LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

Luna watched children running around joyfully with replicas of moon flowers. It was her first time seeing a festival, as she had never attended events like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or New Year’s celebrations in her world because she was too busy surviving or working. This new experience was happening in a foreign world she had recently discovered.

As Zeus strolled, Luna marvelled at her surroundings. She was so engrossed in the festival’s details that she didn’t notice Alkrevas’s protective arm around her waist, her body leaning against his warm chest.

“Is this your first time seeing a festival?” Alkrevas initiated a conversation, noticing Luna’s excitement and glowing face. The peaceful and warm atmosphere gradually eased Luna’s tension, making her less guarded and less hostile toward Alkrevas for the first time.

“Yes, you could say that. I was too busy surviving to enjoy such pleasures,” Luna answered honestly, with a hint of a sad smile. She added, “I wasn’t born with a silver spoon like you.”

“Does my life seem beautiful to you, little mate?” Alkrevas asked. Luna shrugged indifferently.

“From what I’ve heard, you’re the sole heir to the throne, cherished by both parents. Ah, you have parents, while I don’t.” Luna couldn’t hide the envy in her voice. She had never felt parental warmth and longed for it, though it seemed impossible. She had tried to find out about her parents. Still, she found no clues, eventually giving up and watching others with their parents with envy.

Alkrevas remained silent, as it was the first time Luna opened up about her life to him, despite the bitterness in her words. He wouldn’t deny Luna’s words, even though his reality was far from beautiful. As the sole heir, he hadn’t escaped threats. Assassins had infiltrated his room to kill him when he was four, sent by opposition nobles. Poison mixed with wolfbane and other deadly substances was frequently found in his food or drink.

His path to his current position was fraught with challenges, including accusations of being cursed for not finding his soulmate upon reaching adulthood and pressure from nobles. Only the imperial family and palace staff knew the truth.

Alkrevas didn’t want to show his dark past to the werewolf community or Rhodes residents. It was all in the past, and now, no one could harm him. He could kill those who tried. Alkrevas didn’t have weaknesses-his soulmate wasn’t a weakness but a strength. He felt complete with Luna, something he had never felt before. Alkrevas dismissed these thoughts and asked, “Where are your parents?” feigning interest.

He pulled Zeus’s reins, made the large black horse stop, and directed Zeus to a quiet path. “I don’t know,” Luna answered curtly, frowning as Zeus stopped and Alkrevas dismounted. “Why did you get off? Why are we stopping here?”

“There’s a stable nearby. I’ll leave the horse there because we need to walk from here. Are you sure this is an emperor’s job?” Luna asked doubtfully, watching Alkrevas extend his hand to her with a smile. She frowned, puzzled by the calm and tame demeanour of the usually psychopathic emperor. Luna sighed and accepted Alkrevas’s hand, and with his help, she safely dismounted Zeus.

She observed Alkrevas’s face and noticed no tension. “Are you trying to cheer me up?” she asked suspiciously, unable to believe Alkrevas’s calm demeanour.

“Why do you always see the worst in every good thing you get? And I told you I’m inspecting. There’s no harm in my Luna accompanying me, right?” Luna frowned deeper but eventually nodded in acceptance.

“Besides, the first day of the festival is the most enjoyable and awaited.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Judith’s explanation wasn’t entirely wrong, but there’s something only on the first day.”

“What’s that?”

“The carnival.” Alkrevas then took Zeus’s reins and said, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” He went to the stable and returned to Luna, offering his arm. After Luna took his arm, feeling the muscles beneath his coat, they walked toward the busy festival.

…

She was returning from the festival, the sunset in the west, painting the sky a beautiful orange. Birds flapped their wings, and Luna felt she was witnessing a scene usually seen on a canvas-an actual painting. She marvelled and murmured, “Rarely do I see such a beautiful sky, usually filled with skyscrapers.”

Realizing her words, she quickly looked at Alkrevas walking beside Zeus. Unlike her riding Zeus, Alkrevas preferred to walk, leading the horse. Luna bit her lip, fearing his reaction, but he stared blankly ahead. She cleared her throat to get his attention, but he ignored her.

What’s with that guy? Luna wondered, confused.

Luna looked ahead and saw the side gate of the palace, indicating she would soon be back in her luxurious prison. She sighed softly and glanced left at the row of shop buildings. One by one, she observed the items being sold from afar. Although it was getting late, the shopping area remained busy, even more so than when she left the palace in the afternoon.

