THE FORGOTTEN LUNA

LADESSA.

It had been a week since I got here, more than two weeks since I left Kael, but the sickening feeling of someone watching me all the time had never faded.

Being grabbed in a place I considered home and safe was traumatizing, and ending up killing two people was a never-ending nightmare I was still trying to get away from. Most nights, I would wake up sweaty and shaking as they invaded my sleep. The men I killed would crawl up from the ground and reach for me with their bloody hands.

I had no idea what I feared most lately: being found by Alpha Draco's men or dying from my nightmares.

Why did it all come to this? All because I let Kael into my life. I didn't see anything wrong with loving him. And whatever I did as his Luna was all done with a good heart. I never took advantage of my position nor talked down to anyone like how Miranda had always made it

seem.

Miranda. I wished I could tell people how badly she treated me. But of course, no one would believe me. She was the sweetest person around, except for me. Everybody loved her.

I wiped the tears threatening to fall using the back of my hand as I walked with hurried footsteps along the narrow alley that would lead closer to the hostel where I was staying in.

It was already eight in the evening, and the bars leading to this alley were bustling with partygoers and booming with rave music. It was too loud, but the noise was slowly fading the farther I went.

I gripped the paper bag of groceries I was hugging against my chest as I doubled my footsteps. I bought a little food that I could take with me once I leave this city tomorrow. This was farther than the shop near the hostel but way cheaper. With little money left from the pawning of the ring, I had to be very careful if I wanted to survive.

I actually had no idea where I was heading. I would just jump on the first train I would find tomorrow and then give it a few days before making a detour and heading back to the rural area near Kael's territory, in the same place where he found me. I was hoping the small cabin where I was living before was still there. My former boss owned it, and he told me it had been abandoned, so he let me use it.

If I were able to get there, I could restart my life and forget about what happened to me in the last year-the good and the bad. My only hope was that I would not be haunted forever by the crime I committed. I was just protecting myself.

I passed by a big glass window and saw my reflection. I dyed my hair black from its natural light brunette color and cut my bangs. I also bought a hair iron and religiously iron it straight whenever I go out.

It would have been simpler to cut it short, but I worked so hard to keep my hair long and healthy all my life that I didn't have the heart to do it. Besides, Kael loved running his fingers against my hair that a part of me didn't want to cut just in case I bumped into him.

I let out a sigh and shook my head. I meant nothing to him, so my hair surely wouldn't make a difference. Who knew if he was the one who ordered Miranda to sell me to Alpha Draco?

I should forget about him.

Easier said than done. Especially when I had nothing to do but stare out from my hostel window and look at the passersby. All my thoughts were consumed by him.

On some days, the happy memories would bring a smile to my face, but on most nights, the memories were painful and would grip my heart tightly that it was harder to breathe.

I turned to another empty alley, and my heart began thudding loudly. I had walked this area before, but tonight, it felt like a ghost alley-with frost smoke clouding the area, making it creepier than usual.

I put my guard up, pressing my groceries closer to my chest. I could hear my own footsteps, but then I realized I could hear others' footsteps, too. Before I turned the corner, I was certain that I was the only one heading in this direction. Where did the footstep come from?

I doubled my steps again and tilted my head to look back without stopping. The alley behind me was dark, but I could see two figures from the lights on the main street, and they were following my direction-walking a bit faster than usual.

"Oh, Goddess! Oh, Goddess!" I mumbled softly as cold sweat formed on my forehead and everywhere in my body.

Please let them be ordinary humans who were just taking the same direction as I did.

I was already half-walking and half-running. I made the mistake of turning my head back to look at them because it made them realize that I noticed them, and they began running forward.

I was still way ahead of them, and I had time to get away-only if my little feet could run faster.

I dropped the groceries in my arms and abruptly turned to the right. It was a different route going to the hostel, but I had to steer them away from it kept turning in every corner, but could still hear running steps behind me, echoing as if they were just a few feet behind me,

I had never run this fast, and I couldn't see them anymore. I was hoping I lost them. One more turn was where the hostel was. I hoped the gate was open so I could dash in without them seeing. My eyes were blurring with tears, and I didn't have time or strength to wipe them away.

I kept running.

I kept praying.

I tried to tune out all other noises from the factories and cars honking at the other side, focusing on the sound of shoes thudding against the concrete tiles.

And just when I saw a glimmer of hope-a bright light on the space where my hostel was-an indication the gate was left fully opened, something got in the way of me reaching the place.

A hand extended as I was passing a

dark, small corner where trash bins were located. One hand grabbed my waist, and another hand clamped over my mouth so that I wasn't able to scream. His back slammed against the walls as he dragged me backward.

This corner was too small, and we ended up standing behind trash bins. No one from the street could see us unless they stepped in the dark as well.

I wriggled to get away from his hold, fighting for my freedom as my tears finally fell. They caught me.

"Ssssh..." A low voice hissed behind my ear, and a few seconds later, the two men running after me passed the area. They were still running and didn't even check this dark corner.

It was only then that I stopped struggling and tried to steady my breathing.

Focus, Adessa. Focus. I kept chanting in my head.

"I got you." The man behind me said, and my body froze.

His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, but I heard it loud and clear.

I knew this voice. I used to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of this voice. And these words-he would always say this whenever I worried over little things.

My hands went up to the hand

clamped over my mouth and pried it

off my face. His hold on me

loosened, and I slowly turned my body around to face him. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared at

ears

the piercing eyes that had captivated

ne from the moment I first

He found me.

"Kael..."

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