I was walking, my face growing hotter from the intense embarrassment Night had caused me with his sudden kiss and mocking laughter.
I felt him walking behind me with slow, deliberate steps, giving me space for my slight anger mixed with shyness.
He was very happy; I sensed it clearly through the strong bond, through which I began to feel his emotions as if they were my own. My heart was beating wildly—damn it!
"Calm down, you wretch, you'll expose me in front of everyone with this overwhelming happiness!"
I said to myself, trying to rein in my accelerating heartbeat.
We finally reached the great palace gate, which looked more majestic than before.
Suddenly, Klaus rushed toward us with clear confusion and agitation on his face.
I furrowed my brows in wonder,
"What is wrong with this idiot now?"
He said to Night in a tense, urgent tone:
"Alpha, your uncle has arrived with his sons."
I saw signs of intense anger and annoyance etch themselves onto Night's face the moment he heard this unexpected news.
His features shifted from playfulness to harsh coldness. He said in an icy, sharp tone:
"What brought that fool here?"
Klaus responded with extreme caution, avoiding his master's burning glares:
"He said he came to congratulate you..."
He paused for seconds and gave me a quick, strange look, then returned his gaze to Night and continued:
"...and he will stay here for a few days."
I didn't understand the reason for that suspicious look. Why was he looking at me that way?
Were they hiding something from me? Questions began to swirl in my head, and the scent of tension filled the air like never before since my arrival here.
"What is happening, Night?"
I said to him in a voice I tried to keep calm, hoping he would answer my many questions and clear the mystery surrounding the situation.
But he answered me with a strange coldness, completely devoid of the warmth I had felt moments ago:
"Go to the room, I have work."
He left quickly before I could add anything else or even object to his order.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on?"
I muttered angrily. Even Klaus left, refusing to answer my questions with his nervous glances.
I felt resentment rising within me from this ignoring and secrecy.
I smiled wickedly, a smile of resolve and determination.
"Why don't I go to them and inquire myself instead of this headache and waiting like an idiot?"
At that moment, I decided to put an end to this mystery. I moved toward the main hall with my cold features worn like a new mask, ready to face whatever awaited me and uncover the truth myself.
I entered the main hall with confident, calm steps. The eyes of those present turned toward me immediately.
I saw a man in his forties sitting on the sofa with clear boredom, and opposite him sat his son. "Damn!" I said to myself. He was extremely handsome and attractive.
Why are they all such bombs of handsomeness?
I quickly shifted my gaze to his blonde daughter with clear blue eyes and striking fairness.
"Curse her, she is truly captivating!"
My eyes suddenly widened with a slight fear,
"My God, she will surely catch Night's
attention!"
My wolf, Cyran, answered me with internal conflict:
"We are more beautiful than her, Cyra! Why are you comparing us to her?"
I chuckled internally and replied:
"Yes, yes, we are sexier than her; she won't be able to catch his eye."
I stepped toward them while their eyes scanned me from top to bottom with curiosity and evaluation.
I stopped in front of them and said with calmness and confidence:
"Welcome, I am honored by your visit here."
I wanted them to know my status and position immediately, so I added with a side smile:
"Know who I am; I am the Luna here."
I looked at them with a gaze carrying power and dominance, realizing my high status as the "Luna" of the kingdom.
The forty-year-old man's features suddenly turned into expressions of anger and resentment. He said in a sharp, clear tone:
"So you are his mate? I can't believe he rejected my daughter to wait for one like you!"
"What? What did he just say? Were they in a relationship before? What is wrong with this old man? Is he mocking me? Does he want to die?"
These thoughts raced through my head like lightning. My response was immediate and full of sharpness:
"Choose your words carefully, old man!"
I saw his anger clearly increasing because I called him "old man," but I didn't care.
That blonde girl intervened with a tone full of disgust and disdain:
"My God! I can't believe he accepted you as a 'Luna' over his kingdom!"
I stared at her with a lethal glare, ready to silence her forever.
"Oh, and for your information, which is just as stupid as you are, I am not just anyone; I am his destined mate."
