The Luna's possessive guardian

Alicia's POV

The Royal harbingers ambled inside the prime minister's manor immediately after I wrapped up scrubbing Lady Dia's feet. I swerved in respect and watched with half-lidded eyes as they matched forward to the giant entrance of the building while the guards scurried to open the portico.

They were definitely here to convey an important message.

I stretched my back and wiped the sweat on my forehead the moment they entered.

It had been an exhausting and dampening day. As usual, I wasn't able to avoid Lady Dia's typical abuse of my face. Every single time her eyes came in contact with me, she would land a stinging slap on my cheek, including other unnecessary mistreatment at any slight mistake I made. Lady Dia wasn't that antagonistic when I first got peddled to the family.

According to what I heard from the other servants, her severe rigour and bitterness towards me were a result of the crown prince noticing my presence during a ball I was appointed to be her entourage.

A prince I didn't even set my eyes on , and it will be over by dead body to be in any way in an intimate relationship with the son of a person that massacred my parents. What hurt me the most was that he bears the same name as my childhood lover.

Lady Dia's fetish attitude towards the so-called prince is an issue that needs a thorough understanding.

It had been two years since then, and the prince was still yet to ascend the throne as he was still having issues considering that he was an illegitimate son. He was supposed to be the Emperor of the great Genovia a year before which was after the death of the Emperor , but no one knows the reason for the delay. Aside from my dislike for the populace of this country, I loathe the Royal family that had steered the unforeseen and agonizing combat on my once serene park and that of my childhood lover.

It had been fifteen years of dire and tormenting experience. I was collared and traded to a peddler whom I was fortunate that he was constantly on a trip. For eleven years, I lived with the merchant until he sold me to the prime minister at a high price.

I was like an asset to the merchant and he had pawned me for a mouth-watering amount of money. When I got to the Prime Minister's villa, I had thought it was a God-sent prospect to find my way into the palace and take revenge on my people, lover, and family.

I was naive.

I wasn't even able to kill an ant. Slowly, my determination to revenge diminished and I lived in agony with the only hope of finding my childhood lover, Arnold. All I did was cry when I was bullied by the other maids. They were jealous because the prime minister's first son has some sort of feeling for me whose heart is for no one but my betrothed childhood aficionado.

A night wouldn't pass without me worrying about him. When we were in my homeland, my father would tell me that I needed to be prudent from hazardous encounters when I went out with him anytime he came from his village to visit. I felt safer whenever I was with him because he was a great warrior even at his young age.

I was ten while he was fifteen.

He will be thirty this year while I will be twenty-five.

Our last meeting was when we strolled around the market. I was mid-smart but not bold or courageous. My father was from a low status and my mother was the Luna of the park signifying that I would be the next Luna.

Dad was a diligent farmer, and I had accompanied him to the location of the ore mine which was a bit far from our homeland. It was in a hideous location.

Father explained the benefits it would have on our park and the next day when Arnold visited, I told him about the ore mine as we were to rule our parks as Alpha and Luna when we grow up.

I thought that there shouldn't be a secret between us. I thought it shouldn't be a big deal to report it to my soulmate.

Since then, Arnold did not come by to visit me, which I don't know the reason for. A week later, an envoy from Genovia announced that we should surrender the ore.

It's a mystery about how they got to know about it.

Of course, my parents forbade me to tell anyone. To our surprise, they went back to their country only to come back and trap the whole park.

They captured both the Tiger and Greenland Park.

Father had instructed me to pass through a secret route out of the house while I heard the scream of torture of my parents as they were slaughtered like animals. I had escaped death but was held captive as a slave with other people in the park.

They had no idea that I was the next Luna of my tribe.

Since we were the ones who knew the location of the ore mine, I still don't know why Greenland Park was punished and how the news about the ore mine got to the hearing of the wicked Emperor of Genovia.

I jolted out in fear when Bona, my only friend tapped me "What is with you drowning in deep thoughts, huh. You don't want Lady Dia to catch you slacking around do you?" she asked and urged me to come along.

"I am sorry" I mumble and carry the big bowl while walking beside her in the direction of our quarter.

Bona suddenly stopped and faced me with a suspicious stare "I heard something strange from the cooks about Prince Arnold summoning a particular maid. I guess it's just a rumour but I guess that you are the one"

My heart beats in dread as I clutch the bowl tightly "You must have heard wrong. I don't have any relationship with the royal family whatsoever"

"Really?" She gasped dramatically and proceeded, "The others also mentioned that a year ago, he had commanded the prime minister to take good care of the maid but out of jealousy, instead his daughter had secretly maltreated the maid"

"The only one that seems to fit this is you, Alicia. The ruthless Prince of Genovia has come to take you" She says and raises her hands.