Luna smiled, seeing a couple, possibly married, exiting a bakery. The man held a basket of warm, savoury bread while the woman carried a beautiful bouquet. Luna remembered the last time she received a bouquet was during her cosmetic product launch, more as a congratulatory gesture than a romantic one. Suddenly, Zeus stopped walking, and Luna turned her gaze from the couple back to Alkrevas, who had also stopped.

Luna frowned in confusion. Alkrevas still stared ahead blankly, but soon, he turned to her. Luna blinked, noticing his dark brown eyes seemed unfocused and misty. Still, it vanished instantly when Alkrevas blinked and gazed at her with his intense look that never failed to make her shiver. “Why did you stop?”

“There’s something I need to check. Wait here.” Without waiting for Luna’s reply, Alkrevas walked away, leaving Luna on Zeus’s back and crossing the street. Luna shook her head in confusion and looked around.

Accidentally, Luna’s gaze fell on a small, narrow, dark alley between the shops. It seemed ordinary to others but not to Luna. She tightened her cloak and squinted, seeing a hooded figure standing alone in the alley. What made Luna uneasy was the figure’s eyes staring directly at her.

Only their brown eyes were visible. A strong wind blew, making Luna’s cloak, clothes, and hair flutter, as well as the hooded figure’s cloak, revealing beautiful near-silver blonde hair. Luna knew that hair colour well, and when her brown eyes met familiar green eyes, she tensed up. A glimmer of hope grew stronger within her. “Ghea?” Luna whispered.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

She quickly dismounted Zeus, intending to approach Ghea, but stopped when Ghea turned and disappeared into the alley’s darkness. Additionally, Alkrevas’s sudden presence made Luna divert her gaze from the alley to Alkrevas, her eyes widening at the large bouquet in his hand.

“You-” Luna couldn’t speak as Alkrevas handed her the bouquet.

“I saw you looking at the woman with the bouquet. Your gaze clearly showed you wanted it, too.”

“You noticed?” Luna smiled as she inhaled the fragrant flowers. She gently caressed the petals unfamiliar to her from Earth. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, little mate.” Alkrevas hadn’t noticed Luna wanted the bouquet until he saw her delighted expression when he gave it to her. His real purpose was not to buy flowers but to verify Mathias’s report via mind-link earlier. He left to locate the fae target using magic for a moment in a quiet place. Before Luna got suspicious of his sudden absence, he bought the bouquet as an excuse.

Alkrevas scanned the area cautiously. For a moment, his dark brown eyes turned red before returning to avoid arousing Luna’s suspicion. Norris sat alert and tense, tapping his tail in Alkrevas’s mind. Like him, his wolf soul was also on guard.

Because their target was a threat, Alkrevas thought angrily. He recalled Mathias’s report.

‘Alpha, the tracker team reported something shocking from the fae’s inn.’

‘What is it?’ Alkrevas asked coldly, his tone like a knife. ‘Give me positive news, Mathias.’

‘Yes, Alpha. The fae’s presence… the trackers found the object you seek during their search at the inn. They also detected black magic around the inn. The fae’s trail leads south of Rhodes. The teleportation magic traces are still visible near the inn.’ Alkrevas waited silently for one more piece of information.

‘The tracker team followed the fae’s trail, and the target is now detected in Mylonas Capital. Your target is in Mylonas, Alpha.’

‘Damn! Deploy the trackers, your troops, and Tana’s forces. Find the fae and drag them to me!’

‘Yes, Alpha.’ After ending the mind link and leaving his soulmate’s side, Alkrevas immediately called his elite team, The Shadow, to search for the target. He watched Luna from a distance, his eyes turning red. His hands clenched tightly, and his jaw tensed.

‘No. Whatever happens, I won’t let my soulmate slip from my grasp. No matter if I have to destroy the world. I won’t let my soulmate go. I must eliminate anything that threatens my happiness, even if it’s Luna’s only chance to be happy.’

Alkrevas crushed the bouquet he had just bought, his gaze dark and cruel. He brought the petals to his nose, inhaling their fragrance, and smiled softly, filled with obsession.

“My beautiful Luna. Your place is by my side. Remember that,” he whispered to the petals in front of him.

….