LUNA ELIZABETH
From the moment I'd stepped into the mansion, I'd known something was up. My gaze roamed the foyer but not a single soul in sight. Where had everyone gone to? I proceeded down the hall and into the general living room, there was no one.
I stepped out and took a detour to the family living room, I frowned. Why was it dark? I found the light switch and flipped it on.
"I was scared." There stood my daughter, tears falling from her eyes. I took note of the colorful streamers and the cardboards where 'I'm sorry, mom. Please, forgive me.' Was written.
Standing beside her was Aaron, her mate and his twin Baron. Flanking her other side was Trenton, Zach, Lucas, her maid Melissa and my mate, David. There were other guards and maids around the room but they were not clustered.
I saw the long table of different delicacies, I could spot my favorites. Boxes wrapped in different colors and tied with gold ribbons stared back at me.
My gaze went back to Katherina, the tears were endless on her face. It had been three weeks since the event and a lot had happened in that three weeks. Katelyn had been beaten publicly by the boys and banished by my mate which served her right. I'd also made sure to put in my own punishment.
No one messed with my daughter and went scot free. Her two minions were put in cell and the Alpha had decided that Katherina would give her verdict. The owner of the phone had been beaten and then set free. Melissa was out of her wheelchair and was doing a lot better.
Katherina had decided she was no longer a maid and would now be a part of the family, my mate had no problem. Her relationship with Aaron had grown closer and Baron was no longer fighting for her attention. Aaron and Baron were still trying to make up for old times, after finding the truth that Katelyn had killed his mate.
"Mom, I was scared." She stepped closer, I took a step backward. She stopped in her tracks, a sob escaping her throat.
I loved my daughter but I was too hurt. Each time I remembered what I had gone through because of her wolflessness, the names I'd had to endure been called. The insults and humiliation. Being a single mother with no mate, people saying I was a whore who was being punished by the Moon Goddess for giving birth out of wedlock.
I could not believe that every suffering I had gone through would have been avoided if she had said the truth. I had never lied to her. Asides not telling her who her father was which I'd rather not say than lie, I had always told her everything.
"Scared of what, Katherina? Of telling me the truth? Of telling your own mother the truth?" I blinked back my own tears. I had cried some nights with my mate consoling me. These days, I tended to be reminded of the past I had gone through because of my daughter's supposed wolf-less nature.
David would wrap me up in his arms and console me, reminding me I was leading a new life now.
"It's not like that. I ju…"
Without waiting to listen to her further, I unbuttoned my shirt, the guards and maids turned their back.
"What are you doing, Liz?" My mate came to my side.
"I want her to see." I peeled the shirt a little, showing her a part of my back I never wanted her to see.
Gasps were heard. She and the boys gasped. Only David was not surprised because he had seen and he knew the story behind that ugly, deep mark.
"Do you want to know about this?" I turned to her, tears blurring my vision. "Remember the day you went to school and came back to meet me lying weak?"
"Y-yes."
"What did I tell you happened to me?"
"You said you were sick but you had treated yourself."
"That was a lie, Katherina. This was done to me by Alpha Jaegan, the Alpha of our old pack. He wanted you, said you must be punished for being a bad luck in the pack with your wolflessness." I swallowed, trembling as memories attacked me. "I pleaded and begged, he refused. I had to make a deal with him, to take your place. To receive the beating. Do you know what he used on me?"
She shook her head. Alpha Jaegan was a wicked Alpha, and his cruelty was known. He had hated my daughter. Always looked for ways to punish my daughter.
"A hot blade!" I said. "He dug it into my skin and dragged it down. He wanted me to throw you away. He had said that the only way I could have peace and I would live without this constant punishment was if I abandoned you, let you go rogue. But I could not, and I did not want us to go rogue because I believed you needed to grow in a home. To have a life amongst other werewolves." David was holding me now as tears fell uncontrollably.
I sniffled. Lucas came to me, he held my hand. The last child in the house, my baby boy. I held him close. The boys came to me to either give me a hug or kiss my cheek. I was grateful for them.
"I know that the sacrifices you have made for me is bigger than whatever excuses I have, but I'm truly sorry mom." She went down on her knees, her head was bowed.
"Why did you lie?" I asked.
I watched her raise her head, but she remained on her knees. I looked at her properly, was there something different about her? I paused that thought as she crawled on her knees forward to me.
Staring at me with glossy eyes filled with pain and regret, as they also begged for understanding, she licked her lips nervously. "I almost killed a child."