I said it with full confidence and pride, the words coming out like gunshots.
I continued as I left the hall with deliberate slowness to let my words echo in their ears:
"So, it's better not to interfere in others' business, and I hope your stay here won't be long."
I left them behind, floundering in their anger and resentment.
As I walked away, my thoughts turned toward Night.
"So that's how it is, Mr. Night? You were in a relationship with that blonde? Is that why you were avoiding answers and running away from my questions?"
A cunning smile was drawn on my face.
"Fine, I'll show you what I'll do to you when we meet again."
I was threatening him in my depths, threatening him for his silence and secrecy, while my heart was being torn apart by pain and heartbreak.
The threat didn't stem from anger alone, but from a mix of intense feelings of jealousy and pain.
The idea that he was in a relationship with that captivating blonde girl hurt me deeply, as if a cold dagger had been plunged into my chest.
I breathed deeply, desperately trying to lessen the intensity of this pain that flooded me like a deluge.
I dug my fingers into the palms of my hands forcefully, trying to control my tears that threatened to pour out at any moment.
The situation was more than just a family dispute; it was about my heart, which had started to get attached to him against my will, and now it was being fatally stabbed by these facts I had just uncovered.
I entered the room with heavy steps; I no longer wanted anything but sleep and to escape from my painful reality.
The pain in my heart was still alive, and the need for peace was urgent. I threw myself forcefully onto the luxurious bed, burying my face in the soft pillow.
That pillow carried his distinct scent, his intoxicating smell that I had become addicted to and which was enough to calm the storm of my emotions.
I inhaled the scent deeply in a final attempt to escape, and indeed, the intensity of the pain began to fade gradually.
I fell into sleep with no awareness of time or place, escaping into the world of dreams where there is peace and quiet away from the complexities of the real world.
I opened my eyes slowly and sluggishly, noticing something soft and comfortable beneath me.
I began to feel it with a hesitant hand; it was warm and smooth, which increased my curiosity.
I slowly raised my eyes to look at this strange thing I was leaning on, only for my eyes to widen in unspeakable shock and embarrassment.
It was "Night"! I was sleeping on top of him, and he was immersed in a deep sleep.
Strangely, he was shirtless, his chest completely bare. "Damn it, damn it!" I muttered to myself in astonishment and confusion.
"What am I doing on top of him? How did I not notice this before? Is it possible he doesn't feel my weight on his chest? And why isn't he waking up?"
Panic began to creep into me.
"Why are you so stupid, Cyra? You must get away before he feels me and wakes up!"
I began trying to sneak away very quietly; every movement was calculated and studied, avoiding any sound or sudden movement that might ruin my plan for a silent escape from this extremely embarrassing situation.
I succeeded in my plan and snuck away from his chest, lying beside him on the bed.
The silence didn't last long, as Night began to crinkle his eyes slowly, regaining consciousness from his deep sleep.
I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to sleep, while my heart beat loudly in my chest.
I felt him turn toward me and draw closer, until his hot breath began to brush against my neck gently. He said with a calmness I had never heard from him before:
"Good morning, I know you are pretending to sleep."
I didn't answer and stayed in my act.
He surprised me again, as he kissed my neck very gently, then placed his head opposite my face, his arm wrapping around my waist spontaneously.
"My God, he kissed me!" I felt butterflies fluttering violently in my stomach, and a strange feeling swept over me because of his moist, warm lips touching my neck.
It was a mixture of shock, shyness, and undeniable happiness.
He pulled me closer, pressing my body against his with a force I had never known in him before.
"What in the gods' name is he doing?"
I opened my eyes very slowly, to find him directly in front of me. He was looking at me with careful scrutiny of every detail in my face, his eyes fixed on mine deeply, while his hot breath hit my face.
I was frozen in place, a prisoner of his gazes and sudden movements.
He slowly raised his hand and stroked my hair with a tenderness I never expected from him.
I furrowed my brows in confusion; why was he acting with such exaggerated tenderness? I said to him through mental telepathy in a questioning tone:
"Night?"
