It wasn't until the next morning when I was carrying out my chores that I remembered that I had never asked Eric about Layla. I let out a sigh admitting defeat as to how helpless I was around him. I heard a knock on the door and I began to walk briskly to it, finding myself wondering if it was Eric coming to tell me he missed me already, because that was exactly what I wanted to tell him. If I had the courage to say so anyway.
I opened the door, just as the second round of knocks began, and who I met there was not someone I could have guessed. Luna Misheal
I was taken aback at first at her sudden appearance, as fear and guilt crept up my bones as I remembered that I was in a secret relationship with her son. I bowed quickly as I found she had raised a brow at my imprudence.
"Good morning Luna. Please come in."
I said and stepped aside. As she began to walk in, I heard the sound of feet on the stairs and lady Freya came running.
"Luna!" she bowed slowly, "You didn't tell me you were coming to my home. Hold on a bit while I freshen up and come downstairs." She said as she quickly turned around to run up the stairs, while I closed the door.
"I'm not here to see you." the Luna said, stopping both of us cold on our track and we both turned to look at her. Fear quickly flashed across Lady Freya's eyes as she glanced at me.
Oh? Are you here to see Dilan then? He's not at home, he left for the borders early."
Lady Freya ranted, acting oblivious of the reason the Luna had really come.
"No. I'm here to see the girl." Luna Misheal said effortlessly as she turned to look at me. I cowered under her icy stares.
"I hope there isn't a problem Luna....."
Luna Misheal raised a finger, interrupting Lady Freya. Even I pitied her at that moment, as the woman she adored and worshipped didn't seem to care about her opinions.
"Walk with me girl." was all she said before slipping out the front door.
I glanced at lady Freya seeing the worry etched on her face. I gulped. I had always had a feeling that Luna Misheal would be a stern person, but I think I was about to find out just how stern.
I followed immediately.
........................................................................................
She walked majestically through the streets and I followed her silently, wondering at my outfit. I hadn't even thought of changing out of my working clothes, a faded blue gown which now had dirt on it. I was getting embarrassed at the way people were staring at me.
Was this what she was trying to do? Embarrass me? Remind me of my position in the pack?
Well, obviously not, because we soon walked into the woods, away from the sight of others.
She suddenly stopped and turned to me. I bowed my head and didn't look at her.
"Shift".
"What!" I looked at her in shock, my heart racing to one fifty in that instant.
"I said shift into your wolf." she said firmly. I stared at the floor, immediately trying to think of a way out.
"Luna....."
"You can't shift!" she said firmly. My eyes widened in shock as I glanced at her and stared back at the floor.
"No! That's not it. I ....I..... I don't want to ruin my clothes, that's all."
She scoffed in reply.
"Do you think I am a fool?"
I glanced at her again.
"I know why you are here, Silveen or shall I say, I know why you were sent here." she deadpanned and tears immediately filled my eyes as I realized it was blown. My perfect cover was blown.
But she continued anyway, not caring for the tears that now fell to the floor from my bowed head.
"How dare you come here and try to seduce my son into making you the Luna of this pack?"
"I didn't seduce him. I am his mate." I said in a small teary voice.
"And what if you are?" I looked up at her sharply. Didn't she know what being mate means? It means we are supposed to be together forever. As one. I screamed at her in my head.
"Look at yourself, are you even fit to be a Luna? Do you know what it takes to be a Luna? How dare you even dream of being by his side as his Luna," she attacked.
"You can't even shift. No. Basically, you are a human!"
And that was it. The word that even my family didn't dare to call me. She said it herself, she called me a human. My weak legs gave way and I fell to my knees, covering my face with my palms as I wept.
It was over. It was all over. My romance was over before it even started. How stupid I was to think.... to dream….
"My son is the Alpha, and I have sworn to help him become the greatest Alpha in the whole kingdom. I won't let you ruin my dreams. You had better leave this town with your curse and never show your face here again."
"No! Please!" I heard myself say as I crawled to hold onto her feet.
"I have nowhere to go! My parents..... They won't take me back. No one would take me, please Luna."
She scoffed again. " So you just assumed that my son would take in a rejected girl?"
"I would stay away from him. I would avoid him like a plague, please Luna. Please let me stay. Please." I begged pitifully.
She sighed, "I am not a fool, Silveen. You think I don't know what the mate's bond exists for?"
She scoffs again, then bends down, "You had better disappear from my son's life before I make you."
I looked up to see that her blue eyes had turned pitch black. Her wolf had taken over and was threatening me now. My heart clenched at the idea of leaving Eric and I closed my eyes tightly as tears fell from them.
She was right, I was nothing. But I can't just leave again. I just got here. I am happy here. I was finally becoming close to Maria and Lady Freya and .....
"What is going on here?"
The sound of his voice made my eyes teary again as I froze on the spot, not turning to him. His mother, however, was shocked to see him. She had probably hoped to deal with me without his knowledge.
"I said what is going on here?" Eric thundered. I could hear the anger rolling off his voice.
"Son." I heard the Luna say before standing to her feet, and begin to walk towards him, but he passed by her and came to bend in front of me instead.
"Are you okay? Did she hurt you?" Eric asked me softly as he put a finger under my jaw and tilted up my head to face him. I looked into his blue eyes and saw them transform to dark blue. It looked like an ocean that was suddenly hit by a storm.
He stood up immediately, pulling me up with him as he turned to his mother.
"What did you do to her?"
I saw pain in her eyes as she saw him, holding onto my shoulders. She scoffed.
"What I did to her? Nothing." she said tightly.
"If not, then why.....?"
"Ask her! She's like that because she wants to protect her secret so dearly." I looked up at Luna Misheal with pleading eyes but knew she was taunting me. She was going to tell him about me. About my secret and, of course, he would finish what she started. He would call me a...
I gently stepped away from him as if to block out the thought. Eric looked at me in surprise but I kept my head bowed. I, however, didn't miss the excitement in her voice when she said
"She didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what!"
"Ple…ase." I heard myself whisper, earning myself a glance from both the Luna and Eric. I averted their eyes. Luna Misheal sneered at me.
"She's no werewolf!" She shouted and I felt my heart stop. No, I think time stopped.
"What?!" Eric said, looking at his mother.
"She is no werewolf. She can't shift. She couldn't shift on her eighteen birthday and she can't shift now. She is not a werewolf. Is that the kind of woman you want by your side, son? A woman who can't even protect our people when the need for it comes? A woman who can't even shift? How can she understand our women when she isn't even a werewolf?" The old Luna ranted on. While Eric listened to her silently.
I was too busy crying silently, so I didn't bother to look up to see his facial expression.
No, I think I was too scared to see the look in his eyes and probably the way he would look at me now. Eric's words, however, shocked me and his mother.
"Is that all you wanted to say, mother?"
"W...What do you mean? Have you listened to anything I just said?" she shrieked.
"Don't harass my mate again, mother." he said calmly, but it was obvious from his voice that he was trying to keep his cool.
"I don't want to have to warn you again. She is my mate and your future Luna. You would treat her with the same love and respect with which you treat me."
With that, he took my hand and began to walk away.
"What! So you are going to choose a woman above your own people! Do you even know what this could cost us!" she shouted after him.
"I would take care of my own people, mother!" he said breathing heavily as he stared into his eyes, matching her anger with his own. She bows a little in submission and he quickly walks away with me.