Selenophile 3

Aaron Rivera knew that finding a Luna was always a serious problem for any pack, especially the Xylvaneth Pack, which had been without a Luna for a total of 14 years. As a watcher who had spent most of his life in the werewolf world, he knew that this was the first time an Alpha hadn't found his mate. So, he wasn't surprised to find the Alpha returning in a foul mood.

"I hope Ursa's prediction is right this time. Because if not..."

Aaron approached with a tray in his hand. On it was a cup of warm tea. He said, "Please, have some, Alpha. A cup of chamomile tea is said to calm the mind."

"Do you think what I need right now is a cup of chamomile tea?"

Aaron smiled, looking casual in the face of the Alpha's emotional outburst. "Certainly not, but I'm sure you need something to clear your throat. You've been yelling too much lately, Alpha."

Sharp eyes pierced Aaron, but he remained calm as before. He seemed unafraid to confront the Alpha's truly unstable emotions of late.

"Please, Alpha Oscar."

Aaron placed the tea on the Alpha's desk. His demeanor was polite and full of etiquette, especially with a smile that continued to grace his face. He provided the best service possible, even though the Alpha had the opposite expression—disheveled, tired, and oppressed.

Aaron, aware of Oscar's nature, did not take offense, even though his position did not give him that right. Besides, it wasn't the first time Aaron had found himself in a situation like this. Fortunately, serving the previous Alphas had taught him a lot. Thus, he could remain calm when dealing with Oscar's unpredictable emotional turmoil.

There was another important thing that Aaron always kept in mind. Regardless of Oscar's fiery character and temperament, the Luna issue inevitably came into play. An Alpha without a Luna was a disaster, especially when that Alpha was Oscar Donovan.

"I hope this tea is as beneficial as you say it is."

Oscar sighed heavily. He reached for the cup and took a sip. The warmth spread through his taste buds and his eyes closed for a moment. It seemed that Aaron was right.

Aaron felt relieved. To be honest, he hadn't expected much from a cup of chamomile tea. He tried it, and thankfully it worked. At least the drink could temporarily ease Oscar's emotional turmoil.

Hopefully Philo would bring good news. Hopefully Ursa's prediction would be correct.

If not, Aaron couldn't imagine how angry Oscar would be. He would surely go on a rampage, and not only that, the pack would become even more confused.

A soft clink was heard as Oscar put the cup of tea back on the coaster. Aaron blinked and saw Oscar sigh again, then lean back in his chair.

"Why is Philo taking so long? Wasn't I supposed to go to Lunaria Forest with him?"

Aaron was sure it was a bad idea. The last time Oscar had gone with the pack for a similar purpose, it had ended with him going berserk when Ursa's prediction turned out to be wrong. That had happened about twelve years ago, but it was still fresh in his mind.

The pack didn't want to take any risks, especially since they all noticed that Oscar had become more sensitive when it came to finding his Luna. They understood that, but that didn't mean that they were ready to become the target of his anger.

"Calm down, Alpha. I'm sure Philo and the others will be back soon."

Oscar clenched his fingers. "I hope they do more than come back soon. I hope they prove Ursa's prediction to be true."

That was also the hope of Aaron and the whole pack. Besides missing the Lunar figurine, everyone was convinced that Oscar's emotional problems were somehow connected to it. According to the legend, Luna's presence wasn't just about being an Alpha's mate; it was also about balancing emotions and bridging the gap between werewolves, nature, and wolf spirits.

"I hope so too, Alpha. Besides, Ursa has done—"

Suddenly, Oscar stood up and the chair was thrown back. Aaron's words were immediately cut off, and he looked at the Alpha with a puzzled expression.

"What is it, Alpha?"

Oscar didn't answer. He remained silent, his sharp eyes looking straight ahead as if they could penetrate walls and traverse the dark night outside. His face hardened and his breathing became rapid. Then he answered.

"She's coming."

Aaron's eyes widened. "She?"

Oscar's eyebrows rose and fell. He swallowed saliva and felt his blood boil. His wolf spirit roared with joy.

"Ursa's prediction is correct."

*

For an unknown length of time, Era felt herself plunged into darkness. She seemed to be floating in a dimension without air. Everything was boundless and she could only drift without direction.

Era was restless. Then the voice came and echoed.

Era, are you okay?

Era tried to find the source of the voice, but only darkness greeted her. So she could only answer.

I'm fine.

A sigh of relief was heard. Thank goodness. I'm glad you're okay. Now wake up.

Era still wanted to talk to the voice, but suddenly a blinding beam of light surrounded her. She tried to move away and avoid it, but it was useless. The light was so bright that it finally engulfed her.

A moan vibrated in her throat. Pulsations hit her head and she winced. It was very painful, and she tried to massage her head, but she found that her hands were difficult to move.

"Don't move too much."

A deep and soothing voice woke Era up. Her eyes suddenly opened wide to see a friendly smiling doctor.

"You are fine, and what you need now is rest. Hopefully you'll recover soon."

The diagnosis and prayer didn't calm Era down. The tension in her body increased. She remained silent, only looking at the doctor with an unfriendly expression.

"Who are you? Where am I? Did Mosha send you to treat me?"

