.

Damn he's right, I was disgusted by the heat that pooled in my core, my legs grew weak. If he dipped his hands in my underwear he’d touch the evidence of my arousal “Jump on him Serena!” Myrren told me. I wouldn’t do that. He stepped back. I didn't realize that I had held my breath since.

“You can follow me or choose to rot in this room, your pick” he shrugged nonchalantly and began to walk out. And I, furious, followed.

We walked through empty halls, I noticed how the servants avoided my gaze. How even the warriors bowed only to Ronan. I was an outcast. A curse. “Your people hate me,” I said, eyes glaring into the back of his head.

“They fear you.” I heard Ronan say.

“Why?”

“Because of the dreams.” His voice low this time, all evidence of teasing gone.

“You said I would kill you.”

“In every one.” Ronan replied.

I paused to let the words sink. “What happens after?”

He looked away as if afraid to look at me “I never wake up.”

A chill swept over my skin.

I didn’t notice that he had stopped walking. I bumped into his hard back, the impact caused pain to my nose. “Why is your back so hard?” I asked him.

Ronan turned to me “It’s not my fault that you didn’t watch where you’re going”. That was it, I've had enough of his arrogant behavior, I’d rather go back to my rotting room than accommodate his arrogant behaviour.

“Hmmph! Suit yourself” I snapped and faced the direction of my room.