Bound By The Moon: The Eternal Bond - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

The morning air was crisp as I stepped onto the school grounds, my heart already racing in anticipation of what awaited inside. It wasn't the school I dreaded-it was the eyes of everyone around me, the way they whispered and stared as if I was something out of place. Being "Luna" wasn't something I ever asked for, and it definitely wasn't something I was ready for.
The moment I entered the school gates, I could feel the shift. The noise in the hallway died, the chatter immediately silencing when my footsteps echoed against the tiles. I tried to ignore the weight of their gazes, but it was impossible to. Each stare seemed to drill into my back, heavy and suffocating. The soft murmur of voices followed me as I walked, some of them curious, others... fearful.
I hated it. I hated the attention, the whispers, the feeling that everyone was watching me like I was some kind of specimen under a microscope.
I quickened my pace, my fingers brushing the straps of my bag, wishing I could shrink into the walls and disappear. But as I reached the door to the classroom, I could feel the tension building. Everyone was already waiting for me. The second I opened the door, the noise inside stopped abruptly. Every student, every single one of them, froze. Eyes snapped toward me, some wide with curiosity, others with a glint of uncertainty.
"Good morning, Luna," one voice called out. "It's an honor to have you here."
I didn't respond. I couldn't. Instead, I focused on walking, keeping my eyes on the floor as I made my way to my seat. The room was too quiet, and the silence felt like a weight I couldn't shake.
Jessy waved at me from across the room, that bright, confident smile of hers a stark contrast to my unease. "Luna! Over here!" she shouted, drawing even more attention to me.
I slumped into the seat beside her, the only person in this room I could stand to be around right now. She leaned over almost immediately, her voice low but filled with that characteristic energy. "So... how's the queen life treating you, huh?"
I rolled my eyes, trying to fight off the annoyance that bubbled up. "Don't call me that," I muttered, hoping my voice was quiet enough not to draw even more attention.
She raised an eyebrow at me, unfazed. "Come on. You're Luna now. You've gotta get used to it."
"Yeah, well, I didn't ask for it anyways," I replied, trying to suppress a sigh. The weight of the title felt suffocating, the expectations from everyone pressing down on me like a storm cloud.
Jessy tilted her head, clearly amused by my discomfort. I asked her smiling broadly "So... how are things with Aiden? Still pretending you don't care?"
I shifted in my seat feeling like things are being interesting. Jessy always had a way of prodding into things, especially when it came to her complicated relationship with Aiden. "That idiot? Please," she said with a roll of her eyes. "He's impossible. I'm done chasing after him."
Across the room, Aiden chewed on his gum lazily, his eyes locked onto me, then Jessy's. He didn't seem bothered by Jessy's words or the general chaos in the classroom. His smirk only widened when he saw me glance his way.
"Don't think I didn't hear that, Jessy," he called, his voice carrying easily through the air.
I couldn't help it-I chuckled softly. Jessy shot Aiden a look of disdain before turning back to me. "Ugh. What an asshole."
Before I could respond, I noticed a few girls-maybe three or four-standing up from their seats and making their way toward me. They looked at me with wide, curious eyes. One of them, a tall girl with platinum blonde hair, flashed me a sweet smile.
"Luna, we're so glad you're back," she said, her tone saccharine. "Would you like to sit with us?"
Another girl leaned in, her gaze never leaving me. "You must be so proud to be Valen's mate. How does it feel?"
I felt a familiar discomfort rising in my chest. Their eyes weren't full of respect-they were full of expectation, as if I was some kind of prize to be won. I couldn't stand it.
"Stop," Jessy snapped, her voice laced with warning. "She's not some trophy for you to fawn over. Give her some space."
The girls hesitated but didn't back off entirely. Jessy's presence alone was enough to send them scurrying back to their seats, but it wasn't over yet.
I sighed, my hands tightening around the edge of my desk. "Jessy, just let it go. They're just... curious."
"Curious?" Jessy snorted, rolling her eyes. "They think they can just get close to you now that you're Luna. It's disgusting."
Before I could reply, the door swung open, and Ms. Park entered the room. The moment she walked in, every head turned toward her. She was one of the few teachers who actually treated me like a human being, but even that made me feel uncomfortable now.
"Good morning, Luna," Ms. Park greeted warmly, her eyes immediately finding mine. "Is everything comfortable for you today? Do you need anything? We have some snacks in the lounge if you're hungry."
I felt my jaw tighten. I hated this. "I'm fine, Ms. Park. Just treat me like everyone else."
She hesitated, clearly thrown off by my response. "But... you're different now. You're like our queen. We need to take care of you."
I clenched my fists under the desk. "I'm not your queen. I'm Julia. Please, just treat me like a normal student."
Ms. Park seemed to understand, but only a little. "Of course. But you're still Luna."
The tension in the room was palpable as the rest of the class settled back into their seats. My stomach churned. I wanted to be anywhere but here.
At lunch, I slipped away from the crowded cafeteria, needing a moment of peace. I wandered down the hallway toward the restroom, trying to lose myself in the emptiness. But as soon as I stepped inside, the familiar, sharp sneer of one of the girls from earlier greeted me.
A wolf girl, standing in front of the mirror, turned toward me. Her eyes were filled with cold disdain. "You think being Luna means something, don't you?" she said, her voice dripping with venom. "I don't care if you're Valen's mate. You're just a weak human who doesn't even belong here."
I held her gaze, trying not to let her words break through my calm. "I'm not here for your judgment. Now, move."
She stepped closer, a smug smile on her face. "What are you going to do about it? Cry? You can't even do a single Luna task. You're nothing."
I pushed past her, my pulse rising, but I didn't look back. Let her say what she wanted. I wasn't here to prove anything to her.
Later, at the cafeteria, I was once again treated like royalty. Everywhere I went, people greeted me with overenthusiastic smiles.
"Luna, come sit with us!" A voice rang out from the far side of the room.
Another voice followed immediately, "Want some juice, Luna? We have the best today."
"Did you know you're the first human Luna? That must be so special."
I sat down at an empty table, trying to tune out the noise. But it followed me everywhere, the whispers and murmurs. "Wow, that necklace... is that the moonstone? Does that mean Valen accepted her forever?"
The thought made my stomach churn again.
"I don't know," another voice whispered. "She's weak. He might still reject her."
I felt their eyes on me constantly, the weight of their expectations growing heavier with every passing second.
Jessy joined me a few minutes later, her usual playful energy tamped down by the atmosphere around us. "Don't listen to them," she said, sitting across from me. "They don't know you. They don't understand what it means to be Luna. And I believe you are strong. And you have me and Aiden, AKA warrior wolves . "
I smiled as I sipped on my drink.