RISE OF A FORBIDDEN LUNA

CHAPTER TWO

*Selena’s POV*

“Found you.” The voice is soft for the chaos in my chest.

I blinked, as my breath was still trapped somewhere between fear and shock as strong arms hold me against a firm body. The wind has stopped roaring.

We fell but we didn’t hit the ground.

Are we safe? I asked quietly.

“Let go of me”, I whispered, all though there was no strength behind it.

Instead of dropping me, the stranger landed lightly, like the earth welcomed her.

That was when I saw her face as the moonlight spills across her face. Her face was too familiar. And my eyes widened

“You…” My voice cracked. “You’re…”

“The one who sold the poison to you.” she finishes calmly.

Vera stiffened beside me instantly as she gripped me tightly.

“Selena,” she whispers urgently. “That’s her.”

Of course I knew she was the one. I would never forget that face. Those calm eyes and the quiet, unreadable expression.

The woman tilted her head towards me, and studying me like I’m something she’s been expecting.

“My name is Julian,” she says. “And if you want to stay alive, you’ll come with me.”

Just then a growl echoed from above. It was the wolves.They didn’t fall rather they were circling over the cliff and waiting. My heart slamed against my chest violently.

“Now this is decision time,” Julian said without looking up.

Vera leaned closer to me. “We don’t know her.” she said almost whispering

“But we don’t have a choice,” I whispered back.

Because the truth is that we don’t actually have a choice.

I looked at Julian again, something about her feels off but I can't place my hands on them.

But one of her features that caught my attention was that she was too calm and composed, like she’s not afraid of anything. Not even death.

“Let's move,” she said, already turning.

And somehow my body obeys.

Julian lead us through a narrow cut in the cliff, hidden beneath thick vines and jagged rock. It was barely visible unless you know exactly where to look. But of course she does.

We stopped at a hollow beneath the cliff. It was dark. damp and hidden.

My breathing was still uneven as I leaned against the cold stone wall, my legs were finally giving in.

Vera on the other hand stayed close to me, her body was tensed, and her eyes were locked on Julian like she was ready to attack if the need arises.

Julian crouched near the entrance, brushing her fingers lightly across the dirt. Then she stops.

“They won’t be able to find us here,” she said.

“How do you know that?” Vera asked sharply.

Julian looked back at her like she was looking for the right answers.

“Because this place masks scent,” she replied. “And right now, you both reek of fear and poison.”

Then there was silence.

“Why did you follow us?” I asked slowly, like I was not expecting any answers.

Julian’s lips curved faintly.

“I just wanted to you because I knew they will come after you.” she answered

“You sold the poison to me,” I corrected, my voice firmer now.

Her gaze meets mine.

“Yes,” she said. “And I’m the reason you’re not dead yet.”

Vera scoffed, “Or the reason we’re in danger in the first place.”

Julian didn't react instead she just watched us like she was measuring something.

“You can leave if you want to ,” she said calmly. “But I wouldn’t recommend that for safety reasons. I had to track you both because I think it's the right thing to do”.

. “How” I asked her with out hesitation.

“Because of the prophesy” she said.

At the moment, I exchanged glance with Vera because we're both surprised.

“The prophecy says that you will end inconsiderate pack hierarchy and ensure unity among all packs. But you have to be protected so that the prophecy will come to pass”. She continued.

Vera and I were just looking at her because I knew for sure that she must be mistaken because I'm just an Omega without a wolf.

“And that was the reason I tracked you down because I knew you would be escaping through this route” she completed.

Just then another distant howl cuts through the night. It was closer than before.

I sank down slowly with my back hitting against the wall as exhaustion crashed over me all at once.

We’re alive for now but my mind wouldn't stop reminding of past events.

♦FLASHBACK♦

I remembered the first time Belinda my stepmother called me cursed.

“You killed your mother.” she said with gentle but cruel voice. She was smiling while saying that to me.

I was just fifteen, grieving over my mother’s death. After my mom died in a deadly car accident, my father remarried to Belinda after two years in a bid to escape grieve. Belinda is a single mother of one. A daughter. Whom I came to know as Rosy.

“You were born with bad luck, Selena,” she continued, brushing invisible dust off my dress. “Nothing good will ever come from you.” she cursed.

I believed her because no one else has ever said otherwise.

Belinda and her daughter Rosy never treated me like I was human. This maltreatment usually occurs in the absence of my father and they will always shower me with love in his presence.

Not even my father rather he just stayed silent.

♦IN THE WOODS♦

“You’re bleeding.” Julian’s voice pulled me back.

I looked down to see my arm scratched and bruised but it was barely noticeable compared to everything else that I’ve endured.

“I’m fine,” I muttered.

She stepped closer anyway as her fingers hovered over my skin, but she doesn’t touch it.

“Pain tolerance,” she murmured. “Interesting.”

Vera moved between us immediately.

“Don’t touch her.” she warned

Julian raised a brow.

“I wasn’t going to.”she said

But something in her tone makes my chest tighten.

I looked away because I didn't trust her yet or maybe not ever.

The rejection played again in my head, like it never left.

♦FLASHBACK♦

“I reject you, Selena Valez.” Alpha Jules voice echoed in the hall where the pack ball was taking place.

My knees had nearly given out that day.

The bond that was broken was so hurtful like something inside me was being ripped apart slowly.

And yet I didn’t scream or cry instead I just stood there and took in everything.

Then he turned around and reached for her Rosy. Her smile had been victorious.

