LUNA ASTERBELLE's POV
Frankly speaking, I have no clues as to where I would be able to find Joseph right now. It's not like we have some sort of connection that can lead us to one another, unlike Andrea and him. I passed by the area of her burial and there weren't any newcomers, which makes me the last one to pay her a visit. All of them were silent and I observed how some of them were keeping watch of the time, as if they were merely forced to come here.
I made up my mind that I won't waste the entire day lazing around and just go confront my father once again. I'm sure that Andrea wouldn't want me to keep on mourning for her anyway.
As soon as I reached the alpha, Mr. Asterbelle's office, I was greeted with a dark, cool room lined with his bookshelves. Despite the high temperature outside, the only source of light came from the soft glow of dozens of candles that were set up all around the table in the center, creating silhouettes on the luxurious leather carpets that covered the ground and the wall.
I heard Mr. Asterbelle's voice speaking quietly with someone through the phone about some urgent matter, which I have no business about. I rested upon the couch with the empty seat next to me.
In the center aisle of the table, I saw the glass of wine that he prepared for himself. I doubt that he was expecting for me to arrive today.
"Luna Asterbelle, you've returned. How was your training at the mafia's turf?" Mr. Asterbelle asked the instant that he ended the phone call. He didn't even bother to look at me, he coped up by staring through the window as if he was watching someone from afar.
I faked a cough to clear my throat. "I'm back for a private conversation, Mr. Asterbelle. The tasks were easily completed, and I have yet started to train as an assassin and a markswoman as they require me to be."
He didn't react to what I said. "That's the bare minimum so I won't congratulate you for now unless you'd prove to me that you're capable enough to independently annihilate anyone at will, without being ordered around by someone above you. This would be a great chance for you to explore your skills as the one who grew up in my care. I wouldn't recognize any person who's weaker than an ant," Mr. Asterbelle coldly replied.
It's like he wasn't expecting anything from the daughter that he raised, even though I spent so much time trying to make sure he'd at least have all the chances to be content with what and who I would become. Thinking a while back, he never said anything about what would happen to my mate if I'm a hybrid, or what am I supposed to do if I'm rejected.
That's the reason why I wanted to be strong enough to challenge Jerome someday soon.
"If you're just going to keep on treating me this way, wouldn't it be better for you and Mrs. Asterbelle to kill me already? Why did you even take me in from the orphanage back then? I wouldn't be causing this much trouble for your pack and the rest of the world if you didn't adopt me," I mumbled at the same time that I had a blurred eyesight.
The last words that he muttered to me before he took me in were still clear inside my brain; that I should stay alive even if their bodies would burn to ashes. Since I was still a child back then, I couldn't understand what he meant. Not until I realized that Jerome was the one who brought upon that fire incident.
"We thought that we can hone you to be someone exemplary of this pack, someone who can stand a chance against the others even if you're a woman. You must have an idea how women are often discriminated against in our world, right? Belle wanted you to serve as the proof that they're mistaken to underestimate anyone based on their gender and kind."
His words were enough to make me feel so worthless.
"Just give me a little bit more time, Mr. Asterbelle," I said with a serious tone, as I bowed my head slightly together with my hand that stopped the strands of my hair from covering my entire face. "I'll train till blood comes out of my mouth; I'll keep on training even if it'll lead to my own death, just to meet your expectations. I won't let anyone step ahead of the Blood Moon Pack even if I'm no longer a part of it. Have faith in me," I added, then bit my lower lip to prevent myself from showing how terrified I was.
His aura was not kidding around. I'm definitely hallucinating, but the way that his aura moves made it look like it had the ability to strike someone without the user moving by themselves.
"Very well. You mustn't forget to find your mate as you offer your whole life to training."
I stood firmly, wondering if I should tell him about that man's role in my life. After I blinked consecutive times with sweat dripping down my neck, I said, "Jerome is my mate," without faltering.
Mr. Asterbelle's eyes widened in shock, I suppose. "You must be out of your mind, Luna. There's no way that he's your mate..." he coldly uttered with each word getting softer as he finished talking.
"Right now, you might think that he's not my mate. And that's what Jerome has in mind as well. But, I'm a hundred percent sure that Jerome was destined to be mine and no one else would be able to get in between us once he accepts me."
My father's aura ignited all of a sudden. "Even if you say that, I'm not letting you go near that imbecile man for another day. If only you didn't lose your memories, then you would be the very first person to reject him as yours," he mumbled with ferocity in his gaze.