Rejected Luna Of The Cursed Alpha

Unanswered Questioned

Aria’s POV

The murmurs continued following me even as I stepped away from the festival grounds. Even when the music had already drifted off into the distance and the lanterns behind me resembled tiny stars twinkling in the darkness of night, I could still hear them.

"Have you seen it?"

"How did she manage that?"

"She is only human."

"Is she?"

I hugged myself tight and continued walking.

There was hardly any sound on the paved path as most of the members of the pack had already rejoined their celebrations or had already gone home with tales they would no doubt talk about tomorrow.

I wished I could forget about tonight just as quickly as they would remember it.

Silent but pensive, Nora walked alongside me, glancing at me now and again as if she wanted to ask hundreds of questions but just couldn’t decide which question to start with.

Finally, she let out a sigh. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, wishing I had more to say to her. "I think so."

"You don’t seem very sure about that."

"I am not very sure."

She patted my hand gently. "You don’t need to give me any explanations tonight."

I thanked her warmly. "Thank you."

We went a little further down the path before it divided.

"Here's where my room is," Nora said, gesturing towards one of the cottages.

I managed a small smile. "I will see you tomorrow."

"You better," she paused. "And Aria..."

"Yes?"

"What happened back there..." She shook her head. "...I don't think you are dangerous."

Before I could respond, she smiled at me one more time and then continued on her way.

I waited until I could no longer see her silhouette.

I kept walking. It was a different silence now.

No longer peaceful.

It was heavy.

The soft sound of my feet made an echo against the stone path as I walked down to the cottage where the King had given me permission to stay.

I stared at my right hand. The hand I had pointed at the young warrior.

It seemed ordinary.

Nothing.

I flipped it back and forth slowly. "What happened?" I whispered. I got no answer.

He had been uncontrolled. We all knew it. Then he looked at me and time seemed to freeze.

I clenched my hand into a fist.

Perhaps it had been just an accident or coincidence.

Perhaps he simply became calm of his own accord.

Perhaps everyone misinterpreted what they saw.

Me included.

But another memory forced itself into my thoughts before I could persuade myself of anything.

The woods.

The rogues.

That fateful night I fled from Valemont.

I halted.

One of the rogues… He had become weak suddenly. In that moment, I thought that Beta James had done something.

But...

James still couldn't reach us then.

I furrowed my brows.

The rogue had stumbled.

His power had vanished.

Just as now.

"No..." I shook my head. "It shouldn't be that way." I began walking again until a memory emerged once more.

The cabin.

My first meeting with King Draven. He seemed burdened by the whole world on his shoulders. His face had been strained. Tired eyes. Pain in his eyes.

But as I moved closer, something seemed to change in him. Relaxed shoulders. Softened expression as the pain in his eyes disappeared.

Even his breathing got better.

I wondered why back then.

Now, I wasn't sure it was only my imagination.

A chill ran through me. "What is happening to me?"

The question dissolved into the dark night.

No answer.

While walking, I saw a little wooden bench near one of the houses. Young people were sitting together under the light of a lantern. The girl laughed so much that she even had to put her hands over her mouth.

He laughed with her but then tenderly stroked her hair, which fell down.

Suddenly...

Warmth spread throughout my body.

Peaceful feelings surrounded me.

Made me smile.

For a brief moment.

Just one moment.

Everything seemed...

Light.

Happy.

But then I walked by them. The warmth disappeared so instantly that I even stopped. Turned around and saw those two still laughing together.

I frowned, "Strange."

Perhaps the happiness of those people had just affected me somehow. Surely that must be so.

Right?

Wasn't it possible for feelings to affect someone like that sometimes?

I was not sure anymore.

Until I came to my room.

When I entered it, I was already too tired.

Not physically.

Psychologically.

There were too many questions but no answers. I pushed the door open and entered the room. The silence was everywhere.

I perched on the edge of the bed and bent forward, placing my elbows on my knees. For the first time tonight, I let myself dwell on Leo.

My precious little boy.

I wanted to know whether he was already asleep, if he has a favorite blanket by now, and if someone had put him to bed under his favorite blanket.

Whether he was crying for me.

My chest felt tight. And there was the pain I knew too well. I shut my eyes. It had happened again; my breasts were heavy once more.

Milk.

My body was remembering my baby I could no longer hold in my arms.

A tear rolled down my cheek despite myself. "I miss you," I said aloud to the empty room.

Those words made something break inside me. I buried my face in my hands and cried as quietly as I could.

No mother should ever have to worry whether her child remembered the sound of her voice.

A knock sounded softly through the silence.

I hastily wiped my face with the back of my hand.

"Come in," I shouted, praying my voice did not tremble as much as I felt.

The door creaked open.

It was not Nora.

There was a royal guard at the door. He bowed.

"Lady Aria."

"Yes?"

"The king requests your presence."

My heart missed a beat. "Now?"

"Yes."

I gazed at him. "Does he... does he say why?"

The guard shook his head. "No, my lady."

I quickly looked back into the room before taking a deep breath.

No matter what His Majesty wanted,

It seemed that it had something to do with tonight's incident.