He answered with a faint hum carrying a satisfied tone.
"What are you doing, Night?"
"Nothing," he answered calmly.
Bringing me closer to him, burying his head in my neck, deeply inhaling my special scent.
My heart was aching from the intensity of its rapid beats and my rising temperature. I said with clear confusion, trying to lessen the intensity of the situation:
"And what do you call this?... It's harassment!"
He answered calmly with a light, amused laugh at my confused state:
"You are my mate; you are mine alone. This is nothing."
My breath quickened and my limbs trembled from the intense confusion and conflicting emotions that possessed me.
He chuckled with enjoyment, then said more seriously:
"Don't worry, I just loved this scent of yours. It calms me and takes away the fatigue from me."
I tried to pull away slightly, but he held me firmly, adding in a calm, commanding tone:
"Just a little, I won't do anything."
I sighed, surrendering to his strange request, and I too buried my head in his neck, enjoying his attractive masculine scent that was driving me crazy and making me forget everything that had happened.
After a long time of this intimate closeness, Night pulled away from me with clear hesitation.
His movement was slow as if he never wanted to pull away, and his gazes carried many meanings I didn't understand.
I immediately seized this golden opportunity and made a run for the bathroom, closing the door behind me quickly.
"Damn it, damn it!" I said to myself, panting.
"I am literally melting from shyness, confusion, and conflicting emotions."
I turned on the shower quickly, and the warm water began to fall on my body, trying to calm my burning self.
I began to curse him with various insults in my mind, venting my anger and frustration at the situation and myself.
Suddenly, his slightly angry voice came through the telepathy:
"I can hear you, you idiot!"
"Damn me and you, Night!"
I screamed in my mind and immediately closed my mind, cutting the mental link between us. I wanted to cry from the excess of my stupidity and from this situation.
I moved slowly and cautiously toward the dressing room, wrapping the towel around me tightly.
I felt his gazes piercing through me—damn me! Why do I always forget my clothes at these critical times?
I was about to reach the room to put on my clothes away from his curious eyes, had he not lunged toward me with a force I had never known, pinning me against the solid wall, trapping my body between him and the wall.
I looked at him with surprise mixed with fear. He was panting violently, and his bloodshot eyes were glowing with a deep red color and a wild spark.
"Damn, he is losing control of his wolf!"
I whispered to myself in terror, realizing the imminent danger I faced now in this intimate and sudden situation.
I tried to break free from him and push him away with all my available strength, but he was much stronger.
He pushed me again with greater force toward the wall, causing me to lose my balance and the towel that was covering me fell to the ground in an embarrassing and sudden moment.
My eyes widened in disbelief at what had just happened. I was completely naked in front of him, fully exposed to his gazes.
His eyes slid over my body with a quick, daring scrutiny, his eyes widening in astonishment at what he saw before him.
I didn't waste time thinking or screaming; instead, I rushed to hug him immediately, preventing him from staring any more at my naked body.
I was burning with shyness the moment my naked body touched his warm, strong body.
Night stiffened and froze in his place, surprised by my reaction or perhaps by the feel of my body pressed against him.
I felt his heart beating strongly and violently, as if it would burst from the intensity of its rapid thumping.
"I'm really going to cry from shyness!" I said to myself in reproach and blame,
"Why do I always put myself in embarrassing situations like this?"
He surrounded my waist with his hands firmly, feeling it with softness and longing, then buried his head in my neck, deeply inhaling my scent.
His touches and hot breath were starting to numb me completely, and I felt like I was gradually losing my senses, drifting with him in a sea of emotions and instincts.
"Damn! I must do something before I too lose control of Cyran!"
I whispered to myself in terror.
I raised my head to him, my eyes meeting his heavily drugged eyes.
I stood on my tip-toes to reach his level, until our noses were pressed against each other, and this extreme closeness of mine increased the intensity of the situation.
I slowly raised my hands and placed them over his eyes, preventing him from looking at me, which made him relax slightly and his hands holding my waist loosened.
"Fine, this is my chance!"
