Rejected Luna Of The Cursed Alpha

The Ceremony

Hours prior to the ceremony, I stood before the full-length mirror, as Helen gently adjusted the silver gown on my body. "You have to stop fidgeting," she said, smiling, gently taking hold of my hand and pulling it away as I tried to smooth out a wrinkle that didn’t exist.

"I can’t," I replied with a smile. "I’m nervous."

"You should be excited, not nervous."

"I am both."

Helen backed away, squinted her eyes, and then circled around me one last time, like an artist examining her creation.

The dress swished along the floor in layers of silver and white; each time it was caught by the lights in the room. Small crystals were sewn on the fabric, causing it to sparkle with each movement.

I had never worn anything this gorgeous before.

Even when I got married.

Helen gently pulled the neckline of the dress straight and nodded. "Perfect."

I turned towards the mirror.

For a moment...

I could hardly recognize myself. I looked elegant and confident. Someone who really deserved to be in this palace.

A tear began forming in my throat.

Three years ago, I was walking along the exact same halls with buckets of water and clothes for washing. I used to scrub these floors till they could reflect my face. I lowered my head every single time the noble passed because I didn’t want to make any mistakes that would cost me my job.

Back then, being Luna was never even a dream.

It was something impossible.

But somehow…

Life had brought me to this point.

Beside me, in the mirror, Helen smiled. “You look exactly like a Luna.”

Blushing, I asked, “Do I?”

She seemed offended by the question. “You don’t believe me?”

“I… I guess I’m just afraid.”

“Of what?”

“What if I disappoint everyone?”

“No.” Helen shook her head. “You won’t.” She approached the dressing table, where the moon-like necklace that Kael had gifted to me lay. “This necklace was gifted to you by the Alpha himself.”

She fastened the necklace around my neck before brushing my hair off my shoulders. “It belonged to his mother.”

Fingers reached out to touch the pendant.

I never forgot how he put it around my neck one morning. "This belonged to my mother when she first became Luna."

It made me happy.

Perhaps...

Everything was indeed going to be alright after all.

She placed her hands on my shoulders. "Lady Aria."

I looked at her in the mirror.

"For almost sixteen years now, I have been working in this palace. And I have seen the late Luna rule this pack with grace. People respected her because she treated everyone with honor and dignity." She smiled. "And whenever I look at you... I see the same grace."

My heart ached with many types of sweet feelings. "Really?"

"I know it."

But before I could say anything else, a small cry was heard from the crib behind us. I quickly turned around. "My prince has awoken. " I walked towards the crib and picked up Leo from there. The moment he laid his eyes on me, he broke out in a smile, which made all my worries disappear. "Here you are."

I kissed him on his forehead. "Do you know what day it is today?"

He replied with a big yawn.

"I laughed. 'From today, your mummy becomes your Luna,” I pressed my nose softly against his. "And one day, when you become old enough to understand, I will explain everything about today."

Helen observed us in silence and smiled faintly. "You will make a wonderful Luna," she whispered.

I gazed at Leo. And then at myself in the mirror. For the first time ever, after waking up... I started to believe it.

And all the doubts dissipated, my fears about Serena returning to live under our roof and about whether the presentation was going to really go ahead.

I did not even believe I would get to see this hour here, knowing that in the next hour I would be in the presence of the whole pack as their Luna.

Kael entered the room, dashing in his own Alpha attire. He had always been a handsome man, but there is just something about the ceremonial dress that makes him exceptional.

His gaze ran over me slowly before landing again on my face. He stopped for a moment. "My God, you look so beautiful.”

Warmth spread across my cheeks. In some way, hearing those words from him eased my heart.

**********

The ceremonial hall had never looked more gorgeous.

Silver banners displaying the emblem of the Valemont Pack were hanging from the high columns. The hundreds of candles lit the stone walls and created a warm light that glimmered on the shiny floor.

The hall was packed.

Pack members.

Elders.

Guests from the other packs.

Every single place had already been occupied.

When Kael and I entered the hall, people began to applaud.

"My Alpha!"

"Our future Luna!"

