MOONBOUND HEARTS

"Witch," someone spat.

"Curse," another sneered.

They didn't lower their voices. They wanted me to hear.

Some turned their backs. Others just watched, waiting for me to disappear.

No one dared look me in the eye, they believed that I could make the strongest man bend at my will, just by staring into my eyes.

I kept walking, not saying a word. I bit back the tears that threatened to pour out. I fought the urge to turn and go back to the comfort of my room, away from the hateful stares.

I made my way into the woods, as I entered, the silence felt like salvation.

There was a fallen tree not far from the path, a place I usually went when it got too loud in my head.

I sank onto the bark and breathed in. The cold air felt clean here. The way it clung to my lungs almost made me feel alive again.

For a moment, I just sat there, soaking in the stillness. No one stared, no one whispered, Just trees, wind, and the rustle of leaves.

Then I heard footsteps.

"Some people really like pretending they matter," Lena's voice rang through the woods before I even saw her. "Walking around like they don't stink of bad luck."

I stopped. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

"Hey, Cursed One!" she called louder. " Did you Lose your way again? Or are you just trying to find a new hole to hide in?"

I stood up and turned around, my eyes were greeted with the familiar sight of Lena and her usual little crowd of four girls.

"I'm was just taking a walk," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, she talks now?" one of the girls snorted.

Another stepped forward. " You Must be feeling brave today."

I shook my head and started to walk past them, pretending they weren't there, but Lena sidestepped into my path.

"Uh-uh," she said. "We're not done."

"I don't want trouble."

Lena smirked. "Too late. You were born with it."

The girl to her left spat at my feet. "You should've been thrown out when you were a baby. Everyone knows you're a curse."

I kept my head down and tried to move around them, but Lena shoved me back hard.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Leave me alone," I said.

Slap! Lena napped me across my cheek. The sound came before I felt the pain on my cheek.

"Or what?" she sneered. "You'll cry to the trees?"

The second girl laughed and pushed me too. "awn, look at you acting all tough."

I held my ground, but the third girl stepped in and shoved me from behind, I stumbled forward fighting to gain my balance. Lena slapped me again this one harder than the first one.

The force of the slap sent me staggering backwards till I hit the ground, my hands scraped the dirt and my face almost falling into the dirt.

They all burst out laughing.

"Look at her," one of them said. "Miss Cursed on her knees."

"She looks better down there," Lena added. "Where filth belongs."

I stayed down there, there was nothing I could do, fighting back would only mean declaring war on the Alpha and his family.

"Pathetic," someone said. "She's not even fighting back."

They turned and walked off, still laughing, like what just happened meant nothing.

I waited until I couldn't hear them anymore.

Then I pulled myself up slowly, brushing the dirt from my palms, even though it didn't really matter.

No matter how hard I tried to stand tall, I still felt small. I walked out of the woods, not minding the tears that now streamed down my face and the stares I got.

Once I was far enough, I broke into a run, I didn't stop until I reached the house.

My feet hit the steps fast, and I slammed the door behind me, ignoring Douglass's voice calling faintly from the den.

I went to the drawer and pulled out the small, sharp blade I'd hidden months ago.

I sat on the floor, back against the bed, the blade trembling between my fingers.

Maybe they were right, maybe I was cursed. I thought. Maybe the world will be better without me

Tears blurred my vision as I pressed the metal to my skin.

As I raised my hand to finally put an end to my nightmare of a life. The door burst open

"Alina!"

It was Douglass.

His voice cracked like a whip. In seconds, the blade was out of my hands, he threw it across the room and grabbed my wrists.

His eyes locked on mine.

For a split second, I saw fear on his eyes . But it disappeared as fast as it came.

"Stupid girl," he muttered. "What were you thinking?"

I didn't answer, he let go of me and stood.

"I don't care what they said to you," he said, his voice cold again. "You don't get to take the easy way out."

My throat tightened, and I looked away, blinking out the tears that blurred my vision.

"You live. Do you hear me?"

