THE BROKEN LUNA

CHAPTER 4

NATALIA’S POV

LOVE. They say, no, I just happen to realize after a long time that the emotion that comes from that word is not meant for someone like me. I have the right to claim for it, but everyone is all against it and for me to hold on to such a precious thing. As they all says that I shouldn’t dream of love and someone that will look my way and show me the warmth of being cared for. Is only a tiny fraction of the price that I needed to pay for being the curse one. But something amazing changes that stormy night. That one fault in the heavens plan that I consider the greatest gift that I could ever have.

“You do not have to be scared. I will protect you.”

His warm voice and those fleeting words that I couldn’t help but remember from time to time. The first man and the only one who ever look at me like I am a delicate flower that one should be gentle and not to be pick lightly. The first person who cared for me and heard my plead for help. Which right now I am wishing to see again.

“That’s right, I wanted to see him again.” My fluttering heart and my very being wanted more than anything right now.

In a whispering voice and only enough for me to hear. In a soft voice where I know that no one will ever hear is the only perfect time where I am not judge by my speech impairment and that of my stuttering.

“Nali, Nali? Natalia!”

Sarah’s call and using my nickname that only she could remember.

“I-I’m s-sorry.” I immediately apologize after wondering on my thoughts and somehow left her hanging in our supposed to be tea time.

“Aren’t you thinking about him right now?” her teasing tone and wide grin that quickly made me blush like a newly ripe tomato.

Worse, I almost spill the cup of tea that I am holding from the sudden panic and too late to even control my expression with my gesture that already sold what I am thinking in front of her.

“S-Stop t-teasing m-me Sarah, y-you k-know h-how I am.” I plead to her which amuses her more and which draws her wants to tease me more, but gives up and stops herself of not doing so.

“Alright, alright, alright. I wouldn’t tease you anymore.” She assures, sipping a cup of her tea and gradually eating her favorite sweet, a maccha favored macaroon.

After finishing two that for the moment calms my beating heart. Sarah looks at me with anticipation and bright smile as she asks. “You do is curious about him, right?” a teasing tone to her words that’s knocking the fact that she knew a thing about him.

“W-what d-do y-you m-mean?” My curiosity and the brush of excitement that I am feeling right now from the kind of smile that Sarah is showing me.

“You know what, right now, that person is probably at the office of the Alpha.” She teases me and informing me with the sweetest touch that made my heart skip a beat. Then she asks me, “What can you say, Nali, shall we meet him?”

I am in awe. A bit shaking and immediately asks for a clarification and two. “Him?”

My world brightens, my heart skip a beat and I could feel the warmth of excitement deep inside. I look at Francine and can see from her expression that she knew what I am thinking and feeling right now. The desire and wish to see that person again. The chance to finally be able to thank him. With this warm and tingling feeling deep inside, it’s strange, weird, and somewhat I do not deserve, but I am loving it. Yet.

“B-but, c-can I? N-NO, I am n-not a-allowed. F-For s-someone l-like me. I s-simply c-couldn’t.” My fear and self-doubts.

I am immediately trap in one of my demons, thinking and asking of who am I to face him? Just who am I to demand something that I am not worthy of? Someone that is not worth a dime in this pack.

“You can Nali. You always can.” Sarah assures me and been trying to make me see what she is seeing, but I can’t. “Stop doubting yourself and do not listen to anyone including the Alpha. You do not need to suffer like this for something that isn’t your fault.” She always insists, in a firm tone and proud demeanor.

Those words that a bit is taking the heavy burden inside my heart. But I know my place and with my scars and fear, with the biggest fact that will remain to my life forever. I will never be the person that Sarah wanted me to be. Not when I am this world’s curse one.

I look at her and with a sincere smile almost whisper the words. “Thank you, Sarah.” The only word and gratitude more than anything that I can give to her. Especially for someone like me, that is in the middle of all the worse kind of fear and anxiety in the world.

“You’re here.” A gentle call with a perfectly tune and soft giggle snaps the moment and shakes me back into my cage like reality.

My heart sinks and my body started to quiver with my anxiety and insecurities. I look at her with a fearful expression of disgust, especially when I greeted. “Natasha.” With a broken smile and the exchange that Natasha knew that she can torment me with and worse.

She replies with a smile, a fake one and a cursing type. A bit pretending to acknowledge my presence for a second and two. Then she quickly turns her attention towards Sarah. “As expected, I know that you will be here, Sarah.” The animosity to the tone of her words.

More than saying in front of Sarah that even though Sarah is our older brother’s mate and fiancée, the future Luna of the pack. She, Natasha Wynknight will never like her, and it all because of me. Someone that is worse than a low born that Sarah is fond than her, or there is more than that superficial reason behind all of it.

