The Rejected Luna Queen 👸

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27: THE CURSE INSIDE ME

The roar of the Wraith Alpha echoed across Raven Hill long after the sound itself should have faded. It shook the trees, the frozen earth, and every living thing caught within the clearing. Dark clouds rolled across the sky unnaturally fast, swallowing the pale afternoon light until the forest looked trapped between dusk and nightmare. Wolves stood tense around the shattered ritual site while the remaining Blood Hunters disappeared into the woods, fleeing the chaos they had unleashed. None of them mattered anymore. Not compared to the creature standing before us. Varok. Ancient guardian turned monster. A spirit tied to Luna blood and centuries of hatred. And somehow… tied to me. My chest rose sharply as silver energy flickered uncontrollably beneath my skin. The Wraith Alpha’s voice still echoed faintly inside my mind, each word leaving behind pressure that made it difficult to think clearly. Kael leaned heavily against one of the broken ritual stones nearby, blood staining his dark shirt around the wound in his shoulder. The poison spreading through his veins had already darkened the skin near the spear wound, black lines crawling slowly beneath his flesh like living shadows.

Every time I looked at it, panic tightened around my ribs harder. My wolf wanted to stay near him. Protect him. The mating bond pulsed painfully between us now, stronger than before, reacting to his pain as if it were my own. I hated it. I hated how vulnerable it made me feel. But most of all, I hated how terrified I was of losing him. “We need to move,” Lucien said sharply, his silver eyes fixed on the Wraith Alpha. “Now.” The creature remained perfectly still in the center of the ruined ritual circle, black smoke twisting around its massive body while glowing silver eyes followed my every movement. Waiting. Watching. Like it already knew something I didn’t. Darius stepped closer beside me, his expression grim. “The western patrols reported more Hunters moving toward the ridge.” Of course they were. The Blood Hunters never stopped. Even now, after summoning something they clearly couldn’t control, they were still hunting us. “We can’t fight both,” Elara muttered quietly. She was right. We were exhausted, wounded, and standing beside an ancient spirit powerful enough to tear apart entire territories. And Kael was getting weaker.

I turned toward him immediately. “How bad is it?” Kael straightened slightly despite the pain tightening across his face. “I’m still standing.” “That didn’t answer my question.” A faint smirk touched his lips. “You worry too much.” “And you lie too much.” His expression softened briefly at that, but the moment disappeared quickly as another wave of pain crossed his features. My stomach twisted hard. Lucien crouched beside Kael carefully, studying the spreading poison around the wound. “Bloodbane poison attacks Alpha energy directly,” he said quietly. “If it reaches his heart…” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. Fear slammed into me immediately. “There has to be a cure.” Lucien hesitated. That hesitation alone terrified me more than any monster standing nearby. “There is one possibility,” he admitted carefully. “What possibility?” I demanded instantly. His gaze shifted slowly toward the Wraith Alpha. “Ancient spirit energy can neutralize Bloodbane poison.” Silence crashed over the clearing. “Absolutely not,” Kael said immediately. Lucien ignored him.

“The poison was created from corrupted spirit magic centuries ago. It can only be undone by the same source.” I stared at the creature standing motionless nearby. “You’re saying that thing can heal him?” “Potentially.” Kael pushed himself upright sharply despite the pain. “No.” Every instinct inside me agreed with him. Trusting the Wraith Alpha felt insane. Dangerous. Stupid. But then Kael staggered slightly, and panic shoved aside reason instantly. My wolf surged protectively beneath my skin. “If there’s a chance, ” “Aria,” Kael interrupted sharply. “Listen to me carefully. That creature is manipulating you.” The Wraith Alpha laughed softly inside my mind. Fear makes the Alpha weak. The voice curled through my skull like smoke. My hands clenched automatically. “Get out of my head.” Everyone turned toward me immediately. Kael’s eyes darkened. “It’s speaking again.” “Yes.” Lucien’s face tightened. “That connection is growing stronger.” I could feel that already. Every moment spent near Varok made the bond between us heavier somehow, like invisible chains slowly tightening around my mind.

The creature took one slow step forward. The earth cracked softly beneath its massive claws. I can save him, little Luna. Kael’s body tensed instantly. “Don’t listen.” The Wraith Alpha’s glowing eyes remained fixed entirely on me. Refuse me… and watch him die. Rage flashed hot through my veins immediately. “Stop talking like you own my choices.” A deep growl rumbled from the creature’s chest. Yet your blood called me from the earth. The words hit harder than they should have. My blood. Not the Hunters’. Mine. Lucien stepped carefully beside me. “Aria…” “No,” I whispered immediately. “That’s impossible.” But doubt had already slipped into my chest. Because when the ritual activated, the power inside me had reacted instantly. Like recognition. Like memory. More images flashed suddenly behind my eyes. Ancient wolves kneeling beneath silver moonlight. A throne carved from black stone. Luna Queens crowned in silver fire while monstrous guardians stood behind them. Varok among them. Not corrupted. Loyal. Powerful. Bound. Pain slammed through my skull hard enough to nearly drop me to my knees. Kael caught me immediately despite his injury. “Aria.” His voice sounded strained now, weaker than before.

