Chapter 277 – Luna of The Mighty Alpha

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

“This will not do,” she sighed, clenching her fists. She refused to admit defeat.

Not like this.

If he wanted her to die, he shouldn’t have got her out.

Astrea took a long shower, scrubbing every inch of her body despite having already been cleaned by someone. Then she took time to do her nails, makeup and hair to perfection.

It didn’t help, and she still didn’t feel like her old self.

But she could pretend…

***

The doors to the dining hall opened, and she entered the silvery-grey marble area, her heels clicking and her head held high. If she had to meet Death itself today, she would do it with as much confidence and self-respect as she could muster. Whatever the cost.

The Teacher was sitting at the head of the long table, and just two places were set for the meal. His and the one right next to him.

He looked exactly the same as always. Tall and broad-shouldered, with perfect noble features, blonde hair brushed to one side and piercing green eyes that slowly took her in. Not a year older than thirty. And this was how he looked for over the decade she knew him.

“Finally.” Joran Nathair, the mentor who taught her everything she knew, gestured at the empty seat. “Please, join me.”

Astrea did not want to play this game and moved to sit in the chair opposite him, the one at the end of this very long table and with no plates and cutlery ready.

“Thanks,” she offered him an unamused smile.

Joran’s lips pressed into a thin line. There was one thing he hated the most.

Defiance.

Not to mention that he wasn’t used to getting it from her. But she was already in deep trouble, and it couldn’t possibly get any worse. After the silver pit, what did he expect?

“I would prefer you to sit closer,” he said, voice void of emotions, but she knew he must have been fuming.

“And I would prefer to make my own decisions,” she retorted. “Since I am going to die anyway.”

He drummed his fingers on the surface of the table while his eyes burned holes in her skull.

“Is that what you think?” He raised his brow questioningly. “Astrea, if I wanted you dead, you would have been dead long ago.”

“But you chose to torture me instead!” she huffed a dark laugh.

“To educate you. You needed a lesson in humility.” As always, he saw it through a prism in his own light.

“Some lesson that was,” Astrea shook her head with a disappointed smile. “How long was it? Four months? Five?”

“Four and a half,” he told her, not looking guilty at all. “I aimed for half a year.”

“Gee, I feel so lucky to be let out early,” she glared at him.

“Take your seat,” he repeated in a calm tone that did not fool her.

“I am fine here, thanks.” She tried to match his tone, the two of them staring at each other across the long table in this grand room. Astrea felt it was another test, but she was too tired to play the role he wanted her to play. Something broke in her while she lay at the bottom of that silver pit, in chains with barely enough food and water to survive. It was an irreversible change, probably deeper than when she chose not to kill the Northern royal family and their friends at the Luna Trials.

“I have to say I am really disappointed in you.” He took the ring off his napkin, still not looking bothered by her behaviour. “After everything I did for you, this is how you chose to repay me!”

She felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Denying that this man saved her from death early in her life and gave her a home, education, training, and purpose would be a lie. She knew she owed him, but a part of her felt like she had already repaid him for everything.

“It wasn’t right.” She lowered her head, not wishing to elaborate. “They were good people. They didn’t deserve to die.”

“Sometimes good people stand in the way of the greater good,” Joran sighed heavily, back leaning over his chair. “This was the case here. They had to die so that many other people could live well.”

“Doubtful!” The words left her mouth faster than she could process them.

“Just because you failed to see the bigger picture doesn’t mean it’s not there, Astrea. I thought I’d taught you better than that.”

“You did,” she admitted because it was the truth. Her training was hard, but it had impeccable results. It wasn’t her training that failed her. It was the emotions she felt on that mission. The people she met at the Luna Trials had become her friends. Or at least the closest thing she had to friends.

“So, why did you defy my order? Why did you betray me?” Joran still appeared calm, cold even, but it did not fool her.

“Because I just couldn’t do that! It was not right! The Queen from the Western Kingdom was pregnant, for Goddess’ sake— she was the kindest person I’ve ever met. And her baby… I can’t kill children! I told you that before!” she snapped.

“You could have poisoned everyone but her then. I would have forgiven that!” Joran’s jaw tightened. “But you made me believe you completed the mission, setting me up for failure when we left the North, and everyone I thought dead suddenly appeared alive on a battlefield. Do you know I lost someone I cared about because of what you did?”

She didn’t know that. She didn’t even know there was someone he cared about.

Joran continued as if he heard her thoughts. “There were just two people dear to my heart. One died, and the other is a traitor now.”

For some reason, that hurt. They’d spent too many years together for her not to care. However, she didn’t have any illusions either.

“So, where do we go from here?” Astrea asked quietly.

“Take your seat, and we will talk,” he cut her off, still seeking to bend her to his will.

“I am fine here.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“So, you choose to stay stubborn,” Joran sighed, and she could feel his anger rippling through the air even if nothing in his appearance gave it away.

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