“Dionne told me that you went ahead, and not to my surprise you are comforting my dear little sister.” Her mocking words in secret while giggling for a bit.

Sarah smiles, but is hiding something that I only know what. “I apologize if I somehow offended you, for not greeting you first when I arrived Natasha.” Her gentle smile and dotting presence that is also a lie which I can only see from her.

Natasha then laughs a bit from Sarah’s apology and assures her instead with the words. “You do not have to worry nor to apologize for anything. You didn’t offend me. Besides, how could someone like me think of those thoughts towards the packs' next Luna?” The bitterness that she is hiding behind her words echoes that both I and Sarah notices, and pretended that we didn’t hear nor notice a thing. “We are going to be a family soon so formalities are unnecessary.” She played it cool, warm and in perfection.

“Very well.” Sarah’s fake convinced tone but drawing her own definition of a pretentious smile and adding. “As long as Nali is not hurt, I promise to be that calm sister-in-law of yours, Natasha.” Her bold, no the boundary and a direct displeasure that she emphasizes towards Natasha.

Sarah’s hostility towards my twin and the fact that remains since the start. Sarah never like Natasha in many ways than one.

“S-Sarah.” I quickly calm her.

A bit panicking upon seeing the heated argument between the two who are acting civil on the surface, but are holding some wrath and grudge towards each other. Situations and moments that I know I needed to stop, but who am I to voice out my opinion? I am only a peddle in the vast garden of beautiful flowers.

“A Luna is a Luna, but a blessed one is always on the top of everyone.” Natasha’s calm response and with a giggle, as she uses her trump card and title that made Sarah speechless with her clench hands and gritting teen.

“Very well indeed.” Sarah’s words in a forceful whisper and holding herself to burst in anger as I am holding her arm and pleading for her to stop, trying to in a way.

With my expression and that I do not want to escalate anything, nor put a larger rift between the both of them. Especially that the servant’s eyes and Natasha’s personal maid is hearing and seeing everything. The maid that will put words to my mouth and always that will result for Dionne and the Alpha to blame me at the end of the day.

“You do have ways of getting on my nerves Sarah.” Natasha’s reply, now with a disdainful tone behind her gentle smile.

“Thank you for the compliment.” Sarah’s rebottle and continue, “For you see no matter who you are and what your title tells you to be, you will always be that cancer in my eyes that I can only favor out of pretense and nothing more but that.” She threatens Natasha that the latter immediately picks the meaning off.

Natasha with her still drawn genuine like smile looks at Sarah with hostility and said, “Is that a threat, a reminder or both?” she asks.

“You are smart enough to know the answer. So, you better embrace your limited time of acting the queen, Natasha.” Sarah’s mysterious like tone that is getting the entire atmosphere in a heavy and dark one.

Worse when they both giggle like nothing is a miss and that they didn’t exchange those words towards each other.

Sweat is forming on my forehead. Natasha and Sarah’s argument are getting worst. Their exchange of words and intellectual insult is making me dizzy with anxiety. Worse with the eyes and ears of the servants that is recording everything that will put me in trouble at the end.

I clench my hand and breath deep and out for a few seconds. For if I didn’t stop this, I will be the one that will end up taking the blame. “N-Natasha, d-do you h-have s-something to s-say?” I finally got the spirit to meddle and comes between them.

Natasha click her tongue and does not even hide her dismay which Sarah didn’t like. But before they could exchange another word to each other, I quickly calm Sarah and pleaded with the look that she is force to give for my sake.

“Father wanted to see you.” Natasha bluntly said is a cold tone and added, “There is something that he wanted to tell you. I guess you did something right for the first time in years, Natalia.” She then smiles.

But unlike her usual smiles that are all fake, this time it is genuinely true. A smile that should make me feel at ease, yet it is hitting with worry and a kind of fear that I couldn’t describe.

“M-me?” I ask, clarifying about it that Natasha confirms with a nod.

She then stands, didn’t mind excusing herself and instructed. “Quickly stand up and head to father’s office. You know that he doesn’t like waiting.” Her warning which at first, I reluctantly wanted to follow.

Just then, Sarah pat my back and smiles. “I’ll go with you, besides Dionne is there too.” She assures me which lifted my spirit.

“T-Thank y-you Sarah.” I smile, thanking her.

“Let’s not waste time, shall we?” Natasha interrupted with a contempt look and walks first back to the mansion.

