Curse Or Prophecy

"Fireheart"

Elara found herself in front of the same large moon again. She immediately knew it was a dream.

"Fireheart. See."

This time, Elara did not speak back, she waited for the moon to shimmer like it did before, she wanted a good look at the image she had seen before.

When the moon began to turn clear, Elara almost bolted towards it. But she didn't see herself this time.

Instead, it was Morgana she saw. The priestess was in Her usual clothes but her olive eyes were a striking blood red this time.

"What is this? What does this mean?" Elara said, turning around you ask the darkness.

When she got no reply, she turned back towards the mirror, bit jolted back immediately.

Taking Morgana's place was Sera and Lucan. They looked up at each other like they were deeply in love. Elara's heart pulled, but she pushed the hurt to the back of her mind.

"See, Fireheart, see" The voice came again.

"I can clearly see, but I do not understand. What are you showing me?" Elara asked as her frustration built up.

"My Fireheart"

Elara jolted from her bed with a scream.

Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead, she wiped them up and knowing she could not sleep, went to the table beside her bed to write down her dreams.

They had mean something. Maybe she could ask Morgana.

The alpha ball came with a buzz with activities and Elara found herself grinning from ear to ear.

She had begged Lucan the night before to at least make a brief attendance and then leave when weighty matters are being discussed. He had agreed without too much cajoling, which made Elara very happy.

She did not tell him why she had suddenly changed her mind about wanting to attend though.

After her handmaid's had dressed her in clothes the priestess Morgana had picked the night before. She rushed to the banquet hall and stopped short.

Sitting on her husband's right hand side was Sera dressed and covered in so many diamonds she looked like a chandelier.

Elara looked at her own simple dress that Morgana had chosen and felt heavily underdressed. But she took it in stride. There had to be a reason Morgana picked this dress. She would not argue.

She sat on Lucan's left-hand side. It felt wrong. This was not her place, but she stayed still. At least she sat on her Luna throne. She took solace in that.

Food was served to her, which she nibbled on to fulfil all righteousness. Lucan hadn't looked at her, even when other alphas had nodded in respect at her arrival.

Now she wasn't so sure coming to the banquet was a good idea.

She turned to tell Morgana that she would be leaving soon when the air in the hall chilled.

Spoons froze halfway to the mouths of some alphas as they turned to acknowledge the new person who had just entered.

Elara turned towards the entrance. She could see the whole hall from the raised stage three of them sat.

He looked even more sinful than yesterday. His rough hair from the day before had been gelled down, he still wore a see-through tunic, but this one was a deep purple. Dark trousers and dark shoes to match. He commanded the room.

"I do not remember extending an invitation to you, Alpha Riven of the BloodClaw pack."

Dorisns voice boomed through out the hall.

"I thought it would be perfectly clear by now that I do not need invitations to go wherever I please." Alpha Riven said from his spot in the room.

He walked in leisurely but with purpose. With ease, but intention.

"You're not welcome in my pack, you bloodthirsty, dreadful dog" Lucan said, standing from his seat.

Elara turned to him, she saw the way he held his hands in a tight fist, the way his breath deepened and came in haste.

Alpha Lucan was scared.

Elara turned back to look at Alpha Riven, looking very pleased with himself with a smirk on his face.

She never knew one werewolf could hold others in a choke hold like he was doing. Not one of the alphas spoke. They were all scared.

Who was Alpha Riven, and why hadn't she heard about him?

"Now that's not how to treat the alpha of the BloodClaw pack, is it? Or should I show you a proper welcome, Lucan?" Alpha Riven said, leaning casually on one of the empty seats at the giant dining table.

"My apologies, Alpha Riven. My alpha is just overwhelmed with the matters at hand. You will forgive his forwardness towards you" Morgana stepped forward from behind Elara and said.

"And you are?"

"Morgana. High priestess of the Nightlight pack"

"I see. But shouldn't the Luna be welcoming me instead, or is she too cursed to speak?"

Elara's heart jumped to her throat at the mention of her.

"If you want this to be a calm, agreeable meeting, Alpha Riven, you will also treat us with respect. Especially with the words directed at our Luna" Morgana said. Elara could hug her from sheer gratefulness alone.

"Says the priestess who has been lying to her. Isn't it disrespectful to lie to your Luna, Morgana?"

Elara's head snapped towards Morgana.

"A lie? Alpha Riven, everything I say is as ordained by the moon goddess herself. I speak not of my own accord" Morgana said, her eyes and voice not wavering. Maybe alpha Riven doesn't know what he's saying after all.

"Now you drag the blessed Goddess into your games. Why did you not tell your Luna the truth of her prophecy, or curse and you have deceitfully chosen to call it?"

"And what do you think you know about prophesies and curses, Alpha Riven," Lucan said, foaming in the mouth from pure annoyance.

"what would you know about anything, really, when you're a ruthless dog, that murders the members of his pack just to quench his thirst for blood"

Lucan said and every other Alpha in the hall nodded their head in the affirmative.

"When you kill the disobedient children in your pack so much it's a wonder you still control the largest pack. Everyday there's news of one unjust killing or the other in your pack. Every day, we hear news of one wrongful imprisonment, one bloody assassination, one wicked deed or the other. What would you know about my own pack or it's dealings?" Alpha Lucan said, finally sitting and leveling Alpha Riven with a hard stare even though his foot kept tapping on the floor of the stage, giving away his unease.

Elara turns to look at Alpha Riven, with pure fear and intrigue mixed together. He murdered his people in such a way? Women and children too?

"I am not here to banter words with you, Lucan. We will have our time... when I deign it so..." Those icy eyes moved from Lucan and settled on Elara.

"Elara dear, there's a prophecy, and I guess you have't even been told about it at all. You've only been punished for it. They will not tell you the truth about it, since it does not favor any part of their plans for you."

"Plans?"

"You must uncover it yourself, Little Luna. If you want to find out the truth, follow me, if you want to continue living as a less-than Luna, beaten, hit, spat on, and punished with truths and lies hanging over your head, stay where you are. I won't force you."

Alpha Riven finished his statement with an annoying smirk, leveling Elara with a long stare, taunting her. Daring her to take the bait.

Morgana's hand came to rest on Elara's shoulder as she says "You cannot entice our Luna with your pretty words, Alpha Riven"

"Wha... What did you mean when you said they had been lying?" Elara's shrill voice asked, her own gaze locked on Alpha Riven's.

She felt Morgana's fingernails dig into her shoulders, expressing her disapproval at her question.

"I cannot tell you exactly what you want to hear, Elara dear. You must find it on your own. There is a reason you've not been let out of this pack grounds in over five years, Luna. Weren't you ever curious why? Or do you just roll over and bark like a mutt when they command you to."

Elara turned to look at Morgana as if to ask if it was true.

"Enough!! I have had enough! You will leave my pack grounds and borders in peace, before I will have you forcefully removed" Alpha Lucan said.

Even Elara knew it would be impossible to have him forcefully removed. The werewolf before her was not ordinary. Pure power rippled under his skin. He could level the entire pack grounds if he so thought it. That much was obvious.

"I can only take your hand, and point you in the right direction." Alpha Riven continued like they had not just threatened him.

Lucan then turned to her, the same brimming fury showing on his face. "Alright Luna. Thats enough excitement for today... You should retire to your quarters immediately. Weightier matters are about to be discussed."

Elara stood from her seat without even thinking about the action. She had been beaten and punished enough to know not to disobey her Alpha and mate. But then she noticed Sera still sat comfortably.