Still, I said nothing.

"Don't ever try that again," he said without turning. "Next time, no one will stop you." Then he left.

And I was alone again.

Once the door was shut, I let the tears flow freely, crying my hearts out. Then, I drifted off while thinking of how it would feel to live in a world I actually belonged to.

The dream came fast, one moment I was on my bed, the next moment I was standing in a throne room.

Blood pooled around a dark throne. Shadows flickered along cracked walls, and I saw him again, the same man, tall and broad shouldered, he was cornered by enemies.

His chest was heaving, his knuckles were bloodied. He was fighting like a mad man.

No matter how he fought, he was loosing

A blade swung toward him from behind. I didn't think twice, I just moved, placing myself between him and the strike.

Instantly, I felt the pain of the sword stuck in my belly. He caught me just before I hit the ground.

His arms were tense with shock. "Why?" he asked His voice low.

"I don't know," I coughed out blood as I spoke. "why do I keep seeing you, I don't even know your name."

He leaned in, lips close enough to brush mine.

"You will."

I gasped and sat up.

Not again.

I wiped at my face, it was still damp with tears.

Every time I slept, even just for a moment, I saw the same things; a dying world, a bloodied throne. And him.

I didn't know who he was, or why it felt like I knew him.

But I remembered him. Always.

And the worst part? It never felt like a dream.

I stared around my room blankly, It was still dark, one of those hours just before morning.

I didn't know how long I sat by the window, but the pale orange glow stretching across the sky told me it had been hours.

I went to my bed to see if I could get a little more sleep, just as I let my eyes close, the door slammed open.

"Get up. Today is the Moonrite festival, We don't want to be late now,?" Douglass's voice was flat, the same dull tone he always used with me.

"Why do we even have to go? It's not like the king will be there or anything." I murmured to myself.

"All the packs gather every year for this festival, you won't be the first to break it." Douglass spat, looking at me with no emotion.

I thought something would have changed in the way he talked to me, after seeing me trying to take my own life last night. But apparently, I was wrong.

I dragged myself out of bed without a word. I washed the dirt from yesterday off my skin.

I pulled on a brown wool skirt and a tucked blouse, I didn't expect much from the day. Honestly, I just wanted it to be over so I could be back in my room, away from everyone.

When I got downstairs, Douglass was already standing by the door, waiting like he couldn't bear to waste another second near me.

I didn't greet him. I just walked past and stepped outside.

The pack grounds were nearly empty. I figured most of the others had already left for the common gathering.

I kept my eyes fixed on the woods as we walked. arms crossed tightly, trying to ignore the heavy silence stretching between us. Then, Douglass spoke.

"You still have that look."

I didn't turn. "What look?"

"The one that says you're already gone, even though you're right here."

His voice wasn't cold this time. It was low, it felt like he didn't want to say the words but needed to.

"You weren't supposed to come in last night," I said, barely above a whisper.

"I didn't plan to. Something told me to check on you."

He was quiet for a moment, then he added, "You scared the hell out of me."

I finally looked at him. His face was unreadable, his eyes held a little bit of guilt in them.

"You didn't show it," I said.

"Didn't think I was allowed to."

We walked in silence a bit longer, "You shouldn't have to stop me," I muttered.

He turned his head then, just slightly. "Yes, I should."

"There are things you don't understand Alina, things that you probably wouldn't for-" he paused before continuing "just don't try that again."

I studied his expression and I knew that there was something he wasn't saying.

I kept quiet, not knowing what to say anymore. We didn't talk again the rest of the way, but for the first time in a long while, the silence didn't feel so cruel.

When we got there, the place was already crowded. Packs from neighboring regions had gathered.

I could see the colors they wore, each group standing together. At the center of it all was the empty black stone throne.

I stood off to the side while Douglass joined the others from our pack. I kept my distance, there was no need to go close to them.

Then the ceremony started. The Alpha of the Frost Pack stepped forward, carrying his gift wrapped in dark fur.

He bowed in front of the throne and was about to speak- But then, the sound of hooves interrupted him.

