The Rejected Luna Claimed By The Lycan King

Doubt

I couldn’t forget the child.

Despite my best efforts to focus on training or Lucian's plans, the image would always haunt me.

Golden eyes.

Small face.

How he was rushed away, as if nobody could see him.

It wasn't just a coincidence this way.

It felt controlled.

Deliberate.

That helped make the things Lucian had told me less sure.

Across from me that morning as I sat in the war room, he spread out maps of surrounding territories. A few commanders were sitting around the table in hushed tones.

I remain in silence, I watch.

Lucian indicated a place on the map.

This will be the next route,” he said.

One of the commanders nodded.

“Border patrol has been adjusted since the last strike, it's called 'shadowfang'.”

Lucian's eyes glanced at me for a moment.

“Isabella,” he said.

I looked up.

“You understand their schedule of reinforcement to the south,” he added.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Confirm it,” he said.“Confirm it,” he said.

I paused for a moment, and I said.

“Random reinforcements come every three days at evening time,” I explained. “If weather conditions deteriorate near the ridge, however, they delay.”

Lucian nodded once.

The generals jotted it down on the spot.

I watched them.

Observed the rapid transformation of what I knew into what I could do.

Into plans.

I went on the run against my former pack.

A thing in my chest constricted, but I did not cease speaking.

Because it was my way to go because I have already selected it.

Even if it had fallen out of favor.

Even though there was a little voice in my head that said that it was more complicated than I wanted it to be.

At the end of the meeting I got up to go.

My voice was cut off by Lucian's.

“Not yet.”

I turned slightly.

He pointed to the map.

In the eastern patrol line there are blind spots, he said.

I frowned.

I had already said most of them to him, I said, “I already told you most of them.”

He said, “I want confirmation!

So I stayed.

Pointing.

Explaining.

Correcting.

As I was talking, I saw something.

Lucian did not always tell everything in one fell swoop.

He was a good guy who always had parts hidden.

Even from the mouths of his own officers.

And from me.

⸻

Later I strolled alone through one of his quieter corridors.

Well, at least I thought that I was alone.

The sound of my feet resounded quietly on the stone floor.

I stopped at a balcony and tried to see the training grounds down below.

The warriors were again at the sparring game.

Controlled.

Precise.

Always controlled.

I leaned my head against the railing, lost in thought.

I spotted it then.

A movement.

Behind me.

I turned quickly.

Nothing.

The hallway was empty of people.

I frowned slightly.

Perhaps I had my head in the clouds.

I began to move about again.

However, I felt it again.

Not sound.

Not sight.

Something heavier.

Awareness.

I slowed down a bit.

Then stopped.

“Stop being a coward,” I whispered.

Silence.

I turned slowly.

Still nothing.

However, this time I didn't move.

I waited, silent, listening.

A slight breeze.

Behind a pillar.

I went toward it, slowly,

Nothing moved.

I stepped closer.

Then I saw it.

A shadow that moves slightly off its position.

My heart tightened.

“Yes, I know you are there, I know you are there,” I said.

Still no answer.

I narrowed my eyes.

So I took a step back.

Then walked on as if I didn't notice.

But I knew.

Someone was watching.

I didn't know how many times it was occurring until I knew.

There I was, unnoticed for how many years.

I took a left and stopped once more.

Another faint presence.

Different direction.

My breathing slowed.

This wasn’t paranoia.

This was pattern.

There was someone watching me.

Always.

Even if I were by myself.

Whether I was quiet or not.

Even if I thought I could get away with it.

My hands made a slight grimace.

Well, that's freedom, all right.

⸻

I tried it that night.

I went to where I wanted without saying where I was going.

Went through unfamiliar corridors I did I walked.

Paused.

Changed direction.

Stopped suddenly.

It always felt that way to me, each time.

That same pressure.

That same awareness.

Something or someone was always being tweaked.

Always remaining out of view.

I walked to an empty hallway and breathed deeply out.

“Lucian,” I said quietly under my breath.

This wasn’t protection.

This was control.

Or surveillance.

Or both.

I didn’t know which one was worse yet.

⸻

A few days later I spotted Lucian in the courtyard once more.

He was talking to Kaela.

Kaela walked away silently when she saw me.

Lucian looked at me.

I’ve been moving around you’ve been moving around,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

I studied him well.

“Yes,” I replied.

He nodded slightly.

“Good,” he said.

That made me pause.

Good?

“You knew?” I asked.

Lucian didn’t deny it.

I tightened my jaw a little.

“So I am being watched,” I said.

Lucian calmly took in my appearance.

He said, "You are in my domain.

“No,” I said, “that's not an answer.”

He took a step forward slightly.

“You are important here,” he said.

I held his gaze.

I still didn't get why I am like that I can't breath without anybody looking on, I said.

There was a moment of silence.

Then Lucian spoke.

He said that you are not a prisoner.”

But he didn't say that I was free.

The lack of connection between the words was deliberate.

I glanced away, a bit.

I was beginning to have multiple thoughts.

The child.

The secrecy.

The watching.

No one could accuse Lucian of being a liar, but he still controlled the information.

There was something I was missing.

And I didn't know what about.

I came back to it by being drawn back by Lucian's voice.

You're adjusting, he said.

I studied his gaze and then looked him up and down.

“Or I'm being controlled,” I whispered.

He didn't react right away.

That silence again.

The one that said too much, but said nothing at all.

I pulled back a bit.

“Space is needed,” I replied.

Lucian looked at me for a while.

After a nod, he said.

“Yes, I will have it,” he replied.

I didn't take him at his word, though.

Because I learnt something important already.

Even if I was all alone…

I wasn’t alone.

The sad thing was…

I first didn't know who was watching me.

Lucian.

Or someone else.

Or both.