I hissed angrily, and stomped into the quarters. My stomach grunts and my body shivers in anxiety. Different thoughts overshadowed my mind.

What if the greedy people know that I'm the supposed Luna who knows the location of the ore mine?

Will they kill me just like they did to my parents?

I screamed in distress and fell to my knees as that had been my only option for letting out my sorrow.

It's too much. My back, fingers, and legs hurt.

My heart clenches.

Immediately I heard Bona's hurrying steps, I wiped my face and pretended like nothing happened.

She was breathing heavily like someone who had run a mile. "They are here, Alicia. They are here to take you away. What have you done?" She mutters repeatedly and worriedly.

"I told you to stop spouting nonsense. I might vow not to talk to you anymore" I warned and sniffed shakingly.

"The Royal messengers are outside our quarters now. I saw them with my own eyes, Alicia" she panicked.

In the blink of an eye, realization dawned on me that I was called upon. My breathing became erratic as it fell out of rhyme.

Alicia's POV

Lady Dia wandered in before I could utter a word. She was fluttering like an edgy kitty. Her exquisite face was now clouded with fear. She rushed to me and squeezed her hand with mine.

With an unwilling smile, she stammers "I ha..ve no idea why the Prince had suddenly summoned you, but you need to understand my reason for maltreating you." She whiffs shamefully.

"The first time he acknowledged me was the day he told me to take very good care of you. I was bedazzled by my obsession and hadn't taken his instructions earnestly because I thought your beauty might have overshadowed mine even in your less pricey dress. I still wonder how he saw you when you were not inside the venue" She bites her lips and I gazed at a frozen Bona who has her palm on her mouth in stupefaction.

"If the harbingers see you in this situation and tell the Prince, it's the end of everything for me and my family" She shudders her head and quivers once more. I abruptly had the notion to embrace her and that everything would be alright but I didn't want to risk it.

"I had disobeyed the order of the next Emperor, Alicia. For the sake of, God" she whimpers and shakes when someone bangs at the door "My father is on an appointed journey and you know my mother is deceased right? You just have to lie that you don't want to leave your friends behind and demand to stay here but I had treated you specially among the others. It's lame but I know you can convince them." She gulps and stares me right in the eye without having that usual despised expression as it was superseded by a desperate stare.

My typical self agreed to her plea even though my inner mind was feeling sorrowful at what awaited me.

Aside from that, what's the essence of holding grievances with someone when I don't even know what I'm going to face shortly?

I nod my head and caress her hand in reassurance. She hugged me and brushed away her tears before rushing me out of the quarter.

Her guess was right.

The Royal messengers were shocked as they surveyed me with their bull-eyes.

I bowed in respect and emphasized my contentment regarding the way I live but they weren't shaken by my words.

"It's a shame that you think we are so stupid to believe such pathetic lies. Nevertheless, your beauty still overshadows your appearance. You can't go with us with such a look and I beg your pardon, for the sake of us and if you don't want to end up like a dead horse of our opponent on the battlefield, never act so immature in front of his Highness." Their leader cautions with a stern voice.

I suddenly felt a rush of outrage as I stared at them, "If you have so many rules for the appearance of a mere outcast, then what do you want from me?!" I fired angrily.

My eyes were probably red.

Lady Dia and the other maids quickly knelt while tremblingly and stammering pleas on my behalf "Don't take her words seriously!!!" They cried out.

The leader chortled at my weirdness" The minister's daughter is to dress you up." He announces with a straight face "You don't want to waste my time!"

Lady Dia jerked in fear and whimpered as she urged me toward the direction of her room and like I flash, I was dolled like a totally different person. Like a recognised noble lady.

My eyes became soggy and I almost bawled at the thought of my days when I was still Alicia.

Without any more contemplation on the reality of my journey to meet the so-called Prince, I relieved my heart with silent prayers and stepped on the staircase of the carriage with the assistance of one of the maids.

I glimpsed at a tearful Bona for the last time and entered the carriage.

The trip wasn't exhausting as we halted at a house.

A major cabin.

A guard surged out of the house and informed the harbingers of the change of plan. He mutters it quietly while I strain my ears to get a clue.

I only heard "She needs to disguise as a maid".His voice lowers after that as if he knows that I was listening to him.

I bite my lips in curiosity. What could they be up to?

I was demanded to go into the house and I was assisted by a lady to dress like a royal maid. A thought suddenly crossed my mind that it would be easier for me to poison the Prince in revenge but I quickly shook the thought away.

I was handed over to the guard.

He was the only one that accompanied us while we trekked. I keep glancing at his half-burnt face. He looks familiar and I couldn't recall where I might have seen him. He was no doubt younger than I am but he already inherited wrinkles from fixed scowl on his face.

Huff.

