The Eleventh Luna Rose Trial Chapter 03

The Eleventh Luna Rose Trial Chapter 03

A faded moonstone falls to the ground with the broken branches.

My steps come to a sudden stop.

That year, torrential rain pours for two whole months, and the floods swallow the entire rose garden in our pack. Almost every rose dies overnight.

I guard the last Crimson Gold Rose for three days and three nights without closing my eyes.

“It’s my fault. I’m going to make you wait another year.” I sigh.

Nathan takes my hand, “Helena, the Luna Trial doesn’t matter. The only person I’ve ever loved is you.”

Later, wanting to put my mind at ease, he stays up all night guarding my rose.

But that’s not all he does.

That day, he climbs the 999 stone steps leading to the Moon Temple alone.

One step after another.

He crawls on his knees all the way to the top, just to pray for protection for my rose before the Moon Goddess’s temple.

The moonstone hangs from the branch, and the withered rose seedling sprouts new growth.

I never once question Nathan’s love.

I simply forget that people’s hearts can change, and even sincerity can become a lie.

I lift my foot and step over the moonstone.

When I get home, Phoebe is the first to come over.

“Helena, you finally came to your senses.”

She smiles in relief, “Honestly, you should have done this ages ago. You’re just not meant to be a Luna Queen. There was no reason for you to wait for my brother all these years.”

I pull my hand away.

Nathan is standing inside. As we pass each other, he suddenly grabs my wrist, his expression dark.

“You really cut down the rose tree?”

I look at him and suddenly find the whole thing ridiculous.

He’s the one who fell out of love with me, yet he’s also the one who’s unhappy about it.

“Yes. Consider this broken Crimson Gold Rose a belated bonding gift from me to you and Olivia.”

Nathan’s expression changes, “You knew?”

I say nothing.

Before he can speak, a mug crashes to the floor behind him.

Olivia looks at us, her eyes slowly turning red with tears.

Nathan immediately releases me and walks toward her, “Olivia, are you hurt?”

Olivia shakes her head.

“Nathan, I’m just an outsider who shouldn’t be here. Maybe I should leave…”

Nathan frowns, “Don’t think like that.”

She lowers her eyes as tears roll down her cheeks.

“But Helena has waited eleven years for you. Now she’s even destroyed the rose tree she loves most just to make you change your mind. Nathan, let’s break our mate bond tomorrow. I want to give you back to Helena.”

Nathan’s face darkens. He looks at me as if he finally understands something, “So that’s what you’re trying to do.”

Behind him, my mother storms out and slams her hand against the table.

“You’ve barely come home and you’re already causing trouble! Helena, I order you to apologize to Olivia right now!”

Calvin steps in front of Olivia as well, “After everything Olivia has done to defend you, how could you treat her like this?”

I look at them.

One after another, they stand against me, united as if I’m their common enemy.

But Olivia hurriedly steps forward and takes my hand, “Helena, don’t blame them. They don’t mean it like that…”

I step back, avoiding her.

Her hand misses mine, and her body suddenly sways before she stumbles backward.

“Olivia!”

Everyone immediately rushes toward her.

My mother catches her, while Calvin and Phoebe shield her from either side.

Nathan goes even further. He scoops her into his arms and looks down at the scrape on her arm.

“Come on. I’ll take you to the pack doctor.”

As he passes me, he turns his head and looks at me with disappointment.

“Helena, I won’t let anyone hurt Olivia, and that includes you. Don’t push me. The last person I ever want to hurt is you.”

With that, he walks away without looking back.

My mother shoots me one last vicious glare before everyone follows them out.

The house falls completely silent. Then my phone vibrates.

A friend request appears on the screen.

[Helena, Nathan was just worried about me when he said those things. Don’t take it personally.]

Olivia’s latest post appears on my screen.

In the photo, Nathan is tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Phoebe is helping her blow out the candles, my mother is holding a freshly made seafood risotto, and Calvin is smiling as he takes her picture.

The caption reads: [Thank you all for spending my birthday with me.]

My eyes fall on the date, and my fingers tremble.

Last Friday, a cold front swept through the pack. I stayed in the pack’s rose garden all night to protect my Crimson Gold Rose. After getting soaked in the rain, I developed a fever of 104°F and was barely conscious.

I called Nathan. He said he was accompanying Phoebe to the Lycan Realm for the Alpha Ball.

I messaged Calvin. He said Mom wasn’t feeling well because of her heart, so he had to stay home and take care of her.

I waited all night. Not one of them came.

Now I realize that while I was fighting to keep my rose alive, they were all celebrating Olivia’s birthday together.

My phone rings again. This time, it’s the Luna Trial organizers.

“Helena Ashford, we heard you cut down your rose. Would you like us to withdraw your entry from the Luna Trial?”

I remain silent for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh, “No. I’m still competing.”

The silver words before my eyes begin scrolling wildly.

[What does she mean?]

[Wait… Did you all forget?]

[Every Luna Trial Champion throughout history has chosen to marry the Alpha King and become his Luna.]

[But the real rule of the Luna Trial is that the champion gets to make one request of the Alpha King that he cannot refuse.]

[Her Crimson Gold Rose is gone. How could she possibly win?]