Crowned And Cursed.

underneath the moonlight

I quickly got dressed, still reeling from the strange encounter with Nathan. What a bizarre situation. As much as I wanted to stay in my room and hide, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. With a deep breath, I decided to head downstairs. In

When I reached the dining room, I was surprised to see everyone already seated around a large wooden table. Nathan looked up and met my gaze.

“Don’t sit with them,” he said, nodding towards another, smaller table set up like a VIP section. “You’ll be more comfortable over here.”

I blinked rapidly, taken aback by his suggestion. Sitting at a separate table would only make me feel more isolated. Besides, I was already out of my comfort zone. “I’m okay sitting with everyone,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. I walked over and found an empty seat between Billy and Bobby.

Nathan didn’t argue, though he didn’t look particularly happy about it either. Once I sat down, they started dishing out food. Huge platters of roasted meats, vegetables, and fresh bread were passed around the table. It was a feast, unlike anything I’d ever seen.

My stomach rumbled in anticipation as I helped myself to some roasted chicken, potatoes, and a slice of bread. The smell alone was enough to make my mouth water. It was the first time I’d ever eaten with so many people at once. The chatter, the clinking of cutlery, it all felt strangely comforting.

Billy leaned over, grinning. “So, I guess you’ve met my mate, Allison.” He pointed to a woman with bright red hair and a mischievous smile. “And that’s my cousin, Jake.” Jake was tall, with a serious expression that contrasted with the laughter in his eyes.

Bobby wasn’t far behind. “And that’s my mate, Sara,” he said, nodding toward a petite woman with curly hair who was busy slicing up some bread. “And those two troublemakers are my sister, Chloe, and my brother, Matt.”

Chloe, a girl who looked barely out of her teens, smiled at me while Matt, who couldn’t have been more than a few years older, gave me a playful wink.

“So,” Matt started, leaning closer with a curious expression.“Tell us about yourself and your family”

My throat tightened. How could I possibly explain that I supposedly killed my mother? Or that my father didn’t care about me, and my stepmother wanted my head on a silver platter? The truth was far too dark for a dinner conversation.

“I’m...an orphan,” I lied, though it wasn’t entirely untrue. “My parents died a long time ago. I’ve been on my own since then.”

The mood at the table shifted. Even through their light banter, I could see the sympathy in their eyes.

Chloe, who had been quiet until now, piped up, “But you’re not alone, right? What about your mate?”

My heart skipped a beat. A mate? I’d never really thought about it, considering I was wolf-less. In my mind, it was the same as being mate-less, I mean who would even want me as their mate?I hesitated, unsure how to respond.

“I...I haven’t found my mate yet,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe he’s dead. Or something like that.”

An awkward silence fell over the table. I could feel their pity, their uncertainty. It was suffocating.

Before I could gather myself, Matt broke the silence with a smirk. “Well, if you ever need company, I wouldn’t mind keeping you company.” He winked at me again, but this time, it felt nasty and slimy.

Suddenly, a low growl rumbled from Nathan’s direction. I looked at him, startled. His eyes had darkened, and I could see the barely contained anger in his expression. What had Matt said to make him so angry?

“ Don't mind him , his intoxicated,” Bobby informed us.

“Maybe we should change the topic,” Nathan suggested, his voice tight and I couldn't agree more.

Matt , drunk and oblivious or just too arrogant to care, ignored the warning. “What about you, Nathan? When are you finally going to find your mate? Or will you ever? We’re all worried about you, man. You always find girls who you think might be your mate, but they’re just gold diggers, I know you aren't like any of us but aren't you able to sense?”

The tension in the room skyrocketed. “ Matt shut it ,” Billy shot Matt a warning look, but Matt continued. “And for God’s sake, stop telling girls about your tattoo. It’s kinda pathetic and definitely what drives them away.”

Matt went too far, and I could see the anger fuming in Nathan's eyes. He slammed his hand down on the table, the sound echoing through the room. Without a word, he stood and stormed out, leaving an awkward silence in his wake.

Bobby shot up from his seat and grabbed Matt by the throat, his eyes blazing with anger. “You’re such an id*ot! Why do you always have to go too far?”

Billy quickly intervened, pulling Bobby back. “Not now, man. Let it go.”

I watched the scene, feeling torn. I needed to do something, I had to go after Nathan, but I had no idea where he went. I left the table, slipping away while the others were still arguing, and tried to figure out which direction he might have gone. But I ended up getting lost in the maze again.

If I were Nathan, where would I go?

Then I remembered the small lake I had seen earlier, outside not far from his room. It was the only place I could think of. Without wasting any more time, I headed outside, hoping I was right.

The cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, and the sound of crickets filled the silence. As I approached the lake, I saw him, sitting by the water’s edge, his back to me.

I hesitated for a moment before approaching him. “Nathan?” I called out softly.

He didn’t turn around, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. “What do you want?”

Ouch , well sorry for me trying to make sure he was okay, unbelievable.

“I just wanted to check on you,” I said, sitting down next to him. The water was still, reflecting the moonlight. It was strangely peaceful here.

Nathan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry about what Matt said. He’s an idiot.”

“It’s okay,” I replied, though I knew it wasn’t. “You didn’t deserve that either. I don’t know what happened, but it doesn’t matter. He shouldn’t have said those things . I think your tattoo is perfect and you must follow your dreams, do everything in your might to make sure you find your mate ”

.

“Thank you,”he looked at me like he was trying to say something, then his eyes softened, becoming more vulnerable.

For a moment, we just sat there in silence, the cool breeze making the leaves rustle softly. There was something about this place, about this moment, that made everything else fade away. Nathan’s presence was warm, comforting, loving and caring despite everything that had happened.

“ I care about you,” he proceeded.

“I care about you too.”

Did I ? Or maybe I didn't just know how to respond to his statement. Before I realized what was happening, Nathan leaned in, his eyes locked on mine. My heart raced, and I knew what was coming. This time, I didn’t shy away. I leaned in too, our lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss. My very first kiss, under the moonlit sky.

The world seemed to stop. There was no evil step mother, no shameful father , no step siblings, no Matt, no Billy, no Bobby. Just us , him and I. The kiss deepened, and I felt something stir inside me, something I had never felt before.

When we finally pulled away, we were both breathless. Nathan’s hand lingered on my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin softly. “You’re different,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

“So are you,” I replied, my voice barely audible.

We stayed like that for a while, just looking at each other, until finally, I rested my head on his shoulder. The night was peaceful, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was where I was supposed to be.