LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

Luna stepped away from the painting and entered a room that turned out to be a bedroom. Like the other rooms, the atmosphere of the bedroom she had entered was warm, cozy, and beautiful. She sighed loudly and walked around the room, trying to find clues about the former duchess and make sure what she saw wasn’t just a figment of her imagination.

Luna had heard that there were seven people in the world with faces similar enough to be considered twins, but she never believed it. How could they be called twins when she came from a completely different world than the former duchess? Luna threw herself onto the bed that dominated the room. Her hand lifted to rub her face in frustration, still unable to understand how she and the former duchess could share such similar features. The only person who could answer all the questions swirling in her mind was Duke Veniam.

Wait! Duke Veniam had mentioned that this region also had a portal mirror, just like the one in the sacred forest of Foryeust. Could it be… Luna stood up. How could Veniam Duchy possess a portal mirror and Vasilos do not have an issue with it? Especially with so many human descendants living in Morgena Capital. She remembered Ghea’s story about the last woman to cross the portal. Was it all a lie? Or was there another reason? Luna needed answers now. She couldn’t wait any longer. Her heart was restless, and her mind couldn’t stop forming various implausible scenarios.

She walked out of the room but stopped in her tracks when she saw a man standing where she had stood before, staring at the portrait of the former duchess with an expression that was difficult to interpret. Luna’s entire body tensed, and her neck hair stood up. She held her breath as the man turned to face her.

“Well, I still can’t believe that Veniam has two successors…”

“Lord Zyne…”

Zyne smiled politely and slowly turned fully to face Luna. “Good afternoon, Miss Luna… or should I call you just Luna? How are you?”

“What… what are you doing here?”

Zyne gazed at the portrait of the former duchess for a moment before focusing on her again. “I’m just here to do one thing.” Zyne walked toward Luna, the tapping of his cane and his footsteps making her feel even more wary. No one was around to help her, and unlike Alkrevas, who had magic mana, she had nothing but her own body.

At that moment, Luna realized how much she needed Alkrevas. She was so weak and could be killed at any moment. She carefully touched her fingers and cursed herself when she realized the spot where Alkrevas’s ring should have been was empty. Damn it! I forgot to wear the ring Alk gave me! Luna bit her lower lip and asked, “What do you want from me? What do you want?” Luna looked around, searching for something to use as a weapon, a distraction, or anything.

Zyne tilted his head, observing Luna’s panicked expression. “You really do resemble the former duchess, miss. Everyone should recognize that you are a descendant of Veniam.” Luna immediately stared straight at Zyne, her eyes wide, and her body froze. What? What does he mean? “I met and spoke with her a few times. Your mannerisms, even your personalities, are so similar.”

“You… you… you’re making no sense! I’m not the child of the former Duke of Veniam! I’m not even from this world!”

Zyne shrugged indifferently. “Believe whatever you want, but I’ll tell you one secret, miss. The former duchess wasn’t from this world either.”

Luna felt her heart stop. What? What does he mean? Luna laughed at Zyne’s nonsensical words and hissed sharply, “I’m not going to believe a treacherous bastard like you!”

Zyne stopped walking. “You know, I respected the former duchess, and I feel guilty for dealing with you. But you are the soulmate of that monster. You don’t deserve to be here or alive! That monster doesn’t deserve to get what he wants!”

“You… why did you betray the Emperor?”

“He wiped out my race. What else? I’m simply avenging the deaths of my comrades and family. For years I waited for the moment when that monster would go mad, but instead, you showed up in front of him. I’ve been waiting for the right time to kill him, but your presence ruined everything. I even pretended to be a nobleman, hiding my true identity, all for my final goal.

“Now…” Zyne tapped his cane on the floor once, summoning a black mist from beneath it. “Do you remember the choice Abigail gave you?”

Of course, Luna remembered that she had chosen to leave to avoid Vasilos being destroyed because of her. But all of that had been undone when Alkrevas arrived like a hero for her-or, more accurately, a “romantic psychopath villain who came to stop her from leaving?” Zyne clicked his tongue, and the black mist formed into a demonic creature with white eyes, its body draped in a cloak with its head covered by a hood. It held a scythe resembling the Grim Reaper’s, like the ones she had seen in cartoons or Halloween costumes. Drool dripped from its mouth, and when it opened, its tongue resembled a snake’s.

Luna panicked even more. What should she do? She quickly scanned the room for anything she could use as a weapon and saw a small flower vase far from her. Luna could use it as a distraction. All she needed was the right moment to grab it. As if fate had heard her prayers, a loud banging sound suddenly came from the door, followed by shouting and growling from Duke Veniam. Moments later, the noise increased, and Luna recognized the man’s voice accompanying the Duke.

Alkrevas.

