3. AWAKENING

~HEAVEN~

I jolted awake, gasping for air as my hands found their way to my throat. It felt like I had been strangled to death, only that I wasn't dead... Wait, what?

I immediately checked my body, frantically searching for any openings, my mind a turmoil of emotions as the memories of the accident resurfaced but to my surprise, I was completely fine.

How?

“Luna, you're finally awake!”

I flinched on hearing the unfamiliar feminine voice and that's when I noticed the presence of two young brunette ladies who were dressed like Palace maids.

“How do you feel, Luna? Are you in pain anywhere?” One of them asked worriedly but her question was yet to register in my head as I was more focused on one thing.

“What did you just call me?” I asked with furrowed brows.

They both stared at each other in a perplexed manner before turning back to me.

“I don't think I understand your question, Luna.” She responded and I frowned a bit.

“Luna?” I asked and glanced around. It finally occurred to me that I was in an infirmary and I widened my eyes in shock.

I survived! But how?

The last thing I remembered was the fall, and I was certain no one was around to save me in time. So how did I end up here?

“I will get the healer, Luna.” One of the maids said and left before I could even stop her.

Why were they addressing me as Luna?

“What's going on? How did I get here?” I asked the other maid and her face fell on hearing my question.

“You got injured during the Red Moon War, Luna. Your carriage was ambushed but thankfully the guards found you just in time and the healer did her best to treat your wounds.” She responded with an apologetic gaze and I frowned.

“Red Moon War? The Red Moon War happened a year ago. And why do you keep addressing me as Luna?” I asked and she stared at me in shock.

She was about to respond when two people walked into the room. One of them was the maid who had left earlier and the other was an elderly woman whom I assumed to be the healer.

“Greetings, Luna. It's good to have you back.” She said with a small smile, bowing slightly.

“Where am I?” I asked weakly. It was a bit strange that the pain from the accident was gone, but I still felt a bit weak.

“You are in the Lunar Knights Pack. You're safe now, Luna.” She responded and I widened my eyes in shock.

If I was still in the Lunar Knights Pack, then ’SAFE' is the one thing I am not!

“I have to get out of here! He can't know I survived!” I panicked and tried to get out of the bed but the healer held me back.

“You need to rest, Luna. You sustained severe wounds from the attack and you can't leave just yet until I'm certain you're—”

“You don't understand. I have to leave now!” I said cutting her off but she signaled the maids and they both held me down.

“Luna—”

“Get your hands off me! And I'm not your Luna! Let me go!” I struggled to break free but their grip was strong and the healer brought out a small bottle from underneath her sleeve.

“What are you doing?! Let go of me!” I yelled as I watched her open the bottle and blow out some dust particles next to my nose. I sneezed the moment I inhaled it and held my breath immediately.

I had no idea what it was but I knew I shouldn't inhale it.

“You will feel a lot better and calmer when you wake up, Luna. The king is already on his way to you.” The old woman said in a calm tone and almost immediately, my eyelids became weak as I struggled to keep them open.

“What did you... Do to me?” I asked drowsily and I felt the grip of the maids loosen, as though they were confident I wouldn't try to escape.

“It's a sleeping dust, Luna. It'll help you calm down.” The maid responded and I stopped struggling, mostly because I couldn't feel my body anymore, and so I gave in to the encroaching darkness.

***

I slowly opened my eyes and was greeted by the now familiar faces of the maids who were by my side earlier.

“How are you feeling now, Luna?" One of them asked.

“For the last time, I am not your Luna! My name is Heaven Raymond and I am a Palace maid!” I snapped but they both looked at me like I was crazy.

Was I?

It still didn't make sense that I had survived that fall. I couldn't even heal myself, so I should have died. Maybe I was dead and this was probably the afterlife...

“Maybe she lost her memory or something.” One of the maids whispered to the other but I heard them loud and clear, which shouldn't even be possible since I didn't have any enhanced senses.

My gaze spotted a mirror at the corner of the infirmary and I got out of the bed, making my way to the mirror.

I gasped, falling on my behind the moment I saw my reflection and the maids rushed towards me immediately, helping me up.

“Luna, are you alright?!”

“Should I call for the healer?” They asked worriedly but I paid them no attention as I stared at the unfamiliar woman staring back at me from the other end of the mirror in total disbelief.

“How is this possible?” I muttered as I brought my trembling hands up, touching my face which looked nothing like mine. My dark curly hair had turned red and silky, my blue eyes were now hazel-green, along with every other thing that had changed.

Memories of the accident resurfaced again, and I gasped when I finally recognized the image before me.

It was her! The Lycan Queen which had been murdered in that room. I could still remember her face as I watched her take her last breath but I couldn't understand why I looked like her.

“Is something wrong, Luna?” The maid's voice snapped me back to reality but before I could respond, another servant walked in with an apologetic gaze.

“Forgive my intrusion, Luna but the King is here to see you.” She announced and almost immediately, a sweet intoxicating scent hit my nostrils. I found myself closing my eyes as I inhaled deeply, turning towards the direction of the door, and I felt something ignite within me as the scent grew stronger.

The maids excused themselves and almost immediately, the Lycan king walked in.

I immediately felt drawn to him as my gaze locked with his mesmerizing grey eyes, and I could tell he felt that same pull from the look in his eyes.

I felt my wolf awaken at that very moment — wait my wolf?!

Since when did I have a wolf?!

But that was the least of my problems at that moment as she suddenly growled in excitement, uttering the last words I had expected to hear.

“Mate!”