The Alpha's Bride

A part of me is hoping that my call to Apollo using the moonstone is over when I suddenly hear his voice saying so otherwise.

"Why are you being so unreasonable, Claire?!" He almost yells, suddenly raising his voice at me. "Can't you see? Nobody is perfect! And yet, here you are, acting all mighty. When have you become so bitter?!"

Apollo knows how Daphne and Eris almost convinced me to take up my life. (It was on that day that I got infected and caught the same disease that killed my mother, Lupus Absolutus.) I cannot count all the times that he would argue with them on my behalf just to get them to apologize through various means, even if it meant bursting into flames when he needed to! But now, I don't recognize the man he is at all. I don't know when and why he changed his mind or what made him want to defend Eris now.

"Mark my words," I weep bitterly. "Unless she dies before my eyes, I will never forgive her!"

I can feel Apollo going mad at my words, obviously about to lose his cool with me for the first time.

"I don't understand how you can change so quickly, Claire! Since when did you become so resentful toward Eris, your own sister?!" I can hear him screaming just as he did once before. "If you cannot find it in your heart to forgive Daphne and Eris, then at least apologize! It pains me to think

"I don't understand how quickly you can change after spending two years with Yosef, Claire!" I can hear him screaming just as he did once before to Eris. "I understand you were researching for your mother's cure, but if you cannot find it in your heart to forgive Daphne and Eris, then at least apologize! I just cannot stand the thought of—"

'—of losing you—' I hope to hear his gentle voice from the past as it echoes in my mind, but I don't.

"—people talking about how vile and spiteful my fiancé has become!" He continues. "Your mother ending her life was her own weakness! I bet she couldn't stand the thought of you losing her if she even loved you! If not, maybe, your father wouldn't have to remarry. Maybe, it's not Daphne and Eris. Maybe, Daphne didn't deserve to die despite her mistakes. Maybe, it's you following the footsteps of your mother who would rather wallow in her misery than face her own nightmares!"

Nightmares. The man who once promised to end the world just to protect me until the day we died now sides with the woman who caused it.

It is as if, no matter what I do to, he is turning all of my misfortunes into a sword to wound me. Now, it is clear. He no longer loves me.

'Claire, I swear... as long as I live and breathe, no nightmare or monster can ever hurt you.'

'What a dream, Apollo.' I think to myself.

"Claire?" He cools down, seemingly sensing something different about me. "I'm sorry. It's just... I don't understand how your research has changed—"

"Claire?"

I keep silent, hoping that he won't bother me anymore so that I can finally sulk in this warm bath that eased the pain in my body—

"Are you... sick?!" He worriedly asks me, further annoying me. "Did you leave because you were sick? Is this what I think it is—"

I am not sure what exactly triggered me, but I can feel a part of me dying to laugh as if I have just lost my sanity. "Are you seriously growing a conscience now, Apollo? Only now, just when you discovered that I'm about to die?"

"Claire..." His voice softens. "It's not like that."

"No." I oppose him. "No. You don't get to change whenever you want! In fact, nothing is going to change, Apollo. I decided that you shall still have your wedding."

"A wedding." I quickly correct myself before he can say anything. "Yes, Apollo! Not with me. No. Our wedding is off. But you don't need to tell your family because nothing is going to change! You are still going to wed a de Lune member of the family! Your marriage will unite our kingdoms without having to play pretend with me or Eris. You can make it official! Have your way, like you always wanted!"

"No, Claire." I can hear him disagree. "No. I won't allow it. I will not allow it, Claire. No matter what you say. I know—"

"Say what you want, Apollo, but we both know the truth now." I respond. "You don't have to lie to my face anymore! It is okay to admit it now. You are in love with someone else. And all those ten years we spent together are fake. They're not real!"

"Oh, don't do me like that, Apollo!" I find myself screaming again, my body trembling at my own words.

It's the illness.

"So," I calmly try to explain to him, "don't deny it, Apollo or I will really get mad. I mean, really—"

At that exact moment, I feel my body acting up as if it is tired, making me cough a little. I dismiss both of them, blocking my mind to keep them from contacting me by mind-linking me with the help of the moonstone.

"Forget it."

I can't believe that, just because of one exchange, the only moment I get to enjoy a warm bath without any distractions is ruined. After ten years of getting to know each other and falling in love, one would think that Apollo has had me memorized. But no! It is only impeccable timing, I tell myself.

With only seven days left until what should have been our wedding day, I decide to take Apollo's advice: look forward. From now on, I will sever all ties to the past and continue our research on the cure for the Lupus Absolutus!

-

"Ah, it is a good thing you are awake, Luna." Yosef greets me as I pack up the only clothes I have from the tent I stayed in. "We have a lot to discuss. If and when you are ready, the team and I have something to tell you downstairs."

"What is it, Father?" I ask him with utmost curiosity, taking my attention away from packing up.

"We finally found the Solis Lacrima," he excitedly tells me. "So, pack up, well."