Chapter 54
Cecelia stopped abruptly, turning to face me. “The summit preparations. They’re important. You need to know how to handle everything gracefully.”
“I get it, but-”
“No, you don’t.” Her voice softened, but there was a heaviness in her tone that made my heart tighten. “No other woman has made it this far, Liana.”
I stared at her, the implications settling around me. I nistt be lucky to still be alive then.
I clasp my hands together.
“What exactly happened to the others?”
Cecelia’s eyes widened, and she shook her head quickly. “I can’t speak about that.”
Frustration surged again. “Why not? It concerns me directly. I’m the one living here. I’m the one sleeping next to the very king you all keep secrets for. Don’t you think I deserve to know?”
Cecelia flinched visibly. “The king specifically ordered us never to speak about it. It’s forbidden.”
“Forbidden,” I scoffed bitterly. “Why? Because he’s afraid I might run away?”
Cecelia didn’t respond. Her eyes flicked to the side, clearly uncomfortable.
I pressed harder. “Cecelia, please. I already found a diary in the library. It belonged to one of the previous Lunas,”
Cecelia’s head snapped toward me, her eyes wide with alarm. “You what?”
I swallowed, voice lowering slightly. “I found it hidden behind some books. The woman who wrote it… she warned about his curse. She wrote about the beast.”
Her face paled. She quickly glanced around us, checking for listening ears, “You shouldn’t speak of that openly,”
“I have to,” I whispered fiercely. “I have a right to know what happened. She wrote something–something disturbing.” I paused, gathering courage. “The last line said, ‘He cannot be saved.‘ What does that mean?”
Cecelia exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. “Oh, Luna goddess help me.”
I ignored her rantings.
“Tell me,” 1 pleaded softly, stepping closer. “Please. I can’t handle being kept in the dark anymore. Everyone has secrets here, and I’m walking blind. I have a right to understand what’s at stake.”
She studied me silently, conflict clear in her eyes. Then, she sighed, shoulders sagging slightly. “Fine.”
Relief flooded me, quickly followed by nervousness. My heartbeat quickened. “You’ll tell me?”
“Yes,” Cecelia whispered, glancing around cautiously again. “But not here. We must speak privately.”
She took my arm gently, guiding me toward an empty room near the end of the corridor. It was a rarely used sitting area, furnished simply but comfortably. She shut the heavy wooden door behind us, turning to face me with troubled eyes.
“I shouldn’t be doing this,” she muttered, half to herself.
“Cecelia,” I urged softly. “Nine maidens. Nine deaths. It can’t just be coincidence. What really happened?”
She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts, “Each maiden who was brought here was supposed to become his Luna. They were each warned, but no one took it seriously. Not fully.”
“Warned about what?” I whispered.
“His curse, Cecelia explained, her voice light. “They all underestimated it. They believed it was a myth, a cautionary tale. They thought love would magically fix him overnight.”
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Chapter 54
I frowned. “And?”
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She shook her head sadly. “Each maiden started off just like you. Strong–willed, determined, and beautiful. But as the days went by, they became weaker. Terrified. Broken. They said he changed during the night. He became something monstrous, uncontrollable. And when morning came, the maidens were found dead–some drained of life, others torn apart.”
Coldness washed over me, my stomach churning. “But…why did no one ever say anything? Why keep bringing more maidens?”
She closed her eyes briefly, her voice strained. “Because Alaric can’t survive without a Luna. The curse would consume him entirely. He’d lose himself completely, becoming the beast permanently. Each death only delayed the inevitable.”
I shook my head, numb. “And he allowed it?”
Cecelia’s gaze hardened slightly. “He had no choice. Each time, he believed it would be different. He desperately hoped he’d found someone strong enough. But the curse always won.”
I pressed my trembling hands against my temples, feeling dizzy. “And yet he never warned me. He just let me walk right into it.”
Cecelia stepped closer, gently placing her hand on my shoulder. “He is desperate, Liana. You must understand. If he told you everything, you would have run. And then he’d lose all hope.”
