Chapter 3
1478 Words
"Why are you telling me this now, Samantha?" Nick asked, his voice laced with anger as he took in my story. "I can't believe you've been going through this and didn't say anything."
Nick's fury was palpable as he listened to my explanation, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "That bastard has some nerve, slapping you like that. Dad and I would never lay a hand on you, Samantha. And he's only been your husband for a year!"
I sighed, following Nick into the wooden house where he and his friends were staying. "Nick, please don't do anything rash. You could hurt him later, and I don't want that."
Nick looked at me, confusion etched on his face. "You're still defending him after he hit you? Samantha, he's cheated on you and hurt you. I can't just stand here and do nothing."
I hesitated, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't let you hurt him, Nick. It's not right."
I sighed heavily, the weight of my situation pressing down on me. Nick, noticing my distress, gestured for me to sit across from him in the wicker chairs. Hazel entered with a plate of muffins, placing them on the table before excusing herself.
"What's on your mind, Samantha?" Nick asked, his voice gentle yet firm.
"I love Micah, Nick. I can't let anything bad happen to him," I started, my voice thick with emotion. "I just can't—"
"Stop kidding yourself, Samantha," Nick interrupted, his voice stern. "Micah never loved you. Not even a little bit. You need to accept that and move on. You don't need a king to be a queen."
Tears welled up in my eyes at Nick's words, memories of Micah treating me like a slave flooding my mind. I clutched the end of my dress, my heart pounding in my chest.
"No, no, Nick. It's not true. Micah loves me," I mumbled, trying to convince myself more than anything.
"Stop torturing yourself, Samantha," Nick said firmly. "You can't keep loving someone who doesn't love you back. It's only going to bring you pain."
"I can't just turn off my feelings, Nick," I cried, tears streaming down my face. "I've been bound to Micah for a year. I can't just leave him."
Nick's expression darkened. "I don't want them walking all over you, Samantha. You're my sister, even if I've played pranks on you in the past. I won't stand by and watch them trample on your pride like that."
"I can't have children, Nick," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "I've tried, but—"
"Stop putting yourself down, Samantha," Nick interrupted, his voice stern. "The doctors never said you were infertile. You believe it because of stress and those scare-mongers. Don't let them bring you down."
I looked down, my heart heavy with despair. "I've been doing the mate bond with Micah for a year. We should have had kids by now, right?"
Nick's face darkened with anger. "I have to tell our parents, Samantha. Micah will only get worse if we don't do something."
"No, Nick!" I exclaimed, panic rising in my voice. I didn't want our parents to know. They had never truly cared for me, only seeing me as a failure because I couldn't provide an heir. I couldn't bear to tell them that Eunice was pregnant with Micah's child.
"What are you going to do, Samantha?" Nick asked, concern etched on his face. "Are you going to wallow in your misery?"
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I don't know, Nick. I just need some time to calm down before I face the fact that I'm a failure as a Luna."
Nick's expression softened, and he pulled me into a hug. "Why do you put yourself through this, Samantha? You don't deserve to be treated this way."
I pulled back, my voice steady. "I have to, Nick. I've let so many people down. I can't just leave."
Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This isn't healthy, Samantha. You're torturing yourself."
"I'm fine, Nick," I insisted. "I can handle this."
The next day, I returned to Emberwood Wolves, the weight of their stares heavy on me. I made my way to my room, my steps measured, my heart pounding in my chest. As I entered, I found Micah waiting, his arms crossed, his expression stern.
"Where have you been?" he demanded, his voice cold. "What were you planning?"
I met his gaze, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "What do you expect from me, Micah? You have Eunice and your future child. Why should I stay here and be humiliated?"
Micah's expression hardened. "Because we are still bound by the mate bond, Samantha. You can't just leave without my permission."
I scoffed, my voice laced with bitterness. "And what permission do I need, Micah? You've made it clear that I'm useless to you."
"I do have Eunice and our child on the way, but don't forget, we're still bound by the mate bond, Samantha. You can't just do as you please," Micah said, his voice laced with warning.
I smirked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I see. So, I'm supposed to just sit here and be humiliated while you're satisfied with your new Luna?"
Micah's eyes flashed with irritation. "Don't put this on me, Samantha. You're the one who can't fulfill your duties as my Luna. You're the one who's useless."
My heart plummeted as Micah's cruel words sank in, feeling like I'd gone from the highest high to the lowest low in an instant. Tears I'd been holding back since yesterday threatened to spill over, my eyes trembling with the effort to contain them.
"Don't cry," Micah sneered, his voice cold. "I don't like you crying and pretending to be weak. You're a rebellious, annoying Beta, not some delicate flower."
His words stung, each one a knife twisting in my heart. He truly didn't care about my feelings, mocking my pain as if it were inconsequential.
I had tried so hard to accept his cruel behavior, to be the strong Beta he expected me to be. But now, I felt like the weakest wolf in the pack, my heart shattered by his betrayal.
Micah approached me, gripping my arm tightly, his fingers digging into my flesh. I gasped, my body shaking with fear as red welts appeared on my skin. He threatened me, warning me not to tell Nick about his cruelty.
As he left, my body crumpled, my tears flowing freely. I leaned against the bed, my heart aching, my soul empty. Nick had been right – I couldn't keep torturing myself like this. I had to find a way to break free from this miserable existence.
Micah's words left me feeling utterly humiliated, my will to continue on with life waning. What was I supposed to tell the Moon Goddess when I met her? I had never chosen this path, never wanted to be tied to a man who could treat me so cruelly. But the Moon Goddess had other plans, and I was left to bear the consequences.
I sighed, wiping away my tears and changing into fresh clothes. I needed to find Kiara, to seek solace in her warm embrace. I found her in the kitchen, washing dishes, her smile welcoming as always.
"Kiara," I greeted, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.
Kiara's eyes narrowed as she took in my appearance, her gaze lingering on the bruise on my arm. "What happened, Luna?" she asked, her voice gentle yet concerned.
"Nothing," I lied, not wanting to speak ill of Micah.
Kiara approached me, her eyes scanning my body, taking in the red welts on my arm. "Luna, these marks... they look like they were caused by a tight grip or binding. What happened?"
I hesitated, not wanting to admit the truth. But Kiara's concerned gaze held me captive, and I found myself confessing all.
"The blood isn't oozing like it would from peeling fruit," Kiara observed, her brow furrowing as she examined my bruise.
"This is from opening a soda can," I insisted, trying to brush off her concern.
Kiara looked skeptical. "Luna, you hardly ever drink soda. I find it hard to believe that you got this wound from a can of soda."
I sighed, a small smile playing on my lips. "You're too perceptive, Kia."
Kiara smiled back, her eyes softening. "That's because you treat me as an equal, Luna."
"Thank you, Kia," I said, my voice thick with emotion.
"I'll treat it," Kiara whispered, fetching a first aid kit from the closet. She put a band-aid on my wrist and handed me a cup of green tea. "Drink this, it'll help with the pain."
As I took a sip, a sudden, shrill voice echoed through the room.
"YOU WITCH!"
- Writer
