The Luna That He Rejected The Queen He Could Not Break

POV: Vaelira Ashwyn

Kaelor's kitchen was filled with the aroma of simmering broth and my stomach twisted painfully at the scent. After four days of fasting I was lightheaded, but I didn't complain. The Mating Ceremony was tomorrow. Tomorrow the Moon Goddess would finally say what I already knew in my heart for five years.

I mixed the pot gently, looking over at Kaelor, who was standing by the counter chopping herbs very intensely, more than was needed.

I placed my spoon down, "You've cut that root into a hundred pieces! "Do you want to turn it into dust?

He blinked, as if pulled from somewhere far away. "Excuse me, I lost track."

"I noticed." I wiped my hands on my apron and looked him over. You haven't said much since arriving here, and you're typically too quiet, or has my knife skills improved."

"Your knife skills are still crap," he said, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Kaelor." I came closer, lowered my voice though we were alone. "Something's not right, I can tell."

"It's nothing." He put the knife back and pressed his palm lightly against his forehead. "Just... tomorrow. There's a lot riding on tomorrow."

Gently I said, "There's always been a lot riding on tomorrow. We have been aware of that for 5 years."

"I know." He smiled tiredly at me.

I wanted to go further but a loud knock at the front door interrupted. I could see the muscles tensing on Kaelor's shoulders before he even opened it, and when he did, he stood on the threshold, a stern expression I hadn't seen on him much.

"Your highness." Auren said, dipping his head. "I need to speak with you, in private, if I may."

I caught Kaelor's eye, and he looked at me. "Give us a moment?"

"Of course." I struggled to get my smile on and moved towards the bedroom, keeping the door quiet shut.

I lay on the edge of the bed with my hands in my lap saying to myself it's nothing. Pack business. Guard duties. There was nothing about that that concerned me.

As I sat there, however, my own voice grew louder. Kaelor's mysterious nonchalance throughout the night. Auren's surprise visit, and the gravity on his face. I said to myself, "Stay in place. It is not my business to listen.

I didn't listen to myself.

I went to the door and put my ear up against it.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Auren's voice was low and urgent. "Absolutely certain?"

My breath caught. Certain about what?

"I don't know anymore," Kaelor admitted, and there was a hollow ache in my chest. "Auren, I can't dismiss the doubts, do you really think that fate would allow an Alpha heir to be mated to an Omega? There has never been a time like this in the history of this pack."

"Kaelor-"

"I love her." He broke his voice a little. "I love her more than anything, but what if the Goddess has picked someone else for me? What if tomorrow I'm in front of all of them and I see her heart break because it's her fate and she's not enough?"

I pressed my hand to my mouth to not make a noise.

"Believe in the ceremony," Auren said. "Let fate take its course – wait until tomorrow as everyone else."

"I can't." Kaelor's voice became firm. "Before I stand at the altar, I want to know the truth, bring back the witch."

"Alpha, that's forbidden-"

"I don't care."

It was a long pause. Finally, Auren said quietly and grim, "You know forbidden magic always comes at a cost. If you see something, I hope it is worth it."

A pair of footsteps approached the door. I froze, and scrambled back across the room and threw myself onto the bed when I heard the front door close behind Auren.

My heart pounded in my ribs and I was staring at the ceiling.

An Alpha heir and an Omega. Not in five years. It made me feel something cold and heavy in my chest to hear the fear in his voice, to hear it out loud.

Could the day tomorrow bring us together? Would it be the end of all the things they had built in secret?

I tried to catch my breath. What the Goddess decided would not change because of worry. Whatever tomorrow brought, it would come whether I feared it or not.

The bedroom door opened a few minutes later, and Kaelor came in, his face now more mild. He reached out his hand to him and said, "Come out with me."

I took it and through the back door into the garden he led me. It was cold out at night and under the old willow tree was a small table which had a tray of food I had never seen him make.

"You made this?" I asked, surprised.

He led me to sit, "While you were resting. You have already fasted long enough, let me make it right now."

We sat under the stars, and for a moment it seemed as though there was nothing beyond that garden.

"What did Auren say?" I said carefully, looking at his face.

He gave a small smile before he replied, "pack business. Nothing important."

"Kaelor." I met his eyes. "I heard you through the door."

He rested his hand on the tray with a pause. He didn't get angry. He only let out a heavy, long sigh, as though something in him finally had to give way. "I'm scared Vaelira, scared of what fate will take away from me tomorrow after all."

I said quietly, "I've been frightened too. I didn't want to say it out loud, I didn't want to make it heavier for you."

He stretched out his hand and gripped both my hands. "If the ceremony is confirmed tomorrow, I will stand in front of the Grand Council, in front of the Moonridge, in front of all the packs watching and I will tell them that I have only ever wanted Vaelira Ashwyn to be my Luna."