I grabbed his arm tightly to steady myself. “I saw something.” Lucien’s face darkened. “Memories?” I nodded slowly. “Ancient ones.” Kael cursed softly under his breath. “The connection is getting deeper.” The Wraith Alpha lowered its massive head slightly, almost like satisfaction. You begin to remember. “Remember what?” I demanded aloud. The creature’s glowing eyes narrowed. The truth your bloodline buried. My wolf snarled violently beneath my skin. Everything about this felt wrong. But deeper than the fear… curiosity stirred too. Dangerous curiosity. “Aria.” Kael’s voice pulled my attention back instantly. His face had gone paler now, sweat visible against his skin despite the freezing air. The poison was spreading faster. Panic tightened sharply inside me. “We need to get him back to the Heartwood,” Elara said urgently. Lucien shook his head once. “He won’t survive the journey if the poison reaches his chest first.” Silence fell heavily again. Kael looked at me steadily despite the pain. “Do not make a deal with that thing for me.”

My throat tightened painfully. “You don’t know that.” “I know enough.” The mating bond pulsed hard between us then, so suddenly it nearly stole my breath. Pain crashed through me, his pain. Sharp. Burning. My knees weakened instantly. Kael’s eyes widened slightly as realization crossed his face. “You can feel it now.” I hated that he was right. The bond was evolving again, linking us deeper every second. I could feel the poison burning through him almost as clearly as if it were inside my own veins. My wolf whined desperately. Save him. The Wraith Alpha stepped closer again. I can remove the poison. Kael growled low beside me despite his weakened state. “Stay away from her.” The creature ignored him completely. In exchange… you free me from the chains binding my spirit to Raven Hill. There it was. The real price. Lucien’s expression hardened instantly. “Absolutely not.” “What happens if he stays trapped here?” I asked quietly. Lucien hesitated. “Eventually the spirit weakens again.” The Wraith Alpha laughed darkly inside my mind. Liar. “How long?” I pressed. Lucien looked away briefly. “Possibly centuries.” My stomach dropped. So Varok would remain here. Waiting. Growing stronger.

And if another ritual awakened him again someday… “No,” Kael said firmly, reading my thoughts immediately. “We are not bargaining with it.” I looked at him sharply. “You could die.” “Better me than unleashing that thing completely.” Anger flared instantly inside me. “Don’t say that like your life means nothing!” Silence hit us both. Kael stared at me carefully, something vulnerable flickering briefly across his face before disappearing again. The mating bond tightened painfully between us. The Wraith Alpha watched the exchange with eerie stillness. Love weakens warriors. “Shut up,” I snapped instantly. The creature’s growl almost sounded amused. Kael exhaled slowly beside me. “Aria… listen carefully.” His voice had softened now. “You cannot save everyone.” The words hit harder than any scream. Because he sounded like he already believed he was dying. “I’m not losing you,” I whispered fiercely. His amber eyes locked onto mine instantly. Emotion flickered there so raw it nearly stole the air from my lungs. “You already changed me,” he said quietly. “That’s more than I ever deserved.” My chest tightened painfully. “Kael, ” Another violent tremor shook Raven Hill before I could finish. Everyone spun instantly toward the forest. More Blood Hunters emerged from the trees, dozens this time, silver weapons glinting beneath the darkened sky.

At their center walked a tall woman cloaked entirely in black. Her silver hair moved wildly in the wind while strange markings glowed across her pale throat. The second I saw her, every instinct inside me screamed danger. Kael went completely still beside me. “No,” he muttered darkly. Lucien’s face hardened instantly. “Who is that?” Kael’s jaw tightened hard. “Seraphine.” The woman smiled slowly as her cold gray eyes settled directly on me. “Well,” she called smoothly across the clearing. “This is far more entertaining than I expected.” The Wraith Alpha growled low behind us. Seraphine barely glanced toward the creature before returning her attention to me. “So you’re the Luna heir.” My wolf snarled instantly beneath my skin. “Who are you?” Her smile widened slightly. “Someone who knew your mother very well.” Ice slid through my chest. Kael stepped protectively closer despite the poison weakening him. “You shouldn’t have come here.” Seraphine’s eyes flicked toward him briefly, amusement flashing across her face. “Still alive? Impressive.” Rage surged through me immediately. “What do you want?” Her gaze returned to mine fully. “You.” Silence crashed across Raven Hill again. Seraphine folded her hands calmly behind her back. “Your blood awakened Varok. That confirms the prophecy was real.” My stomach tightened.

“What prophecy?” Her smile faded slightly. “The return of the Luna Queen who would either save wolfkind…” Her gray eyes darkened. “Or destroy it completely.” Cold fear slid down my spine. The Wraith Alpha’s voice echoed softly inside my mind. They fear what you are becoming. Seraphine took another slow step forward. “Come willingly, Aria, and I may spare your pack.” My wolf lunged violently beneath my skin. “Go to hell.” Surprisingly, Seraphine laughed softly. “You sound exactly like your mother.” Kael’s body tensed instantly beside me. “Don’t speak about her.” Seraphine’s expression sharpened dangerously. “You don’t get to command me anymore, Kael.” The air itself seemed to freeze around those words. My eyes widened slightly. “You know him.” Neither of them answered immediately. Which was answer enough. My stomach dropped hard. Another secret. Another piece of Kael’s past tied to the Blood Hunters. And judging by the hatred burning between them… this one was far worse than the others.