Everyone went still.

A man rode in on a black horse. His clothes were all black, from head to toe, and his face was hidden by a hood.

He rode into the middle of the circle and stopped, then he pulled his hood back.

The man was striking, his face was too sharp to be real. His skin was pale like moonlight, his features carved and flawless.

His hair fell to his jaw in loose windblown waves, his eyes silver and cold cut through the crowd like a blade.

Scanning the crowd like he was looking for something, then-he looked right at me.

I froze, it was him.

He was the guy.

That face, although covered in blood in my dreams, was the same. I'd recognize it anywhere. The sharpness in his jaw, the way his eyes seemed to see through everything. It was him, the man I kept saving. But what was he doing here?

And why did he look at me like he knew exactly who I was?

LUCAN'S POV

I always believed there was no need for me to attend gatherings like this, but something pulled me here.

I didn't pay attention to anyone, although I felt the tension emanating from the crowd. Just then, I suddenly felt a ripple in my chest, a pull perhaps, something ancient that I didn't understand.

My wolf groaned in frustration, he too felt it. Probably even worse than I did.

My eyes scanned the crowd, wanting to know where it was coming from.

Then my eyes caught a familiar pair of eyes, she was exactly as I remembered her... no, not remembered... dreamed.

She was the girl from my dreams, the one who kept appearing in the middle of battle, always saving my life just before the end came.

She froze, her eyes went wide, she recognized me too.

She didn't look regal or composed, her hair was slightly disheveled with modest clothes, still her face held me captivated. She looked much better in flesh and blood.

The crowd was starting to move their gaze from me, trying to find out who I was staring at.

I tapped my horse forward, straight through the center of the stunned crowd.

When I reached the ceremonial platform, I dismounted and walked to the throne.

"My name is Lucan," I said, with my eyes still fixed on Alina.

The moment I sat on the throme, the royal guards dropped to one knee. Then one by one, they all bowed.

So they finally saw their king.

I didn't care for their awe, my gaze was on her. Since the beginning of the ceremony she never looked up or moved.

I signaled for Kael to come closer, "I saw her."

Kael looked at me surprised, he was my beta and right hand man, it wasn't news to him that I had been trying to find the girl in my dreams.

"You mean that you found your dream girl?" He said teasingly.

"Why can't you be serious for once in your life kal?" I smiled a little.

"With you? I don't think there's a moment of seriousness." Kal said smiling.

I looked up from Kal to Alina, she was looking at me, the moment our eyes met, she shifted her gaze.

"The shy type? I like shy" I thought to myself as a smirk curled up my lips.

Kal followed my gaze "she's beautiful." Was what I heard next.

My wolf growled protectively, ready to jump on Kael. Immediately sensing the danger, he bowed and fled, smiling.

The girl kept her head down throughout the rest of the ceremony. Not when her pack was called, not even when people started murmuring. She stood alone, distant from the others, refusing to meet my eyes again.

But I saw the tension in her shoulders. The way her fists clenched at her sides. She was holding something back.

When the ceremony ended, she turned and left without a word.

Not once did she look back. But I watched her retreating figure till I couldn't see her anymore.

ALINA'S POV

I didn't stop to breathe. I didn't stop to think. I just walked fast with my head down, not caring who moved out of my way or who stared.

My heart was beating so loudly that I could barely hear the chatter around me.

As soon as I crossed into the woods that led back to our home, I broke into a jog.

What the hell just happened?

That man, no, not just a man. Lucan. The king. The one no one had ever seen before. The one who ruled everything and answered to no one.

That was the same man I kept saving in my dreams?

It didn't make any sense. But I knew that face, bloodied or not.

I reached the house, stormed through the door, and made straight for my room, slamming it shut behind me.

My thoughts were spinning, colliding into one another until I didn't know what to believe anymore.

I sat on my bed, rubbing my hands over my face, trying to calm the rising panic.

Night crept in slowly, and though I lay in bed, I couldn't sleep.