I felt warmness permeate my chest, displacing some of the fear that had taken hold there earlier. He took a small bite of something then reached his hands to my lips, I accepted it, and he started feeding it to me and I accepted it – breaking my fast.

There we sat for hours, quietly discussing our futures, our family we wanted to create, our life that we were no longer afraid of hiding.

As it got darker ,, Auren came back, I knew he came to walk me home since kaelor could not do it.

"Whatever happens tomorrow," Kaelor said, "our hearts belong to one another. Always. We've promised this a hundred times before."

I departed with a hope in my heart, which was lighter than it had been for days.

On arriving home, I saw Elira Fen , my best friend, folding her blanket, getting ready for bed.

She turned her head up and asked, "Did you eat? You have been fasting for 4 days now."

I could not keep my smile from showing, "Kaelor made dinner for me," I said. "He broke my fast for me."

As soon as I said his name, there was a change in Elira's face. For a split second her smile was broken, but was quickly covered.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She hesitated. "Vaelira... don't put all your faith in tomorrow; fate can be cruel even for those who believe that their love is unshakeable."

"It will be OK," I assured her. "We love one another, that has to have some meaning."

She didn't say a word more, and then we both went to our rooms, and soon I fell asleep.

I can't remember what time it was when a nightmare got me out of bed.

There I froze, as an endless black void consumed Kaelor. I extended my arm, I was yelling his name, but it didn't matter how far I stretched my arm I couldn't reach him.

"Kaelor!!"

I awoke screaming.

A few moments later, Elira came running into my room. "What happened? What's wrong?"

And I told her everything, every detail of the void, Kaelor's outstretched hand, my helplessness. She wasn't dismissive of it as I thought she would be. Rather she was silent, her face blanched with something that was unpleasantly like recognition.

"You'll be fine. Just pray and sleep." She said at last as she left the room.

I couldn't calm my racing heart and instead stood and walked outside for some air.

I raised my gaze to the heavens and my heart instantly skipped a beat.

The moon was no more of silver.

It was now blood red.

A Blood Moon. The night of old legends and forbidden magic.

I gazed at the red light that was bleeding into the sky, my fears tightening in my chest.

Is it a dream...or a message?

POV: Vaelira Ashwyn

"Thank you moon goddess." I mumbled the second I woke up

Today would be the day to find out all the answers to the questions I had lost sleep for.

As I was sitting in front of the mirror, I felt the gaze of Elira, who was studying my face. My hair was pulled back from my shoulders, and she said softly, "You look exhausted. Were you able to get any sleep at all?

I said, "Not really. I could not get the nightmare out of my mind, or the moon."

"Vaelira-" she started.

"But I won't let it spoil today," I said gently. "It's supposed to be the happiest day of my life, I don't want a bad dream take that away from me."

She didn't say a word, but she looked at me a second longer than usual before she got to work on my hair again, silently.

When we were both dressed, we joined the pack of wolves that were all rushing toward Moonridge Palace. The roads were alive with excitement, unmated wolves were laughing and speculating about who they would find their destined mates before the setting of the sun. I wanted to absorb their happiness, but as we approached the palace, my stomach grew tighter and tighter.

I couldn't stop thinking about Kaelor. Information about the black magician. My nightmare and the blood moon.

I had to see him before the ceremony started. I had to explain to him about the nightmare I had, about the Blood Moon, about the sensation in my chest since waking up screaming.

I told Elira, "I'll meet you inside."

I didn't catch sight of Auren for several minutes, as he stood by one of the side entrances watching the royal guards. There was relief in me, and I ran to him.

I started to say "Auren," breathlessly. "Is Kaelor available? I have just a few minutes, I have something important I need to say before the ceremony."

He looked at me, but I didn't see the warmth I was looking for. His face was set in a way that I didn't recognize.

"Alpha Kaelor is busy," he said coldly.

I blinked. "What? Is he preparing? I can wait, I just-"

He repeated, his voice devoid of any emotion whatsoever, "Alpha Kaelor is busy."

"Auren." My voice trembled a little. "What's going on? Did something happen?"

He said nothing. He just ignored me as if I were not in front of him.

"Fine," I whispered, hurt blooming sharp and sudden in my chest. "Thank you."

I didn't want him to see how much his coldness shook me.

I quickly found Elira again and she frowned at my face. "What happened?have you spoken to him?"

I lied and put a smile on my face, "Nothing. Kaelor is just busy,Royal duties before the ceremony."

She wasn't especially pleased, but before she could ask any more questions, the great horns of the palace were sounded, summoning all the wolves to the great hall.

The hall was enormous on the inside, with wolves coming from all around the kingdom. The old people sat in front. The nobles were seated with pride in their reserved seats. Near the rear, there were common wolves, including myself, waiting amongst the unmated maids.

