Fake Luna

That Scent

That Scent

KAELLAN

If only I have known what my pack mates meant by extravagant, I would not have just settled on assuming that the palace of the Royal Family of wolves is plainly gilded in gold, bright with enchanting chandeliers, and festive with loads of food and wine.

I guess I am really that naïve, after all.

“I can literally read what you have in mind, Kaellan,” Luna Vinelle giggled as she sidled beside me while we walked into the grand hall where doves flew majestically in the dome-shaped high ceiling and modern lightings emphasized the embellished classical carvings on the palace’s columns.

“Have you been here before, my Luna?”

“I guess I have but only the late Queen received me. It was when I took the decree of your legalization in the territory.”

“Ah, so it was a year ago.”

“Yes, you could say that. It was also before she perished.”

Pearl and her friends almost yelled in excitement when they acquired a good look into the hall and Luna Vinelle laughed in amusement.

“Go on and make friends, girls. Just mind your manners and be professional, okay?”

“Yes, Luna!” Pearl chimed and then said, “Girls, have you heard what the other packs have been talking about on our way here?”

“What specifically is it?”

“They said that the Crown Prince might hold a few minutes of silence during the midnight in hopes of finding his mate here,” she squealed which was seconded by most of our members. I glanced at Luna Vinelle and I teasingly smiled at her.

“I told you, my Luna. This could be your moment in all the time.”

“Oh, you. You should be looking out for yourself more than I. Never mind me. Whether I find a mate or not, what matters is that we are all stuck together and safe. Now let us go find the family members to call on some courtesy.”

LORD LANCETT is distinctively handsome for a werewolf of pure and native upbringing. Apart from the family’s trademark of blindingly silver hair, his aquiline nose that highlighted his cunning nature made him stand out even in the middle of an elite crowd.

But what can I say?

Lord Lancett is one of a kind.

He might be some figure that everyone fears of in the royal courts but as far as my observation is concerned, his consistent presence to help give lectures in the academy regarding the history of Zaphtos is compelling.

Therefore, as soon as it was our turn to pay him courtesy, I bowed deeper than necessary in respect to his academic pursuits.

“Please raise, my beautiful ladies of Bellastrom. It has been a while since I have seen you go out in this number. I wish you are all doing well and safe,” he said as he smiled down at our Luna who gracefully returned the gesture.

“Thank you for your hospitality, My Lord. May I extend my respects by offering you the gift we prepared for your family?”

“Why, of course you can. It is my pleasure to be of help.”

“Here is our humble craft, My Lord. It would definitely not parallel with the pieces from your royal tailors but we hope that you would all find these scarves useful in the coming winter.”

Lord Lancett seemed pleased with the folds of fabric that rested on his servant’s hands that he even walked up to it and felt the softness of the twills.

“I thank you for your sincerity. Please rest at ease and enjoy the banquet.”

We scattered in a frenzy of excitement and bewilderment. I was drawn to the spell that bound the self-playing strings on the ranks and I did not notice my Luna when she walked up to me until she tugged on my sleeve.

“Kaellan, do you have a minute?”

“Why, yes, my Luna. What would you require me of?”

“As you know, I am quite overwhelmed with directions and I did not clearly understand what the butler just told me. Could you just accompany me so we could find a restroom together?”

“Of course, my Luna,” I nodded and immediately offered my arm for her to cling on. At times like this, I just knew that she would drink with just a simple invitation from other attendees since that is just how nice she is but she even could not hold her liquor.

“How much have you drank, my Luna?”

I guided her up the stairs after asking another servant for directions and waited for her reply but she only gave me a series of giggles.

“Do not you worry too much about me, Kaellan. I am just being friendly to everyone.”

“Please allow me to accompany you the whole night, my Luna.”

“You silly girl. I can handle myself. I just need to go to the restroom to get refreshed.”

I nodded at her. However, deep inside my head, I know that I should begin keeping an eye on her in case someone tries to do something funny over her.

 “Are we there yet?”

“We are close, my Luna. Hold on to me a little more.”

“Okay…” she slurred and then, in just a spilt second, we both stopped as I felt her hands gripping tightly against my arm. “Kaellan, dear?”

“Yes, my Luna?”

“Do you smell that?”

I felt my wolf’s ears prick in attention just by the sudden alarm of what she just said but I smelled nothing suspicious. So I shook my head and asked her, “What must that be, my Luna?”

“That smell,” she reiterated as she began to pick it again in the air using sharp, short sniffs. Groaning with frustration, she stomped her foot and said, “Now I cannot catch it.”

She might have not realized it by then but as soon as I glanced my way to her, I immediately deciphered what just happened and I am now looking directly down the eyes of a wolf who just picked up the scent of her mate for the first time.

Eyes glowing in frenzy, she stared back at me with an ironically confused face.

“What is wrong, Kaellan?”

“My Luna…”

Suddenly, her grip tightened into a shocked squeeze as she gasped. She got into the state of trance and she completely ignored me while she is completely being mind linked.

As soon as her eyes reverted back to their original glow, her trance dissipated as well, and now, the excitement I saw behind her wolf’s orbs are replaced with a surge of urgency.

“Kaellan, please do not tell them that I went home ahead, okay?”

“My Luna, what happened?”

“Melissa signalled me to come home immediately as Lianna began to cry and no one is with her at the pack house. She also alerted me that a suspicious track might mean something dangerous. I have to go.”

“Do you need me to go with you, my Luna?”

“No, just stay here. I promised you that you will enjoy the night, Kaellan. Remain here and if everything turns out fine, I will be back. All right?”

I looked at her in defeat and sighed before saying, “Command me and I surrender, my Luna.”

“Good.”

With a satisfied smile, she ran and leapt out of the nearby open window before I caught the flash her white fur as it shimmered against the crescent moonlight.

SEVERIN

My body ignited the moment I caught the distinctive sweet aroma of nectar I would have sworn to hunt down decades ago if I knew existed. As soon as I registered the stimulus to my hypersensitive wolf, we both growled at the implication of something that almost drove me to my edge.

“Mate.”

I was not supposed to go out there and cooperate with what the brothers held. But as soon as I caught the scent that was also the moment I lost it, as if it never happened. But I know that it has been somewhere close to me and so, even though I normally would refuse, I succumbed to the surge of power that my wolf mustered inside and barged out of my quarters.

I followed where the strong energy wielded my legs to run and yet, when my wolf decided to screech into a halt, all I saw was a faint white figure leaping out the window.

What the hell?

There was never even a hint of that scent in here.

What is going on?