The Dead Luna
Chapter 48- His Eyes

Chapter 48: 48- His Eyes

Phoenix:

As usual, Kiara was not present for the training. Ever since the Royals had arrived, she had been busy giving them company.

Maybe she had forgotten that she was not a Luna but a head warrior. We were asked to line up because the Royals wanted to meet us and maybe talk to us, or perhaps they were in the mood for giving a boring speech.

I was halfway to the training with Jackson when he halted the training and asked everyone to arrange ourselves in rows.

I was the third last in my row and had to take off my metal mask that covered my face and head, only leaving my eyes to see.

When I was not fighting, the breathable cotton mask worked well for me.

The chattering suddenly stopped when a loud announcement was made, "Silence! His highness is arriving!"

A deafening hush fell over the ground as the grand doors opened and the Royals made way to the podium.

Sebastian was walking ahead, followed by Luna Tami, Tina, Alpha Blake, Beta Hunter, Beta Brian, and Kiara.

What is she doing there? Shouldn’t she stand with us? Here, on this side?

Was she so desperate for the king’s approval?

My eyes moved to the king.

Sebastian King. My husband.

I blinked in surprise. What was I even thinking? Why did this thought pop up in my head? For me, he was a no one.

I suffered at the hands of his family due to his blind trust in them.

No. He was never my husband. I was never his mate.

I looked at Tina, who had a smug smirk on her face as if she were already a queen. A thought crossed my mind.

How about if I announce to everyone that I was the queen? Ha-ha.

What if I go there and stand beside Sebastian King and ask everyone to kneel before me?

Alpha Blake, Beta Brian, Kiara. All of them would be kneeling to me.

I couldn’t control my smile. Thank, Goddess, for this mask that kept it hidden.

My eyes narrowed when they flicked back to Sebastian. Had he gotten larger?

I had rarely seen him when I lived in that palace. Once he was dressed in an army uniform, and once he was in a suit.

Right now, in this heat, he was wearing a t-shirt and black cotton pants. The way his pants were hugging his ass.

That chest that I could never get a chance to feel with my hands. How did he taste?

I bet he was delicious.

This sudden urge to kiss him was so overwhelming that I had to divert my gaze and keep it on the ground.

Beta Hunter stepped forward and cleared his throat. His voice rang through the ground, cutting the stillness in the air.

"Hello, everyone. Dear warriors. You are the pride of this pack. You not only represent your pack but also the ones who trained you. Keep giving your best, respect yourselves, and stay alert," his hand raised and balled into a fist to show us what he meant, "Be sincere. Protect your borders. If you need help, let your Alpha know. We are here to facilitate you. We are here to tell you that you aren’t alone in this..."

The way he was speaking, I never knew this side of him. For me, he was a softie; he knew nothing except to be gentle.

I looked at Sebastian, casually scanning the rows, when suddenly his eyes stopped moving and locked on me.

Just for a second, there was something that shifted in the air, and then everything stopped around me.

I immediately dropped my gaze to the ground with a racing heart. What just happened? With my lowered head, I could feel him stepping down from the podium.

His steps were slow and firm, and deliberate as he started walking towards me.

Shit!

I wanted to disappear under the mask. I looked around, my eyes searching for Jai. The only one who could understand me without words.

Shit shit shit.

Why couldn’t I keep my eyes down? Why did I have to make eye contact?

Breathe! Keep breathing, Phoenix. He should not hear your wild heartbeat.

I looked at Kiara, who seemed puzzled when Sebastian walked past her. Beta Hunter was still speaking.

I swallowed hard and wondered if there was any saliva left in my mouth.

Within moments, he was right in front of me.

Sebastian tilted his head slightly, trying to get a better look at me.

I bowed my head a little more as if I wanted to bury myself in the ground.

"Look up," he asked me gently.

I froze.

What was happening?

Phoenix. Don’t worry. This was bound to happen. If you want freedom from your demons, you need to face them.

All of them.

Him, his fiancée, and his dear, evil granma.

"I said... look up," This time his voice was painfully soft. Almost like a whisper. My breath caught in my throat as I fought to suppress the panic rising in my belly.

How could I look up?

What if he might recognize me?

Till the last minute, I was trying to convince myself that several women had green eyes and red hair.

But now? Now I don’t feel that confident.

I didn’t want to follow his gentle command. Yet my body betrayed me. Just like it did when he invited me on that dinner date, twirling my hair around his finger.

Slowly, I lifted my head, just enough for our eyes to meet. My lashes fluttered a little.

Damn.

Fu*ck!

He had golden eyes.

All this time, when I kept myself awake, thinking about his eye color, amber never crossed my mind.

He inhaled. Like he could smell something familiar. Something he could smell after a long time.

My fingers trembled by my side as I tried to keep them still.

Behind him, I saw Kiara stiffen. She had that mean look on her face. Beta Brian whispered something to Alpha Blake.

The discomfort was evident on their faces, too.