CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 58
MARISSA’S POV
After Raul left the house, I stayed back and finished my cup of coffee, savoring the last drops of warmth before standing up to clear the table.
The morning light streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow on everything.
Last night, I avoided spending the night with Raul because I was afraid I wouldn't meet his expectations. Even though I know I'll have to share a room with him eventually, I wasn't ready yet.
I had to wake up early to make him breakfast to make up for it, and I'm glad he enjoyed it. I care about Raul deeply and will do anything to make this work.
As I was placing the dishes in the sink, I heard the door squeal.
“Did you forget something?” I called out, thinking Raul had returned. It felt weird when there was no reply, so I wiped my hands and I checked to see who it was.
My smile faltered when I saw Raul's mother standing in the doorway, her face twisted into a scowl.
“Good morning, mum,” I greeted her warmly, hoping to bridge the gap between us.
Instead of a reply, she raised her hand, cutting me off sharply. “Don't ever call me that! If you think you can charm me the way you charmed my son into liking you, then wake up from your dream. I only accepted the coronation for Raul’s sake, but I assure you, you won't last long in that position,” she spat, her voice dripping with disapproval.
Her words stung, but I forced a smile, determined not to let her see how much they hurt. “I understand you have your concerns,” I said, keeping my tone as gentle as possible. “But I hope you’ll give me a chance to prove myself.”
She crossed her arms, looking me up and down with disdain. “You have a lot to prove, Marissa. But mark my words, I won’t let you bring down this pack.”
“I won’t,” I assured her. “I love Raul and this pack. I’ll do everything in my power to protect and support it,” I added, my voice firm..
Her eyes narrowed, as if she didn’t believe a word I said. “We’ll see,” she muttered before turning on her heel and walking away.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Raul’s mother was a force to be reckoned with, and earning her approval would be no easy task. But I was determined to try.
After finishing the chores, I decided to take a walk around the pack lands to clear my head. The fresh air and the sound of birds chirping helped to calm my racing thoughts.
As I strolled through the gardens, I bumped into someone, she looked very young and I knew she was a pack member. She looked disturbed and had tears in her eyes.
“I'm sorry, Luna,” She apologized and was about to walk away when I pulled her back.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” I asked her, brushing her hair gently.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I’ve been struggling with my training. I feel like I’m falling behind everyone else and my friends keep making fun of me,” She explained, her voice a bit shaky.
I smiled, knowing her problem was solvable.
“What is your name?” I asked, gazing at her.
“Sarah,” She responded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Everyone learns at their own pace, Sarah. What matters is that you don’t give up. How about I help you with your training tomorrow?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Really? You would do that?”
“Of course,” I said warmly. “We’re all in this together. I’ll meet you at the training grounds tomorrow morning.”
She thanked me profusely before running off, her spirits lifted. I felt a sense of fulfillment knowing I could make a difference, even in small ways.
As the afternoon wore on, I decided to visit the infirmary to check on injured pack members.
The scent of antiseptic filled the air as I walked in, greeted by the sight of our healer, Dr. Edwardo, tending to a young wolf with a bandaged leg.
“Luna Marissa,” He greeted me with a nod. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“I just wanted to check on everyone,” I said, smiling warmly. “How’s your patient doing?” I asked. After I had regained consciousness the time I was admitted, I had met a lot of people during that time and had promised myself to visit the hospital when I had the time.
“This young one had a run-in with a wild rogue,” Dr. Edwardo explained. “But he’s healing well. Should be back on his feet in no time.”
I crouched down beside the injured wolf, who looked up at me with wide eyes. “You’re very brave,” I told him. “And you’ll be back to running with the pack soon.”
He gave me a small, shy smile in response. I continued to make my rounds, offering words of encouragement and support to the others. Seeing their resilience and strength inspired me to be the best Luna I could be.
Later in the day, I returned to the house, exhausted but satisfied with my efforts. I sat down with a cup of tea, reflecting on the events of the day.
As I was lost in thought, the door opened, and Raul walked in, looking equally tired but pleased to see me. He sat beside me, pulling me into his arms. He immediately noticed my pensive expression.
“How was your day?” he asked, gazing at me affectionately.
“Eventful,” I replied with a wry smile. “Your mother paid me a visit,” I said, not wanting to hide it from him.
His face fell. “What did she say?”
“Nothing I didn’t expect,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “She’s worried about the pack and doesn’t trust me yet. But I’m determined to change her mind.”
He took my hand, his grip reassuring. “I’m sorry you have to deal with that. She’s just very protective of the pack after what we had gone through years ago. Just give her time, she'll come around,” He assured, soothing my hand.
“I understand,” I said softly. “And I’m not giving up. We’ll win her over together.”
He smiled, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “I love you, Marissa. We’ll get through this.”
I nodded at him and he hugged me.
As we sat together, we talked about random things and made jokes that made each of us crack up. The bond between us felt stronger than ever and I was sure that no matter the challenges, I was positive we would face them together.