We were given easy access into the grand palace of Genovia after he showed them a designated staff that indicated the permission of the Royal Prince. I guessed because the guards had panicked at the sight of the thing. If not for my loathing towards the Ruthless monarchy family of Genovia, I would admit that the place wasn't different from the description of heaven in the holy book.

I forced myself to look down and clasped my hands on each other in tension. The bottom of my heart was beginning to pump even though I had pledged to myself not to be intimidated by the sight of those in power.

The Royal Family.

I'm only in the surroundings and I was almost peeing in my garment.

I tried my best to meet the hasty steps of the guard till we got to an enormous gate of a manse that was a bit low in size with the one in the middle.

The guard suddenly halted and I bumped into him from the back "Get a hold of your silly self, or I might hit the bottom of this sword on your head!" He yelled angrily.

I gulped and nodded my head in understanding and followed him. After an unending walk of passing through corners into different parts of the magnificent building, we arrived at a chamber.

Without any information, I understood that I was finally at the place of the person who summoned me. I swerved with my arm vertically placed on my knee, exactly the way the guard greeted him.

"What took you so long?!" The anonymous hollered in a cold and mightily tone. His broad back was facing us while his hand caressed the fur of a cat sitting on a golden stool.

"She was struggling to escape your highness" the guard lied and trembled. I opened my mouth to deny it but a word couldn't come out of my mouth.

His Highness? He is the Prince!! What was I thinking?!

My mind screams.

"Still as fragile and unreasonable as before" The Prince nodded his head in agreement to the guard's statement and it made me wonder why he referred to me like he knew me from somewhere.

My brain and mind bonded automatically at the familiarity of the voice. It was distant and frigid but held a domineering and commanding tone.

"You are dismissed" The Prince muttered blankly.

"I had wanted to summon you after I ascended the throne but I guess I was preordained to see you before then," He mumbled in a hushed tone that if I hadn't strained my ears well, I wouldn't have heard him.

"This low-life citizen is not worthy of being invited by His Highness" I downgraded myself to make him feel his worth.

I know that it's what they love most. I guess hatred made me this bold.

"Low-life?" he chuckled.

"Do I call someone who knows the location of an ore mine that could change the life of a whole country for many generations a low-life?" He snarled in his formidable tone.

I felt an adrenaline rush of outrage instead of fear. I raised my head to stare at his back without a second thought of the repercussions of looking up while his Royal Highness spoke. "I have no idea what you are talking about!" I scream.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me if you don't want to meet your end like that of your parents'' he muttered rudely and stared at his side.

I jerked back at the resounding harshness.

He faced the window again and said "You told me this on a sunny day, Alicia. You had bragged about it and now you dare deny it? You are here for a reason and I don't mind dealing with you mercilessly if you dare to defy me. Be an obedient puppy like the way you have always been."

On a sunny day? Did I tell him? The Prince of Genovia?

At that moment three things clicked. His voice, his words, and his name but then again my assumptions can't be true.

No, never!

"Where is the location of the ore mine you told me about fifteen years ago?" He inquired as I watched his leg motion to motions closer to me.

With my eyes blinking, and the pulse of my heart in slow motion, I gradually raised my gaze to his face. As if the planet froze, I lost balance at the sight of him.

The one I had waited, prayed, and wished to meet after so many years. It was like the gate of heaven opened and I felt the cool breeze that signifies that it was the end of my anguish.

A sincere smile formed on my lips and a tear of joy fell from my eyes. I stood up with trembling legs and a vibrating body to meet him. "Arnold!" I exclaimed and embraced him.

I didn't mind that he didn't reciprocate the hug. I blocked all thoughts on how he ended up as a Prince of the country that had treated us badly.

Being with him was enough.

I held on to him for a long time until I felt my buttocks hit the golden-tiled floor.

I was shoved away by my lover.

I stood up with the thought that I might have stumbled on something due to my overjoyed self until my eyes met with his dark and perilous stare.

"The audacity!!!" He snarled and stared at me with extreme contempt.

What is going on?

Alicia's POV

My body quaked for a few jiffies by his intimidating voice. I stood up with my trembling leg and stared at him affectionately.

It was like I was possessed because I couldn't figure out the fact that the man standing before me was infuriated by my gesture. Why would he be in the first place? He is my betrothed and childhood lover! I expected him to reciprocate the embrace more because I knew him to be the one who loved me the most.

He was my saviour in multiple circumstances when we were young.

I mobilized the gutsiness to step forward. It was at that instant that I felt the sexual magnet. My body jostled and my core bulged. The only explanation for such a body response could be yielded by nothing but the first meeting with my mate.

My eyes burn up lustrously and luminously while my mood swaps into a more thrilling way. I dared to gaze at him as it was an attraction that was transpiring between us.

No way he would try to refute me.

I thought naively.

