Chapter 144 Chapter One Hundred and Forty Four

Chapter 144 Chapter One Hundred and Forty Four
The hallways were quiet, unusually so. At this time of the day, there ought to be servants going about their business but it was completely quiet.

Xander was in his office attending to some boring meeting that I wanted no part of. The children were off learning and so I was by myself, bored out of my mind.

I knew there were 'Luna duties' which I could have handled but Xander made it impossible. He didn't want me doing any work or handling any tasks.

A soft thump caught my attention. A shadow appeared on the wall in the hallway that I'd concluded was empty. 

A soft whimper came from that direction again and I walked towards it, my feet touching the ground lightly. I didn't want to startle whoever was on the other end of the hallway. 

I saw a wave of hair and then I spotted Salem, standing just a few feet away from Val. I looked between both of them but my gaze settled on Salem. A frightened Salem who looked like she wanted to flee.

Who shouldn't even be here at this time?

"Luna" Val spoke quickly, a suspicious smile slipping onto her face.

"What's going on?" I asked in a stern voice.

"The girl was lost...I was directing her" Val spoke up but my gaze remained on Salem.

"Come here" I ordered sternly and she rushed over to me, throwing her arms around me.

"Are you okay?"

"Luna...." Val tried to interrupt but I shot her a warning look that sealed her lips immediately.

"Can we go?" Salem asked in a small voice, still holding onto me like something would snatch her up if she dared to let me go.

I looked at Val again.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was taking a walk" 

"I told you to remain at the healer's home"

"I...I didn't know I wasn't supposed to move around"

"You're under investigation. So no movement around"

"Understood Luna. I'll return to my room now" I didn't give her a response as I led Salem away, worry eating at me.

I didn't say a word until we were locked behind Salem's door.

"You're supposed to be learning" I said in a stern voice and a guilty expression crossed her face.

"I'm sorry" she hung her head down and I gently lifted her chin.

"I want an explanation"

"I...Learning is difficult for me. I've never done it before" she said in a small voice and my heart broke.

"And you're scared?"

"The others are better than I am. I'm never going to be as good as them"

"Don't say that. They were once like you but time and constant learning made them better. It can be the same for you"

"I don't know"

"Don't doubt yourself, honey. There's nothing you can't do" she sighed heavily, like someone who carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"Tell me what's wrong"

"It's just...she said I would never be useful"

My blood boiled in rage as the words reached my ears. Who would dare tell that to a child?

"Who told you that?"

"The mean lady" my brows furrowed.

"What mean lady?"

"When I was tiny...like Zane. She told me I had no use"

My jaw clenched.

"She was a bitter woman who had no happy moments in her life and she was projecting her failures onto you. Nobody can tell you what you can or cannot achieve. It's up to you. But you must make the decision yourself honey"

"I want to be something. Not useless"

"Then you make something for yourself and all of us will be here...supporting you"

She smiled up at me. "Thank you. You're much nicer than that mean lady"

"Can you tell me about this lady?"

"She didn't like me. She smacked me whenever I made a mistake and locked me up whenever he came around, she was always so angry that she would leave me hungry with no food" Salem had gone through something very disturbing.

"He? Who was that?"

"I don't know. I never saw him. She made sure that I didn't"

"And where is she now?" 

"I don't know. I ran away"

"How?"

"The nice servant. She asked me to run. She left the room door open and told me to follow the moon and I'll find somewhere safe. She was right. I found you" Salem threw her arms around me tightly. I hugged her back but my mind was somewhere else.

That woman who had been mean to her was somewhere out there, lurking about freely. She didn't deserve that freedom after what she had done to Salem. 

A sudden thought crossed my mind and I pulled away.

"Do you remember what that woman looked like?"

"Like the lady from before"

"The one with the face full of burns?" I held my breath as I waited for an answer. She nodded. 

"But it wasn't her entire face. Just this side" Salem covered the right part of her face and pointed to the left. My shoulders sagged a little. 

A half-burnt face was different from a fully burnt face. I was mistaken about Val. 

"Well, you don't have to worry about her anymore darling. I'm here now and I'll make sure nobody ever hurts you" 

"Thank you...mama" my heart swelled at the name. That she was comfortable enough to refer to me as that was pleasing in itself. 

It took me back to the last. When I first arrived here, Leo had clung to me.

"You can rest for today. Tomorrow you go back and you don't stop until you know it"

Salem nodded firmly and I smiled at her. I kissed her forehead and stood up, exiting her room. 

I spotted Leo standing at the far end of the hallway once I closed the door. I raised a brow as I walked towards him but he met me halfway. 

"Why did she leave?"

"You're supposed to be learning" I said sternly and he huffed.

"I'm free now. Why did she leave?" 

"She got scared. She's never done it before" Leo muttered under his breath.

"Not everyone is privileged to learn the way you did"

"I know. She'll fall behind if she keeps missing the classes"

"You sound concerned"

"She's a part of this family now no?"

"Yeah but..."

"You're reading too much meaning into it mama" I scowled at Leo's attempt to brush off the topic. 

It didn't jump my notice that the only way he'd have noticed her leaving is if he was watching her. 

His presence alone told me what that meant.

"And you'll protect her the way you protect your sisters" Leo hesitated and then he nodded. 

"Of course. I won't let anything happen to her"

"Good boy. Let her rest for today. She'll return tomorrow" I kissed the side of his face and then I walked away, heading towards Xander's office. 

I'd been too quick in my assumptions about Val and I needed to correct my mate immediately. 

I pushed the door to his office open and Xander was sitting behind his desk but Xavier was also present, a steely look on his face.

"I asked around about the woman as you asked me to"

"And?"

"She's not originally from any of the neighboring packs or anywhere close by"