Page 26 of My Only Luna

“You promised to talk,” I remind her quietly. Fiona reaches out to touch me, but I growl at her. “Back off, Fiona! He will not be allowed a proper burial. My word is final. Learn your fucking place or I won’t mind throwing you out of the pack!”

She flinches, but I don’t fucking care. Without another word, I lead Scarlett from the room.

A Mother’s Pain

Jessica

“Come dear, let’s go have some tea. This trial is over. There’s no need to loiter here.” I hear Amelia’s voice in the distance. My heart is racing far too fast, my stomach churning sickeningly as a million horror stories swarm through my mind.

I’m pulled into the abyss of my nightmares, my mind flitting to a young Scarlett.

Years Earlier

“Mama.”

I force my eyes open, unable to move from the violent beating I suffered at Zidane’s hand last night.

“Baby…” I croak, looking down at Indigo, her straight black hair limp as it falls over her eyes.

“Mama, Scarlett is gone.”

Terror floods me as I look around. “Wh-where?”

“I don’t know, Mama. Papa took her, and she didn’t come back all night,” she sobs, her entire body trembling.

No! No!

I roll my body over, forcing myself to the side. I manage to fall off the bed, my body screaming with agony, but the resolve to find my baby is more important.

“I’m going to go find her, go hide,” I whisper, wrapping my broken arm around her shoulders. She nods, sobbing before she runs away, and I take a deep breath as I drag my body to the door. I’m not healing because he’s filled me with wolfsbane.

“Scarlett, baby, where are you!” I make it to the top of the stairs, dragging my body across the ground, leaving a trail of blood in my wake. I push my body forward, using my unbroken arm as support, but I’m barely three steps down when my body lurches forward and I roll down the stairs, pain searing through me. I let out an anguished cry as my vision darkens. I need to find Scarlett!

The very thought of what may happen to her fills me with anger and fear. I should be strong enough to protect her, to protect my babies! I’m the worst mama ever!

“L-luna…” someone whispers. I look up. It’s one of the guards, but his face is ashen, and my stomach drops when I sense the evil presence of the monster himself.

“Ah, now look at you Jess, out of bed so soon?”

I look up as the guard backs away, and I am met with black, shiny boots approaching me. My heart lurches in fear, not wanting to trigger him. My aim is to find my baby girl.

“I was looking for Scarlett, Alpha,” I say, lowering my head to him.

“Oh, were you? I’m sure I saw her around,” he chuckles darkly, making my heart drop.

“May I see her?” I ask, trying not to let my voice shake.

“Of course! Go find her.” He kicks my head, pain explodes in my head, my ears ringing, and I can’t tell what he’s saying as he steps on my back, causing me to cry out as my vision darkens.

His footsteps recede, and I don’t move until I know he’s gone.

“Someone find me my daughter!” I command hoarsely.

“Mama! What happened?!”

My heart leaps as I look up to hear my precious baby’s voice, but my blood runs cold when I realise she’s wearing a dress I don’t recognise. What has he done to her?

“Baby, where is your other dress?” I drag myself up as I run my hands down her arms and legs, trying to see if she’s hurt. She tilts her head.

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