ANASTASIA POV

“Luna, we've reached the Alpha King's pack.” That was the voice of Orlo, my Beta. He was one of the people I trusted the most from then, until now. I didn't have enough people to trust, but he, Orlo was the one who could never make me feel tired of trusting him all this time.

“Hmm.” I cleared my throat.

I wasn't at all sure that my decision to come to this party organized by the Alpha King was probably the right one. I was worried, and perhaps, also a little scared. Everyone would certainly be looking at me with the same look. Maybe this time, a little contemptuous.

They all referred to me as the cursed Luna. I could never have a mate, and even if I found one, I and my entire clan would be wiped out instantly. At the age of twenty four, I had never even met the person who was most likely to become my mate. I've gotten so used to my solitude as a Luna by now. Not to mention, my parents decided to go wandering all over the world, trying to find a cure for my curse. Which I knew all too well, that there would never be a cure for my curse.

“Luna?” Orlo spoke up again, and this time, he turned around to look at me who was still silent. Orlo immediately looked at me with a pained look on his face. Perhaps, he was worried about me again. As he always does.

“Yes? I just need a few minutes alone. I still... need time to get into the party.” I muttered as I exhaled slowly. I turned my gaze towards the outside, where many guests were already arriving and also entering the party area organized by Alpha King.

“Luna, if you don't want to go in, we can go back to the pack.” Orlo offered, and I immediately shook my head in a quick motion.

“I can't do that, Orlo. Have you forgotten about the Alpha King's party two months ago? I didn't even go, because I was so anxious. I can't keep turning down party invitations from the Alpha King.”

“Then what about now, Luna? You look a little pale.” Orlo was really worried.

It felt a little suffocating, because only he and Gwen had been more attentive to me all this time. Whereas everyone else? Could only criticize and force their will on me, just because I was a Luna in my own pack.

“I'm fine, Orlo. You don't have to worry about anything. I have to keep my promise to Alpha King and also his Luna, to come to their party this time. And again, I'm already very used to the kinds of things that everyone has been saying about me all this time.”

I paused my words for a moment, and began to look back at my appearance now. “How do I look?”

“You look very beautiful, Luna.” Orlo replied with a big smile on his lips, and both thumbs up. I smiled at that reaction. I already thought of Orlo as my own brother, given that we had a two-year age difference. I was two years older than Orlo.

“You look very charming in that silver dress. I'm sure everyone will have a lot of positive things to say about you tonight. If anyone gossips negatively about you, just tell me, I'll definitely go straight to them and beat them all up.”

“Gosh, Orlo, you don't have to do that.” I chuckled at Orlo's words there.

I looked back at my appearance through the center mirror in the car. My long hair that I had intentionally let down. The silver colored dress that was made of satin fabric, so it fell softly on my body. A dress that was only thinly laced at the shoulders, and slightly open at the back. Fortunately, I covered the back with my long hair description. A pair of stiletto heels in the same color as the dress. As well as the use of light makeup on the face, and wearing some jewelry such as long chain earrings, necklaces, and also rings. Making my appearance quite charming.

At the very least, I should be confident in my performance tonight. For some reason, I started to feel very excited again. I seemed to have forgotten about all the possibilities that the people at the party would come back to tease me with the same thing tonight. I felt that I just wanted to have fun tonight.

“Alright. I look pretty good. I'll get into the party right away. And yes, Orlo, you shouldn't park the car too far away. If I want to go straight home, I can find you in this car right away.” I explained to Orlo who was nodding his head very quickly now.

“Sure, Luna. I'll wait here.” He replied very seriously. Hah, he was again in alert mode, if he was with me, when we went out together.

Without saying anything else, I immediately got out of the car, and walked slowly, into the Alpha King's party area there. All the people who came to the party were enjoying the dishes that were served in the party right now. But this time, I would go to Alpha King and His Luna first. At least, to be able to show them, if I really came to their party tonight.

“Alpha King. Luna.” I greeted them, as I stood before them.

“Oh, Anastasia, you came too. We thought you weren't coming to the party anymore.” Luna said as she approached me, and gave me a hug.

“Of course not, Luna. I promised to come to the party tonight. Moreover, I also got a letter from my parents to come. So, how could I refuse.”

“Yes, your parents also sent us a letter. Where they said to understand, if you might not come again, due to being very busy with pack matters.” Alpha King spoke up after Luna removed her hug from my body. I just nodded with a friendly smile on my lips.

“Do your parents have any plans to return yet?” Alpha King asked, and this time his voice was a little slower. Perhaps, Alpha King was also quite aware of how many people here would be far more interested in the latest gossip about me.

But fortunately, I wasn't going to let that happen now. I shook my head, and maintained a smile on my face. At least, I still looked fine.

“No, Alpha King. My parents, still have no plans to return now. After all, they haven't come back to the pack for a very long time. If I remember back, perhaps, the last time I saw them was when I was only seventeen years old. Even then, they only sent a letter and some recent photos. It was just like that until now. But no matter. They're trying to make up for their mistakes.”

Alpha King and Luna just nodded briefly there. “Oh yeah, Ana, you eat and drink here. There will be many guests coming. They're all probably only half arrived.” Luna murmured with a big smile on her face.

“Especially with the packs in the southern and eastern regions. Those who rarely come to parties, tonight, they're all coming. I'll welcome them first. The southern and eastern packs may be quite unfamiliar with our territory.” The Alpha King muttered, as he walked away towards the crowd of newly arrived guests.

“Alright, Luna, then, I'll excuse myself now.” I said, which was immediately excused by Luna. I walked away towards the drinks area that was being served now.

'Are you starting to feel something strange now?' My wolf instantly asked in my mind. She even only made a sound like a whisper now.

'Feeling what kind of weird? I don't feel anything weird.' I asked. Not understanding at all the meaning of the words she had just said earlier.

'I felt like someone was watching us from the moment we entered the party area. I can feel a very intense gaze, even with me being as controlled as you are right now. Could there be intruders who are targeting us? Could it be that there's a rogue in disguise who's targeting us when we let our guard down?'

'I don't think that's possible. The Alpha King would never let an intruder or even an undercover rogue, who is not one of his guests, into this party. That would only bring the Alpha King into disrepute later. Then again, maybe what you're feeling is just normal. Everyone always notices us, just because we're different. Hasn't it been like that all along? Everyone always thinks we're different. So let's just let it happen.'

'No, no, no. This time feels very different. I'm sure it's different.' I could feel that my wolf was observing something. She was too alert, and I could feel how everyone was looking at me now. Perhaps, they also sensed that my wolf was in half control of me right now.

'I don't understand. You always seem to play riddles when you talk to me.' I said, holding back the slight annoyance I was feeling right now. Ugh, at least, let me enjoy this glass of wine I just picked up, without thinking about anything.

'Did you smell it?'

The question from my wolf instantly stopped the movement of my hand that was bringing the wine glass near my lips. It was true. There was a scent that felt suffocating in my nose right now. A strange and unique scent that I had never felt before. And it had an effect on my heartbeat. Is this all?

'Yes. But what? What scent?'

I don't know why I turned into a panic immediately. I lowered my hand that was still holding the glass of wine there. But this time, I let it out by gripping the wine glass very tightly now.

“Anastasia Jane Mary?” For the first time, someone else called my full name in a soft voice. I immediately turned my body around, and looked at the person who called me by my full name there. Three men were standing in a row right in front of me. The three men smiled at me.

'Mates...' I rounded my eyes instantly, as my wolf said that.

“You are our mate. And the three of us are your mates.”

“WHAT?!”