Page 23 of Losing My Siren Luna
Yes. It seems we do.
With that, the discussion ends. Hopefully, he has retired to his bedchambers with hisguestfrom earlier and has forgotten about me. It will be harder to avoid him if we are residing in the same wing, but we will endure, just like Val said. I can always come back up here to hide, and hide on the docks, away from the bustle of the castle. I know how to keep a low profile. My time here before taught me that. Living like the dead will be easy as long as Lachlan doesn’t try getting into my bed, which I still doubt is likely this time around.
Everything is so different, though, so I have no idea what’s going to happen.
I’m sitting on my bed, folding my dresses from the wedding and reception to appear busy when the Delta clears his throat, causing me to look up.
“Luna,” Cherum sounds nervous as he enters the room being packed, “Your new room is ready.”
I sigh heavily, “I understand. We will follow you once we are done here.”
The dresses were folded as neatly as could be, and Mimi told me to leave the rest to the maids, so I stood awkwardly by the door as they finished. I was told I could head down first, but I’m not that eager to leave this room.
“Um, Luna?” Cherum mutters, watching me carefully.
“Yes?” I look at him from the corner of my eye, contemplating correcting his addressing me as Luna again, but I think that’s a battle for another day. There are only so many times I want to correct a man in a day. I know a lost cause when I see one. My first life in this marriage taught me that.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable wearing my coat?” His eyes roam down my body, looking unnerved. I’m still in the silk slip and thin overcoat.
“Does my body offend you, Delta Rosewood? You would think, with the frequency the ranked members of this pack visit the women of the soddy establishments in town, that you wouldn’t be offended by this appearance. I have far less to show compared to them.”
He groans uncomfortably. “Luna, that was a misunderstanding. The Alpha has stated numerous times to us that you are his wife and he won’t-”
“I’ve heard that plenty today, Delta Rosewood,” I cut him off, “I do not wish to hear it again. Whether he takes others to his bed is none of my concern. Not when this is all temp-”
He coughs, cutting me off, and his eyes move repeatedly to the maids, indicating they are listening. When I look over, they are moving much slower, their heads all angled towards us to catch the conversation. Even Mimi is wiping the same spot on the table over and over again while pretending to work.
I roll my eyes. “Like it is a secret. I’m sure he has already told all of you that I am not the Luna of this pack, that my uncle is using me to trap him, and that he’s divorcing me after two years when the alliance contract terms are void.”
“That’s not exactly the case,” he frowns.
“So he didn’t say any of those things? He didn’t put me up here to begin with to keep me away from him; so I stayed out of sight?”
He cringes with each word. “That was….I mean, I’m sure Alpha didn’t mean that.”
“I’m sure,” I muttered, “I’m sure he didn’t mean to be caught with one of those women at the door of his bedchamber by me earlier as well. I may be young, but I am far from naive, Delta Rosewood. You do not need to put on airs around me. I know who I married, I know what is expected of me, and I know not to expect anything from him. All that will bring me is heartache, and I’ve suffered enough of that.”
He hangs his head solemnly, looking defeated. “I’m sorry, Luna. I will think before I speak from now on,” he frowns, “I just thought you might be cold. It is awfully cold up here. I’m sorry if I offended you.”
Now it’s my turn to feel awkwardly regretful. I thought he was indicating I was indecent, not commenting on my attire out of concern for my comfort.
I shift back and forth on my feet uncomfortably. My feet are numb from the cold, which is helping with numbing the pain from the heels I'm still wearing. I do have goosebumps on my chest and legs. Even my arms feel prickly in the sleeves of my overcoat from goosebumps. I was so used to the coldness of being up here that I didn’t notice it before now.
“I am a bit cold,” I murmur , offering a sorrowful smile.
He smiles, shrugging out of his jacket and placing it over my shoulders gingerly, like he is worried its weight might be too much for me. He’s slightly awkward in his actions, but it is still sweet he cares enough to offer.
“I’m sorry, Delta Rosewood. It has been a…a trying day. I should not have snapped at you when you were not the one at fault.”
He scratches the back of his neck. “It’s okay, Luna. I would be upset in your shoes too.”
We smile awkwardly at each other, then stand in silence while the maids finish packing my room.
I do feel much warmer in his coat. It still has his body heat saturated in it, soaking into my chilled skin. I'm warming up quickly. The problem with that is now my feet are less numb and are starting to ache more. I don’t know how much longer I can stand in these heels.
As the maids finish packing for me, we start the trek down to the Alpha’s wing. The Delta insists on me gripping his arm as I walk down the stone steps, and when my ankle rolls, causing me to almost fall forward, he quickly stops my fall, lifting me into his arms like I weigh nothing.
“I’m sorry, Luna, but I can’t let you continue to walk in those shoes. Your feet are turning purple and I wouldn’t forgive myself if you hurt yourself.”
