Chapter 5: I don't Belong here

"Meet the future Lunar Alpha of the Red Moon Coalition! Alexandra Rossetti will take my responsibility after me!"

My smile drops immediately upon listening to Matriarch. How can she declare me the future Luna? I don't even know her properly, and the residents also don't know me! Moreover, I am human! How can I be their Luna? It's literally so silly of them. But the happiness and satisfaction on their faces make me contemplate. Their cheers are making me feel energized, and the soul inside me is fighting hard to make me dance in great happiness.

"Calm down, Alexandra!" I scold myself. "Don't be silly with them. You don't belong here." I exchange a look with the Matriarch, who seems like she is in eternal peace after making me her heir. Their howls and cheers increase. I look at the Matriarch in surprise. As she indicates me to look outside, I see the strange, mysterious, and beautiful moon rises in the sky. The silvery moonlight adds more happiness to their lives. I wonder, how can they be so happy just seeing a moon? Their life is really like a story, but I don't want to be in this story anymore.

But when I wish to come out of the story, everyone becomes silent. The cheerful, delighted environment is covered with a black hue in a moment. The cheers and howls are gone. After a while, I realize that whatever happens is nothing but bad luck for me. Everyone splits in two to make way for him to enter. Not only that, everyone welcomes him with respect. As my smile disappears after he comes, their joy ends. I have reason to panic, but what could be the reason for their panicking?

Why is this man a curse for everyone? Nathaniel walks to the Matriarch and shows respect to her. She also welcomes him with a cordial smile, and their sweet moment makes my heart gloomy. Will she hand me over to him? Shouldn't he be mad at her? She protected me from being punished, and here he is showing her respect! That's weird and suspicious!

Being here is as risky for me as standing in front of a man-eating tiger. I should never have trusted this woman, but what can I do now?

I look around once; luck is pretty good that everyone's eyes are on Nathaniel, and this is the right time to run away for my life. Sensing the opportunity, I slowly start walking towards the back door; there is no one here.

I keep walking silently until I reach the backyard of the mansion, suppressing my fear of getting noticed by anyone. "Huh, finally," I sigh in relief seeing the empty yard. It's the moment I'll start my running session, but I don't know why my inner self urges me to check out the palace for the very last time. After checking out, I just start the process, but my heartbeat drops immediately upon hearing someone's footsteps behind me. I stop myself from being caught. "Damn it." To cover up the unhappy incident, I pretend to check out the flowers one by one, but unfortunately, it's none other than my death note, Nathaniel. His presence makes me hide my face behind the vase. I know he can see me, but it's a very awkward moment for me to exchange a glance with him. I close my eyes, praying for him to leave the place.

"The weirdest habits of thinking yourself the cleverest haven't changed yet!" Nathaniel's voice shows full taunt directed towards me. I open my eyes but regret immediately seeing his affectionate yet demonic face dangerously near me.

"Arrghh! What's with the behavior?" I immediately back away from him.

He just spares a mocking laugh upon hearing me. "Trying to escape?" Although my knees shake at Nathaniel's question, I look at him with confidence.

"Maybe in your dream," I say confidently. "I saw you've walked the hallway like a thief." Nathaniel says making me gulp in fear. But if I become afraid, it will not work anymore, I have to solve the problem.

"Why are you madly in love with me? Always keeping your eyes on me? And for your kind information, I'm not a thief but chief of the gathering."

Hearing my words, he can't believe it, and neither can I myself, but it feels so good flirting with him!

However, a little flirting can be used to get through this awkward moment. Nathaniel spares a scoff upon hearing me. I don't have the courage to stand in front of him when he eats again. I quickly come to the hall. I start breathing heavily as soon as I am here. It's a big danger I've escaped.

Upon walking through the gathering again, my mood gets soured. Who knows if I will ever get such an opportunity again? I haven't seen my niece and nephew for a long time. Who knows how much they are suffering for me. They don't even know whether I am alive or dead.

While I am busy thinking about my family, suddenly someone snaps his fingers in front of me, bringing me from the world of thoughts to reality.

A totally unknown man stands in front of me all of a sudden. He is tall, with dark, penetrating eyes. His kind and gentle smile is somewhat comforting.

"Hi, this is Sharon Thunder!" He spreads his hand likely for a shake. I hesitantly shake my hands with him hoping no more thunder comes to my life.

"Hello, this is Alexandra Rossetti."

The Matriarch walks near us with a cordial smile, and I come to know he is the Matriarch's sister's grandchild. She quickly hands us two different masks; mine is white, and his is blue. Everyone starts dancing in pairs, so the Matriarch indicates for us to proceed this way. Suddenly, a plan hits me, so I don't hesitate to obey her. We start dancing together, but I can't ignore those haunting eyes watching me as if I am committing a big crime. "Keep watching me monster, you're going to miss me so hard." Smirk conquers my lips thinking about his face when I won't be there anymore.

"Literally so annoying!" I mumble, looking at Sharon, which catches him off guard. "Excuse me! Am I that annoying?" "Ahh! No! You're a really sweet kind of guy. I didn't say that to you." "That's a relief, Luna." Chuckle skips my mouth listening to him, but my pounding heart searches for those eyes as they are not watching me anymore. I don't know if it's a relief or not, but I'm feeling a bit empty. Why the heck am I feeling empty? I should be happy.

After thinking a lot, I try to shift my gaze towards Sharon, but then Nathaniel arrives near us with a wicked smile on his face. He looks at Sharon and then turns his gaze on me.

"May I, future Luna!" Making me dumbfounded, Nathaniel asks my permission to dance!

After a long pause, when I give my permission, it feels like he kind of snatches me from him and using a black mask, he covers his eyes.

"What a perfect match." I say looking into his eyes that makes him little confused but ignore me this time.

Seriously, that really suits him well, as black as his dark soul and personality. He pulls me harshly near him, making me imbalanced. After standing properly, he starts dancing, keeping me in his embrace.

Suddenly, I face deja vu that urges me to sink making my heartbeat increased. This man, those eyes why does it feel like I faced the moment and it's just so cherished! It's really strange here in every passing moment.

"Having fun?" He asks, looking into my soul. "How can I in your presence!" My reply makes him proud of himself proving me dumb. I'm just hoping to get out of his grip and breathe. I hope someone helps me again and protects from this man.

"Beast, there are so many beauties, go dance with them. I'm not a fit for you." "You bet, Cruella," he says proudly. Damn, I don't know why I'm making him proud every time. I should uphold my dignity, not his. In a moment, their traditional dance starts when everyone exchanges their partners with one another. Nathaniel meets Matriarch now, and I receive her sister as my partner. That's a relief; finally, I'm free. I hope I don't have to dance with him again. After some steps, finally, I meet Sharon, I mean the guy with the blue mask.

"Thanks for cooperating me." "It's an honor, Luna." "Such a sweetie, but I'm not any Luna, I'm Alexandra, Alexandra Rossetti, an ordinary human being." My voice cracks from talking quickly. "You are funny as usual, but seem stressed." "Indeed, I am." "May I know the reason? What if I can remove the cause of your stress?"

I stop dancing immediately and hold his hand because it's getting unbearable. I can't bear the pain of living without my family for such longer period.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone?" "You can trust me, Luna." "Alexandra, only Alexandra." "Okay, as you wish." We exchange our cordial smile. "Please, help me go to my family. I will pay you 50k dollars, my lifelong savings."