Rejected Luna Of The Cursed Alpha

All Eyes On HER

Draven’s POV

I used to love festivals, before the crown and the curse. Before every smile that was aimed at me was out of duty and not genuine anymore.

But now I was here because I needed to be.

A king who hid from his subjects gave them cause to doubt him. One who showed himself made sure that even cursed or not, he was here.

So I stayed there for as long as necessary.

Then I left.

The garden of the weeping willow was the one place that had served as my haven over the years. The only place where the wind could still overpower the voices of my councilors and people with their petitions and worries.

This day would be no exception, it was meant to be an empty place. And then, as soon as I entered it, I saw her.

She was standing under the willow and looking at the moonlit pond without noticing me. Maybe because she did not think of anyone being here on a festival day.

I thought about going back then.

She had claimed this place before me.

She deserved some peace.

And then she turned around and looked at me. Recognition was in her gaze, that was usual, but what wasn’t usual was recognition and no-fear in the same heartbeat.

Most people met my gaze for only a heartbeat before lowering their eyes.

She didn't.

The conversation was good. I had forgotten how it was to talk about anything other than my curse.

Or my crown.

Or my mistakes.

Between the willow tree and the far-off sounds of the festival, I had stopped talking to someone seeking refuge and found myself talking to someone who saw me as a man... not as a king.

Not as a beast.

But as a man.

It was strange.

She had smiled. at me. With me.

She had dared to challenge me without fear, question me without hate, and smile at me without expectation.

None of that had happened in years.

Maybe never.

I found myself wondering how she would have been before life taught her sorrow. Then I came to an even more disturbing realization.

For the first time since I could remember...

I had almost forgotten my sorrow.

So when I told her, “They may take your child away from you, but they cannot erase the fact that he is yours. " I said it because I had forgotten the sorrow burning my heart.

The silence between us stayed for a little more than a few seconds.

"I think about him every time," she says, breaking the silence.

"I would expect nothing less."

"I wonder if he's sleeping." Her gaze drifted toward the stars. "I wonder if he's crying," her gaze shifted to me. "I wonder..."

Before she could finish that, a little girl, no more than six years old, ran towards us with a paper lantern clasped firmly between her two hands.

She wasn't looking where she was going when her foot hit a root sticking out of the ground. Her hands opened as she fell forward with a cry of fear.

Without even a thought about what I was doing, I rushed after her.

So did Aria.

We got to her at the same time. She managed to catch the girl before she could fall. Exactly at the same time, I steadied both of them with one hand, pressing gently on her back.

The girl started crying.

"Oh, it's alright," she reassured the child, gently brushing away the dust on her sleeves. "You didn't fall."

She cried harder. "My lantern..."

I got down on my knees and picked up the lantern. The paper was crumpled but it didn't rip. I gave the lantern back to her. "There."

The girl looked up at me with huge, tear-filled eyes, like she was trying to see if I was terrifying. Yet she took the lantern without even a second thought. "Thank you." She grinned.

A true grin with tiny teeth still missing.

I looked at her, surprised. I wasn’t expecting her to stop crying with me in front of her.

She clung to the lantern and then took off toward the carnival, crying for her mother.

I watched her disappear. Then I turned my attention back to her.

“You like children," I heard her say.

It was not a question.

My expression changed but I quickly returned it back to normal. “I tolerate them," I said.

She laughed, “That is not true.”

“Do you think so?”

“You picked up her lantern without even checking to see if she was alright first.”

I thought carefully about that. “I did.”

“You did," she repeated.

I looked in the direction that the little girl had disappeared. “I guess I did.”

Her gaze stayed on me. I looked at her right back but she didn’t look away.

A scream broke the silence.

My every instinct became alert instantly.

The king was gone.

The Alpha came back.

I moved to face the celebration before the echo had even faded. I placed my hand on the handle of my sword.

Another scream.

Closer than before.

And not one of sheer terror.

It was one of pure panic.

The crowd fell into chaos.

People ran in every direction possible. Children were crying as their parents held them tightly, lanterns falling on the ground, their flames extinguished in the wet earth.

I heard Aria inhale sharply beside me.

"Stay behind me." It was no suggestion. Without hesitation, I stepped in front of her as we walked to the scene.

People began to scatter because a young warrior entered the square, his body writhing in spasms.

"No...no..." he moaned, gripping his head.

The bones of his body snapped with a crackle. His claws erupted from his fingertips, and an animalistic growl emerged from his throat.

"He can't control his wolf!"

"Get everyone out of here!"

The guards ran towards him, but he thrashed about wildly, knocking one of them backwards into a stall in the market.

The people screamed.

I made a grab for my sword.

Before I could take another step, Aria ran by me. "What do you think you're doing?" I shouted.

She said nothing. Her eyes were focused on the struggling young man. She looked confused.

As if she were hearing something that nobody else could hear.

The warrior leapt.

Aria stood stock still.

And then she raised a shaky hand towards him.

Just as soon as he got close enough, he stopped.

His claws twitched as the rage disappeared from his eyes.

His wolf left him.

Dead silence fell over the entire festival.

All the eyes turned to look at Aria.

Mine included.