LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

Alkrevas furrowed his brow, confused by Markus’s unusual behaviour, and then he noticed the Duke’s somewhat dishevelled appearance. Alkrevas knew Markus to be always elegant in every situation. He glanced at Sigmund, who stood to his right and nodded. Understanding the signal, Sigmund immediately returned to prepare the seating area next to the war room. “Alright. If you want to talk to me, I need to confirm something first. You will attend the meeting. If you haven’t heard, Goblins have invaded the Vasilos border.”

“What?” whispered Duke Veniam in shock.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

General Thea said, “Two black mages identified a critical weakness in the protective shield created by His Majesty, and they destroyed it. This allowed the Goblins, who were stationed outside the border fortress, to easily destroy the fortress and enter the territory. All border guards at the scene have been reported dead.”

“From witness accounts, this incident was meticulously planned. The Goblins waited outside the border fortress without making any suspicious movements, then with the anomaly at the shield’s critical point, followed by Miss Luna’s disappearance-” Beta Savon added with a dark expression. “-she is now suspected of conspiring with the two black mages.”

“What?” Duke Veniam whispered again, his eyes wide with shock.

“You know that’s not true, right, Beta?” Alkrevas asked in a warning tone, his gaze murderous. “The source of the information that the two black mages knew about the critical point is still under investigation; it is a highly confidential matter known only to a select few. Besides, Luna had no knowledge of the shield’s critical point. The accusation is baseless. She told me that the two black mages were informed by their ‘benefactor,’ which means there is a traitor within my castle.”

“But Your Majesty, Miss Luna was proven to be associated with-” Beta Savon didn’t finish his sentence as a loud thud shook the room, the sturdy wooden table cracking and splintering from the force. Beta Savon’s head bowed, and he immediately knelt, exposing his left neck as a sign of submission to the Alpha.

“If you don’t want to die by my hand, I suggest you keep your mouth shut. Beta.” Alkrevas took a deep breath and stood up.

“Besides, I’ve already complied with the Court Council’s demands by performing a public mating as proof that Luna is loyal only to me, her soulmate.” Everyone exchanged glances in response to Alkrevas’s words. Alkrevas narrowed his eyes sharply, then walked out of the room as he saw Sigmund standing in the doorway, waiting for him.

“We’ll adjourn the meeting for twenty minutes. I need to speak with Duke Veniam. When I return, I expect you to have answers to my question.”

Alkrevas stepped into the seating room and sat on the long sofa. His hand lifted to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them and observing Markus, who stood before him, barely containing his anger.

For a moment, there was silence, broken only by Alkrevas asking, “How was your journey? How did it go?” Markus pressed his lips together. “Why didn’t you inform me of your arrival? And why do you look so disheveled?”

“Did you perform a public mating?” Markus asked instead, showing no intention of answering the barrage of questions Alkrevas had thrown at him. Alkrevas’s brow furrowed slightly as he noticed the change in Markus’s demeanour. “Answer my question, Alkrevas,” Markus spoke informally, not as a Duke or a servant of the Emperor but as a relative.

However, Alkrevas was not offended by this. “You heard it yourself, Markus. Yes. I did it with Luna.”

The door opened, and Sigmund entered along with Zyne, who pushed a food trolley to serve the two state leaders engaged in discussion. After placing tea cups, a teapot, and light snacks on the table, Zyne left the room. At the same time, Sigmund remained standing behind the sofa at Alkrevas’s command. “Why?” Markus asked in a strained voice. His body trembled, and his fists clenched tightly. “Why did you do it?”

“I already gave you the answer a few minutes ago in the war room.”

“Do you know who she is?”

The furrow in Alkrevas’s brow deepened, and he looked at Markus in confusion. What was wrong with the man? Why did he seem so angry? “It’s your task to find out who she is.” Then, in a moment of realization, Alkrevas stiffened. He wasn’t entirely free from the shadow of Luna’s departure, as there was still one way for Luna to return. His body tensed, and he stared intently at Markus. “You already know who she is.”

Markus laughed bitterly, then approached Alkrevas, grabbing the collar of his coat and pulling Alkrevas close. His eyes turned a fiery red-gold, and a low growl escaped his lips. “I will never forgive you, Alkrevas.”

“Markus…” Alkrevas whispered in shock.

“Your Grace, Duke, please release your hand-” Sigmund began, but stopped when Markus growled a warning.

