The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 62 – The Future Luna
(Caspien)
“No scratch, nothing,” The doctor checked me over again as if magically the cut would re-appear, “I have never seen anything like it,” He went back over the papers as if he might have missed something I already knew he didn’t.
I convinced everyone to leave to let the doctor finish up so that we could speed up with odious process, and I was more than ready to get out of here myself.
Willa looked at me as if she took her eyes off me, I would leave her. It broke my heart to think of what she must have gone through.
I felt fine, better than fine actually. I was trying not to be annoyed with the doctors, but I was impatient. I needed to be a good example for Emmett, even if he wasn’t here. I needed to practice.
Things came easy to me, I never had to be polite or thank anyone for doing their jobs, but I did see the merit of it now; people seemed to loosen and melt even when I was more polite.
Words like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ still felt foreign, and I wondered when I stopped using them; it wasn’t how my mother raised me. Probably when I started slipping into the facade that others built for me, that my title and position demanded of me.
“Am I good to go?” I asked for what seemed like the thousandth time, knowing that trying to f*orc*e a smile would make me look pained.
“I would say yes,” He hesitated, “But come back in for a check-up. Tomorrow let’s say.”
Let’s f*uc*king not.
“I’ll see if I can stop by.” I managed, knowing full well that I had a myriad of things to take care of, and this was at the very bottom of my list.
“Good, well Alpha, you are good to go then.” The doctor smiled and finished unhooking me.
I got up and threw on the clothes Holden left for me and didn’t look backward. There was so much to do, and I wanted to get started on it.
My muscles ached from being solitary for that long. I couldn’t believe it was only a day, it felt like I was there for weeks, months even. I stretched my arms above my head and rolled my neck. I would have to get a few sparring sessions in soon, today preferably.
Get the designers to come in this week. I want our home done as soon as possible, no more delays – I linked my favorite a*s*sistant – Please – I added
Yes, Alpha Dracos, happy to hear that you’ve recovered
I still had a lot of things I had to catch up on and a to-do list a mile long after that challenge. I didn’t want the pack members of Black Stone to have to wait. It would fester a sense of fear and unease, and that was the exact opposite of what I wanted to do there.
I wanted to make sure that they felt safe and that if they chose to disband that they told the packs they migrated to that we didn’t do them any harm. That would be the best possible outcome so that nothing would blow back on us in the future.
Willa? Where are you? I got the all clear
At our place
I headed up and linked a few other people in the elevator to help enact different parts of this plan.
Willa was waiting by the front door, scanning me as soon as I got out.
“I promise I’m okay. The doctors confirmed it.” I took her hands in mine. They confirmed it about five times actually, “This isn’t something that will come back, Emmett fixed me. For good.”
Her eyes were slightly puffy and red-rimmed. Purplish bags lined her beautiful eyes. I ran my finger across them as if I could lessen them, and she leaned into my touch.
“I’m sorry, Willa.”
Her eyes met mine, and she shook her head, “It wasn’t your fault; I’m sorry you had to go through Goddess knows what. I can’t even imagine the pain.”
I fought a wince at the memory of it; it was unlike anything I had felt before, “I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere,” My voice was hard, a promise.
We’re not going anywhere, Atlas agreed
Thank The Goddess he was back.
I didn’t try to reach him yet. I was afraid of what I might have found out. Griffen said the poison suppressed the wolf, and I didn’t sense him when I woke up. I wasn’t supposed to live to see the end of the challenge, I thought that might have meant sacrificing him as well.
Good to have you back
Good to be back. That hurt like a b*itc*h let me tell you. Good thing our pup saved us.
He is something, isn’t he?
I’ve been telling you that all along
I shook my head at my wolf.
“Atlas is here?” Willa’s eyes were bright and wide.
“Yes,” I smiled at her, “Everything is okay.” I brushed my lips across her forehead, and she relaxed into me.
“I’ve been thinking,” She murmured into my chest.
“Yes?” I stroked her soft hair, memorizing the feeling.
“I want to become Luna if you’ll have me.”
I pulled her back at arm’s length, studying her; she chewed her full lip but jutted her chin out.
“Is that what you want, or is that what you think I want?” I asked.
“I want it. I want to do more for this pack, my pack. I want to be the Luna that you and Cresent Moon deserve. I want to be a Luna that leads next to you and helps you. I want to be your Luna.” My breath caught at her words.
