Chapter 14 Luna
Lira
“Nothing mum,” I said dismissively and moved to walk past her, but she was faster than me. She stretched out her hand and stopped me before I was able to leave.
“This is clearly not nothing. You’re crying.” She paused and lifted my head to look at her. “Have we drifted so much in the small time we’ve been apart that you don’t trust me enough to tell me what is wrong with you anymore?”
A pang of guilt shut through me. I have definitely drifted from her, but not for the reasons she think. My teeth found my bottom lip and bit on it to stop it from quivering. The sight of her warm brown eyes searching mine, her soft hair tied neatly like always, made my chest ache. I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to scream that her husband had crushed me with words colder than steel, that he had looked at me like I was filth. But the words died in my throat, heavy and poisonous.
I replayed my encounter with Kael all over again and the hurt blossomed even more. After wiping the fat drop of tear that rolled down my cheek, I took in a deep breath. She was my mother, and even if I am unable to tell her the whole truth, I could tell her some part of it.
“I really don’t want to go to the ball with Rowan, Mum. I didn’t tell you this earlier, but the night of the mating ceremony, I was mated.” Her eyes widened slightly, but she kept a passive face as she listened to me. “He rejected me, and said would rather die than to be with me.”
“I don’t believe he would say something that harsh. Rowan is a good boy.”
Good boy my ass. If only she knew. My fists clenched at my sides as I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Her defense of him was like a knife to my gut. How could she not see him for what he really was?
I stretched my hand out and took hers in mine. “He did, mum! There’s no reason why I’d lie about this. It would be so awkward if we go together as mates. Not only for me, but for him too.”
“Lira, You’re the only one complaining about this arrangement between the both of you. It’s not that big of a deal if you both go together.” Her tone was a bit different now. Sharp. Irritated. And not like the mum I was used to. The shift was small, but it hit me like a slap.
“It is mum! It is a big deal!” I explained. “Can you please try to get Alpha Kael to change his mind? You—”
“No, that won’t be happening.” She cut me off, her tone firm. “You need to stop being a brat and learn to listen to instructions. The world doesn’t revolve around you and your wants.”
I was shocked to hear her say that. All my life, she had never called me a brat, and now she was calling me one when I wanted something different for a very valid reason. My throat tightened as I tried to speak, but my voice came out weak.
“But—”
“No buts. It’s just one night Lira. What’s the worst that can happen?” I stayed silent, and she took the cue to continue. “You’re eighteen now. You need to grow up! You can’t be disturbing everyone with your little problems when we all have important things to do. Am I clear?”
My head was lowered as she scolded me. Why didn’t she understand my plight? The floor beneath me blurred as fresh tears threatened to fall again.
“Yes, mother.”
“Good.” She turned to leave, then stopped in her tracks. “I told a maid to leave your food in the kitchen. You didn’t have anything this morning. Go and eat. I don’t want to hear that you wasted the food. I raised you better than that.”
She didn’t wait for me to respond. She simply left me alone to sulk or do whatever I wanted, and that hurt. A lot more than I wanted to admit. The echo of her heels down the corridor sounded final," like a door slamming shut between us.
Defeated, I headed to the kitchen. If I couldn’t have my way with the charity ball situation, I could at least have some food. Plus, I was hungry. I was just too sad and stubborn to listen to my stomach earlier. My steps were slow, heavy, dragging through the silence of the hallway. I felt like a ghost wandering a house that no longer wanted me in it.
The food was sitting on the kitchen slab, and thankfully it was hot. The smell wafted to my nose, and I let out a soft moan as the pancake touched my tongue. It was so good. I can’t believe I almost didn’t eat it. The sweetness melted on my tongue, a temporary comfort that dulled the sting of my mother’s words. For a moment, it was just me, the soft hum of the kitchen, and the warm taste of something that didn’t hurt.
I was enjoying my food, but as per usual, something had to come ruin it. And that something this time was Alicia.
“Something reeks in this kitchen.” She turned to a maid that was doing the dishes. “Did you clean this place at all?”
“Yes, Ma’am, I did.” She replied bowing her head. I was about to ignore the whole situation and continue eating. My only hope was that Alicia wouldn’t come to me, but so far, I’ve learnt that hopes were like fleeting wishes. And as the saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Alicia turned around, and pretended like she was just seeing me since she entered the kitchen. “Ahh, there it is.” She spat, her tone heavy with menace. She covered her nose with her palm as she continued towards me. “This is where the stench is coming from. Who let this trash stay here?”
“Luna Elena asked us to warm her food and keep it here for her ma’am.” The same maid replied, her head still bowed.
“All of you, leave.” She ordered, and the five maids working the kitchen all filed out. Oh no… this can’t be good. The sound of their hurried footsteps faded, leaving behind a suffocating silence thick with tension. I could hear the faint drip of the faucet and the thud of my heartbeat in my ears.
I stood up in an attempt to leave but she grabbed me. Her nails dug into my arm as she pulled me back. “Where do you think you’re going, you thief?”
Struggling out of her hold proved futile. Her grip was firm, and her nails weren’t making it any better. Her perfume, strong and artificial, burned my nose, contrasting painfully with the homely scent of my pancakes.
“I didn’t steal anything Alicia, let me be. I don’t have the strength for your troubles right now.”
She laughed. “Do you think I give a fuck?” A scowl formed on her face as she forcefully let me go. “And can you drop the act? I know that you’re more than happy to go to the charity ball with Rowan.”
That’s what this was about. Of course.
“You’re delusional.” I spat, feeling my frustration bubble up to the surface. “I would rather drink dirty soap water than go to the charity ball with Rowan. He’s yours. Why would I want your left overs?”
“Since you’re talking a bunch, why don’t you prove it to me then?”
“What?” She couldn’t seriously be asking me to do that. What the heck?
But she was. She glanced at the dirty soap water in the kitchen sink where the maid was doing the dishes in.
No.
“You’re crazy,” I mumbled and tried to get out of the kitchen again. Alicia grabbed my hair this time and dragged me to the sink. No amount of protesting could stop her. My scalp burned as I screamed, the sound bouncing off the walls.
“You said you’d rather drink this. I need to be sure you’re not interested in my man, so drink.” She grabbed my hair tighter and pushed my head into the sink.