Rejected Luna Of The Cursed Alpha

Longing And Loneliness

Aria's POV

I lingered there even after Mrs. Alma got swallowed up by the sea of people. The sadness finally started to ease off my chest but it still lingered as a constant reminder of my own sadness.

All the laughing that surrounded me became overwhelming for me, not because they were bothering me but because it kept reminding me of all the things that I had lost.

“Aria?” Nora’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “You look pale.”

“I am fine.”

“You do not look fine,” she objected.

“Maybe I just need some fresh air.” I tried smiling but it was hard.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No. I’ll be fast.” I shook my head.

She seemed hesitant. “I will be by the musicians. Come and find me.”

“I will.” I left the party undetected, descending through a dimly lit pathway by the light of lanterns until I heard nothing from the noise of the music.

The night air was cold on my skin. I took a deep breath, wondering if Leo will be angry at me because I am having fun while he and I are separated.

“It is going to be okay,” I told myself.

It wouldn't, but perhaps, just perhaps, if I kept repeating it to myself enough, there was a chance that someday, somehow, I would finally believe it, and everything would turn out fine.

The garden was calm and silent, with the light of the moon making shadows on the white flowers that grew by the path, their fragrance filling my lungs with every breath.

Perfect.

Just as I wanted it.

I walked until I came to the stone bench under the sprawling branches of an old willow. Right as I was about to sit down, someone started walking up to me slowly but with a determined step.

They were neither in haste nor too fast but with a definite intention.

I turned around and found myself staring into the eyes of the man from the cabin.

The King.

After my arrival, we hadn’t run into each other yet; well, that’s because I hadn’t left my room, and he probably forgot about my presence here completely.

He hadn’t seen me yet; his gaze was fixed on the ground, his hand on the nape of his neck.

From afar, I could see that he looked troubled, like the whole weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

I considered walking away from him.

It was evident that this place was his favorite spot.

However, when he finally looked up, realization hit me and I realized why he had decided to spend this time all alone when everybody else was celebrating.

He gave me a look of surprise rather than shock, almost not able to comprehend my presence here.

"You've left the festival," he said calmly.

"And I can say the same to you." I couldn't hold back.

Embarrassment flooded my face and then I apologized for my rude behavior. "I am sorry, I did not mean to be rude."

Surprisingly, a smile flickered at the corner of his mouth but soon died down. "I've heard many worse names before."

I laughed at his comment. "It is hard to believe it."

"Believe me, you will be surprised," he answered shortly.

There was a moment of silence as we just kept looking at each other without saying anything.

But it did not feel awkward, on the contrary, it felt quite cozy.

He approached the bench and put a hand on it but did not sit down. "Don't you like festivals?"

"I do," I answered after some time.

"But then, why did you leave?" he asked.

"I-I forgot for a moment," I confessed, looking into the lights of the festival.

"Forget what?"

"Everything," I murmured, practically whispering to myself. Looking down at my hands entwined together, I continued, "I laughed tonight and it was so wrong, as if I pretended that I was someone else."

He was quiet for a while, so long that I thought he would say nothing at all. "No," he said eventually.

I looked at him, surprised.

"It was unfamiliar," he confessed.

I blinked, looking at him, he wasn't lying, he actually understood me. I looked closer and noticed for the first time something strange: gentleness on his features. "You don't like festivals too much either," I stated quietly.

A chuckle escaped him, which sounded almost like laughter. "I attend them," he answered.

"That wasn't the question," I said, looking at him with narrowed eyes.

"No," he answered shortly.

"Why?"

"They are too noisy," he answered, looking up at the moon.

I smiled hearing his answer. "I thought kings like to be surrounded by people."

"They do," he answered after a while. "What about you?"

"I like trees better," I answered with a small smile.

He actually chuckled in response, smiling for real this time. "Do you like trees?"

"They don't question you," I replied teasingly.

He chuckled again, this time in response to what I said. "That's why you're here, then."

"Sure," I replied with a smile.

For the first time that we met, he smiled. It was not a large smile but was more than enough to take my breath away.

He was beautiful. He was not in any way similar to Kael; while Kael looked sharp with his perfection, the king had some rugged looks to him, which made him look more approachable.

The smile was quickly replaced by something else; I didn't know exactly what expression he made because it was so quick that I only managed to catch half of it.

"You should smile more often," I found myself saying before I could stop myself. I have to remember that he is the king and not my husband.

His eyebrows went up in response. "I should?"

"You should."

There was an awkward silence after that.

I wished that I could take those words back, but instead, I found myself looking at him, examining him. No one had ever looked at me with such an odd combination of fascination and longing?

Then just as quickly as it came, that sensation was gone.

An odd pain filled my chest, as if I could physically feel his loneliness.

That wasn't mine, but somehow, that was still managing to twist me up inside.

My hand pressed to my chest as I breathed out, releasing a shaky sigh.

What...

What was going on with me?