It was something that I wasn’t pressing for, stopped expecting her to take the official title, actually. She was already doing public duties, and I wouldn’t f*orc*e anything official on her.
“Are you sure?” I asked again, “If you want to live your life, get a million degrees, anything, you can do that first.”
She raised an eyebrow, “Who says I still can’t do those things?”
I smiled at her and pulled her close, “You’re absolutely right, my Luna.” I murmured into her soft hair, wrapping my arms around her.
I felt something right itself. Some destiny, maybe just my primal instincts wanting to claim her in every way possible, who knows.
But Willa, my perfect, selfless, strong mate, wanted to be my Luna, and the world, my world, shifted at her words.
(Nolan)
The pack shifted since she left. I could feel it. The omegas paused their conversations in the hallways when I walked by, but around us, chatter followed.
“They know,” My dad barked, slamming his hands on my desk.
“Get out,” I commanded him.
“You are losing their respect,” His face was red as he turned on his heel, not able to ignore my command, “Fix it.”
I hung my head in my hands and grabbed at my hair.
F*uc*k.
I felt helpless, angry, but I didn’t know at who.
There was talk around the pack now, I knew it, but no one would come directly out and say it to me. At least they still had that respect.
I didn’t know exactly what they heard or the extent of it. Was it about us denying the challenge? Or did they know that Willa was pregnant when I rejected her? I don’t think she said that besides in front of my parents, she mentioned that.
But again, I didn’t know this Willa. I didn’t know what conniving thing she was capable of. I didn’t understand why she even came back here, to ruin my reputation? She didn’t give me the time of day.
She doesn’t want us back to illiterate f*uc*k
D.amnit, she did look hot. She always was gorgeous in a way that I didn’t appreciate. Camilla was an obvious beauty, she knew me longer, but I think I messed up.
You did
I shoved Toby away. I needed to figure out what the pack knew, and then we could address it and put it past us.
“Babe,” Camilla came in, sitting across from me. She pulled down her dress and fidgeted.
“What?” I stared at her. I had my own problems, “You should have knocked.” I needed to start locking that door. No one had any respect for privacy around here.
“Everyone is talking,” She hissed, grabbing the edges of her seat.
“What exactly are they saying?” I leaned forward.
“That you threw out a perfectly good Luna and magical heir,” She pinned her eyes on me, “For no reason.” She seethed.
I swallowed, so they did know.
“They know how good of a Luna I am,” She rolled her eyes, “Why would they want her anyways? Just because she showed up on the arm of some crazy prince, they think she would be better?”
“No one is saying that,” I tried to stop her rant, “And this will blow over,” I hoped.
“Do you think?” Her eyes were tear-stained, and she bit her lip.
“They’re bored. Their attention will turn elsewhere.” It would eventually; it’s not like they were going to abandon their home because they heard a rumor. There was no proof that I had another son. Despite that paper, there was nothing. I hoped Willa wouldn’t be as s.tupid to try to bring him here; he wouldn’t be welcomed. He isn’t mine, even if I regretted not having that hold over her.
“But they said they were coming back,” Camilla tugged at her hair.
“They implied.” I corrected, a very heavy implication, and my dad made it seem he wanted to get to know his other grandson. I will have to talk to him about that soon.
“What if he loses the challenge?” Camilla asked.
“He won’t.” Even I wasn’t that s.tupid to hold onto hope like that. This other Alpha didn’t sound strong, I looked into his pack, and he barely had any members.
“He could,” Camilla shrugged, and her eyes met mine.
“What do you mean? We don’t even know when the challenge is going to take place,” She averted her eyes.
Going against a Royal Alpha was a death sentence. Alpha Jasper was proof of that or would be after the challenge took place. I looked over the document after everyone left, where he signed next to The Silent a*s*sa*s*sin. I couldn’t prove that those were the signatures, but it was the Silent a*s*sa*s*sin’s emblem, or at least what I heard from stories. I didn’t know how to even go against him at this point, and I looked into it.
“Nolan,” My mom stood in the door frame, her eyes wild, “What did you do?”
“Does no one knock?” I almost shouted. I had enough to deal with without anyone else’s s*hi*t.
“Nolan,” She pleaded.
“What is it? Does everyone need something today?” I sighed. Her eyes went wider, and she clung to the doorframe.
