My Cinderella Luna: Tests and Temptations

Chapter 6: Visitors to Come

“Father!” 

Arinya jumped to her seat when she heard Dessa scream announcing the Alpha’s arrival. Today, Ari was not wearing peasant clothes. Instead, she was wearing her usual clothing, presentable and beautiful, just like her sister’s clothing. It was a  routine that Ari allowed her stepmother to dictate to her. When her father was present she would act as if she was not acting like a housemaid. Ari knew the unfairness of the situation, but she allowed for it to happen since they arrived here. She was so guilty of her mother’s wrongdoing which Selda kept on repeating to her. She did not have the right to complain. 

“Hello, little star.” 

Alpha Orion kissed her on her cheek.

“I missed you, father.” 

Wrapping his arms on Ari’s shoulders, Alpha Orion announced that the Eternal Moon Pack would be visiting their pack in the next two days. They had to get ready for their arrival. 

Dessa squealed in her seat, while Isbeth’s eyes sparked in anticipation. She knew Arcus would choose her. She would dress up at her best and Arcus would not be able to resist her. 

“But this year, since there would be three princesses that Arcus had to choose as his Luna, the three of you had to wear a mask during the show of skills and the night of the gala when he would choose his new Luna.”

The three of them gasped. Mask? They would be in a mask? 

“But father, each of us has different eye color, they would also know who is who.” 

“That should not be a problem my dear, Selda informed. I can work with Elder Severa to make your eyes of the same color.

“That will be great, my Luna.” Orion admiringly said, learning that a dilemma would be arranged for him. 

He then looked at his daughters one by one. "Now, my daughters, I want you to prepare for the show of skills day and of the gala. Be your best, your destiny depends on it. You all have met Arcus, he is a great man and a great Alpha.” 

Arcus was already leading the Eternal Moon Pack as an Alpha since he was 16 years old. Alpha Zeke and Luna Daniela were both killed by rogues, two weeks after their visit in the Eternal Moon Pack. 

It was a huge and horrible news all over Reverse for ALpha Zeke and Luna Daniela were among the most beloved leaders in their world. Arinya cried for days, her heart ached for Arcus but she couldn’t go to him and comfort him, not even text him. It was forbidden to continue communicating with him as he had to wait for five more years to choose among the three of them. Thus, it was only Alpha Orion and Luna Selda who went back in the Eternal Moon Pack to give respect and attend the funeral. 

Arinya remembered that her father told her that Arcus looked devastated and had seemed aged for a few years because of what happened. He was forced to lead the pack unexpectedly while he was mourning the loss of his parents. 

Arinya was excited to meet Arcus again though, so many things had happened but she would never forget how kindly he treated her. He was the first person who ever met Rinya, her wolf, and she would be grateful to him for taking good care of her despite her fear which hurt him in the process.

The three of them worked on their preparations. Or rather two of the sisters. Ari knew that she would not be the selected daughter, anyway. 

She listened to her sisters bubbled endlessly about Arcus. What he looked like, and of how he was as an Alpha. They had never met him again for the past five years but they have heard stories about him. He was said to be the greatest Alpha of the Eternal Moon Pack. Intelligent, handsome, tactical, cold, and cunning. His business dealings in the human world amazed those older than him while his fighting ability was said to be unparalled. He was a fierce soldier in their pack and he was not the type to stay behind during wars. He led his pack in many victories and through the years, they conquered rogue-forts which were said to be hard to find and to defeat. 

Arcus had achieved too many things and Arinya thought that she had nothing to offer to him. She was just the youngest daughter of Orion who hid all the time as she preferred to work behind the curtain. She never wanted to be at the limelight ever and she always thought her sisters to be the better choice to be next Luna of the largest and richest pask in Reverse. It would be impossible for Arcus to choose someone like her, who was only homeschooled by their governess, unlike her two sisters who went to colleges in Reverse. Her stepmother Selda secretly requested for her to stay behind and spend her days in their villa and not to go to a boarding school to study and so she fiercely requested her father to just study at home. 

Orion, who was always a softie towards Arinya, thought that she could not still bare to leave her life in the villa, thus, he let her stay. His thoughts was, Arinya might even be selected by Alpha Arcus and so she would be gone away with him someday, thus he could enjoy the limited days he could have with her, unwittingly letting his wife secretly boss around Arinya when he was not around. 

