The Cursed King's Luna

Chapter 2: Human

Caelum stood on the stage, his brows furrowed and eyes were darkened. I was stunned, frozen on my spot because of my cousin's accusations.

I am a human and planning to destroy the pack? Why didn't I know any of these?

A nervous chuckle escaped my mouth as I looked at Fiona.

"What do you mean, Fiona? I don't have plans and I am certainly not human. I grew up with you, my mother is your aunt. We are the same blood—"

She glared at me with tears staining her eyes. "You fooled us! You and your mom fooled us and have been planning this. Even the first time Lord Caelum saw you was part of the plan! Everything that happened was planned."

The people around us looked confused. One of them stood and scoffed.

"Fiona, are you jealous of Miss Isla? You're making a show to destroy her so you could replace her and be our next Luna!"

Some agreed which angered Fiona. She looked at me with greeted teeth.

"I am just protecting all of you! And why is she not transforming yet if I am not saying the truth?!"

Lord Caelum from the stage cleared his throat. "There's been recorded instances of late development. I don't mind if Isla is the same."

The duke's jaw tightened. "Or what if she's wolfless? We can't accept someone from a weak bloodline in our family."

Sullivan, the beta of the pack stood beside the duke. "Alpha, I know my bloodline and there's no one in our record who's wolfless. What if my daughter is right? That Isla is a mere human and we've been fooled?"

The tension in the air thickened. I gasped and looked up to the moon. Why am I not transforming? That would end this.

"I didn't fool anyone," I uttered with all my might. I looked at everyone. "I am not a human!"

Fiona stepped towards me. I saw something flicker in her eyes, a ghost of mocking smile curved on her lips that she only showed to me. My eyes widened when she touched my necklace.

"What if this will tell us the truth?" her voice echoed. "I didn't see her a day without this."

Murmurs echoed through the audience. Some were cautious and took a step back as if the distance between us weren't enough. The doubt in their eyes slowly turned into disgust.

"Fiona, step away from my daughter!" I heard my mother's voice roared.

I looked for her in the crowd and there, I saw her trying so hard to walk toward us.

"Mama, you should stay in our home—"

I gasped when Fiona grabbed the necklace from my neck. The skin where the thread snapped stung. She then watched me as she step backward, holding my necklace on her hand. Slowly, the crowd gasped in unison.

"She reeks of a human!" Sullivan shouted.

Their hisses and growls confirmed my uncle's accusation. They all looked at me as if I was prey.

Fiona laughed through tears. "See? I told you!"

Mama ran towards me and pushed me behind her. She was standing in front of me to protect me.

"N-no. Don't hurt my daughter!" her voice pleading.

I looked at the ducal family and there was nothing but anger and disappointment on their faces. My gaze found Caelum, his face was full of wrath.

"You fooled me?" he whispered in the air that I heard clearly. "Tell me they're lying..."

I just stared at him, but I couldn't find an answer because I didn't understand how this is all happening.

"You know this, Emily, right?" Sullivan asked my mother. "Are you planning something against our pack?"

Tears welled on my mother's eyes. "Isla is not a human. She's a werewolf—"

"You treacherous bîtch! You've been hiding a snake in our pack. You must be part of the plan, you planned this with her—"

Mama glanced at me over her shoulder. Her eyes glowed with sadness and fear. "I need you to run as fast as you could, Isla, okay? I will distract them."

I shook my head, my tears began streaming. "Mama, I won't leave you here."

"You will do as I say, Isla!" she said firmly. "I will come and find you."

I saw Sullivan signaled the men of the pack to surround us. Mama stepped backward and I moved with her. The way they all look at me, I knew I would be killed.

I glanced at Caelum again, hoping he would somehow believe and protect me but his eyes were cold and merciless. He stared for a while then his jaw tightened before he looked away as if I disgusted him.

"Isla, run!" Mama commanded before she turned into a huge brown wolf. I knew she poured all her strength to transform and even with a heavy heart, I need to run so I won't waste that.

"I'll see you later, Mama, okay?" I said while walking backwards.

Her wolf glanced at me. I saw a tear fall from its eyes before it charged towards the people who were gonna get me. I filled my lungs with air before I turned around and ran to the forest.

The branches slapped my face with every step I made. My mother distracted them so I could ran away but I know once they realize that I'm gone, they would go after me and I'll be caught. My lungs burned as I ran as fast as I could

They are werewolves and they can easily track me. Aside from their fast movement, their sense of smell is impeccable.

A chilling howling scream filled my ears. I stopped on my track, my heart sank when I realized it was familiar. It sounded like... Mama. I shook my head and kept running. No, they will not hurt her. She is part of their pack, they won't hurt my mother.

And we will still see each other later, she promised!

The forest was dark and cold, chill ran down my spine. I heard their growls. When I looked back, I saw the plants and trees moving. I knew right away that they are after me now.

I heard violent crashing of the water and I remember that there's a river here. I made my strides larger as I heard the noise behind me getting louder and louder. Then I saw the giant river clearly, the moon was shining directly to it. There's nowhere to run anymore. I stood on the edge, catching my breath, my heart was hammering against my ribcage.

When I looked back, I saw dark shadows nearing me. They were huge and fast... werewolves. I could imagine their sharp nails and teeth that would definitely tear me apart once I'm caught.

I looked at the violent crashing waves of the river. Maybe it would be more comforting to die at the hands of nature than the nails of the creatures I grew up with.

"Jump..." There was a cold soothing voice that I heard inside my mind.

As the noises of the nearing werewolves got louder, my mind and heart were racing. But there was something in me that trusted the voice.

"Isla, I'm gonna kill you!" I heard a growling voice sounded from behind me.

I closed my eyes tightly and without any hesitation, I jumped in the river. The cold water embraced my body as I submerged in it.