She didn’t hesitate, not even for a second.

“I accept you, Alpha Jules.” she said

And the crowd cheered. I was broken and betrayed.

A tear slips down my cheek before I could stop it but I wiped it away quickly because I have sworn to myself not to cry for them again

“Drink,” Rosy’s voice echoed.

She has always commanding and always above me, even when she didn’t have to be. She had everything she ever wanted.

After I graduated from college at the age of twenty, it became so unfortunate that I have not felt my wolf but Rosy felt hers at the age of eighteen. But I was suspicious that her mother Belinda had used dark powers to subdue my wolf and bring her daughter's wolf to limelight.

As a result of this it was impossible for me to have a mate because I was stuck being an Omega without a wolf.

Everybody in Moonfang pack avoided me, calling me “Jin” because they believed that I was cursed.

That was the reason I was so overjoyed when I met Alpha Jules and I was hopeful that I would be choosen as his Luna queen because he was a bold Alpha with so much charisma.

That was why I was so devastated the moment Alpha Jules rejected me and choose my stepsister Rosy.

I felt betrayed because I knew Rosy was aware that she had a greater chances of having a better mate than me. But she choose to take mine.

In the midst of everything, Alpha declared that he was keeping me because of how I was beautiful as breeder for children production.

I quickly accepted the offer without hesitation so that I can leave my toxic home.

Few month at the Moonfang pack, I found out that I was pregnant. I was so happy, thinking that the neglect from Alpha Jules would stop because I was carrying his heir. But it seemed like I was wrong because Alpha Jules never cared or looked my way.

I began to noticed Rosy undenialable jealous looks, the way she rolled eyes at me whenever I passed her at the hallway. I knew she was planning something.

Even the maids took notice of it. And I have also overheard a gossip from my personal maid who relayed to me that Rosy has threatened to deal with me.

I tried to avoid Rosy till the day we met at the stairs and she blocked my way.

I remembered the moment clearly.

“I didn’t know you were still pregnant,” she said, her voice was light, and almost amused.

I froze.

“How?” I asked completely acting clueless

“You really thought I wouldn’t find out?” she asked

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, protective and terrified.

“Don’t worry,” she added softly, stepping closer. “I’ll fix it.” she said

That was the last word I heard from her before she pushed me down the stairs.

Pain exploded through my body as I tumbled down the stairs.

My head hit something hard and everything blurred.

And then I heard her laughter. Before my maids came to my rescue and I was rushed to the hospital.

Then, at the hospital, I was rushed to the ICU. When I woke up, I only saw Vera and my maids with nobody else not even Alpha Jules, I was so broken.

“Ma’am”. Came the voice of doctor Chris, the pack doctor.

“We ran a general body examination “ he continued. “To ensure that you’re are okay, and it came out excellent because there were no internal injuries” he concluded.

“What about my pup” I asked with so much fear in my voice.

The pack doctor hesitated before speaking.

“I'm sorry we lost the pup because of the fall, you had a miscarriage ma’am” he broke the devastating news to me.

♦IN THE WOODS♦

My entire body trembled, not from fear this time but from rage.

“They took everything from me…” I whispered to myself.

Vera knelt beside me immediately, her hand gripping mine.

“You’re still here,” she said softly.

“Barely.” I answered

“No,” she insists. “You survived.”

I let out a shaky breath.

Is that what this is? Because it doesn’t feel like living. It feels like waiting for the next pain.

“I left my pack.” Julian’s voice cuts through the silence.

I looked up. She was sitting across from us now, her posture was relaxed, and her gaze distant.

“My parents wanted me dead,” she continued.

Vera frowned. “Why?” she asked

Julian’s hesitated, then she spoke again.

“Prophecy.” she said

The word hunged heavy in the air.

“What kind of prophecy?” I asked.

“That I would destroy everything they built,” she answered quietly.

Then Silence followed.

Vera crossed her arms. “Convenient story.” she said, definitely not believing anything that she said

Julian shrugged lightly. “Believe it or don’t.” I already told my grievances.

I studied her carefully, she doesn’t look like she was lying. But she doesn’t look like she was telling the truth either.

“I overheard them,” she continued. “Talking about ending me before I become a threat to the pack.”

“So you ran?” I asked.

She nodded at once.

“I’ve been running ever since.”

Something about that feels familiar just like my own case. But unlike me Julian doesn’t look broken. She looked patient rather.

“Get some rest,” she said, standing. “We move at dawn.”

“To where?” Vera asked.

Julian glanced back at us.

“ To my pack.” she replied My stomach tightened.

“Storm pack,” she added.

Vera and I exchanged a look.

“ But how do you return to somewhere you're being hunter down” Vera asked

“Because I'm tired of running and I'm now ready to face then no matter the outcome” she answered with so much confidence.

This is another risk, but staying here is not an option.

“Fine,” Vera said reluctantly.

Julian nodded once, then turned away.

And just like that everything was already decided.

I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes briefly. My whole body ached but my mind won’t stop hovering as everything feels like it’s crashing into me all at once.

The rejection. the betrayal, the loss, the escape and now Julian.

The same girl who soldpoison to me was the same girl who saved me.

Though I did not trust her but I might need her help

My eyes slowly opened, and I was watching her shadows near the cave entrance. It was still and silent like she’s waiting for something or someone.

Then a strange feeling settled in my chest. I was so uneasy like something isn’t right or maybe something is coming.

And for the first time since we escaped, I realized something that made my blood run cold.

Maybe we didn’t escape at all.