Chapter 309 – Luna of The Mighty Alpha

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

For a city in a desert, Solace was unexpectedly a lush green and brightly polished at the same time, a rare mix of nature and high-tech marvels. The buildings were not tall, but each had its unique features. However, they all blended nicely together in style. Astrea hated to admit it, but she loved it.

It felt like Solace was alive, people buzzing everywhere, buildings connected by intricate walkways and bridges to allow inhabitants to move freely between destinations.

Nevertheless, the most beautiful sight for Astrea was the river that ran right in the centre of it all, glimmering in the sunshine and disappearing into the sandy horizon.

A river that was not supposed to be there.

They were walking down the stairs for quite a while, and she lost her patience quickly.

“That river is not on the map,” she pointed at the water.

“Nope,” Fenrir confirmed, but didn’t add another word to it.

“Then how?” She tried not to sound too eager, unwilling to demonstrate how intrigued she was. A smile curled onto his lips, letting her know he was already aware anyway.

“All in due time,” he promised, showing her to the car.

***

This time was different. Not like her tour of Raja at all. This place lived differently, breathed differently. The people they met on the streets were happy. Solace was beautiful with its long alleys and narrow streets bustling with everything one could imagine – from green parks full of trees and flowers to shops and galleries. Astrea spotted a few museums that caught her attention, but Fenrir didn’t let her linger anywhere until they got to the riverbank.

“Will this tour become audible at any point?” She mocked him lightly because he’d hardly said a word to her. She leaned against a stone rail with her back, watching her silent tour guide.

“Your eyes will tell you more than my words,” he retorted, and she was about to annoy him more when something drew her attention away.

“No way!” She gasped and went to a tall silver wolf statue that was a short distance from them.

“Astrea, please!” He tried to stop her, but she ignored him, marching straight to the majestic monument.

“Fenrir,” she read the letters on a silver plaque at the wolf’s feet and bit her lip so not to make a sound.

“It’s–”The man next to her was looking for words to explain why there was a giant statue of him in his city.

“What a size!” Astrea whistled. “Are you compensating for something, my King?”

The words made him grunt. “It’s not a statue of me. It’s the wolf god.” He tried to explain, and she glanced at the beautiful monument again.

“Strange, I thought they only believed in Fenrir in the North,” she admitted, remembering her days during the Luna Trials.

“Do they?” He smiled. “And you believe in–”

“Myself,” she replied without hesitation.

“So, you don’t believe that gods exist?” He smirked.

“I do,” Astrea shrugged, continuing her way alongside the river. “How could I not when my wolf claims the Moon Goddess chose her spirit for me personally? It’s just–”

“It’s just what?”

“I don’t worship them,” she gave him a stern look, holding his gaze as if she expected him to challenge her beliefs. Wolves were usually very protective of their gods because they were so tightly connected to them.

“How so?” He surprised her with the question, and she contemplated a moment before responding.

“Deities are selfish and power hungry. They have it all but still want more, not caring who might get in their way. We are just tools for them to achieve what they desire.” She was surprised she’d said this much. She hadn’t intended to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Fenrir, and she’d already deviated from her plan.

“Deities–”Fenrir tasted the word on his tongue. “Or maybe just the one who sent you here?”

Her eyes darted at him. This knowledge… he wasn’t supposed to know this. Joran hid who he was from everyone. Even his buddies in the Alpha Convocation had no idea who they were dealing with. Not every Firstborn knew his true identity.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she muttered, still taken aback. This just further complicated things. If Fenrir knew about this, then he wasn’t easy prey. Her task had just become a tad more complicated. She had to stop underestimating the rogue.

“As you wish,” he turned away from her, “but he shouldn’t have put that tattoo mark on your neck.”

She shivered, remembering the day it happened.

“What would you even know about it?” The words escaped her again. She wasn’t usually this careless, but today, she sang like a bird for this man.

“I know that as long as you are here in the city, it won’t work. Especially if you keep that crystal.” Fenrir looked at her as if he expected something, but she wasn’t sure what.

“Did Salome tell you this?” She was surprised the witch’s name came to her mind.

“No, but I love that jealous tint on your cheeks,” Fenrir chuckled, and she inhaled deeply. She was supposed to be the one throwing him off the game, not the other way around. Why was she reacting to him so much?

“Nice try on changing the subject. Why does the snake tattoo bother you so much, but you are fine with the dragonfly one? The same person gave me both.” She narrowed her eyes at the Rogue King.

Fenrir tried to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape him but failed miserably.

“What’s so funny?” The woman furrowed her brows.

“It’s funny that you don’t know a damned thing about your own tattoos.” He started walking again, and she was forced to follow him, feeling that she was so close to getting an essential piece of information.

He knew something she didn’t, and now she was dying to find out what that was.

“Care to elaborate?” She asked as she caught up with him.

“Why should I?” he offered her a wide grin. “You seem like such a strong and independent woman. I am sure you’ll figure it out without me all on your own. Besides, it’s lunchtime, and I’m hungry.”

“So, you got me to take your bait, and now you are changing the subject,” Astrea summed up, following him.

“Why would you say that? I really am hungry,” Fenrir let out a small laugh. “Solace has the best cuisine in the world, I assure you. Though… It may be a bit spicy for you.

“I can handle any amount of spice!” she insisted, still annoyed with him and willing to prove him wrong anywhere she could.

“I am not joking, Astrea, it’s very–”

“I said I can handle it!” she growled, and it was the first time she’d lost her cool while working. “And what about you? Can you handle giving me an honest answer?”

She glared at him with such intensity that memories from the past started circling in his mind. That stubbornness stayed with her through every rebirth.

And it still worked the same on him, igniting his inner fire.

“Let’s make a deal,” he gave a slight quirk to the corner of his mouth as she greedily traced his every move, eager to get what she wanted from him – information.

“What kind of a deal?” Astrea folded her arms over her chest.

“I will order lunch for you and, if you last through each course, you can ask me any question you like and I will answer to the best of my abilities.”

Another trap, Nova hissed in her mind.

“Deal,” Astrea agreed on the spot.

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