The Disastrous Luna

Sneaking In

ISABELLE'S POV

I pace back and forth within the small space of the guestroom I was given, trying to calm my nerves.

My plan was to find and break into the palace library to look for records of their past raids. I know they have a secret library filled with past records and I might get a clue of what happened to my family after they were captured if I lay my hands on those records.

The grand royal dinner to welcome princess Charlotte and other royal guests is tonight. Which means the guards are preoccupied with keeping watch over the festival. I must seize this opportunity to carry out my mission.

Finally there is a knock on the door and a servant's voice comes from the other side."Your highness, it's time for the royal party."

"Thank you." I reply. "I'll be there shortly."

"We should come with you." Mandy insists as I slip into my blue pants and a hooded cloak and flat sandles.

"No." I decline. "I need you two to stay here and cover up for me incase anyone asks where I am."

I appreciate their concern but bringing them along will only increase the chances of getting caught.

"Okay. But be careful and remember any hesitation or any sign of nervousness can give you away." Lauren advices handing me the small map of the castle and lockpicks.

Lauren and Mandy give me reassuring smiles as I slip out of the luxurious guestroom and make my way down the dimly lit hallway. The place is eerily quiet at night, with only the sound of laughter and music coming from the ballroom.

According to the map I have, the palace library is located on the far east end of the palace, away from the guest rooms and dining areas, a perfect spot to avoid detention.

I tiptoe down a flight of stairs and through a maze of collidors, my eyes dart around anxiously keeping an eye for any guards or servants. I know there must be palace guards on night patrol, especially on a night with a royal party the guards are always on look out for intruders.

As I turn a corner, my heart leaps into my throat at the faint sound of hushed voices. I halt and hold my breath, but then I realize that the voices are coming from inside one of the rooms.

At first, all I can hear are sound of hushed whispers, too quiet for me to make out the words. But then they get louder.

"We need to talk to our son about marrying the princess Sooner." A female voice says.

"Why? what the rush?" A male voice asks his voice one of confusion.

They sound like king Cedric and his queen if I am not mistaken, and they are talking about their son and his soon to be bride, princess Charlotte.

"We need to make sure they marry before the princess phases." The queens voice says her voice grim. "If she phases and Hayden realizes the prophecy was a lie he will reject her. But if we get them married before she phases everything will be okay."

The king hesitates for a moment before answering. "That an excellent idea. I'll make sure to bring it up during dinner tonight."

"But we have to be careful, we don't want it to look like we are forcing him into anything." The queen says and I feel a pang of sympathy for the prince as I realize the implication of their conversation. Sounds like they are fooling their son into a loveless union with princess Charlotte just so his father secure wealth and great alliances.

But whatever they are doing is none of my concern, I have an important mission and neither them nor their son deserve any form of happiness anyway.

I rush past the room and walk down another staircase and that's when I see a small board hanging from the roof at the center of the corridor. The words 'Silvermoon library' are curved and highlighted with golden colour on the board.

My heart race as I approach the large oak door ahead of the board sign. I really hope no one is there at this hour.

I produce the set of lockpicks from the pocket of my coat and begin working on the door while keeping an eye on the stairs for anyone who might catch me.

After a short tense moment, the door clicks open and I quickly slip in. I quietly close the door behind me and take a deep breath relived I have made it this far.

My eyes widen when I turn around and take in the vast library of shelves upon shelves of maps, scrolls and books. Seems like finding the information I need will be like searching for a needle in a haystack. But I also know I have no other choice. I have to at least find a clue or a hint of the information I need.

* * * * *

HAYDEN'S POV

As we walk into the hall I look over at Charlotte and see the nervousness in her beautiful eyes. I reach over and gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I know how overwhelming this must be for her.

I lead her to the center of the room where we are met by cheers and applause from our guest. My father the king raises his hand, signaling for silence and he turns to address the crowd.

"Welcome, everyone to this joyous occasion." He begins. "In three days we will be celebrating the union of two kingdoms and the love between two beautiful, unique beings. I am honored to stand before you as I introduce my son's betrothed, princess Charlotte."

The room once again erupts in applause as Charlotte curtsies gracefully.

"May the celebrations begin. My father offers a toast to our engagement.The room fills with the sounds of clinking glasses and soft chatter as we all settle down at different tables to enjoy the feast that had been prepared for us.

"Welcome to our kingdom princess, we are so honoured to have you here." My father says smiling warmly at princess Charlotte.

"Thank you, your majesty. I'm honoured and humbled to be welcomed into your kingdom and family."

"I knew the moon goddess has chosen for my son well." My father says. Seems like just like my mother he has been impressed by the princess beauty already. "You two should wed in a week's time." He adds and a wave of shock runs through my body.

I am aware of the fact that my father only wants us to wed for political reasons, to secure an alliance between our two kingdoms so that he will have a big army to conquer kingdoms like he did in the past.

