I feel all eyes on me, shock returning across their faces, but I refuse to acknowledge them after they’ve been so rude to me.
“I’m sure you must be hungry, Alicia, but maybe I should take you on a tour of the property instead,” Michelle says, breaking the awkward silence after the bomb I just dropped. “It might be nicer than sitting with all this testosterone and not being able to enjoy your food.”
I give Michelle a half-smile and nod, feeling grateful for being saved from the awkwardness that is circulating the table. “I would appreciate that. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem at all,” Michelle says with a smile. She pushes herself out of the seat, and I gratefully follow her out of the dining room without so much as a glance at the others—including Adrian.
As we’re walking around the house, Michelle tells me about every room and its function. Even from the outside, this place looks massive, but that doesn’t compare to being inside and getting the full experience of what it has to offer. There are a huge number of residential rooms, and all the common areas of the house are massive and inviting with lots of activities to do.
“I’m sorry about my dad,” Michelle says with an apologetic smile on her lips as we walk out to the backyard. “He holds a grudge against the Midnight pack for starting the cold war. It’s not your fault, though.”
I sigh as I sit down in one of the seats surrounding the large glass table on the back deck. “It doesn’t feel that way.”
“It’ll get better, I promise,” Michelle says as she places a gentle hand on my forearm. “It won’t be like this forever. Just give everyone some time to get used to all this.”
We sit in silence for a moment, enjoying the peaceful morning.
Michelle suddenly asks, “So, you have healing powers? That’s intriguing.”
I chuckle softly, because I knew she would bring it up eventually; it’s not a very common power to have.
“Yeah, I do.” I smile as I look over the vast backyard, admiring the dense tree line with its thick foliage and brightly-colored leaves. “I only found out I had it a few years back.”
“How does it work?”
“It’s simple, really,” I say, turning my head to see Michelle staring at me with curious eyes. “If someone is in pain or sick, all I have to do is place both of my hands on the person, and I immediately take their pain away.”
Michelle’s eyes widen with shock, and she blinks rapidly. “Seriously? That’s amazing! But if you’re taking their pain away, does it go into your body?”
I nod, trying to figure out the best way to explain it to her. “Yes and no. I take whatever pain I can handle, and then the rest dissipates once it leaves the other person’s body.”
“Woah,” she breathes, shaking her head softly, “You’re amazing.”
I smile shyly and shrug my shoulders. Everyone in the Midnight pack knows about my healing powers, so I’ve forgotten what it feels like to explain it to someone who has no idea about it.
It’s both thrilling and nerve-wracking at the same time, but I love it. I feel as though I’m able to do some good and help anyone in need. That’s all I care about.
Michelle gasps suddenly as she looks down at the watch on her wrist. “Oh, shoot. I just remembered I have somewhere I need to be. Will you be alright by yourself?”
I nod as I watch her stand to her feet. “I should be okay. I can wander around by myself. It’s a lovely day out.”
“Oh, nonsense,” Michelle says.
Michelle looks around until she spots two girls walking past, giggling with one another. She calls out to them, grabbing their attention.
“Sheila and Cleo! Come meet the new Luna.”
The two girls share a look before walking toward us. Michelle gives me a warm smile.
“Sheila and Cleo can continue showing you around. You’ll be in safe hands with them.”
Michelle waves goodbye as she hurries into the house, leaving me alone with the girls. They look around my age and both have dark hair. Cleo looks a little younger, with her hair cut to her shoulders and childlike eyes. Sheila has curly dark hair that falls down her back and appears more confident.
“It’s nice to meet you two,” I say with a smile as I get up. They both seem nice, so I’m starting to feel a little more confident and not so worried that they’re going to slander me as Zane did over breakfast.
“It’s nice to finally meet the new Luna,” Sheila says with a smile on her face as she turns to look at Cleo beside her. “It would be our pleasure to continue showing you around the property. Have you seen the rockery garden a little way into the woods?”
I shake my head, although now she has me intrigued to see it. “No, I haven’t. I would love to see it, though.”
“Amazing.” Sheila claps her hands together and then links her arm through Cleo’s. “We’ll show you the way. You’re going to love it. It’s stunning.”
“We go there all the time to hang out,” Cleo interjects with a smile on her lips, “We know it like the back of our hands.”
I eagerly follow Sheila and Cleo in silence as we walk down a dirt trail into the woods, excited to see the garden they’re raving about. It reminds me of the woods behind my compound, although the foliage is less thick. The air feels fresh against my skin, and birds sing high up in the trees.
The trail opens up to reveal a steep slope of rocks. It is so beautiful I have to catch my breath. The stone levels are made from sandstone and the garden beds are filled with an assortment of flowers and fruit trees. There is a gazebo that sits off to the side with a stunning view over the rockery and the rest of the woods surrounding us.
I turn around to face Sheila and Cleo, who are behind me, with a warm smile on my lips. “Thank you so much for bringing me here. This place is stunning –”
My words are cut off when I feel something hard connect with the side of my head, forcing me to fall to the ground. My hands cradle the side of my head as the stinging pain shoots throughout my entire body.
Confused, I lift my eyes to see Sheila and Cleo standing over me with a smirk on their lips. Sheila’s hands are balled into fists at her sides.
I try to open my mouth to ask what’s going on, but Sheila silences me by swinging her foot into my stomach, forcing all the air out of my lungs.
“Shut up,” She spits, venom dripping from her words. “Do you really think you can come into our pack trying to pretend you’re a good person when we all know you’re not?”
“That’s not what I was trying to –”
Another kick to the stomach.
“Adrian deserves so much better than scum like you,” Cleo says this time and I squeeze my eyes shut as I let their venomous words, along with the searing pain in my abdomen, consume me. “You’re nothing but trash who doesn’t belong here with us.”
Another kick to the stomach, and this time, Cleo adds a kick to the side of my thigh as I double over in pain.
“It would be in your best interest to leave Adrian and go back to where you came from.” Sheila says with an evil smile on her lips as she kneels in front of me, “If you don’t, we’ll make your life miserable.”
Before I can say a single word through the pain, the two girls start kicking me. My legs, stomach, arms, and the side of my head. My entire body feels as though it’s on fire and I desperately want to close my eyes and drift off to another place where I’m not being beaten and harassed. I just want to sleep.
As my eyes flutter closed, I imagine my mate’s piercing green eyes as if he is with me.