His Accidental Luna

YSBELLA, DUCHESS OF THE WOLVES IN THE NORTH

CHAPTER 7: YSBELLA, DUCHESS OF THE WOLVES IN THE NORTH

“Are you crazy?” Ali blurted out.

His eyes are both wide and big. Incredulous, he was staring at Lily with such disbelief, which is written all over his face.

“What?” The latter sneered. “What do you want me to do then? Wait for days until they showed up? It’s been 2 whole days that they had long gone now, Ali!”

If he was bewildered, Lily was angry. Both filled with worries, anxious thoughts and sleepless nights, whereas she couldn’t even shut down both of her orbs as there are vivid thoughts that would continuously bottled her up. She will stay awake, wondering what happened, and the angst fury fuelled by not doing something, because they knew how risky it has been for rogues like them is more infuriating.

“I’m going to the capital, and find out what happened to them.” Firmly, she exclaimed.

Ali blow some air. He rolled his eyes as he knew that he wouldn’t be able to stop her from whatever she was plotting to do.

“But can’t we just be reckless? You know that the security around the kingdom is tight—”

“Then, I’ll find them by any means that I know of.” She cut him off.

Lily marched to where the potions are and began brewing each vials. Rush, and in haste, combining two formula to create the same thing that had help them before to conceal their scent and blend in among the crowds. She eyed it closely. The liquid—from its natural bluish colour morphed into a dark green. Lily  poured another vial, and soon, the colour vanish, it sizzle, reverberating through right before the hue disappeared, leaving it clear, and translucent in the eye.

“This will do.” Satisfied, she poured it next towards the bottle of perfume she save, leaving no remnants behind before she whipped her head across to face Ali.

“So, you decide.” Lily challenge him. “Our friends or I’ll turn you into a frog?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Ali gulps.

“Depends to your answer.” Lily smirked at him.

“Do I still have a choice?” Ali rolled his eyes.

Lily chuckles.

“Of course, you have a choice, but I like giving you none.”

And so forth, off the two go after they made sure that every scent that could have hinted the wolves or anybody present are all concealed. To blend into the capital, no matter how guarded and ensured they are is still risky. One mistake could lead to their doom, and they knew that the moment that the effect of the potions wear off, they should be long gone whether they have them, or not, empty-handed or alongside with Jasper and Devon. Because if they are still inside, there wouldn’t be any reassurance that they would make it out alive as Rogues, if not killed, were tortured and imprisoned for life, because nobody would want them. No home would open their doors willingly probe the roof of comfort and no warmth would be given no matter how gullible they were.

They are just simply eyed as monsters that should be killed, died and executed.

“What if they had been caught?” Ali worriedly asked.

“Don’t fall into assumptions.” Lily scolded him. “We are not sure yet, unless we see for ourself.”

“And get ourself caught as well? You know that they will kill us—”

“Silence!” Lily glared at him. “They are our friends, our family. Can you hear what you are saying, Ali?”

“I know, Lily, but how can we help them the moment we get ourselves entrapped to?” He clenched his jaw. “You know what would be our end.”

“I am not letting it go down to that way, nor allowing anybody of us die or get hurt, so just please, shut the f**k up before I do it myself.” Her threat weren’t empty, and Ali knew better.

He sighs and followed suit behind her.

Upon their arrival at the capital, the merchants, both wolves and some creatures from different species offered them services. It was crowded. The tons of people they had not yet seen before or perhaps like the others they were thrilled in accordance towards the upcoming ceremony, the tradition of the Kingdom for each rulers in seek of their Queen had urged them to pay a visit.

Jasper and Lily simply blend in towards the same spot, where the clamours, and news of what has been going on around the Palace are being talk about, and shared.

“I am really excited to see the ceremony!” It was a Middle-age woman, and the essence coming from her told them that she is a werewolf herself.

Her rank may have been one of the merchants alongside with the others on the stalls, who were permitted to sell goods in the capital. In Devonshire, it was either copper and gold that were accepted as a currency. Other than that, it is also possible to trade some heads, monsters caught on trap towards auctioneers and herbalist who retrieved valuable assets from them.

“Me too!” In synch, the woman right next to her cheered.

They look exquisite, enthusiasm brewing and brimming not until a clicked of the tongue suppress their smiles.

Their cheers vanish.

“What’s your problem?” It was the first woman who bring up the topic.

She was eyeing a much younger wolf who may have suddenly heard their conversation and interfere.

“Don’t you think that the tradition is stupid?” She was bold, no fear lace her tone as she directly express what she have on her mind.

Lily eyed her on her peripheral vision.

It was a short woman. If she had not noticed the way she dressed, she could have mistaken her as a fool as talking back about the tradition in such crude way could made one end up in prison, whip across one’s back ‘til lament brew and the promises to never made the same mistake would be far itched, imprinted onto their mind.

But this woman, her silky dress, and the ball gown, which hug her curves told her otherwise that no punishment would be able to touch her. It was expensive. She looks regal and elegant to be in such place. She couldn’t quite see her face clearly because of her hat, but Lily made no effort and just listen.