I nod and followed her. We entered the mansion and welcomes by the gazes of the servants that are uncomfortable in a way that is both mysterious and chilling. That only adds to my already building anxiety for what might the Alpha wanted from me.

“Sarah.” Dionne’s loving call echoes in the near distance, and with his arms wide for Sarah.

Which the latter eagerly and cheerfully jumps to his embrace that at the same time, snaps me back to reality. He gives Sarah a kiss on her forehead and sweetly smiles, before looking at me with contempt that sends a chill down my spine for his demeanor and everything about him resembles too much of the Alpha.

“Natalia.” He suddenly calls for my name in a cold tone.

That Sarah didn’t like and tries to reprimand him. But, only to put his authority as the next Alpha, Sarah’s Alpha, and being my older brother.

“Relax, I will not do anything but just remind her of what she did.” He assures Sarah which Sarah is not convinced about.

Yet she ends up giving in when I shake my head gently asking her to stop. Which worries her more, but respect my wishes.

In a calm, compose and dignified way, and to his voice. Dionne look at me and said. “How many times have you cause trouble for this family, Natali?” he asks in the most intimidating way. “You should have known by now that being a Wynknight means being dignified and proud at all times. Yet you always end up disappointing this family with your actions.” He starts to scold me with those deep gazes that is like cursing me to death and voice that is as cold as ice.

Dionne’s authority and strong presence that distinguish him from the other packs heir and as the eldest son of the renowned family of Wynknight. The blood that is blessed by the Moon Goddess and with his character that is strong, proud, compose, but ruthless. A dotting and loving older brother, but only towards Natasha and never been once to me.

“What you did last night is both an utter foolish and dangerous thing to do. You just didn’t bring yourself in jeopardy, but you almost drag the family name in dishonor, and once, more.” He added, while making sure to put salt on my wounds.

I could only look down and tightly holds on my skirt. Acknowledging what he said and the fact that it was all my fault.

“I hope that you have realize what you have done and reflected upon it.” He added and a bit surprising, for he isn’t scolding me more and longer than he always did from the past.

“I-I u-understand, and d-deeply a-apologize f-for w-what I d-did.” I stutter and full of anxiety when our father’s, no, the Alpha’s butler came and informs.

“Miss. Natalia, the Alpha is already waiting for you in his office.” The butler John informs, stoic with his expression and as cold as ice.

The long-time butler of the Alpha who belongs to a family of long generations servants of the family of Wynknight. The most trusted servant and personal aid of the Alpha who grows up with him and stayed by the family’s side with his loyalty that is greater than anyone.

I immediately acknowledge and left everyone in the living room and immediately follows John. My heart is beating fast and anxiety is building and a bit suffocating. I brace myself and prepare for the worse when we arrive in front of the Alpha’s office. John knocks the door thrice and waited for a second as the Alpha gave the permission to get inside. He opens the door and let me inside.

“T-Thank Y-you.” I stutter, all while holding my composure yet I still couldn’t lift my head to directly look to the direction of the Alpha.

“Come inside, Natalia.” He calls, the Alpha did.

A first and a bit gentle that surprises and somehow tickles me with the warm hope and made me smile. I then enter the room as John closes it from behind. I tried to look up and directly to the Alpha that is seating in his chair, hand clasp and the expression that is cold and expressionless. Worse with the light from the sun that is covering his full face from the shadow of sitting opposite to the glass window behind him. Making his presence a bit of a heavy thing around me.

Then he said. “Natalia. I will not be running around the bush for I know that you know very well that what you did last night had its consequence.” Pointing immediately to the trouble that I have cause. “But what happened is a past that no one can undo. We can simply accept and learn from it.”

I am once more surprise, no bewildered by what I just heard. Now asking myself if I heard him right. For he is not screaming at me and scolding me for what I have done. Unusual and peculiar that scares me even more.

WHEN.

“But what comes of what happened that night is a blessing that is worthy for a pleasing gratitude.” He then looks at the door that made me look at that direction.

The door opens and footsteps echoes. Someone else enter that made my eyes widen in bewilderment and somewhat being brush with the tingling feeling that is like there is a thousand butterflies fluttering inside of me. I almost gasp and cover my mouth which I gladly didn’t.

For, there he is. Yes, the person who save me that night. The one that I couldn’t be wrong of who and no matter what and in any circumstances, I will and forever recognize him even when his back is turn. I brace myself and now hearing my heart beat that’s so loud that I might become deaf. His face, his smile, his very existence that is now here right in front of me.

“Natalia, this is Magnus, your Fiancée.”

I quickly look back to the Alpha’s direction, a bit confused, but my mind is instant caught with the fact and the word.

‘FIANCEE.’