I pushed him using my special power, pinning him to the wall forcefully without touching him physically directly.
I rushed quickly toward the closet and closed the door behind me violently, leaving him to process what had happened to him while he was hanging on the wall in shock.
I was spinning around like crazy inside the closet; thinking about how I would face him now after everything that happened made me want to disappear.
"I wish the earth would split and swallow me; it would be more merciful to me than this situation!"
I began to cry with fake, exaggerated drama and curse him at the same time:
"Damn you, you perverted, arrogant, foolish, idiot—"
The sound of my curses was interrupted by hearing a knock on the door. I screamed with anger mixed with embarrassment:
"Whaaaat?"
He answered with his usual coldness that always provoked me:
"I want clothes, for example."
I cursed him in my mind again, then opened the door a little to see what he wanted.
He was standing there, staring at me with a slight confusion I had never known in him before.
My cheeks flushed immediately upon seeing him, and I quickly looked away from him, unable to face his eyes.
I left the room quickly, leaving him to take his clothes, still feeling the shyness completely possessing me.
I was walking in the palace corridors with deliberate steps, and Night was directly behind me with steady, calculated steps.
We entered the spacious breakfast hall only to find everyone there, except my family.
"When did they return?" I wondered to myself.
My eyes fell on that blonde girl who was sitting insolently in my usual seat, directly next to Night.
I saw him sit down without apparent interest and begin eating calmly, which made me feel distressed.
"Does he want to see my reaction and behavior to this? Fine, Mr. Night, you have it."
I approached her with feigned calmness and said in a cold tone:
"Excuse me, but this is my seat."
She looked at me with disgust and disdain and said in a mocking tone:
"Oh, I didn't see your name on it!"
I laughed mockingly, while Night watched in expectant silence for what was coming. I said to her in a sharp, firm tone:
"I don't repeat myself, little one."
She was annoyed by my tone and glared at me sharply:
"And what if I don't?"
I smiled a calm smile that carried a veiled threat:
"Suit yourself, dear, you brought this on yourself."
At that moment, the atmosphere in the hall shifted, and I felt everyone's gazes turn toward us, waiting to see what would happen.
Suddenly, everything on the table began to vibrate violently.
Forks and knives floated in the air like soldiers made of cold metal, directed at her with a clear threat, while sparks of anger flew from my eyes like burning embers.
Her eyes widened in utter shock and real fear was etched on her captivating face.
I didn't give her time to respond or escape; instead, I launched the tools at her with lightning speed.
And before they hit even one hair of hers, I stopped them directly in the air, bringing them to a halt a few centimeters from her trembling body.
She gasped forcefully with terror, so I settled for threatening her. I moved the tools away from her and returned them to their place, and said with a lethal coldness that terrified her:
"So?"
She blinked her teary eyes, then scrambled away from the table without uttering a word.
I watched her every move, while her father looked at me with a silent threat, unable to say anything in the presence of "Night" who had imposed his control over the atmosphere.
His son was looking with strange and uncomfortable looks of admiration, which increased my annoyance.
I stared at Night, who was watching the scene with clear enjoyment and a slight side smile
. "Now he will know that I am jealous of him, and so what, let him go to hell!"
I sat in my place, returning the tools to their original position, and began eating calmly, watching her sharply as she stole admiring glances at Night from time to time.
"Where are Arin and Lorene?"
I said it to Night through telepathy, hoping to get clear answers. But he answered with annoying indifference:
"Lorene is in her room, and Arin is taking care of her. As for Julia, she is in her room."
I furrowed my brows in wonder,
"Julia? Didn't she go with Jack?"
I wondered to myself. I said to him with slight anger:
"Night, what are you trying to do?"
But he didn't answer me, completely ignoring my question. I felt the need to talk to Julia and understand the matter from her directly.
I stood up quickly from the table, heading toward Julia's room with hurried, anxious steps. I knocked on the door several times, but she didn't answer.
I knocked harder and called out clearly:
"Juliaaa! It's me, Cyra, come on, open the door!"
I received no response, not even a single movement from inside. I was ready to break down the door and enter by force, but she opened it before I could do so.
