Rebirth of the Rejected Luna

Camilla's pov

I stood in the midst of the crowd, too excited to hide it. The smile on my face said it all and when he walked out, the smile broadened.

"Can you close your teeth! You look like a goat at the slaughter." Hilda, my best friend said, nudging me slightly.

"I can't help it. Finally, we won't have to hide anymore. Once he's crowned Alpha, he'll make me his Luna and....

"And you'll be over the moon. Bla Bla Bla. You've sung this song over a million times but....

"No buts Hilly. I know you're worried about me but he loves me, none of what you're thinking would happen."

"But you're not his mate and neither is her yours! What if.....

"Shh! Shh! He's about to be crowned." I said shutting her up.

Once the crown was placed on his head, I saw his eyes scan the hall. He was looking for me. I raised my hand just a little above my head so he'd see me. He smiled and I waved. I was ready. I took a step then another then I froze.

"And now, can Hilda Cormac join me. She's to be my Luna."

Did I hear him right? I turned to face Hilda and saw the same shock on her face. What was going on?

"I really don't know what's happening." Hilda said, her voice breaking.

She didn't move. Even when Malakai called her over and over. The next thing I saw were the guards dragging her up.

"Don't let them take me." She pleased, crying. Her hands stretched in my direction but I was too stunned to even react. Everything was a blur. I don't even know I was walking till I saw myself in front of him.

"Why?" I asked. My voice barely above a whisper. "Why? Why would you do this?" I was trembling. Tears poured down my face ruining the little makeup I'd applied on my face but I didn't care. I just wanted answers.

"This is not the time and place to do this Cams. Let's talk privately." He leaned in, whispering.

"PRIVATELY!" I yelled. "You bloody b*st*rd! You do this to me publicly and you want us to talk privately?"

I could see the change in his eyes. They became cold and unfeeling. "Fine! You want to do this here? Let's do it! You're a lowly omega. A mere servant. How do you expect a n Alpha to be with you?"

His words were like a sharp knife to the heart. "A lowly...you didn't think of that when you were on my bed professing love to me....

"You offered me your body and I accepted it...

"You..." I raised my hand to hit him but it stopped midair. It was Hilda.

"I'll handle this my king."

She dragged me to the side.

"You...

When she saw the look in my eyes, she shook her head. "No.no..no.. don't think that. I can't do that to you. Do you know what would be don't to you if you had hit him? I was protecting you."

Of course. It's Hilda! We've been besties since we were children and she knew about my relationship with Malakai. She wouldn't betray me like this. "But why? Why would he do this to me? And then he picked you?"

"I really don't know. I can't wrap my head around it. But I can....

We were interrupted by the thumping of feet. We turned around and saw two guards coming towards us. They bowed slightly when they got to where we stood. "The king has requested your presence. " One of them said.

We both looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

"I can't disobey." Hilda said.

"Yeah! Go!" I said half-heartedly.

"I'll try to talk him out of this."

********

I waited patiently for night to fall, but Hilda didn’t come back. I started to wonder what could be taking her so long. My mind raced with all kinds of thoughts about what they might be doing. What if they were…? I clenched my fist hard enough that my nails dug into my skin. Frustrated, I grabbed a vase and threw it at the door, just as Hilda walked in.

"By the gods! Are you trying to kill me?" she shouted, her eyes wide in shock.

When I saw her, a wave of relief washed over me. "What happened? Why did you take so long? I thought…"

"You thought I was sleeping with him?" she interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

I looked down at the ground, feeling guilty for jumping to conclusions.

“You think so little of me,” she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"I’m so sorry!” I replied quickly. “I was just… worried."

"It’s fine," she said, sighing as she fell onto the bed. "I’m just really exhausted. And no, it’s not what you’re thinking."

I sat down next to her, curious. "So, what happened?"

She took a deep breath and began to explain. "It was just one introduction after another. Talking, walking, and giving orders… It felt endless."

"Oh! So you were fitting into the role perfectly, then," I said, my voice a bit louder than I meant it to be.

She sat up, looking serious. "Calm down, Cams. It was either that or I faced a death sentence for…"

“Sorry, sorry! I just… my head isn’t in the right place right now.”

“Let’s just go to bed,” she said softly. “Everything will sort itself out in the morning.”

I watched her drift off to sleep, but I couldn’t find rest. How could I? Not after what Malakai had done to me. I tried to think about what I might have done to deserve this treatment from him.

I realized I couldn't go against nature. I didn’t remember falling asleep, but suddenly loud banging on the door woke me up.

"Open this door right now!" a voice shouted.

My eyes opened wide, and I quickly looked to my side, but Hilda was not there. I felt a bit disoriented, but I managed to get to my feet and hurried to the door.

As soon as I opened it, a group of guards rushed into my room, pushing me back. Confused and scared, I asked, "What’s going on here?"

Instead of an answer, I felt a sharp slap across my face. I staggered back in shock. One of the guards ordered, “Take her.”

Camilla's pov

I barely had time to react before rough hands drew me forward, dragging me across the cold, hard floor. My feet scraped against the stone, my wrists bound in iron cuffs that bit into my skin. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled against their grip, but it was useless. 

The heavy doors to the throne room swung open, and I was pulled inside. The sight before me made my stomach turn. 

The council of elders sat in a long row, their expressions grim. Their eyes, filled with silent judgment, bore into me as I was forced to my knees in the center of the room. But what truly sent a wave of panic crashing over me was Malakai. 

He sat slumped on his throne, his skin a sickly shade of gray, his once-powerful frame now weak and trembling. Beads of sweat clung to his forehead as he struggled to keep his eyes open. He looked like death was already reaching for him. 

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice shaking. 

Silence stretched in the roo