"Congratulations!"

There were smiles everywhere we went.

And I tried to smile back, covering the panic I felt inside of me. My hand rested upon Kael's arm while we walked along the aisle.

He didn't say a lot since he came to accompany me.

He just stared at me.

Again.

And again.

As if he wanted to burn me into his memory forever. Perhaps all those days had been my imagination. Perhaps those words Serena said to me had been just provocation from her side. Perhaps the nurse who came had really come to help me.

Maybe tonight would finally clarify everything.

As we made our way up to the stage, my gaze swept across the crowd. Helen beamed proudly at me from next to the other servants of the house.

Beta James gave me an assuring nod. Even the elders themselves were smiling at me with friendly gazes. And then…

I caught sight of Serena.

She sat in the front row, wearing a beautiful gown of silver color, equal to mine.

We locked eyes.

She was smiling, but not with that mocking smirk that had been on her face for those past few days. Not that smirk she always wore when she wanted to remind me that she loved my husband.

Her smile was...

Calming.

Assured.

Even peaceful.

I frowned for a second.

But then I calmed down.

Maybe she had come to terms with it.

Maybe she had finally realized what moving on meant.

The idea took the last of the stress from my heart.

The Head Elder climbed up on the stage. Conversations died around the room as he opened his mouth to speak. "Today, under the blessing of the Moon Goddess and in front of the people of the Valemont Pack, we come together to see our Luna presented."

An undercurrent of excitement was spreading amongst the people gathered.

The Elder proceeded. “Alpha Kael Valemont.” Kael moved forward.

I was standing beside him, clenching my palms together to steady myself.

He turned toward him.

“According to the laws of our ancestors, only the Alpha is going to acknowledge the woman who will stand by his side, lead alongside him, and be called his Luna.”

All eyes in the hall rested upon Kael.

Even mine.

The tone of the elder's voice took a serious turn. "In front of the Moon Goddess…" A pause. "...and your ancestors... "Another pause. "...and the people of the Valemont Pack..." The Elder raised his cane. "Do you acknowledge Aria Ashwood as your lawful Luna?"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

I looked toward Kael.

His jaw clenched.

Fists balled up at his sides.

He did not give an immediate response.

Silence dragged on.

Heartbeat number one.

Heartbeat number two.

Heartbeat number three.

Nervous laughter broke somewhere in the crowd.

My heart started beating fast.

Why wasn’t he responding?

I glanced at his face.

Kael was still not looking at me.

Rather, he was staring somewhere ahead.

My smile slowly faded.

The elder spoke again.

"My Alpha?"

He finally inhaled and responded aloud so everyone in the hall would hear him. "No."

A simple word hurt me more than any sword possibly could.

For a second...

I stopped breathing.

The hall erupted.

Whispers came at me from everywhere.

"What?"

"He refused her?"

"After he got an heir from her?"

"Incredible."

Both my ears were filled with indistinct noise.

Voices sounded muffled to me now, like I was underwater.

The Elder himself looked astonished.

"My Alpha...are you sure about your choice?"

"I am." Without even a moment's delay, he finally turned his gaze towards me.

Only for a moment did our eyes meet.

There was regret in his.

Innocence in mine.

Then he tore his gaze away from me. "Lady Serena."

Everyone's gaze shifted towards the audience.

Serena gracefully rose from her seat.

She was not shocked.

She was not surprised.

She looked just like someone who waited for this day her whole life. With slow, deliberate movements, she came down the steps and stood right next to Kael.

Elder stared at the two of them. After several long seconds, he spoke once more. "Then, Alpha Kael...If not Aria Ashwood...Who do you acknowledge before the Moon Goddess as your Luna?"

Kael reached for Serena's hand. His fingers intertwined with hers as he lifted his head. His voice rang clearly through the entire ceremonial hall. "I acknowledge Serena Ashbourne as my chosen mate..." He tightened his hold on her hand. "...and as the rightful Luna of the Valemont Pack."

Everywhere went quiet It was as though the entire pack had forgotten how to breathe.

Then pack mother Mira stood up, with a thundering voice, she said, “…”