DUSK'S POV
I wanted to turn back and leave immediately because I didn't get a good feeling at all.
"Dusk," the voice came again, and I stopped.
The figure turned, and I took two steps back as I wasn't sure if it was the right person I was seeing.
"It's me, Matilda," she said with a smile.
"I don't believe you. Matilda can never be here. It's not exactly a five-minute journey from your Kingdom to mine, and they will never let a little child be here," I said. She smiled and used her walking stick to lead the way to me.
"Seems like my trick worked. I just wanted to give you a little scare. Well, about the journey thing, I'm not really here... It's like a kind of magical connection," she said. I bit my lip.
"A magical connection, like if I run my hands through you right now, I'll feel nothing?" I asked. She tilted her head.
"Well, you might feel a little cold," she said. I ran my hands through her and felt cold instead of a body.
"Is this really Matilda?" I asked. She laughed, then turned away and walked back to the tree.
She sat, and I sat next to her.
"I'm used to being on my own, but then you came along, following me everywhere. I got used to having someone always coming to check on me, so I missed you. I'm here to see you, just to ask how you're doing," she asked without looking at me. I smiled.
"You missed me. Wow, that's something I never imagined I'd hear from you," I said. She shrugged.
"By the way, I never got to thank you properly. Thanks for helping me save my Kingdom, it was really nice. And I also enjoyed the times I spent with you," I said. She smiled.
"Dnalor was furious when he heard what happened to his men, but it turned into fear when he got the letters from your Alpha. He's been really careful since then," she said. I patted her hair.
She didn't even waste a second, she swatted my hand away.
"I'm not a kid. Don't treat me like one," she said, and I laughed.
"Thank you for visiting," I said. She nodded.
"By the way, you look a bit pale. I think all the stress is getting to you," she said. I raised a brow.
"I'm perfectly fine," I said. She looked at me and smiled.
"I have to go. It was really nice seeing you," she said. I nodded.
"It was nice seeing you again too," I said. She smiled and began to fade slowly.
Long after Matilda had gone, I sat amidst the trees, smiling.
She had come to visit me. I knew it must have bothered her a lot before she finally came to check on me.
Then with a sigh, I stood up and made to return to the garden to finish up my painting.
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**LUCIUS' POV**
I sat across from the Elders who had dissatisfied looks on their faces.
"I need someone to speak up. We haven't got all day to waste here," I said when they all kept quiet.
"This has been beautiful, joyful, wonderful, but we cannot help being bothered, as you are yet to have a Luna by your side. The Kingdom cannot keep on running with an Alpha alone," Elder James said, and I looked at my table.
"There are so many suitable noble women about. Why not just pick one Alpha? This should have been sorted out long ago during your coronation, but you told us to continue with it," he was saying, but I interrupted.
"If you are so agitated for a Luna, why not admit your mistakes to Dusk? Why not acknowledge that you have wronged her and are sorry for it?" I asked. There was silence before one of them spoke up once more.
"She is not fit to be Luna."
"She is who I have chosen. There's no other lady taking her place," I said, and they began to murmur and speak amongst themselves.
"All she does is paint daily. There's nothing she does to help the Kingdom."
"That's because you all haven't done what you're meant to do. In case you weren't aware, without her, our Kingdom would have been overtaken, and there'd be nothing we'd be able to do about it," I said. That seemed to silence them.
"If you're done talking, I'd like to adjourn this meeting," I said. When they said nothing more, I left.
On the way to my room, I ran into Ariadne.
She bowed and gave a smile.
"I believe you've had a meeting about the need for a Luna again. Alpha, why not take me? You do not need to love me; I will stand as your Luna to silence them," she said, and I looked at Dalia, who was next to her with her head bowed low.
"What do you know about being a Luna?" I asked. An excited look crossed her face.
"Being diligent, listening to orders, being calm, positive, and loving. Lunas are also problem solvers, and I happen to be very good at it. And lastly, Lunas are the face of the Kingdom; they hold the Kingdom up," she said. I scoffed.
"That's a nice way to view a Luna, Ariadne, but you're not the one I need," I said and made to walk past her.
"Wait! Alpha Lucius! Did I make a mistake? Please hold on," she said, and I stopped.
"Why do you want to be Luna?" I asked without looking back at her.
"I... I want to help you. I want to make a good image for the Kingdom and..."
"So, you mean the Kingdom doesn't have a good image?"
"No, Alpha, certainly not, it's..."
"Have some rest," I said coldly and walked to my room.
I dropped the reports I had to deal with on the desk, then decided to wash my face. I went to my bathroom, only to see writing on the mirror.
"I have taken the life which belongs to me."