LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

Luna did not know whether she should think that way or hope for something that would never become a reality for her. She saw Duke Veniam’s gentle gaze, and it successfully made her throat tighten. Her eyes grew warm, and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. For some reason, she wanted to cry right then and there and run into the Duke’s arms. Still, Luna held back all those surging emotions by stepping back, putting as much distance between them as possible. Duke Veniam sighed deeply and said, “Luna.” Luna clenched her jaw as the man spoke her name. “Remember one thing: if that bastard hurts you again, don’t hesitate to leave him. Veniam Duchy and I will protect you.”

“How could I do that?”

“I’ve told you, you are so important to Veniam Duchy, and our first concern is your happiness. Nothing else. Don’t think about consequences or anything. Veniam Duchy will always welcome you with open arms.” Luna didn’t know what to say, as Duke Veniam’s words sounded so sincere. “Oh yes. That ring you’re wearing…” Luna looked down and examined Alkrevas’s ring. “Do you know another reason why that bastard gave you that ring?”

Luna shook her head. “Where is that man’s magic? He said it was to protect me.”

“No, Miss.” Duke Veniam glanced at the ring on Luna’s finger. “He gave you the Emperor’s authority. With that ring, you don’t need a royal emblem or imperial family identity to command the military and subdue the nobles.”

Seriously? Luna asked in her heart.

“I heard he gave it to you in front of many people? That means he’s entrusting this empire to you. Well, at least he’s not as much of a jerk as I remember.” Duke Veniam chuckled softly at his comment. “So for now, just relax. Let me represent you.”

“What?”

“I’ve already told you, you’re part of Veniam, so I will help you with all my strength,” said Duke Veniam with a wide grin, making him look even more handsome. Luna watched as Duke Veniam waved his hand, wished her goodnight, and stepped out of the room, leaving her with her mouth agape in surprise.

It took a few moments for Luna to snap out of her shock. She shook her head and looked down at the ring on her hand before turning around to get ready for bed. It didn’t take long for her to change clothes and climb into the bed. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of Alkrevas that dominated the pillow and sheets. She wondered what he was doing at that moment and whether, like her, he also felt… longing. Luna opened her eyes, reached for the pillow with the most potent scent of Alkrevas, and hugged it tightly.

“Longing… it seems I really do miss you…” Luna whispered to the silent night before her eyes closed tightly, and darkness began to envelop her.

“We need to finish this as soon as possible.” Alkrevas? Luna blinked and turned her head left and right, her heart beating fast upon hearing Alkrevas’s voice. Standing in the middle of darkness, Luna began to feel uneasy, wanting to see the owner of that voice. “I must return to the capital immediately.” Luna turned to the right, guessing the voice came from that direction. She began to move her feet, running in the darkness toward the voice. “Do you think the empire doesn’t need me?” Luna ran faster. For some reason, the man sounded so angry, and Luna wanted to calm that anger. “Those damn goblins! How many knights have been injured because of their attacks?” Luna felt a glimmer of hope when she saw a light a few meters ahead. She quickened her pace, running toward the light.

When her hand touched the light, the darkness surrounding her instantly disappeared, replaced by a room. Luna stopped running and looked around. “DAMN!” Luna flinched at the shout, followed by the sound of breaking glass. She immediately turned toward the sound and held her breath as she saw Alkrevas standing in front of a table that looked like a conference table, his hands resting on the edge. Luna looked at the wall where a liquid was flowing, with broken glass scattered on the floor near the wall. Not far from Alkrevas, there was a bottle of alcohol, and at that moment, Luna realized what had happened. Alkrevas had just thrown a glass at the wall.

However, she frowned in confusion. Is this part of her dream? Does she miss Alkrevas so much that she’s dreaming of him? Or because she thought of Alkrevas before sleeping, which made her dream about him? Luna looked at her hands and gasped when she realized that her hands were transparent, as was her body. When she tried to touch the nearest object, she couldn’t feel it. “What is this?”

…

“Mathias, have you heard any news from the capital?” Alkrevas asked the Gamma, standing on the other side of the room.

“Nothing yet, Alpha. Both the carrier pigeons and mind links, even magical communication devices, have all been cut off. The capital is also on high alert and has closed all communication after reports of black magic being detected again, this time near the imperial palace.”

