Chapter 105 CHAPTER 105

Chapter 105 CHAPTER 105
AVARA

"Don't take what that woman said to heart, my Queen. You know she's Adira's mother. Of course she'd say her evil daughter is a saint," Lily said so as to comfort me.

She noticed I was troubled after Amon left, and she has been doing her best as my friend to make sure those words that came out from Adira's mother, never affect me.

"You know what we should do? Send her down to Night Howl pack so she can repeat those very words to the people. I bet you, she'll run away." Lily chuckled, making my face glow.

I giggled finally, pleasing her heart.

"Now there's that Royal smile I've been waiting for. Don't let anybody steal that glow away from you, Luna. You deserve to be happy. There, I said it," she said playfully, increasing my laughter.

"I don't know what I'll do without you, Lily. You always know how to comfort me," I said happily, as she walked over to my back to take my necklace off.

We came down to my room because I wanted to take off my dress and jewelry to wear something more comfortable around the palace.

I won't lie, I wasn't feeling okay in the dress before. Then Adira's mom made it more uncomfortable with how she spoke, leaving me angry inside.

To Lily, I was bothered and probably overthinking that woman's words, but in reality, I was furious, wondering how someone like that would give birth to a child like Adira, turn a blind eye to her wrongdoings, and still carry herself around shamefully, saying I have wronged her?

In fact, Adira's name began popping in my head non-stop, making it hard for me to get her out of my head.

But the moment my eyes fell on something, I realized maybe her name ringing in my brain was for a good reason.

"Okay, I'll just place this in the... What's this doing on the floor?" I heard her speak and turned to see her bending right next to the bed, picking up something.

"How did you get here? We don't want to lose such a precious gift," Lily said, revealing the necklace Jane had gifted me.

As soon as my eyes saw the stone, a voice began singing Adira's name in my head, finally making me remember something that always, and I mean, always skips my mind!

"Her necklace!" I said out sharply, causing Lily to shiver at my tone, turning around to look at me.

"My Queen?" She called, noticing a change in my face.

"I can't forget about it again. Lily, come with me," I said, abandoning the idea of changing and just rushing out like that.

Lily followed me from behind, as I hurriedly made my way to the entrance of the palace, just in time to meet Sir Elvador talking to a guard.

"Elvador," I called, approaching him.

"My Queen," The head guard and his companion immediately bowed as I got close.

"How may I be of service, my Queen?" He asked, lifting his head.

"Please come," I said, taking hold of his hand and pulling him aside.

Sir Elvador spoke with concern as I pulled him to the side with Lily next to me, "Is everything alright, my Queen?"

I sighed, looking around to make sure it was just the three of us. Then I asked, "When Adira was arrested, was she stripped of everything?"

"Yes, Luna. Everything was taken from her."

"Clothes, jewelry, big and small jewelry?" I asked, hitting more on that.

Elvador's brows narrowed in confusion as he answered, "Yes, everything was taken from her."

Hearing that, I began to wonder if I was overthinking things.

Until... "Except one small chain she refused to let go," He remembered, trying to recall the detail of the necklace he's talking about.

Before he could open his mouth and speak, I said, "It has an orange stone."

"Yes, something like that. There's a dark stone attached to it. She refused to let it off when she was stripped of her fancy attire," Elvador spoke, proving my suspicion.

"Is it something you want? Did Adira steal it from you?" Elvador asked, ready to take action.

I swayed my head and said, "It's not mine, but I want it off her neck. And I want to be present when you take it off her."

"Oh okay, my Queen. I'll lead the way," Elvador agreed obediently, taking the lead.

As I turned to follow, Lily, who was right beside me, whispered, looking lost, "Wait, is it the same pendant you were telling me about some time back?"

"Yes," I nodded, already picturing the result when we take that stone away from her.

"I recall you were making plans on what we'll do about it. And honestly, I ended up forgetting about the necklace."

"Same," I said, feeling glad that I remembered.

Now that I'm Luna, demanding for the stone from Adira won't be a problem. No one can question me, not even her.

I want to know why she's always protective of it, and why it always glows. Is that normal?

Getting to the dark den where she was held, Elvador had to pick up a fire torch, leading us to the cell Adira has been kept.