“Do you know what would happen after they chose who would be their queen?” She put an emphasis on those words as if she was utterly in disagreement towards the customs performed in Devonshire. “Their mate—do you know the anguish and torment they would feel for waiting for such a long time and the only option left for them was to be rejected? Is it the tradition that you are excited about?”

The woman who was heaving a deep breathe and expressing how much she atone, and despise the predicament she’s been out into was Ysabella. Behind her, Matilde was silently standing and holding her place. She was carrying some silk, and cloth as it is one of Ysabella’s way to repelled away the loneliness she felt and homesickness that filled every fibre of her body during her stay in the Kingdom.

She was just passing by, when she heard what they said.

What it is to be excited about? To be happy about knowing that they would have a queen coming from how the test would come out? Is it a good thing to push forward the tradition in exchange for the mate bond, which only happened once for each wolves borne alive? It was more than being rejected. It was more beyond the word death as it will slowly tear anybody apart that they would wished upon to never had existed in the first place.

“That’s enough, young lady.” Matilde whispered.

Ysabella turned her head away.

At that exact moment, a wind brushed across to hear face, swooshing away the hat which fell on Lily’s feet an inch apart.

“My hat!” She quickly exclaimed.

Matilde quickly run for it to picked it up, when Lily done it first.

Clad on cloak they used to travel and hid, she walked closer to where the woman she’s been studying since she made her appearance and reach out to offer her hat.

“I think it is yours.” She lifted her head, but the moment Lily does, bafflement were the first thing that plastered in her visage. Her lips parted in shock. “Devon...?” She whispered.

However, Ysabella had not heard the name she uttered as that exact moment, a bell resounded and chimed in synch of her words.

“Thank you.” She gracefully curtsied before Matilde pulled her.

“Young lady, we should of come back to Palace, I think the bell is a sign for every participant be gathered on the halls just for preparation just like what the Queen said.” She added.

But Lily knows better. It took her a moment to recover from her shock before she offered a small smile in return, in spite of Ysabella, who look a lot like Devon won’t be able to see.

“Oh, you guess so?” Ysabella frowns before she turned her back and bid her farewells to Lily. “Thank you for returning my hat, but I juts go now, Miss.”

Unlike Devon, the woman appeared more fine as if she were born to be that way. Every corner of her face, every nook and cranny all screamed about her features. Her hair, and her lips, her eyes, her orbs, it was like Lily was staring at her own friend in a much different perspective. As of it was a ghost of her, another life she hid away from being a rogue same as them on the run.

Lily watched them disappeared. They vanished from her sight, leaving her wandering how could it be possible.

Ali walked behind her. She could hear his footsteps and the bickering of those old women earlier, which she pay no attention at all.

“Was that....Devon?” Even he looks confused.

Both of them are actually confounded.

“No.” She shook her head. “It might have been somebody who look exactly like her.” She added.

“That would be impossible, unless they are a twins—”

“Don’t spout nonsense, Ali.” She castigated him. “We know where Devon came from and what past lies behind her, so do not just assumed something just because of that. Do you understand?”

“I’m sorry.” He gnawed his lips, suddenly coming into realization. “So, are we still gonna look for them?”

“Shh.” Lily placed her hand over her lips to signal him not to speak no more.

“Young wolves this days.” It was of the woman earlier.

“You re right.” Agreed the other lady, who was clinging on her arms. “But had you heard about what happened in the capital the other day?”

“What is it?” Curious, the other gathered around.

Lily focused to their voice, drowning the sounds around them as her guts were telling her that it might have been something that could have given them exactly the answer about Devon and Jasper’s sudden disappearance without any trace.

“Well, you wouldn’t believe it if I tell you.” The lady warned her friends.

“Don’t beat the bush.” Impatient, the woman earlier said. “Spill the beans already.”

“Okay here it is.” They lowered their tone, but fair enough for Lily to hear due to her ability as a witch. “I heard that some hunters penetrated the capital, because of some rogues.”

“Seriously? That’s awful, and scary!” The woman quickly reached.

Devon’s eyes widened. Her gaze landed to Jasper who has been listening towards the exchange.  Their eyes meet, his, unreadable, while her—Lily could have sworn the sudden nauseous feeling that crawled up at the pit of her stomach at the sudden mention of those being, the hunters. They are someone whom nobody would want to run into, especially the rogues.

They are murders, merciless killers who beheaded even children and hang women for their own entertainment.

“Unfortunately, the hunters escape the guards—“ The lady added, when the woman cut her off.

“And the rogues?” She queried.

“Nobody knows, but some say they were dead as they saw a lot of bloods smeared earlier their morning inside the woods.”

She could feel her legs shaking.

She was in fact grateful, when Ali came into her rescue and hold her firmly on her ground.

“Lily... “ But she did not wait for him to utter any single words.

“Let’s go.” Lily made her voice to sound stronger, but inside...she was afraid, so terrified and mortified to what they hear.

‘Oh god, please be safe.’ She silently pray inside her head, failing to notice the potion slowly taking no effect.

Unaware of the danger that would came pouncing the moment their identity were revealed.

@cycy