The Cursed Luna

Chapter 4: Prisoner.

Elara.

.

.

Why did he look so much like Damon?

Only hotter?

I shook my head and gasped as searing pain shot up my spine. The healer had arrived, and was working on my bruises. She carried the same expression as the others.

Disgusted.

The hall had returned to its usual silence, and the path to the entrance had cleared. Elder Silas grabbed the gavel and banged it three times, signaling the dismissal of everyone except the high ranking wolves. He seemed to have recognized the intruder.

“Remain where you are, Elara.” He said, stopping me in my tracks as I turned to leave. I was no longer Luna, so I was surprised. I sat back still.

Damon still stood at the entrance of the hall, his stance similar to Jaxon's when he was ready for battle. He glared at the gray eyed wolf, who kept his gaze trained on me. The intensity of that stare stirred up something in my chest, but I dusted it off and buried it back wherever it came from before I had a chance to react. He finally pulled his gaze away from me and stared straight at Damon.

“Nice to see you again, brother.” He spoke, strutting past Damon and into the room.

Fucking hell.

His voice…

His voice was heavenly.

A perfect blend of deep, husky timbre and divine baritone that sent shivers down my spine. My wolf purred in my chest, a sure sign of approval. I paused, completely stunned.

Approval of what?

“Get it together.” I gritted at her. Can't believe this girl.

I rubbed my temples, pulling myself out of my musings. The husky, pine filled scent returned to my nostrils, only closer and more pronounced. I looked up.

Those eyes were even more beautiful up close. I had the urge to touch them, to know if they were real. But I shook aside the thought. I was just stripped of my title in front of everyone and I'm thinking about a stranger? “Who are you?”

I whispered.

“Axel Ravenwood. Alpha of the Ravenwood pack. Nice to meet you.” He said, grabbing my fingers and kissing the back of my palm. I was absolutely stunned.

“Stay away.” Jaxon growled at him, moving quicker than I expected, and stood in between me and him. Damon walked over to the three of us, and pulled Axel by the arm, slamming him against one of the pillars in the hall.

The impact made me gasp, as Damon's eyes flashed wolf. Axel chuckled at him, seemingly unfazed, the scar along his jaw vibrating.

“You didn't acknowledge my greeting, so I offered it to someone more befitting. Why are you in such a rage?” Axel asked, before slowly and strangely shoving Damon off him, straightening his button up white shirt. He adjusted his trousers, and walked towards one of the visitor's chairs beside the entrance doors.

“I didn't receive news that you were coming.” Damon bit out.

Axel raised an eyebrow. “Oh? I sent a message this morning. But it seems you had other issues to attend to.” He drew the last sentence, keeping his heated gaze trained on me longer than was necessary. I looked away and glanced at Jaxon, who was visibly shaken with fury.

Damon exhaled, obviously trying to calm down. “What do you want?” He asked.

Axel turned towards him, looking lost in thought and waving his cane in the air. Another wolf I hadn't noticed, with blue eyes and brown hair, spoke up beside him. “A proposal. You have something we desire.”

Damon stiffened at his words, even Jaxon.

And me too. Damon c****d his head, urging him to continue. But before the wolf beside him could utter a word, Axel got up in one swift motion, still swiveling his cane and stood in the center of the room.

“Before we get to that, I'd like to know why you had one of your enforcers infiltrate my home last week.” His tone had dropped an entire octave. Just when I thought his voice couldn't get huskier.

Damon stilled, narrowing his eyes. “I didn't send anyone. That wolf wasn't from here.”

“Except he was. He has your symbol on his calf to prove that. Axel replied, tapping the cane on the marbled floor meticulously. “If there's anything I wouldn't like, it's a breach of terms.”

All of a sudden, Damon turned towards me, his expression both agitated and annoyed. “Leave. Get your things and get out of here.”

I froze, adrenaline surging through my veins again, only triple the amount from before. “What do you mean leave? This is my home Damon, you can't do this.” My breath caught, and every draw a painful stab to my lungs.

“Did I stutter? Get your things and f*****g leave!” He growled, making me flinch.

“Damon, calm down a bit. We can talk this through..” Jaxon tried to pacify him.

“Yes, please Damon…I'll do anything, please just don't throw me into the woods like that.”

Damon didn't calm down.

Instead, he marched straight to where I was, and pulled me by the hair, forcing me to stand up and look at him.

“Reject me. Now. Say it.” He snapped.

I could feel my soul losing its life. Of all the things he could have asked, why this?

“Do it, or I'll throw you into the woods. Just as you said.” He barked, his grip on my hair tightening.

I swallowed, tears streaming down my cheeks. He tugged harder, and I let out a low whimper. The lack of emotion in his eyes strengthened my resolve. I may no longer be Luna, but it'll be better than being a lone wolf.

“I, Elara Storm, reject you as my mate and position as Luna.” I choked out. The pain I felt earlier felt like child's play compared to the ache in my heart now. Damon smiled creepily, and tossed me to the floor.

“I, Alpha Damon, reject you as my mate and Luna.” He said flatly.

My brain went foggy immediately.

Jaxon ran to my side, casting a conflicted glance at Damon. He didn't look back, only walked to where Axel stood and pulled him to the side. Axel resisted, earning himself a glare. He still didn't budge, and the two wolves began a glare-off again.

“You'll be fine El. You can stay with me in the meantime.” Jaxon whispered, massaging my scalp slightly. “I don't know why Damon is being stupid and irrational. I'll be right back.” He added, walking to quickly separate the two brothers.

I sat there numbly, wondering how my life had become this. The first year I got married to Damon was the best year of my life. I was the envy of the entire pack. Damon was everywhere I was, always craving physical touch. I loved him, and I always thought he loved me too. I remember the words he said to me the night we mated for the first time.

“In this life or the next, I'll always choose you.”

What a f*****g lie.

I stood up to leave, when Damon's voice rang out behind me, stopping me in my tracks again.

“Throw her in the dungeon. I can't have a worthless female walking around.”

“Damon!!” Jaxon yelled, completely taken aback. The elders had been there all the while, each one carrying stoic expressions and acting like the entire drama wasn't happening. I wouldn't blame them.

The dungeons were even worse than being thrown into the woods. But what could I do?

I took a deep breath, and walked towards him, my eyes puffy from all the tears I had drained out. I looked him dead in the eye, keeping my expression neutral.

“Congratulations.” I said coldly. A flash of something flickered in his eyes. Panic, surprise? I couldn't tell because the next moment he yelled at the guards again and I was being dragged limb by limb into the dark, deep, filthy depths of the pack dungeons.

Never to see the light of day, or so I thought.