The sight of the place and the darkness were frightening. Did Aurora build this dungeon for monsters or what?

As we moved deeper, we began to hear someone coughing and saying, "Oh Goddess, not the torch. Please tell me you aren't here to give me another watery food?"

Hearing that voice, I immediately recognized the owner, as the torch shone brightly to reveal a filthy moving apparel and then... "Well, if it isn't her Majesty, Luna Avara."

"Adira," My brows narrowed down at her, as her face came into view.

She looked so messy, yet her tongue was still sharp.

She glanced at my dress with a look of envy and said, "I heard the chant yesterday. Everyone hailing and calling you the new Queen... You know if you didn't come into our land, I'd have been crowned Luna by now."

"The Queen isn't here for that," Elvador spoke, shunning her at once.

When she heard that, she scoffed and asked, looking at me, "So why is her majesty here to see me? Don't tell me I poisoned another pack while in prison."

She laughed, taking this as a joke.

Without giving her an answer, I said to Elvador, "Bring it to me."

"Yes, my Queen."

"Bring what?" Adira's smile dropped when she saw Elvador handing the torch to Lily, opening the cell in a serious manner.

When he stepped inside, Adira drew back, demanding to know what he wants from her.

"Get back! GET BACK I SAY!!" She shouted, throwing hands at him.

In the process, I saw the orange stone glowing again, and I immediately tapped Lily and said, "Did you see it?"

"Where?" Lily asked, trying to find what I showing her. But it was right in the open, dangling around her neck.

"It's right there. You... You can't see it?" I was puzzled, seeing Lily squint her eyes to see it.

But she didn't!

How's that possible?

"What are you doing? No! Give that back!" Adira cried out, as Elvador successfully took off her pendant, pushing her aside, and stepping out of the cell quickly.

"No, it's mine!" Adira cried, coming close, holding on to the iron bar separating us.

She stretched her hand out to collect the necklace, but Elvador handed it to me, and that made Adira break down further, saying, "Give it back. That's a gift from someone special. Give it!" She whined.

Her attitude was disturbing, making me stare at the pendant then at her.

The stone was clearly glowing in my hand, but Lily still wasn't seeing it.

"Oh I think I saw the glow. Oh wait... It's the torch," Lily said, rubbing her neck.

Her inability to see what I'm seeing, made me think I have a problem.

"Elvador, can you see the glow?" I asked, facing the head guard with the necklace.

He looked at it and just like Lily, "I don't see anything, my Queen."

"What?" I was stunned and confused.

Am I the only one seeing this right? How can they not see this?

Just as I was finding this hard to believe, Adira snapped on hearing what I just asked Elvador, "Glow? Why in heavens name will my necklace be glowing?"

Her words left me speechless.

It's her necklace so how can she not see it?

I have been holding the necklace for several minutes and nothing about Adira had changed, except for the fact that she was louder and angrier than ever.

"Was I wrong?" I asked within, finding this unbelievable.

Adira cried about how someone special gave her that necklace many years ago because he saw her as a precious gem.

"Now you want to rob that away from me, now that you're Luna!" She sparked, accusing me.

Her words cut me right in the chest, as I guiltily gave it to Elvador back and told him to give it back to her.

"As you wish, my Queen," Elvador obeyed, handing it to Adira.

She swiftly snatched it and placed it around her neck, caressing the stone like it was her baby.

I watched this with discomfort and embarrassment, as I turned my face away and said to Lily, "Let's go."

Then we left, leaving Adira behind.

.

Later, now in the comfy clothes I wanted, I walked alone around the palace, still thinking about the bizarre thing that happened in the prison cell.

If Adira, Lily, and Elvador couldn't see that stone glowing, how come I was the only one who could see it?

Not just that, the weird aura from that room and from the dress Doveris prepared for me, where Lily couldn't feel the energy. I was the only one who could sense something was wrong and had to avoid it.

"Something is wrong with me," I believed with no doubt, looking down at my own hands.

And with this matter in mind, I think I need someone's help to understand why this is happening to me.

"Amon? Maybe he'll have a clue about this. No... I should see the Alphas first. I have to tell them," I decided, hurrying to find them.

