His Luna’s Vengeance

“This is your chance Adeline,” My father stands before me, his familial brown eyes set with seriousness. “You can be useful to me and to our kingdom for once. Do not embarrass me,” he grips my forearm with surprising warmth. My eyes fall to the hand that encircles my arm and my lips part in surprise, both at the sudden warmth and at his obvious desperation. For the past Twenty years of my life, my father has made it a conscious effort to never cross paths with me or to look me in the eye. If an eye contact was the most I could expect from him, the sudden voluntary contact is enough to make me gasp in surprise. But because he wants to take away my freedom, to send me off as a wife to The Alpha King and save his failure of a crown in The Lower Moon Kingdom, then I suppose he would give me the things he has deprived me of just to persuade me. It was such a shame that he would treat me better only when he needed a favor from me. Unsurprisingly, My consent was barely given off to this arrangement. Merely two days ago, my father announced that The Alpha King has chosen me as his price to help our kingdom against foreign attacks and barely a day later, I was bundled up and thrown into a carriage that would later travel into The Greater Moon Kingdom, Land of The werewolves. My skin had been ruthlessly picked for all body hair and forced into a bath filled with scents of vanilla, cherry blossoms, sage and all sorts of other expensive scents that the maids deemed as feminine, fitting for an Alpha King’s bride. It was said that a werewolf’s nose was sensitive and they were very appreciative of sweet smelling females. After being fitted into my dress, a beautiful pale blue thing that complimented my pale skin, I was to be presented before The Alpha King. If he thought I was pretty enough, then he would take me as his wife. It was a stupid, fickle thing. The treaty my kingdom prosed certainly offered so much and expected just as much and yet all Alpha King Cardan cared about was my beauty. If I was just as pretty as The Rumors that Princess Ada of The Lower Moon Kingdom proposed, then the treaty would be a done deal. I have been known as a rebellious child all my life. I was the type of child that wrecked havoc and caused so much mayhem just to get the attention of my father. However, his hatred for me always overshadowed his cause to overreact. My father would never understand why my mother, the love of his life had to die while I lived in her stead. Over time, I directed my anger towards learning how to fight and gods did that infuriate him, even though he never said it to my face. But no matter how he broke my bows and arrows, no matter how hard he tried to hide my swords and the rest of my gear, I always persisted and fought back. So when the elders and my father saw that I did not react to the news of my arranged marriage, it threw them off balance. But after their initial shock, they were overjoyed at my compliance. Normally, I would have overreacted. I would have fought and refused my father’s decision over my life but now I know better than to act that way. I have been given a second chance to right all my wrongs, to make better choices, to avoid so many tragic deaths. I would not let the opportunity go to waste, not for anything. In the history of The Lower Moon Kingdom, there has never been such a tale where The Moon Goddess gave someone an opportunity to live one’s life again and correct all of his misdoings. This opportunity was perfect, precious, Golden. I would use it to the best of my ability, save my life but most importantly, save him. I must save my Achilles, Prince of the Witches. “I understand, father,” I nod at him, feigning the meekness that I have never once possessed. I watch the flicker of doubt flash through his eyes, the fear that I am pretending to accept his dictation over my life and will cause a big scene in the meeting room. “I want to be useful to our people too,” I add. And with that, the nail is driven on the head. Every trail of doubt in his eyes disappears and he steps back and nods briefly. With that, I am being led into the meeting room behind my father, King Thorne. There, I shall face The Alpha King and the elders of his Kingdom, a few of our own elders seated there as well. I have most certainly done this and been here before. I remember the outline of the Grey stone walls, the portraits of past Alpha Kings, those green potted plants with the smallest white flowerings that were situated at every corner to give life to this dull room, the dangling silver chandelier and the massive meeting table carved from the finest, gilded woods. But nothing, nothing, can ever prepare me for The aura of The Alpha King. Not many can see it but everyone can feel it. It is like a blanket of darkness that blinds you for the slightest moment until you feel like falling to the ground and prostrating. I have heard the stories of the past Alpha Kings, the severity of their ruthlessness and how they enjoyed ripping people into bloody ribbons. None however, could compare to the present Alpha King, Cardan Sirius. I shiver involuntarily and lower my head to the floor. There is no denying that this man absolutely rattles me. He is the present host of the Moon god’s spirit, a living legend and god amongst men. I heard one look from him, one brush of his finger against you was enough to turn a man into dust. My misfortune was not entirely lost on me. For my true love, I would have to go against this formidable man. For my freedom, he would have to be my worst enemy. Achilles, you’re worth it. Slowly, I