The Enslaved Luna

Chapter 10

Lily pulled Nelvin up. “You’re okay? Say you’re okay.”

Nelvin steadied himself. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Lily knew something didn’t seem right. “There’s something wrong here.”

Nelvin was confused. “About what?”

“About you.”

“You’re the one who blasted me!”

“And I feel terrible about that, believe me. I didn’t mean to do that. I was just angry, but I know what I did was very powerful and the fact that you can get up tells me you’re not just some rogue passing through. You’ve got Alpha blood, don’t you?”

Nelvin quickly composed himself. “You got me! My father is an Alpha, but I didn’t want to take over, so I left. This was the last mission I did for him, so I can be free.”

“What do you mean?”

“I promised my father to bring you to the Northern kingdom so that he would not ask anything of me for our pack.”

Lily studied his face. “You’re telling the truth, but you’re keeping something from me.”

Nelvin shoved a finger in her chest. “Oh, and what of you? Little miss Princess of the Eastern kingdom?”

Lily angrily shoved his finger away. “What about me?”

“Oh, I don’t know. How about you can just use the force to make me hit a tree and you seem to know if people are lying or not? Care to explain that?”

Lily turned around. “I don’t know. I’ve never done that before. I mean not the force thing. About the lying, I’ve always been able to do that.”

Nelvin started walking again. “Come on, we’ve got to keep going or Inez won’t make it. So you can tell if I’m lying to you or not? Why couldn’t you tell I wasn’t Javid?”

Lily sighed. “It’s not that simple. It’s not like I have it on all the time. Like, if you’re really good at math, do you just do equations all the time? No, you have to really concentrate and look at the problem. I don’t have my lie detector on all the time, only when I think something’s wrong. A lot of good it’s done me, though. I was a slave.”

Nelvin felt bad and softened his voice. “I’m sorry about that. I really am. I was a jerk to think that you or anyone else would be okay with being in a harem. Did you ever use it on your mate?”

“I didn’t have to, really. I could feel his thoughts and desires. I knew he would never let me go, but I was also drawn to him, so I was stuck. It was like a drug that you can’t get enough of, but you know it’s slowly killing you. I’m really good at seeing people’s intentions, so I don’t even need to use my lie detector.”

“Do you think your mother was a fairy or maybe a witch?”

Lily felt sad at the mention of her mother. “I don’t know. I wish I knew. I’ve felt so out of place my entire life and maybe it’s because I don’t even know who I am or where I come from.”

“I feel the same way. My mother died when I was 10 protecting me and my baby brother from rogues. After that, I kinda lost my way and couldn’t really see where I belonged in my pack.”

“Oh, so you’re in the Dead Mother’s club, too?”

Nelvin chuckled. “Yeah. It’s not great, huh? Hey, why don’t I help you out?”

“What do you mean?”

“We can test your powers. Try to hone them and see if you’ve got anything else.”

“You know what I’d really like to do? I’d like to let my wolf out.”

“Yes!” Jade shouted.

Nelvin shook his head. “Only if we really need to. We are on other territories and they may see that as an act of aggression. We need to try to make it through undetected.”

“Is he lying?” Jade asked.

“I don’t think he is,” Lily said to her.

***

The pair made it back to camp and Lily rushed into the tent to administer the medicine to Inez. Inez coughed a few times, but fell back asleep. Mashutu assured her that it would be a day or two before Inez would recover, even with her accelerated wolf healing. The Black Death was like nothing he had ever seen and Mashutu had seen it take down warriors and pups alike. He worried about what the world was coming to after the war, but he trusted in the old gods. The gods of his ancestors, who rested in the trees, the rustling of the wind, and the trickling of the stream. They were truer gods to him than the Moon Goddess because they had existed before even her. He prayed to them that life would get better for those around him because the suffering he had seen nearly killed him.

Seamus approached Nelvin and nodded. “The way north is secure. We should be able to skirt some major territories owned by packs and be safe. We might have to take a detour through the valley though to avoid the Winter Moon pack. You know how bloodthirsty they are.”

Nelvin nodded again. “That will add a few days to our journey, but so be it.”

“How was the princess?” Seamus smirked.

Nelvin paused. “Hey, I’ve been kind of a jerk lately.”

Seamus looked confused. “What are you talking about? You’ve been you.”

“Yeah, and that’s the problem. I’ve been so concentrated on us and keeping others away that I didn’t care to really to think about what other people are going through.”

“Bro, what are you talking about?”

Nelvin sighed as he looked into the blue sky. “I’m saying we need to be nicer. No more princess jokes. No more thinking that women are fine being kept in cages. And maybe caring more.”

Seamus laughed. “Are you serious? Did she give a bit of the nookie out there? Is that why? Did you fall for the princess, I mean lass?”

Nelvin looked directly at Seamus. “I am serious. I’ve been a jerk, so you guys think it’s okay to treat women like that, and it’s not.”

Seamus threw his hands up as he walked away. “Hey, if that’s the way you have to win her, be my guest.”

***

Lily looked up into the sky to see the sun slowly descending into what would become the night sky as the moon shown itself close by. She had never had to care for another person before and she now knew she was responsible not just for Inez’s life, but the lives of all that she would rule over if she became the Luna. She had hated her mate and Omar, but if it meant that it would save millions, she knew she would do it again. Long gone were the days that she was a spoiled princess who ran away because she thought her father didn’t love her enough. What she would give just to see him again. To tell him that she was wrong and should’ve stayed. She wished she could embrace her little sister, Ambrosia, and even her elder sisters. They were gone now and she had no time to mourn them. She silently prayed to the Moon Goddess, if there still was one, to help Inez live and to give her guidance on what would be her role.