“Damn you, Markus! You did this on purpose to separate me from my Luna!” Alkrevas growled in frustration, venting his anger at a man who wasn’t even there.

“Alpha, this time I agree with the Prime Minister’s actions.” Luna listened silently to the conversation between Alpha and Gamma. “All communication channels must be cut off temporarily so that any traitor within the capital cannot send messages or ask for help. We don’t know if the traitor is truly just a black wizard or a werewolf.”

“What about the other borders?”

“The situation is not much different from here. Those goblins heal instantly from their wounds and regenerate quickly if their body parts are severed. For now, we need to focus on finding out why these goblins are like that. You mentioned that no black magic was detected from them, which means there must be something else at play.”

Alkrevas pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, and Luna’s heart ached. For some reason, she wanted to erase the frustration and exhaustion on Alkrevas’s face. She glanced around again, and upon closer inspection, Luna realized that the room Alkrevas was in was a conference room. There was a knock on the door, and shortly after, it opened. The face of a man who appeared to be in his fifties emerged, and somehow, the man looked similar to Commander Deborah. Could he be the Commander’s father? “Your Majesty, an important message has just arrived.” The man then entered and placed a crystal ball on the table. Moments later, a transparent screen, like a hologram, appeared, showing Duke Veniam’s face. It all looked like a video recording. Then Luna thought, Huh? If this is a dream, why does everything feel so real?

“Markus.”

“Your Majesty, if you are seeing this message, I will send my sister to the Veniam territory, as the only safe place right now is the northern region where the Veniam Duchy is located.”

“No…”

“And if things get worse, I will be forced to send my sister to another world, so… I think you understand what I mean. Then-”

Luna felt her heart stop. What did Duke Veniam mean? Her body trembled, and she stepped closer, moving away from where she stood. “Damn you, Markus!” Alkrevas roared and flipped the table, causing the crystal ball on it to fall and shatter, abruptly cutting off the unfinished message. “How dare he make such a decision without my permission!” Alkrevas raked his hair in frustration. “I must return now. No matter…”

“No, Alpha! You can’t leave now, please.” Mathias intercepted Alkrevas from using teleportation magic. “What about the residents at the borders and the knights?” Alkrevas immediately fell silent and took a deep breath. The white light in his hand slowly turned reddish. “Alpha, we must trust Duke Veniam.”

“I must return.”

“Alpha, until we find out why those goblins are so hard to kill and find another way to kill them, everyone here needs your presence.”

Alkrevas clenched his fists tightly. On the one hand, he wanted to return immediately, to beat Markus senselessly before checking on Luna. Still, on the other hand, he couldn’t abandon his duties as Emperor and Alpha King. Many small Packs at the borders were affected by the goblin attacks. When he first arrived, the situation was so dire, and many civilians were falling. Mathias’s words were valid; the capital was indeed in danger and needed its Emperor, but as long as Markus was there, things could be managed, but not at the borders. Mathias, along with the generals and commanders of the knight forces, were starting to be overwhelmed. They were exhausted, and no matter how many knights were sent to assist, the problem only worsened.

He also couldn’t ask for help from various noble houses, especially the Royal Pack order, because the security of the capital also had to be prioritized, and leaving it unguarded would be extremely dangerous. The knights from Veniam Duchy were not much help either. His magic was also not very practical; no matter how strong he used it, the goblins kept getting back up as if they were immune and protected by something. Several members of The Shadow were also deployed to the borders to help, leaving their primary duty of safeguarding Luna. Still, even that effort only managed to push back the goblins.

Moreover, they had to fight off monsters that appeared amidst the goblin attacks several times. There was no time for rest. The border had turned into a battlefield, and according to reports, other countries were also starting to experience the same situation, which was the reason for the emergency meeting. Alkrevas thought about all of this and felt his shoulders slump. The empire needed him just as much as he required Luna. “If he can send a message, that means we can too. Send a message immediately…”

“This is a one-way message. Duke Veniam likely sent it before closing all communication channels.”

“Damn it!” Alkrevas tried to contact Markus again through the mind link, but the man didn’t respond, as if something was blocking it. It wasn’t a cut in communication, but rather that bastard himself who didn’t want to talk to him. He exhaled deeply. Alkrevas tried to contact Savon, but this time there was a magical barrier, meaning Mathias’s words were valid.

