Luna’s body felt foreign.
Three days after the ‘ritual’, the heat inside Luna’s body didn’t go away.
It only got worse.
Every night Luna was drenched in sweat.
Every morning Luna woke up with a dry throat and skin that was too sensitive.
“What’s wrong with you?” one of the servants asked.
“Your face is red all the time.” Luna just shook her head, couldn’t explain.
Elder Alden called Luna to the herb room.
“Sit,” the Elder ordered.
He checked Luna’s pulse, and sniffed the air around Luna.
Then the Elder sighed.
“As I suspected, your omega heat has started.” Luna lowered her head in shame.
“Wha…what should I do, Elder?” “Usually, an omega would be with her mate for three days and three nights,” the Elder explained.
“But since Alpha Kael rejected you, then you have to endure it yourself.” “Endure how?” Luna asked.
“Cold water, calming herbs, and don’t lose control,” the Elder said seriously.
“If you attack someone while in heat, you can be sentenced to death.” Luna’s heart pounded.
“Understood, Sir.” On the first night of the Crescent Moon.
Luna locked herself in the servant room.
Basin of ice water beside the bed, and bitter herbs on the table.
10 PM.
The heat came again from her stomach, spreading to her chest, to her neck and to her face.
Luna’s skin felt like it was burning from the inside.
Luna bit her own lip and held back a moan.
Luna’s hands clawed the sheets until they tore.
“Don’t, don’t come out,” Luna whispered to herself.
But Luna’s body was lying.
Luna needed to be touched, needed to be held, and needed…
Kael.
Kael’s scent was still on Luna’s skin.
The scent was so strong and masculine.
It was driving Luna even crazier.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A knock on the door.
Luna jolted.
“Who is it?” “The Elder said you need help,” the voice was very deep, hoarse.
It was Alpha Kael.
Luna immediately stood and covered herself with a blanket.
“Sir, I’m fine.” The door was kicked in.
Kael came in.
His eyes were wild and his breathing was heavy.
He was affected too.
An Alpha could sense his mate’s heat.
“You’re lying,” Kael said.
He closed the door and locked it.
“Your scent is filling the entire hallway.” Luna backed away.
“Please, Sir.
Don’t come closer.” Kael laughed, but it wasn’t a happy laugh.
“You think I want to?
I’m disgusted.” But his steps still came closer.
Two meters away.
One meter away.
Until…
Kael stopped right in front of Luna.
He lowered his head, and inhaled at Luna’s neck.
“Damn it,” Kael growled.
“You’re driving me insane!” “Sir, I’m begging you.” Luna’s tears fell.
Not from sadness, from frustration.
Kael lifted Luna’s face by force.
“Tonight, you’re mine.
Not because I want you, but because if not, you’ll die in your own room.” Kael kissed Luna.
This time it was different.
There was no hatred, only desperation.
Kael’s kiss was deep.
His hands tore the blanket, and tore Luna’s thin dress.
Luna gasped.
Her body gave in.
Luna’s mind was blank, only heat and need.
Kael picked Luna up, threw her onto the straw mattress.
The bed creaked.
“Are you sure?” Kael whispered in Luna’s ear.
The last time Kael asked.
Luna nodded and cried.
“Yes, Sir.” What happened after was chaos.
That night there was no love.
No gentleness.
Only two bodies hurting and healing each other.
Kael was rough.
But he knew where to touch so Luna wouldn’t hurt.
Luna cried, but didn’t refuse.
They didn’t stop until dawn.
Doing it over and over, until Luna couldn’t stand anymore.
When the sun rose, Kael was already gone.
Again he left Luna with a sore body and messy blankets.
On the table, there were herbs and the same note.
‘This will not happen again.’ Luna laughed while crying.
**_ The second day of the Crescent Moon was worse.
The heat was double.
Luna locked herself in and drank 3 bottles of herbs, and soaked herself in ice water.
But it didn’t work.
At 9 PM, Luna started delirious, and calling Kael’s name.
The door was kicked in again.
Kael looked worse than Luna.
Red eyes, and a clenched jaw.
“You didn’t drink the herbs?” he snapped.
“I did, Sir,” Luna said.
Luna’s voice was hoarse.
“It didn’t work.” Kael cursed.
He pulled Luna into his arms.
Their bodies were both burning.
“Tonight is the last,” Kael said.
“After this, we’re done.” Luna didn’t answer, because Luna couldn’t think anymore.
The second night was longer.
Deeper.
Kael seemed to lose control, but between the roughness, there were fingers combing through Luna’s hair.
There were lips kissing Luna’s forehead when Luna cried.
In the morning, Luna found bite marks on her shoulder.
Half-formed marks.
Kael hadn’t fully marked her yet, but almost.
_*_ Day three.
The last day.
Luna had given up.
Her body was weak, but the heat hadn’t gone away.
Kael came earlier, before night.
He brought food, brought water.
He sat on the floor and stared at Luna.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Sir?” Luna asked softly.
“Because you’re still alive,” Kael answered.
“I thought you’d be dead.” Luna gave a weak smile.
“I’m strong, Sir, even though you said I’m trash.” Kael was silent.
Then he brushed Luna’s cheek.
His fingers were rough, but gentle.
For a moment, Luna forgot they hated each other.
That night, there were no words.
Only bodies seeking warmth from each other.
Only breaths intertwined.
Only names spoken in the dark.
“Luna.” “Kael.” When the third dawn came, it was all over.
Luna’s heat was gone.
Luna’s body was back to normal, but something had changed.
On Luna’s neck, there was a bite mark.
Not complete, but it was there.
A half-mark, a sign that they had once been bound.
Kael stood by the window.
His back to Luna.
“You can go out,” Kael said.
“Your heat is over.” Luna nodded.
She put on her clothes with trembling hands.
Before leaving, Luna gathered her courage.
“Sir, thank you.” Kael didn’t turn around.
“Don’t misunderstand, that was only instinct.” Luna didn’t say anything.
She left immediately, her knees weak.
Outside, the servants were whispering.
“They did it.” “Three days and three nights.” “Is she pregnant?” Luna didn’t care about the whispers.
Right now Luna just wanted to sleep, but Luna’s sleep wasn’t peaceful.
Because in the middle of the night, Luna woke up with cramps in her stomach, and nausea.
Luna ran to the bathroom.
She vomited.
Luna’s hands shook as she touched her own stomach.
‘No way, it’s too soon,’ Luna thought.
But Luna’s gut told her something.
_** The next morning, Luna quietly went to the Elder.
“Elder, can you check me?” Elder Alden looked at Luna for a long time.
Then nodded.
He took herbs.
Dropped them into a bowl.
Then asked for a drop of Luna’s blood.
The liquid turned light blue.
The Elder’s face changed too.
“Congratulations, Luna,” the Elder said.
His voice was quiet.
“You’re pregnant.” Luna’s world stopped instantly.
“How far along?” Luna asked.
Her voice shook.
“Less than a week,” the Elder answered.
“The Alpha’s child.” Luna covered her mouth.
Tears fell.
Pregnant?
With the person who hated her.
With the person who said he’d rather die than have a child with Luna.
Luna’s steps were unsteady as she left the Elder’s room.
18 days left.
Luna’s time was getting even shorter.
And now, Luna wasn’t alone anymore.
At the end of the hallway, Kael was standing, watching Luna.
No one knew how long he’d been there, or whether he had heard everything or not.