Reborn Luna： Guardian of Alpha

Chapter 1 - Rebirth of Luna (Part 1)

The night sky was illuminated by the full moon - red and glaring. It was eerie if you stared for too long…like the bloodshot eyes of a depraved animal. Perhaps that was why it commanded the respect and devotion of all the werewolves in Neasbrey Castle, who were howling to prove their dedication to the Moon Goddess.

Meanwhile, Luna Chenoa lay on her bed in her silk slip dress, her frail figure covered only by a thin quilt. Even in the crimson moonlight, Luna’s blond hair shone like golden thread on a spinner’s wheel, her fair skin exquisite, with elfin features comparable to that of prized artwork.

Her eyes snapped open suddenly, revealing purple orbs that shone with limpidity. However, they were now shrouded by gloom. Luna stared at the familiar ceiling overhead and got lost in her thoughts. “Was it true that people would relive their happiest moments from when they were alive, after their deaths?” Luna thought to herself. She didn’t move. She didn’t even dare to blink, for fear that this was just a dream that would disappear once she closed her eyes. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. Oh, how she wished that there was that man - her Alpha, in this dream. She hasn’t seen him for ten years since he died.

Luna had lived in endless remorse the past ten years as it was only after his death that she realized how good a man he was. But alas, she has lost the chance to be with him now that he was gone. She had tried every means to avenge him, including a carefully orchestrated explosion that had killed everyone who had ever harmed her Alpha, which included her own life.

The sound of her bedroom door swinging open snapped Luna from her sentiments abruptly, and her eyes fluttered shut reflexively. The doorway revealed her maid, Imala. Imala paused before tiptoeing into the room, her eyes fixated on the beautiful woman laying on the bed, eyes glinting with menace. She smiled in a sinister manner when she reached the side of the bed Luna was laying on, and uncovered the quilt to reveal Luna’s resting body. Imala observed the figure she assumed to be sleeping, and reached a hand forward for the straps of Luna’s silk gown. Imala had a nasty smirk on her face as she slipped her other hand into her apron to fetch out her mobile phone. But before her fingers could touch the straps - a pale, slender hand latched onto Imala’s outstretched hands with surprising strength.

Imala was stopped dead in her tracks and her eyes flashed upward to meet with a pair of piercing violet orbs, the phone slipping from her grip and clattering to the floor. “Luna! What are you doing? You are supposed to be sleeping,” muttered Imala in haste, like a deer caught in headlights. “I’m just here to remind you to take your medication. Let go of me, you are hurting me! Is this how you repay my goodwill?” shot Imala contemptuously, when she realized Luna had not loosened her grip. Despite being caught in her vicious intent to humiliate Luna, Imala was still as audacious as ever.

Luna stared at the maid in shock and disbelief. Didn't Imala die in the explosion? Abey, Luna’s wolf, howled loudly as though questioning Luna on why the woman before her was still alive. Luna soon snapped out of her shock and sprang into action, her hands clamping around the neck of the unsuspecting maid. “Whatever the reason, Imala must die!” thought Luna in manic desperation, her strength fueled by the adrenaline she felt.

"Let…let go of me…urgh…" gasped Imala as she slowly fell to the floor, her eyes rolling back. She coughed and sputtered as she struggled to breathe, feeling a sharp pain as Luna’s hands pressed against her windpipe. Imala’s hands scratched at Luna’s hands around her neck, writhing and kicking in a futile attempt to fight off Luna. Imala twisted her neck and tried to shout for help, but only a pathetic whine accompanied by a strained gasp managed to escape her lips. Luna’s expression was emotionless, determined to see the life drain out from the woman before her. The luminescence in her eyes was gone, instead replaced by dark pools of wrath and the raw desire to kill. Her grip around Imala’s neck tightened, and Imala could almost have sworn she saw a ghost of a smile flitter across Luna’s pale lips.

“What the hell are you two doing?!” yelled a man who ran into the room, waving his arms in a frenzy when he saw the sight before him. He dashed forward and came between the two women, quickly shielding Imala behind his body, with Imala clasping her neck as she took in gulps of air, eyes wide and body shaking. Luna took a step back, hands falling back to her sides as her eyes analyzed the newcomer before her. Realization dawned on her and her face contorted in anger as she recognized the man before her. “Hassun?!” Luna spat out through gritted teeth, her hands clenching in rage. She had no idea he was alive too, and began doubting herself. “Did my plan fail? How could both of them be alive?” she thought to herself, the scene of the explosion replaying vividly in her mind.

“Impossible!” howled Abey in response. Luna realized the truth in Abey’s reassurance, as she clearly remembered watching him get blown up in that explosion that she so carefully orchestrated. She almost smirked at the memory, proud of what she had done. Luna regained her composure with this realization, and her clenched palms loosened as she let them fall carelessly beside her once again. She made a conscious effort to maintain expressionless, as she observed the two characters before her. Imala was still in shock, leaning against the wall as she collapsed onto the floor, with one hand on her neck and another against her gaping mouth as she gawked at Luna. Hassun appeared exasperated and struggled to find the correct words to begin with, shooting a glance at Imala behind his shoulders before running his hands through his peppered hair in frustration…or perhaps nervousness?

He had been waiting outside for a while, waiting for Imala. When she failed to return, he went into the room, not expecting to run into such a scene. Had he been a minute late, Hassun would only enter to find a lifeless body strangled of life. “Luna, what is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?” bellowed Hassun finally, fists clenched as he tried to contain his anger. “You almost choked her to death, Luna! You almost killed her!” accused Hassun, eyes glaring at the blonde beauty before him. Luna made no effort to reply. Instead, her eyes stared back blankly at the man in front of her, before shifting to look at the frail woman now curled up against the wall. Wasn’t she the same audacious woman who tried to violate me moments earlier? thought Luna in disbelief.

"Get dressed and come to the living room. I need to talk to you," said Hassun decidedly, before picking up Imala by her wrists and marching them both out of the room, leaving Luna alone. Luna fell back onto her bed in a daze, staring at her outstretched palms before her. She stared at the smooth skin of her palms in skepticism and dubiety. They were not supposed to look like this after ten years of suffering. She let out a sigh as she let her palms fall back against her lap as she looked around the familiar room, allowing herself to take in her surroundings properly. A thought then occurred to Luna, and she burst out laughing. Her laugh pierced through the dense silence of the room, a sound that seemed misplaced. A sound that did not belong. Her smile never reached her eyes nor did joy fill them, but instead they were clouded by grief and sorrow. She reached out a hand to touch her chest, and felt the restlessness and aura of her wolf Abey.