“Leave me.”

“Alpha…”

“If you are worried I might leave, I won’t. Now, leave.” After that, Gamma Mathias and the man Luna guessed was Commander Deborah’s father obeyed the Emperor’s order and stepped out. Once Alkrevas was alone, the magical light in his hand slowly faded. Luna didn’t know if this was a dream or not, but one thing she wanted was to touch Alkrevas and soothe his troubled heart. She slowly approached Alkrevas, who was standing with his head bowed, and stopped right beside him. Luna raised her hand, and like a miracle, she was able to touch his hair. “Alkrevas…”

Alkrevas immediately looked up and glanced around, whispering, “Luna…?”

***

The next day, Luna stood nervously, looking at the man beside her with a gentle smile. The glasses perched on his nose did not diminish his handsomeness in the slightest, and they couldn’t hide his beautiful and rare grey eyes: Jaxon Raylon, Duke Veniam’s aide. At the moment, the two of them were standing in the central courtyard of Veniam Duchy Castle. Luna leaned closer and asked the man, “Isn’t this a bit too much?” she asked as she looked at the scene in front of her, where the staff and servants were lined up, bowing to welcome her.

“Not at all, Miss.”

Luna sighed deeply. She still felt the effects after meeting Alkrevas in what was supposedly a dream. Stiit all, she was actually her soul reaching out to him through the mate bond between them caused by their prolonged separation. Although tired, it was all worth it for Alkrevas’s touch. Unfortunately, Luna couldn’t stay long because her body became unstable when her soul left it, forcing her to return quickly. She shook her head, trying not to dwell on what happened to her last night. Instead, she focused on Duke Veniam’s words.

Earlier that morning, before using Alkrevas’s personal teleportation magic, Luna had asked about what Duke Veniam said. The man was surprised and asked where she had heard all that, and Luna only gave a vague answer. When Luna thought Duke Veniam would explain, he gave her a mysterious smile instead. He spoke ambiguously, just like before, which successfully annoyed Luna.

A sister? Another world? And let’s not forget Alkrevas’s reaction. The man’s possessive attitude towards the Duke’s “sister” was similar to the way he behaved towards her. Of course, it was not surprising that Duke Veniam would want to send his sister to another world since he had once travelled to another world. That place was the safest in the current situation.

But Alkrevas’s behaviour like that… Is there something Luna didn’t know? Putting all that aside, for some reason, Luna felt a burning sensation in her heart. She didn’t expect herself to feel… a flame of jealousy. Yes, she admitted she was jealous of that sister. There was intense jealousy because Alkrevas’s attention was not solely on her but also on the Duke’s sister. “Miss, we should go inside. It’s quite cold outside. I wouldn’t want you to get sick,” Jaxon said suddenly, breaking Luna from her reverie.

She nodded her head and looked at the staff again, then at the grand and sturdy castle building in front of her for the umpteenth time, still not believing she had arrived at Veniam Duchy. Would she get answers to her questions here? “Mr. Raylon.”

“Yes?”

“Does His Grace the Duke have a sister?”

“Uhh… umm… yes…”

“Why have I never heard of her?” Luna murmured curiously. Judith had never mentioned anything about the Duke’s sister. “And where is she now?”

“She… umm… here…?”

Luna’s brow furrowed slightly. “Why haven’t I seen her?”

“She… umm…”

Their conversation was interrupted by a man in his forties dressed as a butler approaching and stopping right in front of Luna. “Miss Luna, welcome. I am Norch. I am the butler and the head of staff in this castle.”

“Oh, nice to meet you, Norch. This castle is so beautiful.”

Norch smiled slightly and said, “How about we go inside and have some warm tea? The main sitting room of the castle is the best place to relax, as it has large windows that overlook the castle’s main garden.”

Jaxon nodded and added, “The view is quite beautiful, especially during the fall and winter. Of course, in summer and spring, the view is equally beautiful.”

Luna gave a small smile. She realized that the two people beside her were trying to divert attention from her question. “Is that so?” Luna looked up at the sky and then at the castle fountain located in the courtyard. “Alright. Let’s go inside. Besides, I want to meet the young lady of Veniam.”