I kept replaying the way his eyes locked on mine, like he was searching for something. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to sleep, just to get a break from this maddening day.

But the peace didn't last.

A sudden scream tore through the air. I jumped up at the sound.

I stumbled to the window and yanked it open. What I saw knocked the breath right out of me. Women were running, Some with children clutched to their chests.

One woman tripped and fell, before she could rise, a man caught up to her, snarling with his claws stuck out. In one brutal swipe, he rammed them straight into her stomach.

The man seemed to be enjoying himself, he smiled and turned to face her daughter.

The daughter looked like my age mate, she screamed and bolted, disappearing into the trees, my blood turned to ice.

Then it occurred to me, we were under attack by the rogue werewolves.

I didn't think, I threw open my door. I searched the house for Douglass to warn him of the attack, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Did he leave me here to die? My heart tightened at the mere thought of it, but now wasn't the time to accommodate such thoughts. Safety first.

I ran as fast as I could into the woods, branches scratched at my arms, but I didn't care.

As I ran, my eye caught sight of the girl from earlier, the one whose mother had just been killed, she had been rounded in a corner.

The rogue wolf stood over her with claws out and its teeth bared.

She stood there frozen, crying, her body shaking. How could he kill a girl? I needed to do something

"Hey!" I shouted.

The wolf snapped his head toward me, growled, and came straight at me.

I barely had time to react before he slammed into me.

His claws raked across my side and I was thrown hard against a tree.

My head hit the trunk. The pain from the collision shot through my skull and everything spun, I dropped to the ground.

My vision blurred and I felt like I couldn't move, through the haze, I saw him turn back to the girl.

She backed away, slowly, she looked extremely terrified. I knew that fear. I knew what it felt like to be helpless.

I'd felt it every time my pack ignored me. Every time Douglass looked right through me like I didn't exist. Every time I was bullied and hated for something I couldn't control.

And even right now, I still felt it, I was weak and couldn't even save the girl's life. The pent up frustration and anger boiled in me.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed myself up, even though my body screamed and my legs shook.

"Leave her alone!" I shouted.

Something inside me cracked open, power rushed out of me like a dam that had broken.

It wasn't gentle or controlled. It was wild and violent, the ground shook, wind exploded around me.

The rogue wolf was thrown off his feet and slammed into the ground, he didn't move again.

But the blast didn't stop there.

It spread fast, knocking down every rogue in the area. They dropped one after another, the ground shook uncontrollably like there was going to be an earthquake.

No pack member got hurt, Just the rogues, it was as if the blast knew who the enemy was, just like I did.

Just like it started, everywhere went quiet, the girl was still standing, alive and staring at me. My body felt exhausted and my legs gave way, I hit the ground and blacked out.

LUCAN'S POV

I sat in the dimly lit chamber they'd prepared for me, the Highstone Lodge, an old royal outpost used during ceremonial visits. I didn't plan on staying long.

As I sat there going over the written reports from all over the realm, two guards stepped in.

They bowed.

"Lord Lucan," one of them said, eyes lowered. "A message from the Ashgrave border arrived an hour ago."

I looked up, giving a curt nod for him to continue.

"Ashgrave was attacked last night by ogues," he said. "It wasn't random, we believe it was planned."

The second guard stepped forward, more hesitant. "But, Your Majesty... that's not the strange part."

I narrowed my eyes.

He swallowed trying not to show his fear and he spoke. "It was one girl, she wiped out nearly all the attackers on her own."

"Ten of the rogue werewolves are confirmed dead," he said. "Some fled. Around twenty were captured, but badly injured."

The first guard added quickly, "They say the girl was born on a cursed night. Her pack members hate her for it, as a result, they treat her like an outcast."

That made me stop, my first suspicion was the girl I saw yesterday in the common gathering. I remembered the way she stood separate from her pack.

I stood from the chair. "Kael," I called out. He stepped in instantly, like he had been waiting.

"Find the girl and bring her to me," I said.

I smiled slightly, this was going to be fun.