Sioggard - The Runaway Luna

6.

His Luna?

Wondering whether to laugh or scream, Arabella did neither.

Instead, she gave Ilyan a thoughtful look while trying to recall their past.

She had known Ilyan Wayward for years.

It was inevitable since he was an Alpha and she was a princess.

They had been introduced when they were still children and over the years had often met at celebrations, ceremonies and other various events.

As the Alpha of one of the leading packs in the kingdom, Ilyan Wayward was well known and given his personal achievements, also greatly admired.

Raised in a powerful and ancient family, a skilled warrior, born a leader, under his leadership the Silver Horn had grown and prospered.

Everyone knew Ilyan.

The elders respected him.

The girls loved him.

His enemies feared him.

He was lacking nothing.

Except for a Luna by his side.

The Moon Goddess had been even too generous to Ilyan, endowing him not only with strength and courage but also with such a fortunate appearance that any young girl who laid eyes on him could not help but sig in admiration.

For years the kingdom had been waiting in turmoil to find out who would be the lucky girl that Ilyan would choose as his life partner, since the Moon Goddess did not blessed him with a natural Mate.

Three years ago, when Isadore Hellery had become a princess of the Moon, someone had believed that perhaps the Silver Horn would finally welcome a worthy Luna.

And Ilyan had fueled those fantasies by stepping forward, showing interest in a girl for the first time since becoming Alpha.

Isadore indeed hadn't been just any girl.

Although she had lived her entire troubled existence in solitude, victim of an unfortunate illness that had constantly put her life at risk, her extraordinary beauty had bewitched the whole kingdom as soon as she was revealed to their eyes.

Isadore had also been a princess of the Moon.

Virtually every Alpha in the realm without a mate had longed to win her heart and her loyalty, Ilyan included.

Unbeknownst to all, however, Rhys Seyimour had proclaimed Isadore for himself a long time ago, and although it was still rumored to this day that Isadore had been forced to become Luna of Sioggard, Arabella did not think she had been.

Not entirely at least.

She'd seen a light shine in Isadore's golden eyes every time she heard her mention his Alpha.

Isadore and Rhys had been destined.

But not everyone agreed.

Arabella didn't knew what had happened between her and Ilyan, or between Ilyan and Rhys Seyimour, if anything had happened.

But every time she had met Ilyan, after Isadore's disappearance, she had seemed to catch a sense of emptiness in his green eyes.

And it wasn't a mystery to anyone that for three years Rhys and Ilyan's relationship had been quite bad.

Sometimes Arabella had even found herself pitying him, Ilyan, imagining that maybe his feelings for Isadore had been deeper and more complicated than everyone thought.

But never, not once, had she thought of him as anything other than the Alpha of the Silver Horn.

It was true, physically Ilyan was very attractive, perhaps more than anyone else in the whole kingdom, and his vaguely mysterious air managed to conquer with ease.

Yet Arabella had always thought there was something about him that made it impossible for her to like him.

She didn't know what but either way she didn't liked him very much, he wasn't even her type.

Not that Ilyan had ever been nasty or rude to her.

He had never been anything to her.

Because apart from dancing together once in a while, they'd never had any other kind of relationship.

His words therefore found her somewhat unprepared.

“So…?” he asked, pulling her out of her intricate thoughts, to bring her back to the present and his ridiculous statement. “Your final judgement?” asked Ilyan, being probably able to see in her eyes all the stack of emotions she was feeling.

"Tell me Ilyan.." replied curtly Arabella, escaping her amazement to go and close the door of her room, with a sharp click, shutting out the world. “Is there some kind of misunderstanding between us that I do not know about?” She asked him then, placing herself in front of him, to be able to look into his eyes.

“Should I be offended?” answered Ilyan, somewhat amused.

"I can't find anything to laugh about."

"It's much simpler than you think." Replied he, becoming serious again.

"Would you mind explaining it to me too, because I don't think I’m able to get it myself."

"I need a Luna and you need an Alpha." replied trivially Ilyan and yes, put in those terms it actually seemed very simple.

“And what for heaven's sake made you think I might be a good choice to be your Luna?” inquired Arabella, trying hard not to raise her voice.

"Because I want you by my side." informed her Ilyan, with firm decision.

"Why?" repeated she, genuinely confused.

Arabella just couldn't explain it.

No one had ever wanted her.

Never.