“You… ignored the message I sent through my aide, and now you want to pretend you’re innocent?” Markus asked sarcastically.

“A message?”

Markus pulled one hand back and struck Alkrevas in the face, sending his head snapping to the left from the force of the blow. A small smile appeared on Alkrevas’s face before he turned to look at Markus, his dark red eyes beginning to show.

“She’s my sister! Damn it! She’s my sister! You hurt my sister!” Markus shouted, then struck Alkrevas again, leaving his face bruised and battered. However, the injuries quickly disappeared, leaving only traces of blood. “I’ll settle this with you, Alkrevas. You! Doing all of that to my sister! Your own soulmate!”

“I did it to prove her innocence. You know the reputation that’s attached to Luna right now, don’t you? You heard it yourself. Do you know what happened while you were away? I did all of this for Luna,” Alkrevas sighed wearily.

“Markus, it’s better for Luna to endure a public mating than to face punishment for such severe accusations. You also know, public mating is not something that-”

“She’s been living in another world all this time, you bastard!” Markus interrupted angrily.

“You should also know that Luna would never do something like that! Agreeing to such a terrible thing… Do you think she would accept it so easily? You should have trusted her and defended her!” He pulled his hand back and stepped away. His body trembled, ready to transform; Markus might have attacked Alkrevas for hurting Luna if they weren’t in the palace.

“She doesn’t know anything about this world, and you… forced her into a public mating.” Markus turned and ran his hand through his hair in frustration before glaring at Alkrevas.

“Are you insane? Are you out of your mind? This is too much. You’ve crossed the line, Alkrevas. Do you think the tradition of public mating is easy to accept? Even many women among us refuse to do it! And now you’ve forced it on my sister, who doesn’t know anything about this world! I’m truly disappointed in you!” Markus bowed his head before looking back at Alkrevas, this time with eyes full of disappointment.

“I… I’ve always respected your decisions, your policies, but now… you’re not the Emperor I once admired. You’re just like the others… I expected more from you all this time, and you…”

“I’m only doing what I have to do,” Alkrevas replied, dismissing Markus’s gaze.

“No, this is too much… my sister… how much she must have suffered…”

Alkrevas remained silent, allowing Markus to vent his anger. After all, he deserved it. He lifted his hand and wiped away the blood with his thumb, sighing softly.

“So she is your sister…” he whispered more to himself, then his eyes widened as he realized what Markus’s words meant. If Luna was Markus’s sister, it meant she was from Veniam, and if she was taken to Veniam, then… No!

He couldn’t let that happen! Alkrevas suddenly stood up and said to Markus, “Whether she’s your sister or not, the fact that she’s my soulmate cannot be disputed, which means she belongs to me, and it’s my right to determine her fate.”

“What?”

“I won’t let you take Luna to Veniam.”

“Alkrevas, you’re insane! It’s her right!” Markus gritted his teeth and hissed. “Then let me see her! We’ll ask what she wants.”

“I won’t grant you permission to see her.”

“Alkrevas!”

“Guards!” Alkrevas called out loudly. Instantly, two guards entered the room.

“Drag Duke Veniam out! And do not allow him to set foot in the imperial palace until further notice!” Alkrevas ordered firmly. Markus was then dragged out, only able to resist roughly.

Markus growled, ready to transform and attack in his Lycan form again, as the silver poison had been cleansed from his body by the secret antidote given by the healer. But he saw Alkrevas snap his fingers, and suddenly, his body was immobilized, as if solid ropes were binding him, even more potent than his Lycan strength could break free from.

“Markus, I’m still granting you forgiveness for your disrespect today, but if you try to approach Luna and take her away, I will never forgive you.”

“Alkrevas! You bastard! She’s my sister! You have no right to forbid me!” The door closed after that, and Alkrevas slumped back onto the sofa, massaging his aching head.

“Your Majesty, are you sure you don’t want to tell the Duke the truth?” Sigmund asked hesitantly.

“This misunderstanding could have severe consequences for the relationship between the imperial family and the Veniam Duchy.” Alkrevas said nothing and remained silent. “You should tell him that the public mating never fully took place. You only made a public claim, nothing more.”

“There’s no need. I don’t care about the misunderstanding.”

“If that’s the case, the Duke will try to take Miss Loena away. If she really is the Duke’s sister, then…” Alkrevas closed his eyes. He knew what Sigmund meant, but Alkrevas wasn’t doing this without reason. He recalled what he had done behind Luna’s back at that time.

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