Chapter 3

What the...

Before I could verbally react at the sudden intrusion of the guards, they aggressively marched forward and have completely intruded my place in seconds.

"What's going on here?" Claude had stepped up in front of me the moment I got lost of words. I'm a no good when it comes to situations like this.

"The Alpha requests for her ladyship's presence in his chambers as sooner as I let go of the message." The Alpha King's Beta and personal attendant, Hyde Glaizer leisurely made his way in.

"And what gives you the right to get your filthy asses in the Luna's chambers?" Claude's voice is raising by now.

"Need I remind you, Beta Kaize, you're talking to the Alpha of all Betas. Know your place."

"And you're talking to one of the Luna's subject." I seethe. Seeing the scene was already enough to frustrate me, yet I chose to hold it all in and walk out without another word.

"Quinn!" I knocked the doors of his study open without any second thoughts. "What is the meaning of all this!?"

"Mind your manners, Leaxandra." Was the response I got.

"Sit, we have a guest."

Calmly regaining my posture, I did as I was told, chin up. It's not like I'm the in who fucked up here or anything.

"Is that her ladyship?" The old man sitting on the opposite couch acknowledged me. "It is an honor to meet you face to face this time, Luna Leax." His face wrinkles as he smiles at me and he had that kind aura circling around him. I know a real one when I see one.

"My pleasure, and may I know who you are?"

"Funny enough, you've been exchanging letters with the Elder in the border lands behind my back and yet you can't recognize the old man." Quinn flashes me a knowing look, though there's a hint of indifference in his tone.

But what caught my attention most was the way he addressed the old man as the Elder of the border lands.

"Elder... How is my fa- I mean, how are the residents doing in the border lands?" I blurted out in hurry, not caring if my secret of communicating secretly through the Elder behind the border was exposed in front of my husband. I'm desperate.

"I've sent you countless letters throughout the month and I have no response at all. I don't... I don't know what is going... W- What is happening, what happened? It's getting too cold outside lately, a- are the stocks I've sent enough to get pass through winter? N- no, I mean... silly me, of course it's not. I- I'll send more aids and add up security in the area... Just tell me you're all fine..." I speak without pause, my voice shaking the more I let more words out.

"One at a time, Luna. Everyone's doing great despite the cold season starting to take over the lands and had terrorizing our crops. But the stocks of food and additional construction of shelters were more than enough to aid us for a year or two. We couldn't have been more thankful for you generosity." I have no idea whether I should trust his scripted words but at the very least, I got the update I wanted.

"T- thank..." I breathe out in relief, though my doubts were not yet satisfied. "What about the old people... the children, how are they going through with the cold? That's right, clothing, you need thicker clothing! I'll call the the seamstress to arrange everything and... how are the defenses holding up? I have received no reports regarding any attacks lately, maybe I should conduct a visit and...."

"It is better for you to just calm down for now, Lea." The Alpha gets in between us again, but I've had enough of his intrusion in my personal affairs lately.

"I don't need you to tell me what's better or not, Quinn."

"I'm only saying so, for it is not good for your condition to rush over these matters."

"Rush over these matter?" I scoff. "Do you think I'm rushing?"

"I'll take it from here." He gestured towards the Elder. "We'll talk more later."

"Well then, if I may excuse myself, Alpha, Luna."

"Wait, we're not done yet!" I try to stop him but I was held back in my position on the couch until the Elder completely walks out of the room. "What is wrong with you!?" Now, I can freely shout at him.

"You, need to calm down, lady. I will take care of everything now."

"No, Quinn. You're the one who started this, to think you have enough conscience to take care of something you have trashed out of the boundaries years ago?" I looked at him with rage. "After you punished and threw my family out of the Colony without mercy, now you're saying you'll take care of the matters of them getting in danger in the middle of the borders?"

Quinn's demeanor changed at my way of words. "Do I need to remind how your own stupidity was the very sole reason your whole family got kicked out of the Colony?"

I never came across that. "What... what do you mean?"

"The Pisces were more loyal to you than the Colony, that they had to support their mistress's every little act of stupidity. Your escape, your wiped out memories, that missing void in your heart, and their expulsion were the effects of your own decisions, Lea." He cupped my chin, tilting my head to face him. "It wasn't me who started all this, it was you."