The doctor frowned, but his expression seemed amused. "As you can see," he said, pointing to his doctor's coat, "I am a doctor. My name is Landon Atticus. You can call me Landon, and you're in—"

The door swung open almost violently. Era and Landon turned as Oscar entered, followed by Philo and Ursa.

"She's awake."

Landon nodded and made way for Oscar. "Yes, Alpha."

Era blinked, trying to remember. Who was Alpha? What was the connection between Alpha and Mosha?

"How is she?"

"Quite well," Landon replied, taking a short breath. "She just has a few bruises and minor injuries. Nothing to worry about. The cut on her forehead will heal in a few days."

Right! My head!

Finally, Era realized where the pulsation was coming from. Her head had hit a rock, and that had to be the cause.

Reflexively, Era lifted her other hand. She touched the bandage on her forehead and winced.

"Are you okay?"

Fighting back a grin, Era opened her eyes and felt a hand holding hers.

"I'm fine. Then let me go."

Era pulled the hand away, then tried to sit up, struggling with the effort. Now she felt the full extent of her battered body. Her bones felt broken and all her joints seemed to be loose.

It took her a few moments to adjust to the discomfort. Then she scanned the room and found people staring at her. A feeling of unease crept up on her, especially when she realized where she was—an extraordinary place.

An air of luxury hit Era at first glance. She ignored everyone for a moment, instead taking in her surroundings with a furrowed brow.

The room was exceptionally large. So much so that Era wasn't sure where the door was. Everything seemed so far away, out of reach even to her eyes.

Despite its unusual size, Era found the room to be elegantly designed. There was not a single sight that would cause boredom; instead, there was a constant stream of admiration.

First, the walls were decorated with dark wooden panels, intricately carved with graceful motifs. The design created a classic atmosphere, especially when the crystal chandelier on the ceiling cast its bright light. It created a fascinating play of shadows.

There was a clean white marble floor to pamper the footsteps. Its presence was like a beautiful crystal, giving a peaceful and soothing impression as one walked across it.

Era couldn't help but notice a thick carpet with an intricate gold weave in the middle of the room. It made a delicate and soft impression, tempting her to play with her toes on it.

Era suppressed this desire and turned her attention to several neatly arranged pieces of antique furniture—a masterpiece that combined the classic of the past with the modern of the present.

In one corner of the room, a luxurious vanity table with a gold-framed mirror successfully caught Era's attention. Beauty products were neatly arranged and complemented by an antique-style chair with a young, gold-colored upholstery.

Large windows covered most of the walls. Soft-colored silk curtains with intricate embroidery adorned them. All these elements convinced Era that this was the most beautiful room she had ever seen in her life. If there was any doubt, all she had to do was tilt her head to see what kind of bed she was resting on.

The answer was a luxurious king-size bed. Plush and smooth, with a golden silk coverlet, beautifully embroidered, covering Era's body. Large pillows added to the comfort.

Era was stunned. She looked around the room again, and her uneasy feeling intensified.

Gold everywhere. Everything was gold. Where am I now?

It didn't take long for Era's unease to turn into fear. Her body tensed and she went on alert, ready for any possibility.

Era looked back. Slightly relieved, she seemed to have found the location of the door. Her mind spun quickly, and if fate didn't favor her, the worst could happen at any moment. She looked at the window and braced herself—she would do anything if pushed.

"So..." Era took a breath. She pulled back the blanket, then looked at each of them. "...who are you really? Where am I? Are you Mosha's people?"

Oscar blinked. "Mosha? Who is Mosha?"

Era gaped. Oscar's confusion made her wonder. But a moment later there was an answer.

"As far as I know, Alpha, he is a mafioso in the village of Avaluna. He controls the nightclubs, the illegal drug trade and some other things there."

Oscar chuckled with a dismissive look on his face. "Mafia in the village of Avaluna? Ridiculous."

Oscar's answer sparked a new conclusion in Era's mind. They were not Mosha's people.

"Wait." Oscar's expression changed. Apparently, he had almost missed something, so he turned to Philo and asked, "Does that mean Mosha is hunting them? Did Mosha make them that way?"

Philo nodded. "Yes, Alpha. They are Mosha's people."

Oscar's face hardened. His sharp eyes gleamed and made Era hold her breath; she had never seen such a frightening look.

"You know what to do, Philo."

"Of course." Philo nodded again. "I will do it immediately, Alpha."

Philo stood up immediately after saying that. Era wondered with a possibility that she immediately pushed away as far as possible.

It's impossible for them to do something to Mosha in retaliation for what happened to me.

But Era didn't care if her guess was right. She was just thankful for at least two things: that she had survived, and that they were not Mosha's people.

Unfortunately, Era's gratitude didn't last long. Now she was confused about something else.

"If you're not Mosha's people, then who are you? Why did you save me? I don't know you."

"I am Oscar Donovan. You may call me Oscar, and I am the Alpha of the Xylvaneth Pack."

Era blinked uncertainly. "Oscar."

The name felt different on her tongue. Era stared at Oscar, and suddenly her heart pounded loudly. Her blood rushed and her breath became heavy.

Oscar took Era's hand and continued, "Welcome to the Palace, my Luna.”

*