The Luna's Fated Choice

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve: The Unraveling Truths 

Kiadaria can't believe the rumors about Joshua's changes. 

Joshua, as she knew him, the one who sought to imprison and control her, seemed to have changed. Kiadaria couldn't help but wonder if it was real, or even possible. Joshua had been the way he was since they were adolescents, teens, and then really became the man who terrorized her in their early 20s. People are admiring his new compassionate and wisdom-filled way of running the Rising Moon pack. 

It confuses her, and it inspires a certain level of frustration as she wonders why he couldn't be the man that he is rumored to be as they ran the pack together. She feels cheated by her friend and even wonders if it was purposeful. She wonders if there is something wrong with herself, that she made him the way she is. With each rumor, she felt more emotional conflict.

However, when she heard that Joshua had changed his stance on the mate rejection policy, Kiadaria felt the rumors had to be lies. Joshua believed, like Alpha Alexander, that the mate bond of same sex and wolf/human mates needed to be extinguished, or it would weaken the packs. Same sex bonds couldn't produce children when numbers were needed to stay large to dominate. Human mates could never be warriors because they had no abilities, but would take the focus of their partner off the pack via the mate bond. 

Kiadaria never thought she would see the day that Joshua changed his mind, and she can't help but wonder why. Parts of her do hope that Joshua has changed. Especially when she misses home, and she misses the friend she had in Joshua. As she's had time away, she realizes she may have even loved him; that it's possible she still loves him. That's not easy for her to sit with, but it's become undeniable that it's a possible truth she's run from. 

And yet, Kiadaria has much more pressing issues. Darius' behavior hasn't gotten better. She thought that things with Lyra made sense and had been handled. At first, Darius returned to normal, and Kiadaria began to trust and admire him again, but very quickly, more and more of his shadowed self appeared. His behavior is strange and makes her feel uncomfortable. Kiadaria's gut tells her something is off. His orders aren't kind any longer, and more and more pack members are unhappy with the state of things. 

She walks the territory, and she can see signs of the pack's change everywhere. Everyone is guarded, and the sound of laughter is missing. The children aren't left free to roam and to play. Something is amiss, and she needs to find out what is going on. The changes leave her worried she made the wrong choices, but she's keeping in mind that there were dynamics before she showed up that have shifted. She wants to believe things only seem this bad because she's mentally going through it. 

A wise and beautiful elder member smiles. Kiadaria smiles back and approaches the wise woman whom she has come to trust and find motherly comfort in. "Hi, Akira." Kiadaria doesn't want to worry the older woman, but she really needs to speak about her concerns. "If you have a moment, I need to speak with you." 

Akira's face becomes serious. She looks her over with veiled concern. "Of course, Luna." 

Kiadaria thought hard about coming here. 

The topic is delicate, and not everyone accepts her as Luna. She has to be careful who she trusts and what she reveals. "Darius doesn't seem to be the man I met, and I'm hearing the pack whisper that they aren't recognizing him as well. He's taking meetings that he won't allow me to be present at, when he promised we would work together at all times. Everything about him is off, from the way he talks to the way he looks at me." 

Akaria shakes her head in agreement. 

Her somber eyes reveal much depth as she scans their surroundings. "I didn't want to be the one to bring this up, but now that you're addressing it, Luna, I have noticed the Alpha's change in demeanor and behavior. I'm not the only one who feels this way, as much of the pack is talking about it, and there have even been whispers of a possible challenge, but I believe most of the men are afraid to challenge him." Akaria stops speaking but looks much troubled. 

Kiadaria covers her slender and refined hand with her own. "Akaria, if there is something I need to know...please speak. I need to know what to do, if anything." 

Akaria leans in close, and she squeezes Kiadaria's hand. "Luna, I have a suspicion that Darius is hiding something very large from us." 

The first thing that comes to Kiadaria's mind is Lyra. She hadn't been able to shake the feeling that there had to be at least one thing true about what the other woman said that night. She thinks about how Joshua has changed next, but feels it's unrelated and instead remembers the odd accusations Joshua made about Darius the day she left to come be Darius' Luna. 

She swallows hard, her mouth feeling dry and as though her heart beats in her throat. "Akira, do you think that his secret has anything to do with the mate bond? He's been acting out since I agreed to become Luna. That's the one thing I believe we all agree on." 

Her expression is a compassionate one, and yet it tells her that she is on the right track of thought. "I have seen Darius grow from a young boy, and he has always had a darker side to him. He was very good at hiding it, but when you are as old as me, too many people can't stay hidden from your wisdom and perception. 

I've seen him dealing with dark arts magic. Everyone doubted that he would be a good successor to Alpha Marcus. They didn't see Darius as the same quality leader and didn't think he would be good in a time of war or to stand against Alpha Joshua. I have to confess, his obsession with power has grown since you agreed to the bond. I can only imagine he's using the bond to amplify the magic. And dark magic can change you." 

Her eyes widen at the revelation. She takes it in and never expected to hear such a thing. "Why didn't it change him before?" 

Akira makes a face. "Well, there are levels to magic, in both light and dark. Your bond may have given him the power to work shadow magic, and shadow magic is the worst sort. It amplifies everything about the worst parts of you, from every lifetime. It can consume the light in the soul. If I am correct, I fear for his soul. Luna, please hear me. I must want you to know that if you go through with the mate bond ceremony, if you bind yourself to him, then you will place your own soul and sanity at risk. You mustn't take that chance." 

Her blood runs cold. She never imagined that her life could be in danger. 

"I need to know more. I refuse to be bound to his dark plans. I won't give my fate to someone who would ruin themselves for power." Kiadaria speaks resolutely. 

"He always was very secretive. I will gather what I can, Luna, but the Alpha will go to whatever depths to keep his secrets." 

Kiadaria nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. She's going to need to be very careful and not tip Joshua off to her suspicion in any way. She's determined to save her soul and to keep herself from becoming consumed by the darkness that Joshua protects. 

With every step, Kiadaria dances closer to the unknown fated choice lying ahead, where things are quite what they appear.