I lifted my head, fighting back angry tears. “So he’d rather see me dead than alone?”
“No,” she whispered, gently gripping my shoulders. “He sees something different in you. Everyone sees it. You’ve made it farther than any other. You calm him. You change him. That’s why he tries so hard.”
I swallowed, my throat tight. “The diary warned me he can’t be saved, Cecelia. If even she believed that, how can I?”
She gave me a sad smile. “Because you’re still here, asking questions. You haven’t given up yet. And neither has he.”
I wanted to laugh bitterly, to argue, but the sincerity in her eyes silenced me. I leaned against the nearby chair, gripping it tightly. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“Stay alive,” she said simply. “Survive. Be stronger than the curse.”
“And the harvest?” I asked weakly, changing the subject to avoid drowning in my own despair. “Why this celebration now?”
Cecelia hesitated, her expression softening into something somber. “The harvest isn’t merely a celebration of crops, Liana. It marks the beginning of the mating ceremony.”
I stilled. “Mating ceremony?”
She nodded slowly. “It’s tradition. After the harvest gathering, the Luna is formally presented to the pack. It’s a way of acknowledging the bond and officially welcoming her as their queen.”
“Presented,” I echoed, heart racing uncomfortably. “And then?”
Cecelia’s gaze dropped, her voice barely audible. “Then, at sundown, you spend the night with him.”
I swallowed hard, trying to calm my racing pulse. “You mean-”
“Yes,” she said quietly, eyes filled with sorrow. “That’s when the curse fully takes over Alaric. On that night, he loses himself completely. The beast within him is strongest then. Every Luna before you has faced it, and none have survived but they didn’t have a mating ceremony. It just happened a day after they came abd was prepped for him. Unfortunately they died. Some were delayed. Some not.”
My throat tightened painfully. “Wait..so not even one run away? Or fight?”
She nodded again, eyes glistening. “Yes. Some tried to fight him. Others-” Her voice broke slightly. “Others couldn’t handle the fear and took their own lives before the night even arrived. Alaric is powerful, but the beast is stronger. No one has ever managed to survive the mating ceremony. That’s why he’s stalling with the rebel king’s mission. It’s his way of protecting you, delaying the inevitable.”
I pressed a hand to my stomach, trying to quell the nausea that rose swiftly. “Inknow he had his beast I know people died. But to know… will eventually face this. It scares me.”
I shook my head, turning away, emotions raging within me. Fear, anger, sadness–all intertwined and choking me. How could Alaric have hidden thus from me? How could I trust someone who had already sentenced me to death by his side?
Cecelia stepped doser, placing a gentle hand on my arm. “I know this is a lot to take in. But Alaric has never been like this with anyone
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Chapter 54
else. He truly believes you could be different, Liana. That’s why he’s taken such risks.”
“But what if he’s wrong?” I whispered, eyes blurred by tears I refused to let fall. “What if I’m just another fool who believes she can break the curse, only to end up dead?”
She tightened her grip slightly, eyes fierce. “You’re not a fool. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and you have something none of the others did.”
“What?”
“Determination,” she said softly, “and heart.”
I wanted to believe her, but the crushing weight of reality pressed against my chest. I pulled away from her, turning toward the window, staring blindly at the gardens below.
The roses were blooming, delicate and beautiful–completely oblivious to the pain and fear that filled these castle walls. I envied them, their simple existence, untouched by curses or fate.
“Liana,” Cecelia called gently. “We can prepare. We can make sure you’re ready-”
cut her off, turning sharply. “Prepare for what? My own funeral?”
“No,” she said firmly, stepping closer. “To survive. To break the curse. To be the Luna Alaric desperately needs. If anyone can do it, it’s you.”
Her faith was comforting, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the fear. My heart twisted painfully as the realization sank in. It wasn’t just my life at stake–Al
aric’s too.
And suddenly, I spoke.
“What if…” I hesitated, throat closing tight. “What if I don’t want to do the harvest?”
