Chapter 77 Chapter 77
AILSA’S POV
I woke up reaching for Lucian but my hands brushed cool sheets instead of warm skin and my eyes opened fully at once. Lucian was not in bed. He was already gone.
For a heartbeat, I panicked not that he had left me but fear that he hadn’t come to bed. But the faint smell told me he had been here and the bond hummed steadily and calm. He hadn’t left in anger. He was simply elsewhere or maybe he had just left for pack business.
“It’s normal” I said to myself.
Sitting up in the bed, I had to get used to not waking up next to Lucian. I had somehow gotten used to his warmth since I started sleeping in this room. His scent in the room was also something, I had started getting used to.
I sit in bed longer than necessary staring at the ceiling, letting the reality of yesterday settled into my bones again. The elders didn’t want me to be Luna because they didn’t know about my past.
What if I told them the truth and I was not a rogue and I was once part of a pack? Would that change their minds?
Though, it sounded tempting but I couldn’t tell them. What if they make me go back to that pack?
‘That is impossible’ my wolf said.
It didn’t sound impossible to me. I knew there were some laws that I didn’t know about.
Luna.
It still felt surreal that I was now a Luna and people addressed me as that. Long ago, I would have killed to hear that title from people but now I’m not sure about it. Especially if it’s going to cause problem.
When I finally rose, I dressed simply braiding my hair back with practiced fingers. I didn’t need any help with my hair. I made up my mind to listen to Lucian and put my trust in him, I was not going to think so much about it again.
When I stepped into the corridor, I was expecting it to be quiet. The guards stationed outside straightened the moment they saw me. Their fists came to their chests in unison, as they bowed.
“Luna” one of them said.
The word still felt unreal. It settled on my shoulders like a cloak, that I hadn’t learned how to wear yet.
“You don’t have to….” i began but they were already stepping aside, clearing my path as if the corridor itself belonged to me. I swallowed and moved forward.
As I walked the doors closed softly. Conversations ended mid-sentence. Servants dipped their heads and hurried away as they noticed me, their eyes lowered.
‘Respect’ my wolf murmured. Or fear. I thought.
The difference mattered. My mark tingled. Lightly but not painfully. Just a low awareness, like a hand resting against my skin from the inside. I resisted the urge to touch it, to press my fingers there and reassure myself that it was real, that she was real.
I turned to a corner and then I stopped. They were there, three of them.
Elders.
There was announcement about their coming or warning. They stood in the open reviving chamber. Something ancient clung to them like cloth. They all turned towards me at once. My steps faltered. No one spoke or bowed.
The first was tall and grey-haired. His eyes were sharp and calculating. The second was a woman dressed in dark robes, her expression was unreadable but her eyes swept over me with interest. The third look the oldest and his gaze sent chills up my spine.
Then the grey-haired elder smiled.
“Luna Ailsa” he said warmly. “It’s good to finally meet you” he gave a crooked smile.
My heart stumbled. Finally, someone spoke. I thought we were going to continue with the staring competition.
“I…” my voice sounded lower than I liked. “I wasn’t told you were coming” the woman turned slightly.
“We find announcements unnecessary”
The words were polite but the meaning was not. I forged myself to breathe evenly.
“Should I fetch the Alpha?”
The third elder studied me more closely now, his gaze lingered at my throat, then my collarbone, then finally my arm where the mark was. I regretted why I wore a sleeveless gown today, I felt naked under his gaze.
“No. We know where to find the Alpha. We wished to see you first” he said quietly.
Something in the room shifted or was it from me. I couldn’t tell. They gestured for me to sit and I did. My wolf paced restlessly.
‘This isn’t right’
“I assume you know why we’re here?” The grey-haired elder said. I shook my head.
“I don’t know” he hummed softly.
“Hmmm….i find that hard to believe” he said. The woman spoke next.
“You were announced as Luna so suddenly with no ceremony” I stiffened.
“Lucian chose me”
“We do not question the Alpha’s feelings. We question the consequences of his actions” the woman said. The third elder leaned forward slightly.
“Tell us child, have you been trained” I blinked.
“Trained?”
“As Luna”
“I wasn’t. I’m learning” I said carefully. The grey-haired elder nodded as if confirming something.
“And before Lucian’s claim?” My fingers curled in my lap.
“I was training as a warrior”
“Warrior? And you knew Lucian was your mate all this while?” I nodded.
“You’ve not been marked if I’m not mistaken?” The third elder said and I nodded again.
“So that means you are not entirely bound to Lucian” my chest tightened.
“You were caught as a rogue and a rogue can’t be Luna. Don’t you agree?” My nails dug into my palm and before I could answer the doors opened and Lucian entered.
The room changed. His presence occupied the room, his fury was visible on his face as he didn’t even try to hide it. He crossed the room in long strides, stopping beside me and his handle settling at the small of my back, possessively. I felt a bit calmer now he was here.
“You should have announced yourselves” his tone was clipped. His fingers tightened briefly against my spine.
“Alpha Lucian” they said in unison
“This conversation is over” the third elder rose slowly.
“It has barely begun” Lucian met his gaze.
“She is my Luna” he said it firmly.
“We know” the woman said. Her eyes flicked back to mine. “That is precisely our concern”
“We will observe and we will evaluate. And we will decide whether this bond strengthens the pack or endangers it” the grey-haired elder continued.
“You don’t get to decide that” Lucian’s voice was low.
The elder’s smile faded.
“When something is wrong we have the power to correct it. All power answers to balance, Alpha. Even yours”
They turned to leave. At the threshold, the third elder paused and glanced back at me.
“That mark has history” he said quietly. My hand flew to it instinctively. As if I didn’t know that already.
“We’ll be back” the woman said before the door closed. The room became silent. I exhaled shakily.
“Lucian” he turned to me immediately, cupping my face.
“Nothing is going to happen. I won’t allow it” he said firmly. I searched his eyes. He believed that. That frightened me more than the elders.
“Did you know they would come?” I asked. His jaw tightened. He knew.
“Not today. I was not expecting them to come immediately” he said. My chest ached.
“Why don’t i…” he placed a finger over my lips.
“Don’t finish that sentence. I don’t want to hear any of that” he gritted his teeth. I was trying to make it easier for him. I didn’t want to see him fight with the elders.
“I won’t say it if that’s what you want but think about it. It would make things easier. They says they’ll be back”
“I’m not thinking about anything. I am not giving you up. I’ll fight if it comes to that”
“That’s what I don’t want. Fight. War. I don’t want a war to start because of me”
“They already crossed a line so they’ll bear the consequences of their actions” he sounded so serious. I placed my hand on his cheek.
“One day, you’ll understand the reason I’m telling you to listen to them”
Each word made my heart ache but I said it anyways. He kissed my lips lightly before he pulled back.
“I would never regret my decision. I’ll see you later” he said before leaving me.
Later when I was alone in my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing. I never knew being Luna wasn’t ceremonial. It wasn’t gowns and loyalty and warmth. It was exposure. It was being seen and measured and found lacking before you even understood the rules.
My fingers traced the edge of my mark again. The witch hadn’t lied. She had simply warned me too gently. Whatever this bond had given me…. It was already beginning to take something back. And I didn’t yet know what I was going to lose.