LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

“Lady, today is the last day of the Moon Flower Festival. Don’t you want to spend some time outside?” asked a servant to Luna as she sat pensively in the sunroom. The hot tea served on the table for her remained untouched, gradually cooling, along with the cake and snacks. Luna said nothing and continued to gaze at the view of the Emperor’s private garden, clearly visible from the sunroom.

“Lady, do you not like the tea that was served? Would you like a different drink? Perhaps something cold, as today’s weather is quite hot, and a cold drink would be best,” asked another servant who noticed Luna’s untouched drink. The two servants exchanged worried glances due to Luna’s lack of response and bowed their heads in concern.

Not long after, Judith, who had just returned from reporting to the head of the imperial household staff regarding the previous night’s incident, entered with a small smile. However, that smile faded upon seeing the Lady she served looking gloomy. She glanced at the servants standing by in the corner of the room, and upon seeing their anxious expressions, Judith couldn’t help but feel worried.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She stepped closer, bowed, and gently asked Luna, “Lady, would you like to walk in the garden? Now is the perfect time to see the flowers in bloom. Didn’t you want to see the Emperor’s rare flowers? Or would you prefer to relax in the greenhouse? I can ask Master Zyne to open the greenhouse for you-”

“You were reprimanded and punished because of me, right?” Luna suddenly asked, her eyes never leaving the view outside.

“Lady, it wasn’t your fault-”

Luna shifted her gaze from the garden to Judith’s face for the first time, then lowered her head and whispered, “I’m sorry. My actions have caused you trouble.” She took a deep breath and lifted her head. Luna smiled and said, “You don’t need to say it wasn’t my fault, Judith.” Luna looked back at the garden and murmured, “I truly don’t belong here.”

“No! Lady, please don’t say that.” Luna gave a bitter smile. Regardless of the reassurance, she felt her words were valid. She didn’t belong here; she didn’t even belong in this world. Initially, she only wanted to return home without considering the people around her. Judith pressed her lips together and then sat beside Luna’s chair on the floor.

The servant took Luna’s hand and held it gently. After patting the back of Luna’s hand for a moment, she said, “Do you know, Lady? You remind me so much of my daughter. Your demeanor and behavior are so similar that sometimes I feel like I’m taking care of my daughter again.”

“Why do you think that?”

Judith smiled and looked out at the garden with a faraway look. “My daughter had a free spirit. She didn’t like to be confined or ordered around. Since childhood, she has always visited the forest with my late husband to explore nature. Brave and unafraid to fight back, she would sometimes defy my orders. She refused to act like a proper lady and wasn’t afraid to face the consequences of her decisions.”

Luna smiled. “Do you see me like that?”

Judith nodded. “I can see the same light in your eyes as in my daughter’s. I know His Majesty the Emperor is somewhat excessive regarding you. Although I can’t do much, I know you are a soul that cannot be constrained.”

“You’re right. I’ve been alone since I was a child. I’ve chosen my path, faced people alone, walked my way, and lived alone. Even when the depression hit me, and all I wanted was to die, I rose by myself. No one helped me until recently when I found friends and someone I consider family. They have made my days bearable and helped me release all the darkness that followed me.”

“Lady…” Judith whispered, holding back tears in the corners of her eyes. From Luna’s words, Judith realized that the young woman’s life was so complicated and dark. What would His Majesty the Emperor’s reaction be if he knew all of this? Two souls were both engulfed in darkness. Could they walk together towards the light, or would they only sink deeper into the abyss of darkness?

“I’m sure, whatever His Majesty the Emperor has done, he did not mean to cause harm,” Judith dared to say. Though she was an omega, she was also a werewolf and knew what had happened to Luna the night before. It was evident from the Emperor’s increasingly strong scent, which had altered Luna’s natural aroma. Not to mention, early that morning, she had seen His Majesty carrying Luna’s unconscious body with a panic-stricken, guilt-ridden expression.

Judith remembered cleaning the woman’s body, covered in bruises and wounds, and even when she cleaned Luna’s intimate area with a warm towel, she saw blood there. Judith realized that Luna had just undergone a mating process with the Emperor’s wolf side. She bowed her head.

As a female wolf, Judith knew how painful mating with a soulmate in wolf form could be since there was no rationality, only primitive instinct. How much more painful must it be for Luna, a mere mortal? And considering that the Emperor was not an ordinary werewolf but a Lycan.

Judith clearly remembered the unwritten rule that if a werewolf had a soulmate from a different species, they needed to discuss the situation and obtain consent from their partner before mating in wolf form. From the Emperor’s expression, showing fear and panic for the first time, Judith guessed that the process had occurred without Luna’s consent. She had worked in the palace for a long time, and last night was the first time she had seen the Emperor so distraught. Fortunately, his possessive instinct did not interfere with her cleaning Luna. Instead, he had given her permission and left the room to provide privacy.

“You know, Lady, you are the only one His Majesty the Emperor allowed to be rude to him.” Judith looked up and smiled at Luna. “I was initially shocked, but I once saw something even more surprising.”

“What was that?”

“When you scolded His Majesty or were harsh to him, the Emperor smiled gently, and his usually cold brown eyes looked warm. The mask he always wore disappeared, replaced by a soft expression. Maybe you didn’t notice it, but I and the other servants did.”

Judith paused and slowly stood up, gently squeezing Luna’s hand before letting it go. “For His Majesty the Emperor, who has sat on the throne for so long, I think your attitude is something new and refreshing for him, who is usually met with obedience or fear. This is just my thought, and I don’t know if it’s right or wrong.”

“Doesn’t it have something to do with the mate bond?”

Judith shook her head. “His Majesty the Emperor is an Alpha, Lady. And Alphas demand respect from all individuals, without exception, even from their soulmates. An Alpha’s instinct is compassion. If you defy or show the slightest disrespect, it will trigger the Alpha’s anger. That’s why, even though they are in the highest caste, Alphas are highly respected by everyone. Their unpredictable temper. Whenever people are near an Alpha, it’s like standing on thin ice that could break at any moment.”

Luna listened carefully to Judith’s explanation. “So it’s surprising to see His Majesty the Emperor allow you to be yourself and not demand respect from you.”

“Really?”

Judith signaled the waiting servants to remove the food and drinks from the table and asked, “Lady, wouldn’t you like to take a walk in the city? Today is the last day of the festival. Before everyone goes to the temple for the ritual and the closing ceremony, you should take this opportunity to buy some snacks.”

“Can I act normally and pretend nothing happened after last night?” Luna asked more to herself, but Judith caught the question with her sharp hearing. “No. I will stay in the palace. My body still feels unwell.”

“Would you like some warm food prepared for you? And maybe take the medicine the doctor prescribed? Your fever has gone down, but there’s no harm in taking more medicine if you still feel unwell.” Luna shook her head and stared blankly at the garden again.

Judith sighed heavily and stepped back, giving the young woman space to sort out her feelings. “Alright, Lady. If you need anything, you can call me. I will be waiting outside.” Judith then bowed and signaled all the servants to leave. The servants nodded and bowed respectfully to Luna before quietly exiting the room.

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