I am now powerful enough to stand on the way of any greedy quests that results in harming of innocents. We have more land and wealth than any other kingdom because he had conquered several weak packs many years ago before the strength of his army diminished. I couldn't stop him then, but I am powerful enough to do so now.

Princess Charlotte looks thrilled by the idea of a marriage in two weeks, probably because she is unaware of my father's goals. I can stop my father from attacking any pack or kingdom, but I also don't want to rush into a marriage with someone a woman I have barely met, especially when we still have no mate bond.

"I cannot agree to this marriage until Charlotte has phased," I say and

the table falls silent as my father looks at me surprised.

"What do you mean?" He asks leaning forward.

"I mean, I cannot marry someone who I have no mate bond with." I say. "I will wait for her to phase before we marry."

I notice my mother tense as she glaces at my father with a concerned look.

"We cannot afford to delay this union." He says his expression hardening." You know how important and beneficial this will be for this kingdom."

"I understand the importance of this alliance." I say my frustration growing. "But it won't hurt to wait for princess Charlotte to phase."

"Enough!" My father slams his fist on the table, causing the dishes to rattle. My mother tries to get him to calm down as the other guests glace in our direction but he doesn't.

"You already have validation from our elders that she is indeed your mate." He says and I finally feel that I have had enough.

I stand, my chair scraping against the floor. " Neither of us will be forced into a marriage. We need time to make our own decisions." I state in a firm tone.

With that I leave the dinning room needing time to think. I hear someone follow after me but I don't stop and neither do I look behind.

ISABELLE'S POV

It takes me almost a whole hour to locate the shelve section of the library that contains the history of raids, prisoners and alliances.

I move quietly through the stacks, scanning the whole shelve and then, I see it, a leather bound book tucked away on the high shelve.

I don't waste a single moment as I immediately try climbing over the shelves trying to get it, but as I am rummaging through the shelves, my foot catches under loose bord and I stumble. The shelves happens to be too old and collapses underneath my weight. I land back on the floor with a loud crash.

I quickly sit back upright ignoring the pain on my back. I cant stay much longer. Someone must have heard the noise from my fall.

I reach out and quickly retrieve the book under the stuck of broken woods and other books that have fallen. It doesn't look old but it stinks of staleness. I immediately start flipping through it's records of raids, treaties and alliances hoping to find some clue about the location of captives that were captured during my pack attack.

A lump form in my throat when I open the last page of the report on alliance of Silvermoon and Blackwolves pack and there are no more records or details of raids or alliances after that, I close the file and reopen it again hoping I'm mistaken but the records I need doesn't appear. I lips shake as I fight tears of frustration and anger.

My pack was immediately attacked after the Silvermoon and Blackwolves kingdoms allied behind my mother's back, who was the Luna then. So the records of the raid should be here, unless someone removed them.

I carefully replace the book on one of the other shelves, making a mental note of it's location even if it doesn't have the information I need.

I peek through the parted door to make sure that the hallway is empty. When I'm certain there is no one I slip out of the room.

Midway towards the stairs I hear footsteps approaching and I quickly run back and hide behind the door. I hold my breath and wait.

Minutes later the sound of footsteps fades and I step out from my hinding, but I halt and turn when someone behind me clears their throat. I find myself face to face with prince Hayden. My brain short-circuit for a moment.

"Aren't you a little too loud for a thief? What are you doing here?" He demands his voice laced with anger.

HAYDEN POV

I watch her hesitates to answer my question for a moment, looking as if she is trying to come up with an excuse. Her alluring eyes look even more bewitching now that she is anxious than when met at the gate.

"I'm...I was looking for the bathrooms, I got lost." She finally stammers. "I didn't mean to intrude."

I raise an eyebrow, feeling skeptical.

I was coming from the royal dinning when I heard strange noises. It is late at night, and I knew the library is supposed to be locked up. As I approached the library door, I heard the sound of rustling pages and footsteps.

"The bathrooms are right outside the ball room, that side." I say, pointing in the opposite direction. "This is a restricted area, you shouldn't be down here." I add sternly.

She steps towards me, her eyes flashing. "I was not breaking in," She says. "I was simply lost."

I feel my jaw clench. I am not used to being talked back to, especially by a woman. "I beg to differ," I say, stepping closer to her and she steps right back looking scared. "As prince of this kingdom, it is my business to ensure that you're not anywhere you are not supposed to be. And let me not catch you in the wrong place again."

She glares at me. "I won't," she says, her voice cold. "I have no desire to be caught by you again."

I nod feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Good," I say.

"I'll be on my way now." She huffs and makes a haste retreat past me. I don't stop her.

Despite the confrontation, I can't help feeling a twinge of regret as I watch her go. There is something about her that intrigues me, and I can't shake the feeling that there was more to her than meets the eye.

As I turn to leave, a figure emerges from the shadows.

"Charlotte?" I say nonchalantly though I am astounded to see her here. Had she followed me?

"I thought you were still at the dinner party?"