The Healer Luna

CHAPTER FOUR

FIONA

The pain was blinding and white hot in its fury and I screamed, collapsing into a ball on the ground.

I barely even noticed Elias pulling me into his arms as I writhed and contorted in pain. I could not breathe, I could not see, and for a minute, I was certain that this was the end.

I was going to die. Again.

Humiliated, on my knees, drenched in my own sweat and tears.

No. I could not let him win.

“M..my bag…” I croaked, through the fire in my chest. “Inside…medicine…”

I managed to reach it and with shaky hands took the drugs.

Slowly, my vision cleared and the pain in my chest subsided enough for me to breathe without groaning.

“Fiona.” My name fell from Damien’s mouth like a reprimand and I had to stop myself from wincing.

I lifted my head slowly. The pain of the broken bond still pulsed between my ribs. But thanks to the painkillers, it was now just a dull ache.

I wiped the sweat from my brows with the back of my hand and forced myself upright. The man I called my husband looked down at me and once the disgust in his gaze would have gutted me. Now, I just wanted to pluck out his goddess cursed eyeballs for daring to look at me like I’m the one who did something wrong.

For a long moment, neither one of us said a word. Then Damien dragged a hand through his sandy hair and lowered himself onto the couch next to me. He looked…concerned. But I knew it was not for me.

“You tried to sever the bond.” He said and I looked away from him.

“You slept with another woman.”

Damien groaned, throwing his hands in the air.

“For the goddess’ sake Fiona, why are you being so difficult?”

I whirled around. “I’m being difficult?”

“Yes!” He yelled, breathing hard and I stared slackjawed at him, unable to believe that I had somehow once been in love with this man.

He dragged his hands down his face and took a deep breath. “You’ve made your point. You’re upset.”

I leaped to my feet, so angry, I barely felt the way my stomach lurched. “I am not upset, Damien. I am angry.”

He got up as well. “Fine, you’re angry.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “But, Fiona, think about what you’re doing.”

Damien’s eyes flashed, so close that I could see the anger creeping into his eyes. But I refused to back down.

“You’re hurt.” He said tightly. “And so I will tolerate your disrespect. But walking away, publicly rejecting me in front of all the staff, do you have any idea what effect that could have?”

“On whom?” I asked, glaring up at him, hiding my shaking hands by folding them in fists.

His jaw tightened. “My reputation matters, Fiona. The very stability of this pack depends on it. If you were really a good Luna, you would know this.”

“Oh please,” I hissed. “Don't you dare pretend that this is about the pack.”

I turned around to leave but he grabbed my arm, fingers digging into my skin.

“I supported you.” He sneered in my face. “I encouraged you to go to the frontlines when everyone else doubted you.”

“You’re hurting me Damien.” I said calmly but he closed his eyes and tightened his grip, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Why are you being so unfair?”

“No!” I yanked my arm away from him. “You’re the one who's being unfair. You expect me to remain here by your side after you betrayed me?”

He moved closer to me again, lowering himself slightly so that we were almost at eye level.

“Fi, “ His voice is softer than before but hearing the nickname made me want to puke in my mouth and knee him in the balls.

“We’ve built a life together.” He said, moving his hands between us. ”You and I. Do you really want to throw that away because of your anger?”

“You promised” my voice broke and I closed my eyes to fight back the sudden wave of tears. “You swore to me before the goddess that nothing would come between us, not even our fated mates.”

He rubbed his hands up and down my arms. “That doesn’t have to change, Fiona. You can still be Luna, and she will be the mother of my children.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Did you fall and hit your head on the way down here?”

Letting go of me, Damien sighed. “Be reasonable for once, Fiona.”

“I can’t believe you!”

“Fiona…”

I turned away from him. "I'm leaving Damien. Nothing you say to me will change that. So accept my rejection and let me go.”

Damien took a step back and when he spoke again, his voice was no longer gentle.

“You know I never really wanted you.”

I didn’t blink but inside my heart was fracturing all over again.

Damien shrugged. “Your brother was the one who forced you on me. He said you were wolfless, obsessed with medicine and embarrassing the pack with your weakness. He wanted you settled and far away.”

My fingers curled into my palm, nails biting my skin. “You’re lying.” I spat but Damien spread out his arms.

“I no longer have a reason to. You were a disgrace to your family and your brother traded you for an alliance and a generous dowry. All so I could take you off his hands.”

The room seemed to tilt slightly and I had to fight to keep from staggering.

“You married me because I was…convenient?” The words came out even but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

“And beautiful.” He added with another careless shrug. “And intelligent, and because I needed someone who could play her part well. You were good for optics.” He framed the air with his palms. “My Luna, the compassionate doctor. All that talk about the frontlines was supposed to be for show.” He scoffed and his voice curdled, becoming meaner. “But then you actually left.”

“For the hundredth time, I was saving lives.”

“And humiliating me in the process. The Alpha who could not control his own wife. How do you think that makes me look?”

There it was again. Him. Always him.

I felt something sharp rise in my chest. But this time around, It was not grief, it was my mourning for the girl who had believed him, for the future that I suddenly could no longer see.

“I am ending this.” I sniffed, my voice calm.

Damien shook his head. “You think you can just walk away?”

“Watch me.” I hissed, but he stepped into my path.

“Where would you go? Back to your brother? He’s alpha now and he already thinks you are an embarrassment. Do you really think he’ll welcome you back?”

A flicker of doubt rose in my mind but I crushed it.

“I’ll find somewhere.”

“With what?” He demanded. “You have no wolf. You will never be able to survive without me.”

I tilted my chin up. “I have my skills. I think I’ll manage. Anything would be better than staying here and seeing you with her everyday.

He scoffed. “If this is about the pain, you’re a doctor and you can easily get pain killers. If the bond hurts when I’m with her, I’m sure you can manage it. Remember you chose to sever the bond so that’s on you.”

The words were so careless that for a second I could not speak.

Goddess I prayed in my mind. Help me not to stab this man.

“Listen here Damien.”

He went still at my tone.

“If you refuse to accept my rejection, I will not remain silent.”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, you silver bitten, denless jerk, that if you don’t let me go, I will tell them. Every pack, every allied territory, heck I’ll go as far as the Sunglow court. I will tell them that you took a mistress and got her pregnant while your wife was on the frontlines. Let’s see your stupid little reputation recover from that.”

His face paled then darkened.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Oh but I would.” I stepped closer, my voice steady. “If you cooperate, we can part quietly.”

His breathing grew heavier. “And if I don’t”

I stepped close enough to look him in his eyes. “Then, I will ruin you.”

Damien was so red, you could boil a pot of water with the heat on his face.

This was the man I married, more afraid of a scandal and losing control than he was of breaking our vows.

So be it.

If he wanted a war of reputation, he would have one.

And this time, I won’t be the only one left bleeding

He glared down at me. “You think you can threaten me in my own house?” He said slowly and his nostrils flared with rage.

“I’m not threatening.” I replied, folding my arms. “I’m offering you mercy.”

“Mercy.” he echoed bitterly.

And then he took a step back and his voice rose.

“Guards!”

The front doors flew open and men rushed in, including Elias.

Damien pointed at me. “Detain her.”

Murmurs rippled through the men,

“Alpha..” Elias started, stepping forward.

“Now!” Damien roared, his eyes flashed the yellow of his wolf and his alpha aura flared violently. “The luna will remain under lock and key until she comes to her senses.”