The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

Chapter 3: He Was No Monster

"We are here."

The coachman’s voice pulled Nina from her thoughts as the family’s carriage rolled to a stop in front of tall iron gates.

Nina peered out of the window as they passed into the estate, and her breath caught. Carefully trimmed flowers lined both sides of the stone pathway, swaying gently in the cool evening breeze. Three great fountains rose from the grounds at strategic corners, their waters glittering under the lantern light.

She reached up, her fingers brushing against the heavy strands of her hair. It had been dyed black just days ago to match Sabrina’s.

Across from her sat her father and stepmother. They hadn’t spoken to her once since leaving the province. Every now and then, their murmurs drifted back to the gold and the properties they would purchase once the dowry was in their hands. They ignored her completely, as if she were already a ghost.

Nina looked up, her eyes widening as the Vermont mansion loomed against the night sky. Its grand glass windows caught the drifting shadows instead of reflecting light. It was stunning in a way that felt almost unreal, but she couldn’t appreciate the beauty.

She knew what awaited her inside.

She dragged in a shaky breath as she stepped out of the carriage. The air was crisp, sharp against her lungs. The sun had long disappeared behind the clouds, but the moon was absent too, leaving behind a strange, lightless void.

"Hurry up, Nin—Sabrina."

Marjorie called out, her voice sharp. Nina’s eyes lifted to meet her stepmother’s gaze for only a second. Her lips pressed together, but she said nothing.

Over the past days, Marjorie had spent every waking moment correcting the way Nina walked, talked, and even breathed, brutalizing her until she could pass as her legitimate daughter. Sabrina had watched the entire transformation in silent, terrified compliance. She knew that if she exposed Nina’s threat to her parents, Marjorie would panic and send Sabrina instead.

A guard approached and greeted them with a stiff bow before leading them toward the massive entrance. The moment they reached the heavy front doors, two more guards intercepted them, carrying a large iron box.

"All personal items must be placed into the box," one of them intoned.

Nina frowned in confusion as she unclasped her silver bracelet and placed it inside. Her parents followed suit, stripping off their rings and pocket watches.

Nina stiffened as Marjorie suddenly hooked their arms together, her grip firm, her face instantly melting into a mournful expression. It was the face of a grieving mother, though she had gleefully sent Nina here to die.

They moved forward, following the guard. The hallway stretched long and high above them, lined with towering ancestral portraits of the Vermont bloodline.

They climbed a grand staircase hand-carved from white marble. At the top, a set of double doors swung open to reveal a spacious living room.

A fire crackled in the massive stone fireplace, casting warm light across the room. By the hearth sat an old woman, a servant standing behind her, massaging her shoulders with slow, careful movements.

The woman looked to be in her eighties, but a dangerous, graceful aura surrounded her. Her hair was completely white, swept back elegantly from her face without a single strand out of place. Her skin was pale and lined like delicate parchment, yet she carried herself like royalty.

Nina swallowed nervously as Marjorie’s grip tightened painfully on her arm. This was the Matriarch of House Vermont.

The moment she heard their footsteps, the old woman opened her eyes. A slow smile curved her lips as she rose, leaning on a polished walking stick.

"The Storm family," she said, her voice warm, though her gaze swept over their faces like a blade. "Welcome. I am Lady Eloise."

Jonathan stepped forward quickly, taking her hand in both of his.

"Thank you for having us, Your Grace. We are most grateful for this opportunity."

His voice was overly eager, almost breathless. The Matriarch’s smile faded slightly at his enthusiasm. Her gaze slid from him to Nina, then back again.

Nina lowered her head, staring at the polished floorboards. She could feel the old woman’s eyes boring into her.

Jonathan cleared his throat, trying to steady his tone.

"We are most grateful that our daughter has been found worthy of becoming a Luna. We earnestly wish for her to live a long, fulfilling life."

The Matriarch moved closer, her eyes raking over Nina. Despite the rich fabric of the borrowed dress, Nina looked pale, her shoulders tense.

Something about the girl made the Matriarch pause. Her eyes flickered between Jonathan and the girl, her frown deepening. There was a resemblance in the bone structure, the shape of the eyes. But something didn’t feel right.

"Your daughter is beautiful," Lady Eloise said finally, forcing warmth back into her voice.

Nina curtsied low, keeping her voice soft.

"I am most honored to be here, Your Grace."

"Good."

The Matriarch nodded.

"Dinner will be ready shortly. The Alpha will join you then."

Nina’s head lifted slightly, her eyes widening before she could stop herself. The Alpha? The rumors in the village said he was a reclusive monster who slaughtered his wives in total isolation. Would he really show himself so easily?

The Matriarch caught the flash of surprise in her eyes, but she merely gestured toward the velvet chairs arranged near the fireplace.

"Please, sit. The servants will bring tea while you wait." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

The moment the old woman turned and left the room, her walking stick tapping softly against the floor, Marjorie sank into a velvet cushion with obvious delight. She looked around the room like a thief counting gold, her eyes gleaming at the expensive artwork and chandeliers.

Marjorie leaned close to Jonathan, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"This place is magnificent! But, honey, I thought the Alpha was a beast who hid away in the dark. They say he executes anyone who looks him in the eye. Why would he agree to meet us?"

Jonathan nodded, keeping his voice low.

"Perhaps, since we are to be family now, he intends to show us his true nature."

Marjorie giggled, turning her eyes back to the room.

"Can you imagine? The wealth. The power. The status!"

"Once she is gone," Jonathan murmured, casting a cold glance at Nina, "the dowry alone will set us up for life."

Nina sat stiffly, listening to her parents discuss her impending death as though it were a simple business transaction. A minor inconvenience on the path to riches. She pushed the sting down. She couldn’t afford to feel anything right now.

"The Alpha is here."

A guard’s voice rang out across the room. Jonathan and Marjorie instantly scrambled to their feet.

The double doors swung open.

He walked in like he owned the world.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Sharp-featured. His long black hair fell past his shoulders, slightly disheveled, a few strands brushing against his jaw. ƒrēewebnovel.com

But it was his eyes that caught her. Grey. Pale grey, like winter frost. Cold and piercing, they swept across the room, assessing, dismissing, until they landed squarely on her.

Nina’s breath caught in her throat.

There was no ugliness. No disfigurement. There was only a face so striking it stole the air from her lungs. He moved with a presence that made the room itself seem to bend to accommodate him.

And he was looking directly at her.

This was no monster. This was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.