******

I rushed back to my chambers as though my life depends on it, and as soon as I locked the doors shut, I let it all loose.

The tears came streaming down my face as if the dam broke flooding my eyes. But I couldn't bring myself to cry nor let out a small sound. Besides, these tears already came late and it's no use mourning over what happened in the past.

To make things less bitter, Quinn's words have triggered the pieces of my memory flashing back as though on auto pilot in my mind. The scenarios were random, but it was clear how my people, the Pisces have preserved my hand for marriage until the right time- the finding of my mate. But, with the Alpha King's involvement for my hand in marriage, they could never prevent it and that alone sparked off the start of the whole Pisce family's rebellion and involvement in my said "escape".

I couldn't even do anything to let them back inside the Colony, for their betrayal against the Alpha King alone had resulted to their betrayal against Lumina as a whole. But all that wouldn't have happened if only I was able to take responsibility for my actions whom I could not even remember, and in which I know Quinn doesn't want me to remember either.

'If you couldn't find it, then make your own destiny.' My mother's words were clearer than crystal as the last flash of memories came to an end. That was all I could recall and my heart's already too numb to even force more.

"My lady." A small knock sounded from the other side of the door.

"I'm sleeping, Claude." I sniffed, my voice slightly cracked.

"I'm leaving something here, it seems that the guards have been looking for this."

"Give it to them, I don't care."

"I'm afraid I can not surrender what should be meant for the Luna."

"I don't need another goddamn invitation for a royal child's tea party!" I was only inches to throwing another tantrum. I should really give him a piece of my mind some other time!

"Perhaps, you should read the content of the letter first." He pushes on before I caught hint of the sheet of paper slipping through the gap of the floor and the door. "I know I'm not in the place to say this but the contract renewal between the Lycans and Wolves will be held tomorrow and her ladyship's presence is highly requested."

"Attending such event is out of my bounds."

"I heard everything back there, Luna." He adds. "I'm always behind you, that's my duty as your personal possession in this domain."

"The contract renewal will be held in the Lycan's domain, the Lycan King will be there and since the border land residents are the nearest to the Lycan's boundaries, there's a possibility to propose a new condition with regards to their situation when renewing the contract."

My ears perked. I've heard of the contract between the two worlds once, but I never knew it to be true.

To promote fair treatment in between the Lycans and the Wolves, a contract filled with promises was made between the older ancestors and within each century the leaders of the two opposing kinds come together to hold the transaction, namely the contract renewal.

It might be best shot I've got to revise and add a proposition that will benefit both Lumina and my family living outside the borders.

"Address the Alpha about it."

"He is against it, my lady. That's why I came to you instead."

What did I expect?

"Then bring me one of the maids, I've got some packing to do."

******

Third Person POV

The glass doors dividing the balcony from the Luna's chambers softly creaks open like a creep in the middle of the silent night.

Leaxandra was a heavy sleeper and not to mention she stayed up late, she couldn't be stirred awake easily now and he knows that too.

"God, I got too riled up and ended up coming here instead." The man in the shadow laughs as soon as he reaches her bedside. "But can you blame my patience, Scarlett?"

Leaning down, he closely examines her beautiful face morphed into relaxation. Like an angel destined to pull him down all through seven layers of hell.

"I can no longer wait til' dawn, I've been waiting for so.... goddamn long." Though his hands itches to touch her delicate features and run his fingers through her soft platinum gold hair, he couldn't. "Damn this."

With a sigh, he sits back on the floor and just stared and observe her frame throughout. The way her body underneath the covers rises up and down, the way her breathing sounded throughout, and he also noticed the way she tightly holds on the sheets as though searching for warmth.

"Your husband is a dick for leaving you in these cold beds." He kneels closer to level his face on hers. "But don't worry, my love, I can treat you way better."

"Moreover, I'm capable of warming you inside and out." His overwhelming thoughts made him bite his lower lip before throwing his head back. "Man, I should really go before I do anything inappropriate."

With one last glance on her calm features, the King whispers. "I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, Scarlett."

His shadow left the room as silently as the still night, his existence remaining unnoticed. It would have been so if it weren't for the fact that Leaxandra remains conscious all this time.

With the unknown shadow already out of the place, the Luna's eyes snapped open while her heart couldn't have pounded more vigorously as though surviving from death itself.

******