The Luna's Curse

A Palace of Wolves

Current day

CAROLINE'S POV

I had never felt silence this loud before.

The room I was given was larger than my entire dorm suite back at my school.

Dark walnut floors. Silver-trimmed furniture. A canopy bed draped in charcoal silk. Tall arched windows overlooking endless forest.

Beautiful.

Luxurious.

A gilded cage.

I stood near the window, arms wrapped around myself, staring at the trees below. Somewhere beyond them was my campus. Somewhere beyond them was the life I understood.

Gabriella.

The thought hit me like a bruise.

Was she alive?

Was she—

No. I refused to let my mind go there.

A slow ache pulsed beneath my skin again. Subtle. Restless. Like something inside me was pacing.

Wolf. There were real after all, the old lady who attended to me filled me in last night before I passed out.

I exhaled sharply and stepped away from the window.

“I am not a prisoner,” I muttered to myself, felt like I was trying to convince myself even.

But the heavy oak door across the room felt like proof otherwise.

I had two options: sit here and drown in my thoughts… or learn the territory of the beast who claimed me.

If I was going to survive this place and curate my revenge accordingly, I needed to know it.

With my revenge keeping me company, I crossed the room and pulled the door open.

Just as I opened the door, i slammed into something solid.

A wall.

Or someone, it seems.

Strong hands gripped my arms to steady me before I could fall.

“Well,” a deep, amused voice said above me, “either you walk very fast, or you were eager to see me.”

I looked up.

And forgot how to breathe.

One good thing about here was the many handsime faces. He was unfairly handsome. Warm brown skin, sharp cheekbones, and eyes the color of honey caught in sunlight. His dark curls were pulled back loosely, and his smile was effortless — dangerous in a completely different way from Damon. Thinking if that demon made me want to puke.

“I—” I cleared my throat. “You were in my way.”

His grin widened. “I’ll try not to take that personally.”

He stepped back but didn’t release my arms immediately. When he finally did, the air felt strangely colder.

“I’m Harry,” he said, offering a slight bow that somehow felt playful rather than formal. “The King’s right-hand man.”

Of course he was.

“Caroline,” I replied carefully. “Though I’m sure everyone already knows that.”

“Oh, we do,” he said lightly. “Moonhold Palace doesn’t breathe without word reaching the King.”

Moonhold Palace.

So that’s what my prison was called.

“I was actually hoping to explore,” I said, lifting my chin slightly. “Unless that’s forbidden too.”

Harry’s eyes flickered with amusement. “Not forbidden. Just… supervised.”

“Great, I'm honored” I just couldn't hold back my wit.

“What do you mean supervised?”.

“For your safety,” he said smoothly, if he was bothered by my wit, he didn't show it.

“And possibly ours.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He laughed.

“Come on,” he gestured down the corridor. “If you’re to stay here, you should at least know where you’re staying. I’ll introduce you to the staff.”

I hesitated only a second before stepping beside him. I might as well have company in mesery.

The halls of Moonhold Palace were breathtaking. High vaulted ceilings painted with celestial murals. Crystal chandeliers casting fractured light across marble floors. Massive windows overlooking cliffs and endless woodland.

This wasn’t just a palace.

It was a kingdom carved into power.

Servants with the same weird attire as the lady from yesterday, bowed subtly as we passed. Some stared at me with curiosity.

Others with something more calculating.

“Do they all know?” I asked quietly.

“That you’re the prophesied Luna?” Harry replied easily. “Most suspect.”

I stiffened.

“And what do they think?”

He glanced sideways at me. “That depends who you ask.”

We turned a corner—

And I saw him.

The man who had stood beside Damon earlier.

The man who had kidnapped me from my dorm.

The one who bit me.

He stood near a set of tall doors, speaking with two guards who again, wore the weird outfit, I must remember to ask Harry about it.

Verifier, as I was told last night, my attackers name is, stood rigid, alert.

When his eyes lifted and landed on me, something unreadable flashed across his face.

My entire body tensed.

Hatred surged so quickly it shocked even me.

If looks could kill, he would’ve dropped where he stood.

Harry noticed.

And laughed.

Not cruelly — but knowingly.

“Oh, that’s priceless,” he murmured.

“What’s funny?” I snapped.

“You glaring at him like that.”

“Should I smile instead?” I shot back. “He attacked me.”

Harry’s expression softened slightly. “He followed orders.”

“That makes it better?”

“It makes it necessary.”

I scoffed.

“You’ll grow used to him,” Harry said calmly. “You might even find you enjoy speaking with him.”

“I doubt that.”

He smirked. “We’ll see.”

Before I could respond, a young servant hurried toward us, breathless.

“My lord Harry,” she bowed quickly. “There’s an urgent matter in the council chamber. The King requests your presence immediately.”

Harry’s jaw tightened for the first time since I’d met him.

“Of course.”

He turned to me. “Stay within the west wing. I’ll return shortly.”

“I don’t need babysitting,” I muttered.

“That wasn’t a suggestion, for your safety, remember?”

And just like that, he was gone.

I stood alone in the hallway, irritation bubbling beneath my skin.

West wing.

Right.

I turned in the opposite direction.

If I was trapped here, I refused to follow invisible lines like some obedient pet.

The deeper I wandered, the quieter the palace became. The floors shifted from marble to polished stone. Tapestries depicting ancient wolves lined the walls.

The air felt cooler.

I found myself admiring the craftsmanship despite myself. Intricate carvings of crescent moons and howling wolves adorned door frames. Silver inlays shimmered faintly in the stone.

This place wasn’t just beautiful.

It was old.

Powerful.

Alive. Just like my werewolf pack novels and movies had described but even better…even I had to admit.

I walked through an archway—

And froze.

This part of the palace felt strange.

Narrow corridors. No servants. No windows.

I turned left.

Then right.

Then another right.

My pulse quickened.

This wasn’t the way back.

I tried retracing my steps, but every hallway looked the same. The air grew heavier, quieter.

Great.

Kidnapped and now lost inside my kidnapper’s castle.

“Brilliant, Caroline,” I muttered under my breath.

I rounded another corner—

And nearly collided with someone again.

But this time, the hands that caught my shoulders were not warm.

They were possessive.

Sharp.

Manicured nails dug no so lightly into my skin as I was steadied — or restrained.

“Oh, Well,” a silky voice drawled above me. “You must be the human.” She said the last word like she wanted to puke the word out of her mouth.

I looked up slowly.

She was breathtaking.

Long black hair cascading down her back. Crimson lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her icy blue eyes. She wore a fitted silver gown that shimmered like moonlight itself.

Power seemed to cling to her like perfume.

Recognition hit instantly.

Kate.

She just has to be Kate.

The King’s rumored fling.

The self-proclaimed future Luna. At least according to the Old lady.

Her grip tightened just slightly.

“You’re not supposed to be in this wing, but I've always known to be lucky and favoured” she said softly.

I swallowed softly, if she is as unpredictable as pretty old lady said, then I had to leave here.

And fast.

The smile never faded.

But her eyes?

They promised war.

And suddenly, Verifier felt like a dear friend and being lost felt like the least of all my problems.