A single drop of rain fell on Lily’s face and she wiped it away, waiting for more rain to fall, but none did. She thought it odd, but didn’t give it a second thought and entered the tent where Inez laid. Inez still looked weak, but at least she awoke. Lily wiped Inez’s brows full of sweat. “Look at you. You’re going to be okay.”

“Thank you for coming back, Luna,” Inez managed to get out.

Lily smiled. “Of course I was. I’m responsible for you, now. I have to make sure you stay alive.”

Inez returned her smile. “Every night, I pray to the Moon Goddess to keep you safe along with my family.”

“How do you still believe in here after what you went through?”

Inez reached for Lily’s hand and clasped it. “When you have nothing left, there is only belief. That is what got me through. Until you came along. I’m grateful for you.”

Lily wiped away a tear. “I feel so guilty for living such a privileged life before all of this, thinking I had it so bad when people were dying. During the war, I only fended for myself. I never had to think about others before you, Inez. Isabella was a witch, but she was right about me.”

Inez tried to sit up, but Lily pushed her back down. Inez coughed. “She was right about who you WERE. Who you ARE now is a different person. Don’t feel guilty about the things you didn’t know before. Act on what you know now.”

Lily walked outside of the tent and decided to try to find berries when she heard the sound of wood chopping. She followed the noise to see a half-naked Nelvin bringing a tremendous ax down on a block of wood. As the sweat dripped down his body, the smell of oak and mint swirled around her, causing her to become heady and lose her balance. She started to fall down, but found herself in the arms of Nelvin. Nelvin carried her to the block of wood and sat her on it. “Are you okay?”

Lily slapped his hand away when he reached for her. “Yes, I am. I don’t need your help.”

“Well, it kind of looked like you did.”

“Why? Because I’m just a helpless princess?”

Nelvin sighed. “I know it doesn’t mean anything, but I truly am sorry. I’ve made sure my boys won’t call you that anymore.”

Lily was taken back. “Why would you do that?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do. I know I have a lot of making up to do and I’m ready for what you dish out. Come on, hit me with the old force blast for old times’ sake.”

Lily laughed. “I’m not going to do that.”

“I’m serious. Okay, not me, but try that tree over there.”

Lily stood up and felt silly, but she put out her hand and tried to recreate the power she had before, but nothing came out. “Maybe I’m just not good at this. I’m not a warrior.”

“I think you just need to be angry. Don’t hate me for this, but I’m going to try something.”

“What?”

Nelvin looked at her deadpan. “You’re a worthless slut who enjoyed Omar’s orders. I hope he captures you and never lets you leave.”

“I will kill him right now,” Jade said.

Lily hated his face and the words that left his mouth. She wanted to kill him as well for even thinking for a second that he was a good person. She could feel the anger coursing through her and she yelled as the power traveled through her and broke a tall tree in half. “Is that what you wanted?”

Nelvin smiled. “Yes, you did very good. Remember, I didn’t mean what I said. I’m just trying to bring out your powers.”

Lily pushed him as she walked past him. “I hate you.”

“Lily,” Nelvin said after her, but let her go. Perhaps he had been too rough, but it had the desired affect and he couldn’t be mad about that. Maybe this was the way to go. Maybe it was okay for her to hate him so that he didn’t have to think about her. Nelvin followed her back to their campsite as twilight dawned on them. When he reached the fire, he saw shadows in the forest. “Seamus! Mashutu! We’ve got company!”

Nelvin took his axe from his back and took a stance as he scanned the area for Lily, but she was no where to be found. Seamus and Mashutu ran out with swords and they formed a triangle with their backs to each other. Even with his elevated sight, he couldn’t make out who was in the forest. “Step out into the light or we will destroy you.”

The man from before stepped out with a little boy of no more than eight. With him were two men and a woman. They wore tattered clothing and all looked gaunt. The man approached Nelvin. “Please forgive us, Sir. I told them about your generosity and they asked to see if they could get food for their families.”

Nelvin put his axe down. “It’s okay. Seamus, get what you can for the people. Mashutu, check out the little boy. He looks sickly.”

Mashutu and Seamus looked at each other oddly, but followed Nelvin’ orders. Seamus brought back bags of bread, fruit, jams, and even candy for the families, who profusely thanked him. Mashutu looked at the little boy and found him sickly, so he whipped up a quick potion for him that would make him better. His father shook Mashutu’s hands and cried, telling him he was saving his son’s life. Nelvin talked to the families and learned about the famine in the area and how some packs were starving while others lived comfortably. It made him upset to know that there was such inequality and injustice in the lands. He made a promise to the man that he would return at some point to make sure they were taken care of.

Lily watched all of this unfold from Inez’s tent. Although she still harbored resentment for Nelvin, her heart melted at what he did for the people. He was no Omar. Omar was a tyrant who took what he wanted and didn’t care who he hurt. Perhaps Nelvin wasn’t a saint, but he was trying to be better and she liked that about him. It made him more handsome in her eyes. As the families were about to leave, Lily gathered the last of her jewelry that she brought from the Eastern kingdom and gave it to them. They were shocked to receive such valuable baubles, but they didn’t mean anything to her anymore. As long as she had her father’s ring, that was all she needed as it was her only connection to him and her mother.

It was Nelvin’s turn to watch Lily’s generosity on display and he knew he had sorely been wrong about her. She was more than a Luna or a Princess. She was someone who cared about others and he admired that. He wanted to be more like her, but that would mean giving up his comfortable lifestyle and he wasn’t quite ready to do that just yet. Still, the Eastern princess made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time