Chasing the rejected Luna

31: She came, finally

A nudge to my back brought me out of my thoughts. I watched the man go back to the back of the cell while I tried to wrap my head around what he said. I was a descendant of the moon Goddess and my mother's name was Arielle.

That explains why I had a feeling of connection when her name was mentioned. I didn't know what to think anymore. Alpha Ryven brought me to the pack in hopes of using me for his gains. But that didn't explain why I didn't have a wolf.

I looked at the man and he smiled at me like he knew exactly what was going on with me. And I was nudged by the guard a second time. I took that as a cue to move.

We walked through the halls, the smell of the cells getu g day ter and I could feel more air which meant we were close to the surface. But I was vaguely aware of my surroundings. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I was special. I wasn't trash like I had been made to believe. I was something more. Something I never thought was possible.

If the words had come from someone else's mouth, I would have taken it as a joke. But the look on the man's face was too real to be fake. He looked like he saw a ghost as his face turned white as snow.

I swallowed when we got out of the underground. We went back the same way we came. But this time, I was being led to the dining room.

My brows furrowed from confusion as we walked to the dining room. It was empty, which wasn't rare because it must have passed diner time.

"Your food will be brought to you," the guard said when we entered the room. I opened my mouth to say something but I decided against it as he turned around, leaving me in the room.

I stood transfixed on the spot, too indecisive to move. I didn't know what to do until a maid walked by with a plate of food. The smell of the food made my mouth water and I walked up to the chair where the food was placed.

The maid looked shocked for a moment when she laid eyes on me. I couldn't blame her. I was sure I looked like someone who had been dragged through the pits of hell.

Bending my head low to embarrassment, I sat down on the chair while she bowed to me from my peripherals. I sighed when she left me and I delved into the food. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

A few minutes into the food, I felt a presence behind me. Its gaze pierced me as goosebumps rose on the entire length of my arms. Turning around, I found Ava by the door with a hot glare on her face.

I watched with my heartbeat in my chest as she walked slowly toward me like a predator stalking its prey. At that moment, I felt like a pret as the spoon in my hand clashed with the plate, making a loud sound in the quiet room.

She smiled when she noticed the ashen expression on my face. She was happy about it. Somehow, I feared her more than I feared Ryven even if she hadn't done anything to me.

She was the type of person who would make sure her enemy went down even if it meant going down with them.

My neck began to hurt from the position I stayed in while I stared at her walking towards me. But I couldn't turn back to the plate of food for fear that she might try something stupid when my head wasn't turned to her.

I gulped her and she dragged out a seat and sat opposite me. I looked down avoiding her piercing gaze. She laughed which sounded more like a grimace.

"I can see you're out of the cell," she spoke and I twisted my fingers in my hand. The cold from the night was biting into me. I was well aware of the hunger pang in me and the particles of the scrambled eggs in my mouth.

I dared to look up at her hands which rested on the table. She was playing with the ring in her ring finger and I thought for a while she must be mated. I haven't thought about it before but judging by how she was basically the same age as Alpha Ryven, she just mated with someone already. I thought for a while if she had a pup already.

Her words broke through my thoughts, "You should count yourself lucky you were made to stay there for a little bit. I guess my brother must be scared your wolf wouldn't show herself if treated poorly by him," she laughed again before continuing. "He's delusional. If you were in my care, your wolf would have been out in a day. After all, you're not brought here to eat and sleep all day."

I buy my lips hard. Why was she trying to make a conversation? I just wanted to eat and have a good night's rest. That wasn't too much to ask. I groaned inwardly while I kept my face neutral, all aware of her gaze that never left me the whole time.

"Then why am I here?" I whispered, afraid that speaking too loud would be a trigger for her. And I heard her sneer.

"My darling brother didn't tell you, did he?" She chucked when I looked up at her. I guess she saw the curiosity burning in me.

"Well, I'm not one to tell you. He'll have to tell you himself. More reason you need your wolf. Why is she out anyway?" She asked me and I kept mute. I had no idea either. But how can I tell her that when it looked like she was out for me, acting all nice and trying to start up a conversation?