"Arnold" I called softly and tramped closer to him. His peacefulness provided me with access to progress towards him. I lifted my hand to touch his perfectly shaped jawline. He suddenly clamps his strong hand around my neck making me choke on myself.

My lungs itch.

I felt choked as I made an effort to speak. Arnold sweeps his right long fingers to my chin with his other fingers still strangling my neck.

"I told you earlier that you don't know me. You are here for a reason, bitch" he snarled with a mean gaze.

His grasp slackened a bit and it allowed me to reply "Let me go first. We can settle things in a more understanding way, please." I pleaded and coughed.

He acquiesced after straining a long glare. I couldn't help but fall on my feet. My body felt like it was dehydrated. I was pale. My eyes blinked severally and I convulse once more.

Arnold wasn't stoic with my attitude. He sat on the golden chair and rubbed the diamond ring on his middle finger. "My dear Alicia. You are the only one alive that knows that I'm not a real Prince" he began in a blank tone that gives no room to detect any particular emotion.

"I could eradicate you today and no one will challenge me. But of course, I wouldn't do that to someone who is the key to my main triumph." He muttered without even flickering his gaze which was honed at me.

My heart aches as I watch him. He had transformed. My gullible mind sank to the realization that no matter how nasty his personality was, I shouldn't condemn him.

"If I tell you the location of the ore mine,

Will you let us mark each other? I mean we are mates after all. I know how much we strived to meet each other. I love you. I still love like I've always done since we were younger. I would want to be your mate and life partner. Just give me the chance" I confessed and requested desperately in a gibberish tone with tears on my face.

I do not understand myself.

This man loathing on me is the only one I know after we got detached and discarded. How will I live without him? What will happen to me now?

"You want me to mark you, Alicia?" He chuckled darkly and strained a repugnant expression at me.

My eyes wrung painfully and fresh tears fell from my eyes.

I had endured.

I can't be weak.

I need to continue striving, but for how long?

The only thing that connects me to my park is the ore mine.

No matter how much my heart cries and yearns for Arnold, I can't let the mine that I haven't set my eyes on for fifteen years go like that. I understand that I shouldn't trust him enough to hand it over to him, especially as odd as it sounds that he is now the crown prince of Genovia.

Arnold wandered arrogantly to me. He bent down making his scent fill my nostrils. At that moment, I wouldn't mind falling in his arms and getting myself nuzzled. He rubs my chin with his finger and my body shivers in ecstasy.

"I'm not Arnold, my darling Alicia. I'm the Prince of Genovia" he spat on my face and I shut my eyes.

"Open them!" He commanded and I did immediately.

"In as much as I dislike your presence, I wouldn't deny that you've grown to be a rare damsel. You would make a good maid. I will make you my personal maid, Alicia." He sneers. His eyes glinted while I shook in fear.

I begin to shiver at the venomous stare he honed at me. My heart shredded as a thought crossed my mind about his instincts behind being his personal maid.

He would use my soul and body the way he wants.

How dare he!

"You can't do this Arnold. I'm your mate!" I muttered angrily.

He stood up and held his strong and harsh stare "You do not get it, do you? I wished day and night for the moment I would cut off from being betrothed to you. Unfortunately for me, you turned out to be my mate. Right now, Right here, I reject you the Luna of Tiger Park as my mate and renounce you as My slave and My property" he yelped.

My inner soul and wolf bellowed at his announcement and I felt overpowered by capability. My senses worked in unity as I stood on my legs without trembling.

"I do not know anything about the way you ended up as a prince of a country that treated us like animals but at the same time, you can't push me away because I'm the only one that knows about your lineage. I am the only one that is capable of helping you. I'm your mate, Arnold!!"

"You shall never raise your voice on the King of Genovia!!!" He thundered and pointed a shiny sword in the direction of my neck.

I was stiff at a time before I shuddering in fear.

"I do nothing but behead those that try to block my way. It's not a big deal if I should kill you right now!" His eyes glint in anger.

My words made him infuriated.

I fell on my knees again and cried helplessly "Is the ore mine that important to you?"

"Having the ore mine is more important than the lives of the Tiger Park. " He muttered bitterly.

"If it's that important, why was your park eradicated too? '' I sneak in the question I had always wanted to ask.

He forwarded the sword to my neck and pressed it till I felt it pierced my skin. I felt a sharp pain and winced.

Arnold's hands were quivering and his eyes were the definition of danger.

I had trespassed.

"Where is the location of the ore mine, Alicia?" He inquired in a tight voice.

"I would rather die than tell you" I replied stubbornly and winced when the sword pierced further into my skin.

Blood discharges from my neck and painful tears gush out of my eyes. I clutched my dress and repeated my late prayer.

"You will regret this, Arnold!" I murmured as the pain was beginning to get severe and intolerable.