Her face was extremely pale, and her eyes and nose were red and swollen from intense crying.
Upon seeing me, she immediately threw herself into my arms, crying bitterly; the sound of her sobs broke my heart.
I led her to the bed and sat beside her, stroking her tenderly in an attempt to calm her down. I said to her in a kind voice:
"Shhh, dear, stop crying and tell me what happened."
She pulled away from me slightly and looked at me with tearful eyes, and said with halting crying:
"N... N... Night... rejected our relationship... he wants me to reject him."
I stared at her in shock, trying to process the words I had just heard, unable to believe that Night would do something like this.
"What? You're joking, right?"
I said in shock, refusing to believe what she had just said. Her response was more crying.
She burst into tears, clutching strands of her hair tightly, expressing her despair and intense pain. She let out a muffled scream before losing consciousness in my arms.
"Damn! Julia, Julia!"
I said in panic. I began to stroke her cheek gently, hoping to wake her.
Anxiety was gnawing at me, and I felt fear possessing me. I splashed water on her face with my trembling hand, saying eagerly:
"Julia, please, come on, I am here! Julia!"
But it was no use; she didn't move.
I telepathed the royal doctor immediately, told him what happened and asked him to come quickly.
It didn't take long before there was a knock on the door and the doctor entered hurriedly. I said to him quickly:
"She lost consciousness!"
He began to examine her carefully, then put an IV in for her and injected her with what was likely a sedative.
He finally said in a reassuring tone:
"No need to worry, she fainted because she hasn't eaten anything. She will be fine."
Then he left, leaving behind the silence that settled after the storm, and the anxiety that didn't quite leave my heart.
I was boiling with anger at the memory of Julia's words and her miserable state.
I couldn't bear the situation any longer, so I left the room quickly, heading for Night, who was likely in his office.
I entered the office crudely and without permission, interrupting his conversation with Arin.
I said with a loud scream:
"What the hell are you trying to do?"
Night ordered Arin to leave with a single look, staring at me with intense anger.
I continued my words with more anger and screaming:
"Who gave you the right to order her to reject her mate?"
I was breathing heavily, and I felt my temperature rising as if I were about to burn everyone around me.
He said sharply, directing his words to me:
"Don't interfere in matters that don't concern you!"
I tried to calm myself a bit and said:
"Night, you aren't protecting her this way; you are killing her, you idiot!"
I screamed my last words, causing him to scream my name loudly, warning me:
"Cyraaaa!"
But I didn't care about his warning; instead, I said with a lethal, emotionless calmness:
"Fine then, if you are determined for them to reject each other."
I paused for a bit then continued with a decisive resolution:
"I will reject you too, and right now."
I said it without hesitation, causing his eyes to widen from the horror of what he heard.
He stood up from his place heading toward me, and before he could do anything, I continued my words with the intention of officially rejecting him as a mate:
"I, Cyra Walker, daughter of Hunter Walker, Moon Goddess, I reject Ni—"
I didn't finish my words because he lunged toward me.
He pressed his lips against mine with force and violence, preventing me from finishing. He was kissing me very violently as if he was blaming me and punishing me for my act and my daring in trying to reject him.
He broke the kiss after bruising my lips with a violent kiss that carried a mix of anger and pain.
My breath was shallow, and I felt a burning sting in my lips. He said with a strange calmness, his lips still very close to mine:
"Was rejecting me that simple?"
I felt a pain tearing my heart from the inside because of my attempt to reject him; I realized then how harsh my words were.
I said haltlingly and in a choked voice, while I gripped his shirt tightly:
"You are the one who forced me to do that!"
I was breathing with difficulty, and I felt an intense tightness in my chest.
"I wonder, does he feel the same pain I feel now?"
I wondered to myself.
Damn! I felt my soul slowly withdrawing from me because of the intensity of the psychological pain that invaded me.
I closed my eyes tightly, trying to calm my pain and my scattered, chaotic emotions. I opened my eyes to look at him, and my eyes were red from the intensity of the pain and the trapped tears.
