Chapter 283 – Luna of The Mighty Alpha

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

“The King,” he responded unenthusiastically and still didn’t introduce himself. But she could find his name out later.

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll figure something out,” she beamed. The King would just have to deal with her presence.

Astrea went in the direction of the other people waiting and tried to figure out which one of them was the king. If any.

There were two more men and a woman with light brown hair, which was limiting her options. However, none of them was giving her any royal vibes. Rogues did not like to listen to anyone, so their leader had to possess at least some kind of Alpha aura. One of the men was wearing a bright red suit, his long hair tied in a man-bun at the back of his head. He was the only one who eyed her curiously, but it was very unlikely that rogues would obey him.

“A girl?” the other woman raised her brow as she assessed Astrea, offering her a look of disdain in the end.

“Aren’t you, as well?” the Southerner taunted, reciprocating the facial expression she received and a younger guy with dark blonde hair snorted at that.

This wasn’t going exactly how she expected. The rogues were the ones who needed the Republic more. Not the other way around. Yet they behaved as if she was an eyesore.

“I beg to differ!” the other woman rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest.

“Well, we’ve got what we’ve got,” the youngest man stated plainly. “Let’s go!”

None of them said another word to her as all of them simply turned on their heels and started walking. Astrea tried to keep up with their large, powerful steps in her high heels, but not too much. The weaker they thought she was, the better. They wouldn’t take her as seriously as they should, and that could, potentially, give her more freedom to lurk around in the future.

“Excuse me, where are we going?” she asked after a while. This palace was long, and the inner square seemed never to end! Were they giving her a tour?

“To meet Fenrir,” the man with the scar and dreads answered as if it had to mean something to her.

“Fenrir?” she chuckled. “As in the ancient wolf god?”

“As in the King of the East!” the woman snapped. Something told Astrea that she didn’t like her much. Her hair was braided in a warrior style that looked intricate and overly complicated but also… was probably there untouched for days.

“I see,” Astrea forced an excited smile anyway. “That’s wonderful! The sooner we meet, the sooner we can start working together!”

And there was much work to be done if they had to look presentable for the snobs of the Republic to sign the alliance. These four were typical rogues. Okay, three of them were. She wasn’t sure about the Red Suit yet. All that taken into consideration, they still definitely did not have the look Joran wanted them to have at their next meeting.

Their group arrived at the bottom of a long set of stairs leading to what looked like a closed high tower.

No one said another word to Astrea and she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to start small talk now.

Don’t, Nova chuckled in her head. They clearly prefer actions to words and they will be time for that.

Astrea realised that they all were talking via their mind link, and she probably knew the topic anyway. Now she had to wait for the King, who was hopefully about to make an appearance. The wait, however, turned out to be a bit too long, and she was getting frustrated, although nothing on her face showed it.

The doors at the top of the stairs slammed open without warning, and she saw the most gorgeous man she had ever laid her eyes on freeze as their gazes locked. Astrea did not expect him to be this way, feel this way… waves and waves of raw power rippling from him, filling everything around them.

His eyes were a strange mix of blue and red. As if flames of fire were burning in the centre of an iceberg. His dark brown hair was reaching his shoulders, and a carefully trimmed beard framed his masculine face with strong perfect features. The man was exceptionally tall, even for a shifter, with muscles bulging through his black unbuttoned shirt, which also gave a glimpse of his chiselled abs. The Rogue King, and she had no doubt that it was him, was made to sin, and even Astrea swallowed, realising where her thoughts went.

Damn, that wolf looked good.

Moreover, he stared at her as if she was a drop of rain in the middle of the incandescent desert, eyes travelling up and down her small frame, throat bobbing with some emotion he could not express. There was desire and longing, and it all felt oddly familiar, throwing her off her game.

He reminded her of someone, but at the moment, her brain couldn’t fathom if they had met before. She didn’t think so because… she would have definitely remembered him.

“Fenri–” One of the men started speaking and then coughed, “I mean, my King. This is the representative from the Southern Lycan Republic. Erm–”

She was tempted not to fill the awkward pause. After all, none of them bothered to ask her name. And it was fun to watch them suffer for it now.

However, she was on a mission here. The mission that required her to be friendly.

“Astrea Sade,” she gave the King her brightest and sweetest smile. “It’s my pleasure to work with you. I am sure we–”

“No!” he cut her off, eyes not leaving her for a second. “Consider the request cancelled and go back.”

Her lips parted, already dry in this insanely hot climate, and she had to lick them before she spoke, making the King growl in response.

“Excuse me, your majesty,” she said as politely as possible. “I came here to assist you and your– country with the new alliance.”

“Tell them to send someone else then!” he cut her off and, turning away, left where he came from.4. Warm Welcome

  He left just like that, leaving Astrea alone with his crew of rogues.

  She couldn’t fathom this. Was he serious? Was this the end for him? It had to be some sick rogue joke! They needed this union more than the South!

  “Well, you heard the man.” The guy with dreads chuckled. “Off you go then. Too bad this alliance thing didn’t work out.”

  He didn’t sound like he was sorry about it, though.

  “Maybe next time!” the woman beside him sneered and left first as if there was no more room for discussion. Others followed her. Only the man in the red suit stayed, watching her curiously with his hands in his pockets.

  Astrea was speechless. Did they expect her to leave?

  Every muscle in her body tensed. Was that why Joran let her go so easily on that mission, promising her freedom in return? Did he know that she didn’t have a chance? Was it a test to see if she would try to run again?

  Or was the intent to humiliate her? He wanted her to see that there was nothing for her in the East, taking her last hope away.

  Of course, her plan was always to leave the continent. She didn’t dream of living among rogues for long.

  All that taken into consideration, that plan was becoming increasingly unrealistic by the minute.

  She couldn’t go back to her Teacher with nothing. He would make her stay by his side forever, and she would have to live with it, obeying him until the day she died. They’d made a deal. If she completed this mission, she would be free. If she did not… he would still own her. The collar snake on her neck would stay forever.

  No! Nova growled inside her. We are not going back there. Not like that!

  Agreed, Astrea sucked in a deep breath, trying to form a new plan in her head. Losing is not an option.

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