Chapter 133 It Only Gets Worse?
Kristen's POV
I am having a hard time falling asleep, I've never been this restless before.
It's past midnight and I still have my eyes wide open and clear of sleep because Mom's words are still haunting my mind.
How she looked me right in the eye and confidently told me I would suffer.
I gave birth to Aiden fifteen hours ago and the joy I had when I held him in my arms became short-lived when I paid Mom a visit in her dungeon.
Even though I despise her, it doesn't change the fact that her words still affect me deeply.
can't tell Calhoun about it because he'd find out I visited my mom and he'd be upset over it because he doesn't want me near her.
Speaking of Calhoun, I haven't seen him since he left. It's been over eleven hours.
I wonder what's keeping him away, or if he's working overnight and was too busy to pick up his phone and call me. But he's never slept out since the five months we've stayed together.
Loud hoarse cries from Aiden pull my attention to him.
He's awake, and I forget about all my worries and hurry to his side because he needs me.
He wakes up a lot of times and cries as a way to express his hunger.
And because he's some hours old, I scoop up his feeding bottle to give him water. I was told by the midwife to wait until two days before I started nursing him.
My hands shudder as I feed him the water.
And he suckles hungrily.
One look at his delicate tiny arms and feet, makes my chest get overwhelmed with a wide range of emotions.
To think he'll be a grown man someday, fall in love or find his mate and then get married, rule as Alpha of the Greyhound pack. This brings a smile to my face for a few seconds, until it wears out.
Too bad my father isn't here to see him. He got murdered when Aiden was six months old in my belly.
I hurriedly push thoughts of my late father to the back of my mind, because I don't want to get emotional tonight.
I can't think about myself alone, nor can I be selfish with my mom. There's another tiny person who always needs my attention. And I won't treat him the way Mom treated me.
He's a special child because he still survived despite everything I suffered.
Who would've thought I'd give birth to a child at twenty-one?
'I wish I had killed you right at the moment I held you in my arms!' Mom's voice causes a shudder to run through me, and barking coughs from Aiden give out that I've fed him more than enough water.
To think I zoned out while feeding him.
"Shit," I hiss under my breath as I put the bottle aside, and hurry to clean him up.
And it doesn't even take up to five minutes for him to drift back to sleep.
A sigh rolls from my chest. I have to be extremely cautious around him.
Where in the world is Calhoun? Is he even coming back tonight? What's keeping him out this long?
I can't do things alone. I need him here with me. How can he just leave and not return until now?
A soft knock on the door drags my attention away from my son.
"Miss Kristen?" It's Janette, my bodyguard.
"What is it?" I ask quietly.
There's something you need to know," she responds from the other side of the door.
"Open up, it's unlocked," I order and she quickly obliges.
"Is it Calhoun?" I ask with keen interest, right after she makes her way in and shuts the door with a soft thud, so as not to wake up the
sleeping child.
"No, it's about you," she informs me. And the look on her face gives out that it's not good at all.
"Hurry and tell me," I urge her with impatience.
Janette hesitates, and blinks, before eventually speaking up.
"There's an unbreakable custom for women in the Greyhound pack that puts them to bed before becoming Luna."
"Yes?" I don't even blink as I wait for her to carry on.
"Because of that, you'll need to eat the fresh, bloody heart and testicles of a bull." She concludes and my heart jumps in my chest.
"What?" I can feel my eyes getting huge in their sockets.
"It's true, Miss Kristen. And it's not even your wolf who has to do this but you," Janette holds my gaze when she breaks this to me. "Oh my god, where did you even hear this?" Cold swipes through my spine.
"From Bruce. He's with Alpha Calhoun and he texted, instructing I pass the message to you since Calhoun is having a hard time telling you himself. They were at the council hall this afternoon and the elders made it known to him." Janette explains
Calhoun is aware? No wonder he returned home.
I slap a palm to my forehead to release calm breaths, because if I let this piece of information affect me more than it already has, I will
pass out.
"What will be the consequences if I don't do this?" I question Janette after a minute.
"A curse from the moon goddess will befall the pack members..." She
tells me with a rather dull expression.
This is even worse than I thought.
How can thousands of people suffer because of me?
"And Calhoun will be forced to kick you out, along with Aiden. And
you two will stay away from each other for as long as possible." It seems as though Janette prefers to be anywhere but here. "This is also part of the custom?" I can feel my stomach churning.
"Yes," Janette nods as she puts her hands right behind her.
And even as I want this to be unreal, I know it's impossible.
My heart is slamming against my ribcage right now.
I have to eat the heart and testicles of a bull. The thought of it alone
is gut-wrenching.
"They said you have to eat everything and not throw up right after,
or it'd be a failed Luna's rite. You'll lose everything and Calhoun will
have no access to you."
My body is already trembling along with me at this point. "Calhoun...why didn't he tell me about this?" I feel hurt and upset at
the same time.
"He had no idea...and no one thought there'd be such an occurrence
because the last time such happened was two centuries ago," Janette
points out.
And I gulp the gigantic lump stuck within my throat.
It's not even up to twenty-four hours since I gave birth to my son
and now this?
Why do I keep suffering? Why am I always confronted with
challenges that are capable of breaking me limb by limb?
Can't I be happy for at least some time?
The news is enough to weaken my bones, but I don't have to be some
frail feather anymore. I have a son. And my son cannot be without a father. If I perform the Luna's rite for myself then it should be done
for Aiden.
I cannot be separated from Calhoun. No, not anymore.