The last place they were seen by a maid was in the sitting room. I decided to go there to find them, and sure enough, they were there.

Hugo, Jay, and Dean were making plans for our mating ceremony when they saw me at the entrance of the room.

With joy, they called me over, asking why I stood there like I was a stranger.

"Don't tell me you were missing us badly?" Jay joked, opening his arms wide, since he was closer.

Feeling overwhelmed, I sat on his lap and buried myself in his arms, as he held me close, stroking my hair, and said, "That's my Queen. Your Alpha is here for you."

"Don't start," Hugo spoke jealously, while Dean laughed.

When they noticed I wasn't laughing, "Avara, are you okay?" Jay asked, lifting my head so he could see my face.

I looked him in the eyes and Jay immediately saw the worry laced within, gently cupping my face.

"Avara, what's wrong?" He asked, as I sat up properly on his lap, looking at all three Alphas.

Hugo and Dean came close, waiting to hear me speak.

Seeing all three near, I began to feel comfortable and relaxed.

So, I opened up.

I told them about Adira's necklace, how it always glowed, and how she'd hide it like she was keeping a secret from everyone.

"During our fight, she was ready to fail than to let me touch her necklace. So, after so long of telling myself I'd find out why she keeps hiding it... I went down to the cell to confront her."

"You went to see her?" They chorused in surprise, sounding displeased with my move.

"You didn't have to go and see that woman."

"You're the Queen. A guard should have dragged her out to kneel at your feet and speak."

"Did you go alone?"

"No," I swayed my head, answering them.

"I went with Lily and Elvador. They were there with me."

"Okay, so what happened next? Did you get the necklace?" Hugo asked.

I sighed and nodded, but told them the troubling part of it.

"The necklace was glowing in my front, but Adira, Lily, and Elvador said they can't see any glow," I shared, leaving the Alphas puzzled.

"That's strange. How come you could see it and they couldn't?"

"Was it the reflection of the flame?"

"No, she said it was glowing right in her hand. It wasn't the flame."

"What kind of stone is that?"

They debated, finding this strange. But they didn't divert from the main point of the matter.

"How come you're the only one who saw the glow?" Jay repeated, looking at me.

I shrugged, having no idea.

"Or could it be that there's a gemstone we can't see fully, but the human eyes can?" Dean asked, making a point which the others agreed on.

But they soon had a second thought about this idea when I told them about the next problem.

"If that's the case, then how do we explain the negative energy I felt yesterday?"

"What energy?" They asked, narrowing their brow, confused.

Then I said, "Yesterday, Doveris took me to my new room to move in at once. When she left, I felt a strong energy around the room. It... It didn't feel normal. It was skin crawling."

This surprised the Alpha who found this strange and hard to believe. And I don't blame them for that. Even Lily felt it was weird because she didn't feel it.

I told them about Lily's inability to sense it, and also about the dress Doveris had brought.

"It had the same energy. That's why I wore a different dress, instead of the one Doveris sent to me."

After hearing this, the Alphas no longer felt this was a special ability the humans had. They felt something was wrong.

Eager to help me solve this weird puzzle, the Alphas wanted to invite Doveris over to help explain this matter.

But when they mentioned her name... "No!" I immediately voiced, stunned by my own swiftness, and the strange feeling of discomfort over the plan.

"Don't tell Doveris. I... I don't want her knowing."

"Why, Avara? Doveris is a powerful magic holder. If anyone has an answer to this question, it's her," Jay said, as Hugo and Dean backed him up.

"Doveris has been our sorceress for years, training and bringing up new magic holders. She knows a lot of things that other sorceress and sorcerers don't know," Hugo added, trying to make me understand.

Still, there was this strong force in me that kept saying no.

I tried to fight it from stopping me, but it overpowered me and I once again said no.

"I don't want Doveris. I just don't think she's the right person to speak to. I'm... I'm sorry," I apologized, hoping the Alphas won't be mad at me.

But they weren't.

Even though they wanted to convince me badly to see Doveris, they didn't want to inconvenience me by doing something I don't want.

"If you say so, we won't ask for her help."

"But we'll need to ask someone else then. Maybe we'll inquire from the other magic holders," The Alphas decided, pleasing me.

