The Triplet Alphas' Curse: Rejected by the Wolfless Luna.

Hours later, Aire finally returned to the castle.

Her entire body ached from people, and the hatred from earlier still clung to her skin somehow.

She could still hear them, their snarls and curses.

The Moon Goddess rejected her.

She’s cursed.

Aire climbed the final staircase slowly.

The corridor outside her chambers remained quiet, with just two guards stationed before her door.

Most of the castle had become chaos since the evacuation began.

Aire simply felt tired.

The moment she stepped inside her chambers, warmth greeted her. She paused lightly.

The room smelled faintly of lavender, and the fireplace crackled softly. Beyond the half-open bathroom door, steam drifted into the room.

Aire smiled despite herself.

This would be Madam, of course.

She had specifically asked Madam to stop attending to her weeks ago.

The older woman had listened, technically. Unfortunately, Madam had simply found other ways to care for her.

She always performed acts impossible to argue against. Aire shook her head fondly. If Madam actions are to redeem herself, then Aire wouldn’t lie. It might be working.

Letting out a soft sigh, Aire disappeared into the bathroom.

........

The bath helped. The help wasn’t enough, but it helped. The hot water eased more tension she hadn’t realized she carried.

She soaked herself longer than she intended, and long enough for her thoughts to drift out of reality for a moment.

Unfortunately, they drifted directly back to the eastern villages, back to the stone, the accusations, the young mother, and the hatred.

Aire slid lower into the water, closing her eyes. Her long silver hair spread into the water, giving the water a beautiful light.

She genuinely thought things had improved between her and the wolves.

Maybe that had been foolish.

Maybe she had simply spent too much time surrounded by people who made her feel like it had.

To the villagers she remained the illegitimate wolf, the cursed Luna, and the outsider.

Aire released a long breath.

The water had begun cooling when she finally climbed out.

She dressed slowly afterward into a simple cream gown.

The moment she stepped back into her chambers, she stopped moving immediately. Although, her eyes sparkled at the presence of a little child who gave her moments to be seen as normal.

Marsali sat proudly on one of the chairs.

Beta Rhys stood nearby.

The little girl immediately brightened when she spotted Aire. ”Your Grace!”

The smile that spread across Aire’s face came naturally. Her heart nearly exploded at the soft peace she felt from Marsali’s visit.

Marsali jumped down from the chair. ”I’ve been waiting.” She informed.

Aire smiled at her. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. ”It’s so lovely to see you again, Marsali.”

Marsali rushed forward.

Aire barely had time to brace herself before a small body crashed into her waist.

Aire laughed. Warmth spread all over her heart. With Mabel gone after the mate incident, she rarely had a female company.

Marsali hugged her tightly..

Aire wrapped an arm around her automatically. She hugged her like she haven’t seen her inyears, rather than an hour.

Marsali looked up.

Her dark eyes sparkled immediately. ”You were gone forever.”

”I would have visited tommorow.”

Marsali pulled back a bit. ”I can go if now’s not a good time.” She suggested softly, thought her eyes said otherwise, and showed she really wanted to stay.

Aire brushed Marsali’s baby hair backwards, and cupped her face with both hands. ”Anytime is a good time for you, Marsali.”

Beta Rhys looked relieved.

Which caught Aire’s attention. She glanced toward him.

”What happened?”

Beta Rhys didn’t reply to that. His expression simply returned to being cold, and unreadable.

If anything, he looked even less interested in the conversation than before.

Marsali gasped dramatically. ”He let me borrow his notebook.” She reported, sparkling with excitation.

Aire blinked, then looked at Rhys.

Rhys stared straight ahead. He looked the percet picture of indifference.

”I didn’t let you.” He refused immediately.

”You handed it to me.” Marsali pressed.

”You took it.”

Marsali waved a hand dismissively.

Aire’s lips twitched, as she looked between them. This had been the least relationship she expected in the castle grounds.

”What were you doing with his notebook?” She piqued.

Marsali brightened immediately. ”I was drawing you.” She replied, as if that should be a fact.

Aire paused. ”Me?” That was a surprise.

Marsali nodded enthusiastically. ”From memory.”

Aire looked unconvinced. ”How did that go?”

Marsali beamed. ”Amazing.”

Rhys finally spoke. ”It did not.” He said flatly.

Marsali pointed accusingly at him. ”He’s not being truthful.”

Rhys looked at Aire properly, for the first time since he walked in.

”She asked if your nose was always that size.” He pointed openly. ”That small.”

Marsali gasped softly. She laughed lightly under her breath. ”I was making artistic adjustments.”

Aire covered a laugh. ”And the final result?”

Rhys answered immediately, holding Marsali’s gaze. ”It was terrifying.”

Marsali looked offended. ”It looked exactly like her.” She defended whatever she had called an art.

”It looked nothing like her.”

Marsali folded her arms. ”You’re just upset because I drew you beside her.”

Aire glanced at Rhys.

Rhys closed his eyes briefly.

The expression of a man questioning every decision that had led him to this moment.

Marsali giggled, and Aire found herself smiling again. Moon Goddess. When did this child become so important to her?

.......

Dinner arrived shortly afterward. With everything going on, no one bat an eyelid at anyone who decides to have a private breakfast, or dinner.

Marsali refused to leave.

Eventually the three of them simply remained together inside the chambers.

Aire hadn’t realized how desperately she needed something normal until now.

She listened carefully while Marsali explained every single detail of her life at the moment. Aire slowly found herself relaxing as she listened to all Marsali had to say.

Marsali suddenly tilted her head, then stared at Aire deeply.

Aire noticed the change in Marsali’s gaze. She blinked at her, curiously. ”What?”

The little girl continued staring.

Aire touched her face. ”What?”

Marsali pointed. ”Your hair.”

Aire glanced down at the silver strands falling across one shoulder. ”What about it?” Conversations about her hair always gave her mind anxiety.

Marsali brightened instantly. ”Can I brush it?”

Beta Rhys looked concerned.

Aire looked amused while Marsali looked hopeful.

”Alright.” She accepted.

Marsali gasped happily, then immediately disappeared from Aire’s sight, returning moments later with a brush.

Beta Rhys pinched the bridge of his nose. ”This feels like a mistake.” He mumured, staring at Marsali.

”It probably is.”

Marsali ignored both of them.

Aire settled onto the chair before the mirror.

The little girl climbed onto a stool behind her, then carefully reached for the brush.

The first stroke was surprisingly gentle.

Aire blinked.

Marsali hummed softly, xompletely focused.

Aire watched through the mirror.

For several minutes neither spoke, as the brush moved slowly through silver strands.

The room felt peaceful, and comfortably quiet.

Her thoughts drifted again unfortunately. It went back to today. Aire frowned slightly. She still wasn’t entirely certain what happened, but her memory was becoming foggy, and overlapping. It unsettled her.

”Aire?” Marsali touched her shoulder.

She blinked.

Marsali stared at her through the mirror. ”You disappeared.”

Aire said nothing to that. She simply parted her eyes, and straightened in her seat.

After several moments, Marsali spoke again, thoughtfully.

”Aire?”

”Hm?”

”Can I trim it?” Marsali looked hopeful.

Aire inhaled deeply. ”Trim it?” She questioned, a bit unsettled. She refused any negative energy but Marsali brushing her hair unsettledbher a bit, and she courknt say why.

”A little.” Aire finally accepted

Aire studied the child through the mirror. She watched her absolute confidence, then she shrugged.

Marsali looked delighted. She looked nothing more than an harmless child. She could probably do nothing wrong.