Instantly, Zyne shifted his gaze while clicking his tongue and commenting on the noise made by the men trying to break down the door. Luna faintly heard Duke Veniam say, “Luna! If you can hear me, go into the bookshelf. Get in there and hide!” Of course, Luna remembered that there was a bookshelf in the room. So, when Zyne looked back at her, Luna immediately threw the vase in her hand at his face-surprisingly hitting the target perfectly-causing the vase to shatter, and some of the shards accidentally hit his eye. Zyne roared in both pain and fury.

Taking advantage of the situation, Luna rushed into the room. She slammed the door shut and pushed large objects to barricade it. At the same moment, she heard the door outside open, followed by the sound of a fight. She heard Alkrevas say to Markus, “Protect your sister! I’ll hold him off!”

Luna only briefly dwelled on Alkrevas’s words because she was too busy pushing objects to block the door. Then, she ran to the bookshelf, searching for anything that would make the bookshelf move, as Duke Veniam’s words convinced her there was a room behind the bookshelf. When Luna pulled one of the books, the shelf shifted to the side, revealing a dark passageway.

Without thinking, she rushed in, running through the darkness until she reached the only door at the end of the hallway. Luna opened it and stepped inside. She quickly closed the door and leaned her back against it.

Luna couldn’t hear what was happening outside. She was curious to know if someone had managed to enter the room. Her tightly shut eyes slowly opened. Her racing heart began to calm, and her violently trembling body started to steady. But it was only momentarily because when she looked ahead, she saw a large object covered in a white cloth standing not far from her.

Luna pushed herself away from the door and walked toward the object. When she got closer, she pulled off the white cloth, gasping as she saw a mirror exactly like the one in the sacred forest temple, but in better condition. She could see her reflection in the mirror: a pale face, disheveled hair, a messy dress, sweat on her skin, and labored breathing. Luna realized the reflection was her.

“A portal mirror?” she whispered. Her heart started racing again. She could go home. In front of her was the only way Luna could return to her world, leaving all of this behind and returning to her normal life. But suddenly, doubt crept into her heart. Should she go home? She didn’t have time to think further because she heard the door behind her burst open, and Zyne appeared, his face covered in blood and eyes filled with murderous intent.

“You! I will kill you right now! I will never forgive you!”

Luna’s eyes widened, and she screamed as Zyne was attacked from behind by Duke Veniam. For a brief moment, her eyes met the Duke’s, and she saw an expression full of apology in his gaze.

“Go, Luna! Go! Save yourself!”

“What? I can’t just leave Alkrevas behind!”

“Go! Return to your world, sister!” Duke Veniam shouted as he fought Zyne with a sword in hand. “Go to a place where you’ll be safe! Alkrevas and I will come for you! Now, go!”

Luna froze upon hearing Duke Veniam call her his sister. Immediately, she felt her whole body tremble. Markus then transformed into a Lycan and relentlessly attacked Zyne, buying Luna time to escape.

“Alk…” Luna whispered as she saw Alkrevas in his Lycan form standing in the doorway. She saw the Lycan nodding, agreeing with the Duke’s command, and Luna sobbed quietly. Slowly, she stood up.

“Use your blood…” Duke Veniam’s voice sounded deeper.

Luna lowered her head and looked at her wrist. She glanced back into Alkrevas’s red eyes, gazing at her as he fought Zyne, who, it turned out, was incredibly strong, wielding endless black magic. Longing, love, sadness, obsession, and rage-all emotions seemed to merge into one in those red eyes. Luna saw Alkrevas’s head gesture toward the mirror, commanding her to leave immediately. Luna took a deep breath. She turned, biting her finger until it bled before letting her blood drip onto the surface of the mirror.

Not long after, the mirror emitted a bright light and an overwhelming mana mist, making Alkrevas even stronger. She glanced at Alkrevas one last time, whispering a silent goodbye in her heart before stepping into the mirror, back to her world.

…

Luna took a deep breath and looked around. She had arrived in a luxurious, modern living room. “I’m back?” she whispered. She turned around and saw that the mirror had returned to its normal state, no longer glowing. Luna immediately stood up and approached the mirror, her unblooded hand gently touching its surface with a sense of longing.

Then, she realized she was in a stranger’s house and could easily be accused of trespassing. Luna was grateful that her dress wasn’t too conspicuous and could use the alibi of being part of a theater group. She needed to contact Nicole immediately and, wherever she was, let her friend and manager know her whereabouts and inform her best friend, Maya.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

With this thought in mind, she left the house-fortunately unlocked-and avoided crossing paths with the owner. She exited through the gate and walked along the main street, guessing it led toward the city center, which didn’t seem too far away.

Luna expected to draw attention, but she didn’t care. She entered the nearest cafe and borrowed the phone, claiming her bag had been stolen. She called the embassy, whose number the cafe staff gave, and then contacted Nicole.

After the calls were made, she was directed to a private room to rest and change into clothes kindly provided by the sympathetic cafe staff. That’s when Luna fully grasped the reality-she had truly returned.

Yet, for some reason, all she felt was emptiness. Then, without warning, tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.

….