As they talked about my situation, "Doveris!" Dean immediately called out, alerting us of her presence.

We all turned to look at the entrance and saw the sorceress standing there, glancing at us like she heard something bothersome.

"Was she listening?" My heart sank, as I prayed within.

That's when she smiled at us and asked, "Why the face, your Majesties? Is there something on my face?"

She touched her cheek, trying to find what is there.

I felt relieved when she acted that way, and comfortably leaned in Jay's arms to relax.

He held me close as Hugo said to her, "Not at all, Doveris. We were just surprised to see you, that's all."

"Oh, was I interrupting something?" She giggled, looking at me.

Her expression felt unsettling to me. Yet, I returned the gesture and answered, "We were just talking about our upcoming ceremony."

"Ah, I see. You are excited. It's normal," She chuckled, adjusting her white robe.

"What brings you here, Sorceress?" Dean asked, starting the conversation.

That's when Doveris cleared her throat and brought up Adira's matter, telling us that she has prepared to send out the news of her execution to the people of Crescent Moon, so they'll be ready.

"Tomorrow, we will hold it right at the pack square. It's high time she gets her punishment, than just sitting in the cave, getting free meals after what she has done," She spoke with seriousness, making a point.

As the Alphas felt this was a good idea, I on the other hand felt it wasn't.

Not the part of punishing Adira, but the time itself.

"Isn't this too fast?" I spoke my mind, gaining Doveris's attention on me.

She had that same weird confused emotionless stare, as I said, composing myself, "We just had a celebration yesterday, and now we're already planning for Adira's punishment tomorrow? I... I think we can attend to that right after the mating ceremony. Maybe give it a week or two?"

"I can understand how uncomfortable you feel, my Queen. But tomorrow is actually the best time for this," Doveris said, smiling.

She spoke about how she wants to cleanse the pack from any negativity by starting with Adira.

"After learning of her doings, I told myself that Crescent Moon must be cleansed from any negative energy she or anyone has brought to our peaceful land," She said with seriousness, placing a hand over her chest.

The statement she made felt strange.

That's when she said, surprising us, "I won't hide this, your Majesties. But the day I returned to the pack... I felt this strong negative force around the land."

When the Alphas heard that word negative, I saw how they glanced over at me, like there was a connection with the energy I felt and the one Doveris also picked.

"You did?" Hugo asked and Doveris nodded.

"Yes, I did. I just didn't want to frighten anyone, so I decided to stay calm and confirm this properly. But honestly, the energy has been getting stronger and stronger," She added, so we'd understand the seriousness of this unseen force she speaks of.

This got to the Alphas more because they were concerned about me and really want to help me in getting an answer to my questions.

But they weren't going to break my promise and tell Doveris about it.

I was glad when I saw the look in their eyes, when they smiled at me with assurance, standing with my choice.

"I say we carry out the punishment tomorrow. Then once that is settled and I still feel the negative force, I'll organize a big gathering to fish it out completely," Doveris shared her plan with full confidence.

The Alphas didn't object to her decision and gave her the go ahead to make the announcement.

Doveris smiled in gladness and said, "I will get to work as soon as possible. I hope our Queen has no issue with this?"

She looked at me, waiting for my answer.

Since the Alphas already gave her the approval, I nodded and said, "I have no issue, Doveris. You can carry on."

"Thank you," She bowed, leaving the room.

The moment she was gone, Jay held me close and said, "See, we were planning on finding a solution to this and the Goddess gave us one."

"You and Doveris felt the same thing, Avara. And with her plan to cleanse the pack, the negative aura would be gone for sure," Dean said with delight, walking over to take me away from Jay.

But Jay got greedy and growled, clinging to me tight.

"Stay back. Avara isn't done receiving all my love," He said, pecking me on the cheek, putting a smile on my face.

Dean growled and tried again, but Hugo seized that opportunity to snatch me into his hold, saying to the duo while wrapping me close, "You fight too much. Don't stress my Queen. Isn't that right?" He gave me a smooch on the forehead, and I chuckled, resting in his arms.

Dean was arguing with Jay for ruining his chance. They were being dramatic and entertaining too.

"If Doveris felt the same energy and wants to eliminate it, then I guess it's good. I don't have to worry anymore... Right?"