let them lead me to my chair, fighting the tears that seep into my eyes. I’ve been here before, I’ve been sized like a cattle for Alpha King Cardan and yet, it is still as traumatizing. Reliving one of your worst memories is the same as watching a reoccurring nightmare unfold. For the meeting sake, I am made to sit directly opposite the head of the table where King Cardan sits. That way, he can see exactly all my face offers without the slightest interruption. He wants to know if my face is worth the trouble, worth the treaty. “Your majesty,” I merely greet, feeling those cold unfeeling eyes wavering over my face. “Look at me, Adeline,” he demands, just how he demanded then. The last time, I could barely lift my head but this time, I will look at him. I will show him all the resentment and anger I have for him. And I do. I lift my head up and level my brown gaze with his blue gray eyes, accustomed to how indifferent those eyes are. Despite his age even though it matters less because he is a werewolf, King Cardan is undeniably handsome. His hair is loosely wavy and trimmed into a neat wolf cut, curtain bangs covering his forehead. A diadem carved from the fangs and claws of past Alpha Kings sits on his head, gilded by shining silver, the Royal color of the wolves. Everything about his features are precise, sharp and fearsome, telling a tale about the type of man he is. However, his eyes have to be his most eery features. Unlike the black irises that normal people have, his are silvery white. It’s the clear color of the moon, a window showing a glimpse of the monster that lurks inside of him. This is how we know that he is King and the moon god’s spirit resides within him. Yet I look at him evenly, abandoning my mortality and glaring at him as though I were no simple human with recessive wolf traits. I stare at him with a gaze that demands respect, that signifies that I see him as my equal. To be my enemy, I should have the same standing with him. To beat my enemy, I cannot afford to be afraid of him. If the Alpha King is disrespected by my blatant staring, he doesn’t show it. Instead, his eyes whirl towards my father and he raises the slightest brow. “I am not certain why any of this is necessary. I made it perfectly clear that she was all I wanted. If you give her to me, then you have everything you need,” he states simply. Like the groveling fools my father and the elders are, they laugh slightly to ease the situation. “We wanted to present her to you just to make sure you are certain that she is the one you want,” my father says with that people pleasing smile, acting like he is not a King too. “I asked for Nesta’s daughter. Unless you are not certain she is your late wife’s daughter?” He presses, disdain in his tone. And it hits my father exactly like the blow it is supposed to be. No one mentions my mother’s name. No one. The brief flash of anger on my father’s face almost makes me smile. “She is our daughter yes,” The Alpha King’s eyes slant back to my direction, gazing intensely into my eyes. “Then it is done. You have met your requirements and you will leave her to me. Adeline will be mine, my bride,” “But the dowry, the prenuptial-“ My father starts to say. “We can talk about it later,” King Cardan waves his hand dismissively. An elder from The King’s court clears his throats and rises, addressing everyone in the meeting room. “To seal this arrangement, we need the signatures of both kingdoms on the treaty document,” “Of course,” my father replies enthusiastically, sitting up in his chair. My cheeks burn with shame and embarrassment at his eagerness to sign me off. Could he not pretend to love me? Could he not look the least sorry to throw me into the wolves? “The document states we need Princess Adeline’s signet ring. It is her consent that matters. After all, she is the one getting married,” The elder says, flashing my father a disapproving glance. I watch as King Cardan stamps his approval on the long sheet, my stomach dropping to my feet as the elder moves towards me. But I’ve already decided that this is my choice, that I will marry this man if I am to destroy him. So I take my signet ring and I stamp my approval on the treaty, repressing all urges to rip it apart. And then, it is done. “The Moon Council is gathered here today to seal the marriage arrangement of Alpha King Cardan Sirius of The Greater Moon Kingdom to Princess Adeline Thorne of The Lower Moon Kingdom. With this marriage, we hope that both kingdoms can forgive their past transgressions to one another. The Greater Moon Kingdom will protect The Lower Moon Kingdom with the power given by the Moon Goddess and The former will return to supplying The Greater Moon Kingdom with wheat and grain and furthermore, support our economy,” As The elders cheer at the formation of the new treaty, I stare at The Alpha King from my chair at the opposite end of the table and take in the cold indifference of his blue Gray eyes, aloof to the celebrations around him. Anger burns in my chest, reminding me of the furious whistling of a kettle. I may hate getting married to The Alpha King but it is for my own purpose. King Cardan has taken so much from me, has been the reason for my tears. He stole away my freedom in the past and if I don’t use my second chance to free myself, he will destroy my life and kill my mate again. I will not stand by and let him ruin my life. Instead, I will make sure his head rolls before my feet. King Cardan and his entire kingdom will fall and crumble by my hand. This is my vengeance for all he has done. King Cardan must atone for his sins.