Jaxon and Norch exchanged glances before leading Luna into the castle.

“Alpha…”

“If you are worried I might leave, I won’t. Now, leave.” After that, Gamma Mathias and the man Luna guessed was Commander Deborah’s father obeyed the Emperor’s order and stepped out. Once Alkrevas was alone, the magical light in his hand slowly faded. Luna didn’t know if this was a dream or not, but one thing she wanted was to touch Alkrevas and soothe his troubled heart. She slowly approached Alkrevas, who was standing with his head bowed, and stopped right beside him. Luna raised her hand, and like a miracle, she was able to touch his hair. “Alkrevas…”

Alkrevas immediately looked up and glanced around, whispering, “Luna…?”

***

The next day, Luna stood nervously, looking at the man beside her with a gentle smile. The glasses perched on his nose did not diminish his handsomeness in the slightest, and they couldn’t hide his beautiful and rare grey eyes: Jaxon Raylon, Duke Veniam’s aide. At the moment, the two of them were standing in the central courtyard of Veniam Duchy Castle. Luna leaned closer and asked the man, “Isn’t this a bit too much?” she asked as she looked at the scene in front of her, where the staff and servants were lined up, bowing to welcome her.

“Not at all, Miss.”

Luna sighed deeply. She still felt the effects after meeting Alkrevas in what was supposedly a dream. Still all, she was actually her soul reaching out to him through the mate bond between them caused by their prolonged separation. Although tired, it was all worth it for Alkrevas’s touch. Unfortunately, Luna couldn’t stay long because her body became unstable when her soul left it, forcing her to return quickly. She shook her head, trying not to dwell on what happened to her last night. Instead, she focused on Duke Veniam’s words.

Earlier that morning, before using Alkrevas’s personal teleportation magic, Luna had asked about what Duke Veniam said. The man was surprised and asked where she had heard all that, and Luna only gave a vague answer. When Luna thought Duke Veniam would explain, he gave her a mysterious smile instead. He spoke ambiguously, just like before, which successfully annoyed Luna.

A sister? Another world? And let’s not forget Alkrevas’s reaction. The man’s possessive attitude towards the Duke’s “sister” was similar to the way he behaved towards her. Of course, it was not surprising that Duke Veniam wanted to send his sister to another world since he had once travelled to another world. That place was the safest in the current situation.

But Alkrevas’s behaviour like that… Is there something Luna didn’t know? Putting all that aside, for some reason, Luna felt a burning sensation in her heart. She didn’t expect herself to feel… a flame of jealousy. Yes, she admitted she was jealous of that sister. There was intense jealousy because Alkrevas’s attention was not solely on her but also on the Duke’s sister. “Miss, we should go inside. It’s quite cold outside. I wouldn’t want you to get sick,” Jaxon said suddenly, breaking Luna from her reverie.

She nodded her head and looked at the staff again, then at the grand and sturdy castle building in front of her for the umpteenth time, still not believing she had arrived at Veniam Duchy. Would she get answers to her questions here? “Mr. Raylon.”

“Yes?”

“Does His Grace the Duke have a sister?”

“Uhh… umm… yes…”

“Why have I never heard of her?” Luna murmured curiously. Judith had never mentioned anything about the Duke’s sister. “And where is she now?”

“She… umm… here…?”

Luna’s brow furrowed slightly. “Why haven’t I seen her?”

“She… umm…”

Their conversation was interrupted by a man in his forties dressed as a butler approaching and stopping right in front of Luna. “Miss Luna, welcome. I am Norch. I am the butler and the head of staff in this castle.”

“Oh, nice to meet you, Norch. This castle is so beautiful.”

Norch smiled slightly and said, “How about we go inside and have some warm tea? The main sitting room of the castle is the best place to relax, as it has large windows that overlook the castle’s main garden.”

Jaxon nodded and added, “The view is quite beautiful, especially during the fall and winter. Of course, in summer and spring, the view is equally beautiful.”

Luna gave a small smile. She realized that the two people beside her were trying to divert attention from her question. “Is that so?” Luna looked up at the sky and then at the castle fountain located in the courtyard. “Alright. Let’s go inside. Besides, I want to meet the young lady of Veniam.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Jaxon and Norch exchanged glances before leading Luna into the castle.

….