Since her sisters went to college, Arinya’s days got a little bit lighter, she would not need to give them body massages or randomly serve them food at night or send them snacks in the forest when their friends do some group outing. Arinya would also not need to follow them around so she could easily grant their needs. When her sisters were at the boarding school on weekdays, Selda would only secretly make her serve her when Orion was too occupied in his pack affairs. When her father was around, Selda treated her better. Thus, Arinya learned to be more appreciative of her situation in the past year. 

Arinya learned to be content with what she had at the moment and she never dared to imagine being with Arcus and clutching the prestigious position of a Luna someday. And as Ari matured, she realized that her closeness with Arcus was somewhat caused by her being the youngest and he saw her as his little sister. A safe companionship among the three of them. 

What was there to choose about her, anyway? Her sister Isbeth had the strong personality of a Luna, she would surely become a leader. She was also very beautiful, long dark hair, brown eyes and a slender figure. While her other older sister could also be Arcus’ pick. Dessa had bloomed to be more beautiful in the past years. She also had a slender figure that men could also turn second gazes towards her. 

Ari was the tallest among the three of them, with a height of 5”8’, she always felt like a giant towards her sisters, and worst, she did not have a slender figure, she was more on the voluptuous shape of body. She’s got thin arms and long legs, but her hips could be such an annoyance. For her it seemed too wide for her liking, while her boobs became bigger than she wanted them to be. She remembered Isbeth kept on telling her that her boobs were too big to be appealing. 

Ari took in a breath. She never wanted to be the next Luna of the Eternal Moon Pack. She would rather stay in their pack, taking charge of the tasks given to her. She would be with her father as long as he needed her to be. 

She remembered Arcus’ towering height looming over her as they enjoyed a simple walk to the stables. She remembered him embracing her naturally as if they were siblings. She remembered his smell, she remembered his eyes and the way they made her very, very uncomfortable. She remembered him taking bruises from her as she turned on his arms and never let go of her. 

Ari would always keep in her heart the moments she had with Arcus but she long had accepted that she couldn't compete with her sisters. Probably not just because she thought she was not worthy but also because she wanted them to be happy. She was willing to step down for them and that was what siblings do.

Ari shook her head and decided to take away her anxiousness on Arcus’ arrival in their pack. Instead, she focused on the tasks at hand. Whistling, she trailed the road towards the stables where Blake would be waiting for her. 

"Ari!" His excited voice grabbed Ari's attention. 

"Hello, Blake, and hello, birthday girl!" She fondly scratched Price's neck, a stunning 5-year old black horse. 

"Time flew so fast in our pack, imagine Price being 5 years old now."

Blake sounded like a parent and Ari wanted to roll her eyes, if only she was not also feeling the same. Time flew so fast in their pack. Five years was up, she was about to meet Arcus again. 

"Penny for your thoughts?" Blake started putting on saddles in Price's back. 

“Well, I kinda need to really have a stroll with you today.” She nonchalantly said. “The peace and quiet of the field, the sound of the river. I need that today.” She smiled at him.

"Is it because of the Eternal Moon Pack's visit? Blake’s lips anxiously curled.

"How did you know?"

"You are always so naive, Ari, of course everybody knows."

Blake sounded different. Was there anger in his voice? She never had enough time to process that though. Blake suddenly grabbed her waist and lifted her up over Price's back. Having done it before a hundred times, though unexpected, Ari was still able to keep up with what was happening but with a high pitched scream. 

"Blake, you i***t!"

Her best friend simply turned his back and went up to another horse. 

"Let's go, Ari. Let's tour Pricey like it was her first time." Blake flipped his golden hair over his head and he looked adorably handsome. Ari's heart swelled. Her best friend had broken a lot of hearts, she was glad not to be one of them.

They silently strolled over the green fields. Arinya's thoughts were about the fact that one of her sisters might not be around anymore after the Eternal Moon Pack's visit. She was sure it would not be her. She never dreamed of being married at a very young age. 

"Are you sure you don't want to get picked by the Eternal Moon Pack's Alpha?" Her best friend suddenly broke their silence. Their horses walked side by side lazily. 

"You know that I didn't want to get married very young, Blake. Besides, Arcus is…. Arcus." She sighed with admiration. 

"He would never pick someone like me. He was too far ahead of me." She smiled looking down.

"You know that is not true, right? But what if you see him this time and you suddenly like him?" He never wanted that, because he would trade the world for her. But the masochist man inside of him wanted to know.