I scanned the crowd and spotted Kaelor close to the royal dais.

He didn't look me in the eye. Not once.

Shortly afterward, Alpha King Alaric Draven arrived with his family, and the entire hall stood in silence before resuming their seats as the royal family were seated.

High Elder Eldric Thorn rose to his feet and spoke into the empty hall. "True mates are chosen by the Moon Goddess alone," he said. "No wolf can resist her will."

One by one, wolves were called forward. Others met their partners from the readings of the elders. Others let out their spirit and allowed their destiny to take its course. Champagne was again popped, and again, and again as new pairings were announced, and with each pairing, my nerves were pulled tighter.

Then Eldric called Kaelor's name.

I smiled, not really knowing what to expect, chance that my name would be called next to his.

Instead, Eldric frowned, studying the reading in his hands. He said that the "Alpha Kaelor's mate star is not found in the traditional readings. He has to let go of his essence and let the Moon Goddess lead it towards his destined mate."

The hall echoed with whispers. My heart started beating, but I said to myself, "There's no need to be afraid. The spirit would still reach me. It had to."

Kaelor went to the ceremonial circle. I saw him take a breath and then let go of his Alpha essence into the air. A column of silver light cascaded out of his body, trailing meaclingly across the hall.

I was about to reach out for it, my whole body yearning for that light.

It moved closer.

Then it turned and went in a different direction.

It came to a halt in front of Seraphine Vaelor.

There was silence in the hall.

I couldn't breathe. I waited for Kaelor to say something. Anything. I waited him out, waited him to say no, waited him to say the elders were wrong.

Rather, he came to her.

"Kaelor," I whispered, but nobody could hear me amid the growing commotion. "Kaelor, don't-"

He put his head down and bit into Seraphine's neck.

The mark grew black on her white skin, and everyone around the hall cheered for me.

"NO," I screamed before I could stop myself, my voice cutting through the festivity like a knife. "No! Kaelor!"

The cheer went haywire. Before I could push my way toward Kaelor, rough hands seized my arms, Alpha King Alaric barked out an order to clear the hall. The guards dragged me behind, and they never answered a single question that I asked, and they put me in a private chamber in the palace.

I don't remember how long it took for the door to open.

Kaelor came in first. Alpha King Alaric and Luna Maevra Draven followed him.

"Kaelor." I shot to my feet. "Please say this is wrong."

He wouldn't make eye contact with me. Finally he spoke and his voice was maddeningly calm. "Perhaps our relationship was a wrong one, Vaelira."

"What?"

"Youngsters...we..., we were young," he said. "Perhaps we got in a situation that's never going to be right." He paused. "I'm sorry."

"Don't tell me you're sorry, tell me this is a joke." My voice shook. "Five years, Kaelor. Five years of hiding, sneaking around, waiting for the day you'd finally tell your pack about me, last night you said you would. You held my hand and told me you would."

He said nothing. He was silent, he stood there, and my words went around him.

It was obvious that he would not say anything, so Alpha King Alaric took his place. He looked as though he were making a business deal instead of dealing with my life, and his voice was businesslike: "What happened today can't ever become public knowledge. For your silence about your past relationship with my son, I will give you a generous amount of gold, and if you need land, I have some to give you."

I looked at him and knew that the words must have been misheard. "You want me to go away and not come back, right?"

"I'm doing what needs to be done." He said.

"I don't want your gold!" My voice broke. "I want the truth, I want to know what happened to the man I held last night and swore that nothing would ever come between us."

I was desperate and turned back to Kaelor. "There was something wrong with you last night, I know there was. I tried to contact you, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't. And at night, the moon was red, Kaelor, blood red. You must listen to me-"

I stretched out my hands to his arm.

The second I was going to touch him, there was something in between us, as invisible as a ghost, but as real as a brick wall, a sudden force flung me back. I hit the stone floor and felt pain shooting up my spine, I lost all breath from my lungs.

The room went totally silent.

Kaelor had just turned around and walked away, his parents trailing behind without a single glance in my direction, when I was able to lift my head.

I lay there on the cold floor, blood gathering in my mouth.

What just happened?

POV: Vaelira Ashwyn

I can't recall many of the steps on the way home. I recall whispers along the side of the streets, wolves turning their heads as I walked by but none of it really got to me. Each step was heavier than the next, Kaelor's words echoing in my mind. Perhaps, maybe our relationship simply wasn't meant to be.

As I arrived at my door it opened before I could knock.

Elira stood there and as soon as she saw my face, she didn't ask a single question. She just grabbed me and wrapped me up in her arms.

That's all it took. All of my strength I'd been holding on to was finally gone and I cried into her shoulder like a baby.