Footsteps sounded in the hall, and Camilla turned around.
Now what?
A tall, dark-haired man with matching eyes strolled into my office like he owned the place.
“Alpha Nolan,” He tilted his head, his voice was cold, but his almost-black eyes seemed bright.
“Who are you?” I stood up, “How dare you come in here without an invitation?” I growled, letting my Alpha aura out, but he didn’t so much as flinch.
“I’m The Beta of Crescent Moon. I’m here to escort your Luna.”
“To where?” I raised an eyebrow, “Get out,” I pointed behind him.
“Your Luna is under our care now. She went against a pact created by our territories packs, that had The Elders’s approval and endangered our Prince,” His voice was steady, “Need I go on?”
“You can’t do this-” Camilla started, her face was pale and frantic as she clutched onto the chair for dear life as if that could help her.
“It’s the order of The Prince,” His voice was a challenge, but he barely spared her a glance.
“Then where is he? Why send a messenger?” I shot back.
“He didn’t feel like the ride.” He shrugged.
I growled at him. How dare he?
“Nolan,” Camilla pleaded, her eyes meeting mine. She shook her head. I had never seen her look so scared. What exactly did she do?
“You will not take her.” I stood firm, “You have no right.”
Two warriors stood Camilla up, her eyes widened and brimming with tears.
“Mom goes check on Theo and make sure he doesn’t see this,” She nodded before peeling herself away from the door frame, the rest of the color drained from her face mirroring Camillas.
“We do, actually, and The Elders agreed. You’ll be informed of her fate.” The Beta nodded toward the warriors, who started to walk her out.
“What did she do?” I asked, my voice thankfully steady.
Camilla’s eyes were wide, and her mouth hung open in a silent s.cream. She shook her head back and forth, tears spilling down her face.
“She informed Alpha Jasper of the challenge.” The Beta said, studying my chosen mate with cool disdain.
“That can hardly be illegal,” I spat.
“No,” He agreed, “But the other Alpha cheated and had time to prepare to cheat. Now that is punishable.”
“But she didn’t know he would do that,” I argued.
She couldn’t have, could she?
“It doesn’t matter the outcome. It matters her actions. Besides, what would a Luna of our territory that agreed to back our Prince in a challenge want with informing the enemy?” He raised an eyebrow.
I had nothing to say to that. I stood there completely helpless. What could I do? She went against what our territory decided on. Prince f*uc*king Caspien had the backing of The Elders because, of course, he did. I started to shake, barely able to suppress my anger. At her, at the Prince and his influence, at this arrogant Beta.
“Nolan,” She pleaded, starting to kick, but it just f*orc*ed them to drag her between them instead of her walking out of there with any semblance of dignity.
I reached out to her, but she was already too far down the hall. What could I do? I couldn’t even save my d.amn Luna, not without risking my own neck, at least.
The Beta’s dark eyes didn’t leave mine, “We will be back,” He promised.
“What will happen to her?” I asked, unable to meet his gaze any longer.
He shrugged, “Not up to me really. She put our Alpha in danger, and let me tell you The Luna is p.issed, very protective of her mate, you know how it is.” He gave me a smile that looked odd on his dark features.
“Is she, is she The Luna?” I didn’t know why I needed to know, but I did. She didn’t introduce herself as such, and neither did Alpha Dracos. He referred to her as his mate or princess but never Luna.
“She will be Luna after tonight. But that is just semantics. She has been my Luna since the moment that she accepted my Alpha.” His eyes seemed to darken even further.
Willa would be the Luna of Crescent Moon, the most prominent pack in this territory and beyond.
My Willa would be a princess.
You gave her up, you gave her to him
I shoved Toby away.
“When will I know what happens to Camilla?” A pit formed in my stomach, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of Camilla’s fate or Willa taking on a new role officially, “I want to see her. I want a trial or something.” They couldn’t just take her. That was so old-fashioned.
“We will inform you. We will be back this weekend to finish this,” He turned and slammed the door behind him.
I crumpled back on my chair.
I thought this weekend made me feel insignificant and challenged, but I never felt so small. So humiliated. I couldn’t do anything to save Camilla, not against him.
I had no idea where to go from here or what laws I could invoke. Camilla really f*uc*ked up, and this was honestly her grave that she dug herself.
Blue Ridge would go on with or without her.