If she was still tolerated, it was solely because her father was Alpha Roderick of the Black Moon Pack.

Even an imbecile like Jonathon Vaughn thought she was no match for him.

And suddenly Ilyan Wayward, who could have literally any girl in the kingdom, had come before her to ask her to be his.

It was just ridiculous.

“You are beautiful.” Replied Ilyan, with a smile full of warmth but if he thought the compliments would soften her, he didn't knew who he was dealing with.

"The kingdom is full of pretty girls!" Answered Arabella, in fact, far from impressed.

"No one as beautiful as you." Denied Ilyan, persisting with his firm, self-confident attitude. "But I see that my reason doesn't seem to affect you that much..."

"If you were under the illusion that the rumors about me were false Ilyan let me enlighten you." Answered she bluntly. “I'm exactly as they describe me and can get even worse if provoked..” she warned him dryly.

“Do you feel provoked?” asked her Ilyan, unflappable.

"Irritated, annoyed and displeased can better explain my mood right now." Informed him Arabella, sincerely. “I don't know what you were hoping to achieve by coming here and telling me that all of a sudden you can't live without me but I assure you that…”

"Not all of a sudden." Commented he, cutting her off. “I've always liked you, Arabella.” Added Ilyan, staring into her eyes and sounding damn sincere.

"Quite Interesting indeed, your way of showing girls your interest .." replied she, believing him even if it only made everything worse.

"That's why I like you." Answered Ilyan, smiling amusedly.

“Do you like being insulted?”

“Your openness and sincerity are among the qualities I most admire about you.”

"Thank you I suppose and since you sound sincere I'll tell you how I feel myself, since you admire my sincerity so much."

“I don't expect you to love me Arabella.” Replied Ilyan, with a sudden dark and serious attitude. "I can't promise to love you back as well, but we could be happy one day."

“Are you serious?” retorted she, quite disturbed by his frown.

"Give me a chance.." asked her Ilyan, nodding decisively.

"No." refused Arabella, without hesitation. “I'm sorry Ilyan, I don't know how you could think that we could have a future together but it's strictly impossible because i don't like you at all.” She informed him coldly. "Don't take it personally but you're not my type either and if it's merely a Luna you're after, you should know that I'm not the girl for you."

“Don't underestimate yourself.” Retorted Ilyan, not at all impressed by her flat refusal.

"I don't." denied Arabella quietly. "I wish I could tell that both you and The Silver Horn deserve better but I can’t because the truth is I don't care." She added sincerely, staring at him with the same determination she caught in his gaze. “I've never liked you Ilyan Wayward and I won't like you in the future either so if that's all you've come to discuss, that's the door, please use it!”

"You don't know me at all, Arabella." informed her Ilyan, grimly but also determined.

"It's true but knowing you doesn't interest me at all." Replied she indifferently. “For the last time, that's the door, please use it.” She asked him again, tired of that absurd argument.

“I'll oblige you this time but I'm not giving up.” Answered he, warningly.

"And I'm not going to stop you." Nodded Arabella, perfectly unperturbed. “If you don't mind being humiliated you're welcome to try again but as far as I'm concerned I've clearly expressed my opinion towards you.” She warned him. “And if you've heard half the rumors about me, you'll know I am serious.”

“I don't get discouraged easily.” informed her Ilyan.

“It means that for a couple of weeks I won't suffer from boredom.”

“Nothing is forever Arabella.”

“Indeed.” she nodded, in complete agreement.

"We'd talk about it again." he promised her tersely.

"If you're willing to pay the price for my annoyance." Commented Arabella, once again indifferently.

"I didn't mean to upset you, I'm sorry if I put you in a bad mood, it wasn't my intention." Apologized Ilyan, catching her off guard. "We'll talk more calmly next time." He promised her with a smile, before taking his leave.

Arabella found herself watching the door he closed behind him, with a frown, for a few minutes after Ilyan had gone.

Wondering what was going on.

She refused to simply believe that all of a sudden Ilyan had woken up and decided to court her since he needed a Luna by his side.

There had to be more.

And if Ilyan really decided to try again, she would have to find out.

As if she didn't have better things to do.

Suppressing an annoyed frown, Arabella shook her head and tried to rid herself of those harassing thoughts.

She had no desire to waste any more precious time, had already wasted enough and tormenting herself was useless.

If Ilyan had decided to try again, she would have worried about it then.

For now, she would continue to live her life as she always had.

One day at a time.