I saw him tired; he seemed to be in pain just like me. His features were wrinkled from deep pain, staring into my eyes with a gaze carrying reproach, sadness, and regret—a gaze that made my heart break more.
My hot tears flowed down my cheeks like a raging waterfall, followed by a pained sob that came out despite me.
I pressed my lips together tightly, desperately trying to prevent the sound of my crying from coming out loudly and exposing my weakness, but I couldn't.
I burst into bitter tears; I could no longer stand the sight of him in pain because of me.
I buried my face in his warm, strong chest, hugging him tightly, as if I feared he would let go of me or disappear at any moment.
He didn't mind at all; instead, he returned the hug with greater force, wrapping his arms around me firmly and reassuringly, which made my crying and sobs increase in intensity—my emotions flowing like a torrential flood, announcing my weakness, longing, and pain all at once.
He was stroking my hair gently and slowly, in an attempt to calm the flare of my crying that had engulfed me. His calm, warm voice pierced through the fog of my pain as he said in reassuring words:
"Shhh, everything will be okay."
I began to calm down little by little; his words were like magic that takes away worries.
I pulled him closer to me, seeking the reassurance of his presence by my side.
I sighed with deep relief, and felt all the pain that was squeezing my heart fade and disappear with every touch of his hand and sound of his words.
I pulled away from him slowly, lowering my head in shyness from my crying state.
I wiped my tears and nose with my shirt sleeve, in an attempt to regain some dignity.
But he placed his hand under my chin tenderly, raising my head up so my eyes met his face. He studied my crying features carefully, only to smile calmly and say:
"I don't want to see your tears falling."
He stared into my eyes deeply and continued in a tone carrying hidden pain:
"Because they kill me."
I was petrified by the words he was saying.
"Is Night revealing his feelings toward me? Or am I imagining? My God, I think I'll have a stroke right now!"
I was looking at him with intense confusion and bewilderment, unable to believe what I was hearing.
He continued with something that exploded all the questions:
"I don't know how this happened. I tried to deny it, but I couldn't. It was increasing inside me whenever I suppressed it."
"What is this fool talking about now?"
I wondered in my mind.
He continued with clear, honest words:
"I really like you. I don't know how this happened, but I admit that I like you, Cyra."
"No, no, this is unbelievable! No, he's not joking!"
Damn! He likes me? Me, the person he used to hate and couldn't stand has now become someone he likes?
My inner wolf was howling with sheer joy and jumping with crazy enthusiasm at our mate's confession to us, while I was still in a state of shock and amazement.
"Haaa?"
That was all I could say because of the shock that paralyzed my tongue.
"Calm down Cyra, it's just a liking, yes just a liking, not love,"
I tried to convince myself, even though I knew that I too liked him very much.
I felt my cheeks redden from shyness and thinking.
Night smiled and pinched my cheek playfully, as if I were a small child.
I frowned in annoyance and said:
"Stop, Night, this is annoying,"
as I pushed his hand away from me.
I breathed deeply and said to him seriously, trying to return to the main subject:
"Julia, she is not okay."
He looked at me with slight concern, which quickly increased after I told him what happened with her in detail.
He headed quickly toward her room, and I was walking behind him.
Upon entering the room, Night caught sight of "Julia" who turned her face the other way, while the IV was not yet finished.
Night called her by name, but she ignored him completely. I looked at Night with the meaning "do not talk or argue with her," so he nodded in annoyance, realizing what I was going to do.
I said to Julia in a kind, reassuring tone:
"Julia, come on, Night has agreed to Jack, so don't exhaust yourself."
She looked at me in disbelief, while Night let out a strong, annoyed sigh at having to agree. I glared at him sharply with my eyes.
Julia stood up and looked at me and Night, and how it pained him to see her and her pale face; I felt his pain through the bond.
Night nodded in confirmation of my words. She didn't believe herself, and threw herself into her brother's arms, while he returned the beautiful brotherly love.
They were like a small happy family for moments, so I left the room giving them some privacy they needed at this emotional moment.