After some time, she said, "Come in," and led me through the door and put me in a chair. "Tell me everything."

So I did.

I said, "His essence went to her, his voice was hoarse. Just... changed direction and went straight to her, Seraphine. It just went to her, Elira, in front of everyone."

"Vaelira-"

"He said to me... this is a mistake". I closed my eyes with my hands. "He said we were young, maybe we rushed into loving each other, after five years. And his father...."

She asked quietly, " what did alpha Alaric do?"

"He offered me gold. Land. He would've paid me to keep my mouth shut, else there would've been a scandal." A bitter laugh rippled from my lips. "When I attempted to touch Kaelor and get him to listen, some kind of force propelled me across the room, I didn't know what was it. But I felt it."

Elira's face was as white as a sheet of paper, but she didn't say a word.

"Say something." I urged at last.

"Perhaps this was a providence," she said quietly. "But the Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes, Vaelira, as painful as it will be, perhaps Kaelor was never meant to be your mate."

"Don't say that." My chest hurt as I heard them. "It wasn't nothing, what we had, for five years he loved me, we had plans for a future together, you can't tell me that's all for nothing."

She did not say much more, just clutched my hand more tightly.

After a long pause, I said, "I can't stay here. There's nothing here for me but humiliation and everyone looking at me like I'm something to feel sorry for, I can't stay in Moonridge."

"Vaelira, no," Elira tightened his grip. "I can't leave alone, you know how dangerous it is to be an Omega outside pack area, please, do not leave until you can grieve first, a few days."

I didn't say anything and she appeared to take it as a yes.

That evening she had made something very simple and I barely touched it and I was pushing the food around my plate, and she was trying to get me to eat it, but I was not eating it. Later, she assisted me in going to bed and then she quietly left the room, leaving me to my darkness and my thoughts.

I lay there with my eyes closed, but sleep did not get close to me.

Later, I heard a noise in the house. I saw Elira, dressed in outdoor attire, making her way towards the front entrance of the building. I recalled that she used to spend her evenings with her mate, and I knew that she wouldn't come back for hours.

This was the only opportunity I would have.

When the front door was shut behind her, I got out of bed and hurried. I had just a small bag with me, a change of clothes, a waterskin, some dried food, my healing pouch and the little coin I had saved up over the years.

I left no note.

I left out into the night, walking until the edge of Moonridge was lost behind me, until the trees had swallowed up the final lights of the pack I had known all my life.

I didn't know where I was going. I knew that I must not stay where my heart was broken.

As he walked the forest grew still, the trees pressing closer around the narrow path. I let myself think for the first time since I'd left my house what kind of life lay out there, all alone, with a bag over my shoulder, and a broken heart in my chest.

Then I heard it.

Footsteps behind me.

I told myself that it was a figment of my imagination. I continued to walk, this time faster, listening for any sound.

The footsteps continued.

Closer this time.

My heart started to pound. I glanced over my shoulder and saw nothing but endless trees swallowed in shadow. Then there was a sharp snapping somewhere behind me.

I ran.

Suddenly I heard the sound of pursuit coming to me from behind and in no time at all, big wolves came from all around. I ran faster, my breathing accelerating, looking for any place I could hide, but they were closing in too quickly.

Before I had taken twenty steps, they surrounded me, cutting me off from all sides that I could have run in.

"Who are you?" I pulled back, until I bumped into solid muscle behind me, and demanded. "What do you want?"

All of them did not respond. One of the wolves transformed himself into a tall, cold, human shape, and he examined me as though I were a chore.

"To teach you the cost of loving someone you shouldn't have loved," he replied with his voice cold as ice.

I could feel ice running through my veins. "Have you been sent by Alaric? Does the king want to stop me from talking?"

He didn't respond to that one, either. Rather, they pushed me to the ground in the forest before I could ask for an answer. I clawed and kicked, I screamed and barked, I did everything I could, but I couldn't beat them; I was outnumbered and outmuscled!

One of them tore my jaw open and another squashed some dark green and leafy thing in his fingers and that smell hit me and I knew what it was.

Nightshade root. One of the most lethal poisons a healer could conjure up.

"No," I twisted and tried to close my mouth, tried to scream, but it was no good.

These were forced down my throat.

The reaction was immediate. Fire blazed in my veins, my legs began to grow numb, my eyes to become cloudy. I had a feeling of my own strength ebbing away like water through open fingers.

The wolves retreated, satisfied, as I fell to the ground.

As they melted back into the shadows, I heard their leader speak one last time, his voice carrying easily through the silent trees.

"Seraphine will be pleased," he said, "with how easily this was taken care of."

The words hit me harder than the poison spreading through my body.

I had believed the royal family wanted me silenced.

Now, as darkness crept in from every edge of my vision, I finally understood the truth.

*Seraphine wanted me dead!*