After a while when she noticed I won't be saying anything, she spoke up. "Okay, I'll tell you but promise me not to tell Ryven I told you." She stopped and I saw her hands go up to her hair.

"Even if I hate you being here, you're still a person. And maybe that will prompt you to leave this pack faster. Your presence reminds me of something I'd rather forget," she said and I sighed. I knew she hated me but this was something else.

I looked up at her, and my heart beat faster in my chest. Finally, I would get the reason I was brought here. And then Ryven's voice stopped her.

"What are you telling her?" He asked while he walked into the room, the clash of his shoe against the floor making the only sound in the room.

My shoulders slumped from disappointment. Maybe I was never meant to know the reason because each time I was close to uncovering it, something always got in the way.

Ava's chair hitting the floor made my eyes turn back to her. She had a scowl on her face when Ryven walked in. Standing up, she made her way to the door without sparing Alpha Ryven a glance.

"Alpha Ryven walked up to me, drew a seat, and sat down. All the while, my eyes were glued to my hands nestled in my thighs.

"Eat up. You'll need the energy," he said to me while I tried to breathe out his cologne that wafted into my nose.

The thing about Alpha Ryven was he always smelt nice no matter what. And he knew how to take care of himself, unlike other people who mostly smelt of sweat. I didn't answer him even if he was looking at me expecting an answer.

I saw him raise his hands and take up the spoon, placing it in my hand. "Eat," he ordered. His alpha command walked over me but I was able to resist it.

It was the first time someone used an Alpha command on me. In my former pack, no one did because they felt I would die from it.

"I can see you're actually stubborn. If you don't eat you'll be out back in the cell," he said and I raised my head to meet his gaze.

His gaze was empty. There was nothing in it. Or maybe there was something that he expertly hid. I couldn't tell. But it would be now or never.

"Why am I here?" I asked him expecting to see a surprise flash across his eyes but he only smirked at me.

"Why do you ask? You only ought to do what's asked of you and nothing more. I don't want you poking your little nose in where it doesn't belong," he said and I recoiled in disbelief.

"You're not serious, are you? I know why I'm here. I just wanted to be sure," I said and smiled back at him, my eyes boring into his while he cocked his eyebrows at me.

"Tell me, why are you here?" He asked me and I shifted my chair away from his. He was too close to me for my liking.

Flinging my hair that had gone wild away from my chest, I spoke. "Because I'm the daughter of Arielle, the last descendant of the moon goddess," I stopped while I relished in the sight of his face going pale. The man in the cafe was right.

"Also, you want me to heal the diseases in your pack like my mother had done years ago. What if I tell you, I won't do any of those? I will get my freedom and do whatever the hell I want to do?"

He rapped his fingers on the table while looking away from me, an impatient look on his face. "Who told you all these? Ava?"

I laughed at him which made his head snap to me. He was livid that I found out his little secret. "Someone I met in the cell. It was a nice thing bringing me to the cell. If not, I wouldn't have found the reason I was brought here. I would have still been in the dark."

He banged his fists on the table, "That old geezer! He needs to learn a lesson. It's about time he kissed the face of the Earth," Alpha Ryven exploded and stood up from the chair.

My eyes widened in realization at what he meant. I held his arm stopping him. "You won't hurt him," I said in a whisper, my fears getting the better of me.

"Try me," Alpha Ryven said and yanked his arm away from my hand. I held it again. He looked at me with rage burning in his gaze but I didn't flinch.

"You won't hurt him," I repeated but this time in a pleading and forceful tone. He smirked using his left hand to push me off him. My stomach collided with the edge of the table and I gasped from the pain.

From my peripherals, I saw Alpha Ryven storm toward the door and I froze from fear. He would kill the man because of me. And then, my heart rate increased more than normal. I could see and hear more clearly.

My gums began to tingle. Same with my skin. I watched in shock as little white fur began to protrude from my arms. I was changing. My wolf was coming out. And I heard a voice in my head.

"Hello, mate. Let's go stop that fucker."